Cover Letter Criteria

A strong cover letter can help an applicant stand out by showing that they understand the role, can connect their experience to what the employer needs, and have a clear reason for applying.

In the UK, some employers ask for a supporting statement instead of a cover letter. If they do, the applicant should respond directly to the person specification rather than sending a general letter.

A cover letter or supporting statement should add useful context to the CV, not repeat it line by line.

Structure

A cover letter should make it clear which role the applicant is applying for, why they are interested, and why they are a good fit. It should focus on the most relevant parts of their experience, skills, and achievements, then close professionally.

For most UK roles, a cover letter should usually be 3 to 5 paragraphs and no longer than 1 page. Supporting statements may follow a different format and may need to respond directly to the person specification, sometimes within a word count.

Essential Criteria

A good cover letter or supporting statement should be:

• Concise
• Easy to read
• Factually accurate
• Specific to the role and organisation
• Free from spelling and grammar mistakes
• Focused on evidence, with figures or outcomes where possible
• Written in the applicant’s own voice
• Clearly connected to the job description or person specification

It should also use relevant language from the job description naturally. If AI is used, it should help with editing, structuring, or tailoring the application, not invent experience or produce copy the applicant couldn’t explain in interview.

References 📚

• National Careers Service, Careers advice
• Prospects, How to write a cover letter
• Prospects, Sample cover letter
• Prospects, Using generative AI in job applications
• UK Parliament, How to write a supporting statement
• UK Parliament, Application form hints and tips