5 Short Cover Letter Examples & Writing Guide (Any Job)
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Cover letters are easily the worst part of any job application.
They’re tricky and time-consuming to write and who knows if they’re even read.
But it doesn’t have to be like that.
There’s a fast and effective way to do it and we’ve got a selection of short cover letter examples to show you how.
Read on and you’ll see:
- Why short cover letters are the best cover letters.
- Five free short cover letter examples that have ‘You’re hired!’ written all over them.
- The magic formula to write cover letters quickly and win over busy recruiters.
Want to write your cover letter fast? Use our cover letter builder. Choose from 20+ professional cover letter templates that match your CV. See actionable examples and get expert tips along the way.
Sample cover letter for a CV—See more cover letter examples and create your cover letter here.
Looking for career specific cover letter advice? Take a look at our guides:
- Academic Cover Letter Example
- Accounting Cover Letter Example
- Data Analyst Cover Letter Example
- Digital Marketing Cover Letter Example
- Finance Cover Letter Example
- Investment Banking Cover Letter Example
- Legal Cover Letter Example
- Marketing Cover Letter Example
- Project Manager Cover Letter Example
- Sales Cover Letter Example
Short Cover Letter Example
Dear Vijay,
I have attached my CV for the role of sales manager. My profit-focused achievements include helping Red Co achieve a 10% boost in profits in 2020 despite the challenges faced by the pandemic. This was achieved by nimbly pivoting our focus to promoting home office equipment rather than our corporate range.
As Red Co’s sales manager I have adopted a scrupulous approach to maintaining an efficient contact list. By focusing on removing dead prospects and constantly seeking new leads I increased the conversion of our email campaigns by 25%, equivalent to £100,000+ in value per year.
Being able to join Schmidt & Co. as it expands its educational supply coverage across Europe would be a fantastic opportunity for me to leverage my skills in providing focussed and attentive customer service that increases sales and helps build long-term relationships.
I would be delighted to arrange a chat with you to discuss how I can help Schmidt & Co. cement its position in new markets at this critical time for the business.
Yours sincerely,
Rick Greenfield
P.S. I’d also be delighted to discuss how I worked on an innovative training and rewards programme that helped increase sales agents’ average pipeline by 35%.
Sales Manager
linkedin.com/in/greenfieldr_zety
greenfieldr_zety@gmail.com
07777 777777
1. Short Cover Letters—Less is More
Pity the poor recruiter. For every job opening that gets posted, your average corporate headhunter has to deal with 250 applications. Suffice it to say, they’re very busy people.
They’ve got no time for long application cover letters. What they want is a good short cover letter that gives the most information about the candidate in the shortest time.
Short cover letters are good for hiring managers and they’re good for you too Here’s why:
- 53% of employers still expect cover letters. So you keep them happy and you won’t annoy the other 47% with an unwanted overly long document.
- Long cover letters are kryptonite for time-poor hiring managers. Nearly 70% of employers are looking for a half-page cover letter or less.
- A short snappy list of your most relevant achievements is a great way of selling you as a candidate. It’s a concentrated burst of pure employability.
- Plus they’re simply faster and more fun to write.
Simple and short cover letters are perfect for emails too. No need for the hiring manager to click on an attachment. Just a few easy-to-read lines they can be done with in seconds.
Want to learn more about sending email cover letters for a job application? Check out our guide: Email Cover Letters for Job Applications
2. Five Short and Sweet Cover Letter Examples to Get You Inspired
First, we’ll look at a selection of short cover letter templates. Then you’ll see how to write one yourself.
They’re all written in email cover letter format, as in a cover letter sent as the body of an email. If you’re looking for tips on how to write a standard cover letter sent as a stand alone document then see our guide on what to include in a cover letter.
Short Cover Letter Template (Mid Level Office Job)
Our first candidate is an office manager at a small firm in Manchester. He’s got a few years experience and he’s looking to move on to work for a bigger company.
Here’s his super sharp short cover letter.
Dear Jim,
I’ve attached my CV with details of my work experience for the position of office manager. My most satisfying win so far has been cutting office supply costs by 60%. I achieved this through discovering new routes to efficiency and robust supplier contract management and negotiation.
As an Office Manager at Woodbridge Manufactory, I have a proven record of implementing cost-saving efficiencies and processes. My changes to office supply contractors saved £11,000 annually and my outsourcing of payroll services saved the HR team 25 hours per month.
Joining the team at Woodbridge Systems would be an incredible next step in my career. I’d relish the challenge of joining a rapidly growing team and your ethos of ‘progress through technology’ is a perfect fit for my own professional values.
Could we please schedule a call so we can discuss how I can implement cost-saving process improvements for you?
Yours sincerely,
Anthony Bracknell
P.S. I’d also be delighted to tell you how my implementation of a call overflow system reduced customer phone waiting time by 65%.
Office Manager
linkedin.com/in/abracknell_zety
abracknell_zety@gmail.com
07777 777777
Anthony, you’re Jim’s saviour!
Short Cover Letter Example (Creative Job)
Our next candidate is a graphic designer from London. Her firm has had a recent round of redundancies and she is concerned for her future so she’s looking for a new challenge.
Dear Alex,
My CV is attached for the position of senior graphic designer. I’ve had a number of satisfying career highlights but my most notable to date is leading a team that was a winner in the 2019 UK Package Design Awards. This achievement was made possible by my dedication to meeting client requirements with fresh contemporary design solutions.
As a senior graphic designer at Edwards & Spinks, I designed a fresh layout for the new edition of the cookbook ‘Glorious Gluten’ that led to the publisher signing a five-year contract worth £600,000.
Leading the graphic design team at Mountebanks & Co. would be an amazing opportunity. I would be honoured to be part of your multi-award winning delivery of unique and functional web design to prestigious corporate clients.
Could we arrange a call at your convenience so I can discuss how I led and developed a team of five junior designers while helping clients cut costs by an average of 25%?
Yours sincerely,
Greta Johnson
P.S. I’m also keen to discuss how my redesign of the ‘Flight Compare’ app led to a 25% increase in conversions for the client compared to previous iterations.
Senior Graphic Designer
linkedin.com/in/gretaj_zety
gretaJ_zety@gmail.com
07777 777777
The hiring manager is singing her praises already!
Short Cover Letter Sample (IT Startup Job)
Here’s our next candidate. She’s a formerly Edinburgh based software engineer who’s just moved to London for family reasons.
Dear Elizabeth,
I have attached my CV for the position of software engineer. My most recent achievement has been successfully managing code deployment to one of the largest ride-sharing platforms in Scotland. This was driven by my expertise in transportation demand management software and my knack for reporting tool integration.
As a software engineer at Zoom! I implemented survey and data analysis functions that improved user behaviour statistics and led to a 25% reduction in wait times for drivers during peak use periods with an accompanying 33% increase in customer satisfaction.
Joining the team at Moov is exactly where I want to be in my career. Helping you disrupt the current London ride sharing market is a challenge I am made for.
Could we meet for a coffee and a chat about how my dedication to leveraging gamification played a crucial role in increasing user data recording?
Yours sincerely,
Mia Liston
P.S. I’d also be happy for you to learn more about how my optimised driver tracking feature pinpointed inefficiencies that when resolved, resulted in cost savings of £650,000.
Software Engineer
linkedin.com/in/mialiston_zety
mialiston_zety@gmail.com
07777 777777
Watch out Uber. With Mia on board, Moov is ready to take over the world.
Short Cover Letter Template (Corporate Job)
Our next job seeker is a business analyst. He is looking to move on to pastures new in search of a more senior role.
Dear Greg,
I have attached my CV for the position of business analyst. My professional achievements include saving £1 million in costs by choosing a new cloud-based data warehouse solution. This was enabled by my superior negotiation skills, expertise in effective procurement and ability to identify cost savings.
As a business analyst at Vantech, I leveraged a new procurement business process to ensure consistency across all teams leading to a saving of 500 working hours equivalent to £12,000. This consistent approach was the first of its kind in the company.
Getting on board with Vermillion as it rapidly scales its operations is an amazing opportunity for me to do what I do best, increasing efficiency in business processes and implementing value-rich changes to the organization.
Let’s arrange a quick chat to discuss how my ability to translate stakeholder needs into development goals can help Vermillion at this crucial time.
Yours sincerely,
Kelvin Jones
P.S. It’d also be a great chance to discuss how my dedication to clear data visualisation has improved communication between stakeholders and development teams.
Business Analyst
linkedin.com/in/kjones_zety
kjones_zety@gmail.com
07777 777777
They’re already preparing Kelvin’s onboarding.
Short Cover Letter Sample (Internship)
Dear Terry,
Attached you’ll find my CV for the position of summer intern. My ‘Drill Instructor’ augmented power tool add-on has just won the Northwest Student Award for Tech Innovation. That’s because I’ve had a passion for practical design since childhood.
Fazer’s commitment to mentoring the best young talent in the industry is a direct fit with my proven electronic engineering skills and studies.
I would love to improve my skill set to deliver even more cost-effective and industry-leading power tool and machinery solutions, just as I did with my award project.
I am incredibly excited about the opportunity to put my skills to work for you. Could we arrange a phone call to discuss how I can help Fazer gain even more industry plaudits.
Yours sincerely,
Maria Cartwright
P.S. I’d also love to discuss how my volunteer work with the ‘Upcycle!’ project is helping to teach electronic engineering and repair skills to the wider community.
Business Analyst
linkedin.com/in/mcartwright_zety
mcartwright_zety@gmail.com
07777 777777
Maria’s summer is all set.
Read more: Cover Letter Examples for All Professions
3. How to Write a Short Cover Letter
Now for an equally snappy guide to writing powerful pint-sized cover letters.
But first.
The purpose of a cover letter is:
- To introduce yourself and the skills and experience you have to excel at the job.
- To get the recruiter excited about reading your CV.
- To make sure you land an interview.
This formula covers all those bases.
Short Cover Letter Template Checklist
- Dear (hiring manager name)
- Paragraph 1: introduction and a big job-fitting achievement
- Paragraph 2: key skills and why you fit the job
- Paragraph 3: your passion + why you want in
- Paragraph 4: your call to action
- Formal closing
- Write a P.S. to add value
Every one of our five short cover letters has followed that simple example. Next, we’ll break it down in brief.
Don’t know how to find the hiring manager’s name? It’s easy to find out. See our guide: How to Address a Cover Letter.
Start Your Short Cover Letter Right
We’ve mentioned the power of personalizing your short cover letter by using the hiring manager’s name. That puts you in the elite.
Only 16% of job seekers bother to do this.
We want to be in the short, snappy 16%. We’re going straight in for the kill so start with a powerful introduction that’s tailored to the job.
Short Cover Letter Example—Introduction
| RIGHT |
|---|
Dear Jim, I’ve attached my CV with details of my work experience for the position of office manager. My most satisfying win so far has been cutting office supply costs by 60%. I achieved this through discovering new routes to efficiency and robust supplier contract management and negotiation. |
That’s our Office Manager’s intro.
He’s only 46 words in but he’s ready to win. It’s personalised, starts off by indicating the position being applied for, then cuts to the chase with a solid achievement, eagerness, and key skills.
Find out more about winning short cover letter introductions in our guide: How to Start a Cover Letter so the Hiring Manager Wants More
Make a Magnificent Short Cover Letter Middle
We’re off and racing in our cover letter sprint. This is where we build momentum.
For a magnificent middle, you need to show two things. Your experience and achievements, then your motivation and desire for this particular position.
Short Cover Letter Example—Middle
| RIGHT |
|---|
As a senior graphic designer at Edwards & Spinks, I designed a fresh layout for the new edition of the cookbook ‘Glorious Gluten’ that led to the publisher signing a five-year contract worth £600,000. Leading the graphic design team at Mountebanks & Co. would be an amazing opportunity. I would be honoured to be part of your multi-award winning delivery of unique and functional web design to prestigious corporate clients. |
That’s from Greta, our graphic designer. She’s clearly got the skills to deliver to clients and bring in new business.
Plus, she’s highly motivated and has done her research on the company and the role. All that in less than 70 words.
When making a CV in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building your CV here.
When you’re done, Zety’s CV builder will score your CV and tell you exactly how to make it better.
Seal the Deal with a Short Cover Letter CTA
A CTA is a call to action. It’s the finish line of our cover letter race.
Do this right and an interview is in the bag. Why?
Because you’ve asked for it, and you’ve done it in the right way.
Short Cover Letter Example—Middle
| RIGHT |
|---|
Could we meet for a coffee and a chat about how my dedication to leveraging gamification played a crucial role in increasing user data recording? Yours sincerely, Mia Liston P.S. I’d also be happy for you to learn more about how my optimised driver tracking feature pinpointed inefficiencies that when resolved, resulted in cost savings of £650,000. |
Mia was our candidate in the software engineer example. Check out what she just did.
She’s asked for the interview and given the hiring manager a reason to find out more about the value she’ll add.
Then she did one more thing that has guaranteed it. Two letters. P.S.
That draws the eye like a magnet. Then it lands a killer blow with an impressive achievement backed by numbers.
The hiring manager’s going to be on the phone in a flash.
Lastly, remember about a formal close. It’s a short cover letter, but don’t forget the basics.
There are only two sign-offs that are appropriate for a cover letter. ‘Yours sincerely’ if you addressed the letter to a named person and ‘Yours faithfully’ if it was anonymous, e.g. ‘Dear Hiring Manager’.
Still not sure how to finish with an offer they can’t refuse? Read our guide: How to End a Cover Letter
Plus, a great cover letter that matches your CV will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:
See more cover letter templates and start writing.
Key Takeaways
You’re all set to write the best short application cover letter. Now let’s refresh your memory with a nice short summary.
How to write a short cover letter:
- Format it for sending as an email.
- Start off strong with a personalised intro that shows relevant skills and achievements.
- Make a middle that consolidates with experience, achievements, and motivation that’s targeted to the job you’re applying for.
- Finish with a CTA that incorporates an irresistible offer to get you the interview.
- And for the perfect cover letter throw in a powerful P.S. to guarantee success.
Struggling to slim down your cover letter? Need more advice? Ask away in the comments section. Thanks for reading.
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