Short answer: Keep a cover letter to three or four short paragraphs on one page. Name the job, show two or three ways your experience matches what the posting asks for, and close by saying you would welcome an interview.
Do you still need a cover letter?
If a posting asks for one, yes; leaving it out can get an application set aside. If it is optional, a short, specific letter still helps when you are changing fields, returning to work, or new to Canada, because it lets you explain what a resume cannot.
What goes in each paragraph?
- Opening: the job title, where you saw it, and one sentence on why you are a fit.
- Evidence: pick two or three requirements from the posting and give a concrete example for each.
- Why this employer: one or two sentences that show you know what they do.
- Close: thank them, say you are available to talk, and give your phone number and email.
How formal should it be?
Polite and direct. Address the hiring manager by name if the posting gives one; otherwise “Dear Hiring Manager” is fine. Avoid long openings and phrases copied from templates. Canadian business writing tends to be plain: short sentences, no exaggeration.
What mistakes cost people interviews?
- sending the same letter to every employer, sometimes with the wrong company name left in
- repeating the resume line by line
- writing about what you want from the job without saying what you offer
- spelling and grammar errors; read it aloud or ask someone to check it
Can you explain a gap or a career change?
Yes, briefly. One sentence is enough: you were caring for family, studying, or relocating to Canada. Then move straight to what you can do for the employer now.
Make sure the letter and your resume agree on dates and job titles. See how to write a Canadian resume if you have not updated yours.
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