How to write a cover letter
A cover letter is a short letter that goes with your CV. It tells the employer which job you want and why you are a good fit, in a few paragraphs. A good one makes them want to read your CV.
Updated 24 October 2026 · By Tumelo Vincent Tau
1. Keep it to one page
Three or four short paragraphs are enough. Employers read many applications, so get to the point and leave the details for your CV.
- Your name, phone number and email address at the top, the same as on your CV.
- The date, and the company's name (and the person's name if the advert gives one).
- A heading with the post you are applying for and the reference number, for example Re: Application for the post of Sales Assistant (Ref: SA-104).
2. What to write in each paragraph
| Paragraph | What to say |
|---|---|
| Opening | The post you are applying for, the reference number and where you saw the advert. |
| Why you fit | Two or three things from your CV that match what the advert asks for: a qualification, experience or skill. |
| Why them | One sentence about why you want to work there or in this kind of job. |
| Closing | That your CV is attached, that you are available for an interview, and the best number to reach you. |
3. An example you can adapt
Dear Hiring Manager
Re: Application for the post of Sales Assistant (Ref: SA-104)
I would like to apply for the post of Sales Assistant, advertised on your website. I completed Grade 12 in 2025 and I have worked weekends at a family tuck shop for two years.
At the tuck shop I served customers, handled cash and helped to pack stock, so I am used to working with people and with money. I am punctual, friendly and quick to learn, and I speak English, Sesotho and isiZulu.
I would like to grow in retail, and your store's focus on good service is the kind of place I want to learn in.
My CV is attached. I am available for an interview at any time and can be reached on 072 123 4567. Thank you for considering my application.
Yours faithfully
Lerato Molefe
Change it for every job: the post, the reference number and the reasons must match that advert. Employers notice a letter that was sent to everyone.
4. Common mistakes
- Repeating your whole CV instead of picking the two or three things that matter for this job
- The wrong company name or post, left over from another application
- No reference number when the advert gives one
- Spelling mistakes and SMS language ("u", "pls")
- A different phone number or email from the one on your CV
5. Government posts
For public service posts, the Z83 form and your CV are what the advert asks for. Follow the advert exactly: add a cover letter only if it asks for one or allows extra documents. See how to fill in the Z83 form.
Make it on your phone
CV Maker SA writes a cover letter from the details already in your CV. You add the post, the company and the reference number, change anything you like, and save the letter and your CV together as one PDF, ready to email or print.