Cover Letter Examples: 5 Short Letters That Work

Updated September 24, 2026

Below are five complete cover letter examples for different roles and career stages, each followed by a short note on why it works. Use them to learn structure and tone – not as text to copy.

Every example follows the same pattern: a headline with a promise, an opening that links the applicant to the job, concrete evidence and a short closing. The people and companies are fictional, and several letters are written for jobs in Denmark, where a one-page letter with a headline is the norm. For the full method, read our guide on how to write a cover letter.

Cover letter example for a graduate

As a recent graduate you rarely have years of work experience, but you do have projects, part-time jobs and a thesis. The job is to make them relevant.

Example: Business graduate applying for a marketing coordinator role

Business graduate who turns customer data into campaigns that work

Dear Sofie Lund,

Your advert says you want to make better use of customer data in your newsletters. That was the subject of my master's thesis, in which I analysed open rates for a mid-sized online shop and proposed a new segmentation that the company now uses.

Alongside my studies, I spent two years as a marketing assistant at Nordlys Retail. I planned weekly newsletters, built them in our email platform and reported results to my manager every month, so I know what it takes to work to fixed deadlines with many stakeholders.

I am applying to Grønvang Furniture because you sell products made to last, and your communication is honest and free of hype. That is the kind of marketing I want to do.

I would be glad to tell you more about my thesis and what I can contribute from day one.

Kind regards,

Mikkel Thomsen

Why it works:

  • The thesis becomes experience: Mikkel shows that his research solved a problem much like the employer's.
  • The part-time job is specific: The tasks are spelled out, so the reader can see what he can actually do.
  • The motivation is personal: He names something about the company that could not appear in any other letter.

Cover letter example for a student or part-time job

A letter for a part-time or student job can be shorter. The employer mainly wants to know whether you are reliable, when you can work and whether you will fit in.

Example: Student applying for a part-time customer service job

Reliable student with experience of busy customer contact – available 15 hours a week

Dear Hiring Team,

I am in the second year of a computer science degree and am applying for your part-time customer service role because I want to use my technical skills to help customers solve real problems.

For the past three years I have worked on the tills and shop floor of a supermarket, where I learned to stay calm with long queues and unhappy customers. I have never missed a shift, and I am often the one who covers when a colleague is ill.

My timetable leaves room for 15 hours a week, mainly afternoons and weekends, and I can work more outside exam periods.

I would be happy to come in for a chat.

Kind regards,

Amina Yusuf

Why it works:

  • Availability is clear: It is often the first thing an employer checks for a part-time role.
  • Reliability is proven: "Never missed a shift" says more than "I am responsible".
  • Short and to the point: The length suits a part-time job.

Still building experience? See our guide to writing a CV with no experience.

Cover letter example for an experienced professional moving to Denmark

When you apply from abroad, the employer wonders about practicalities as well as skills. Answer both briefly, and show you know something about how they work.

Example: Software developer relocating to Copenhagen

Backend developer with six years of experience building reliable payment systems

Dear Henrik Bach,

You are looking for a backend developer to help scale your booking platform ahead of new markets. For the past six years I have built and maintained payment services at a fintech company in Berlin, where I led the move from one large application to smaller services that the team could release independently.

I enjoy the unglamorous parts of reliability: monitoring, clear documentation and code reviews that help colleagues grow. I also mentor two junior developers, and I value the flat structure and direct feedback you describe in your advert.

I am moving to Copenhagen with my partner this spring. As an EU citizen I do not need a work permit, and I am taking Danish lessons. I can start from 1 April.

I would welcome the chance to discuss how I can help Havbro Travel grow.

Kind regards,

Lucia Romero

Why it works:

  • The advert's need comes first: The opening answers the main requirement directly.
  • Practical questions are settled: Moving date, right to work and start date remove uncertainty in one short paragraph.
  • Cultural fit is shown, not claimed: She links her way of working to what the company says it values.

For more on local expectations, see our guide to the Danish CV format.

Cover letter example for an office or administrative role

For office and administrative jobs, many employers look for accuracy, comfort with systems and good service. Show that with small, concrete examples.

Example: Administrator applying for a property management role

Administrator who keeps the details in order so tenants get quick answers

Dear Lise Holm,

For six years I have handled bookkeeping, invoicing and customer queries at a small consultancy. I would now like to bring that experience to Fjordbyen Property, where your advert says you need someone to look after both tenants and finances.

I manage our shared inbox and usually answer customer queries the same day. When we changed accounting systems last year, I migrated the data and wrote step-by-step guides for my colleagues.

I enjoy work where many small things have to add up, and I get real satisfaction when a customer gets a clear answer first time. That is why your focus on service appeals to me.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

Jonas Nielsen

Why it works:

  • Experience is translated: Jonas shows that his consultancy tasks also exist in property management.
  • Initiative stands out: The system migration shows responsibility without big words.
  • Personality through action: He describes what he enjoys at work instead of calling himself service-minded.

Cover letter example for a career change

When you change careers, your letter's main job is to build a bridge between what you have done and what the role requires.

Example: Teacher applying for a learning and development role

Experienced teacher who helps new starters get up to speed faster

Dear Hiring Team,

For ten years I have planned lessons that have to work for 25 very different people at once. That is the experience I want to bring to Kystlinjen Energy, where you are looking for an HR consultant to develop your onboarding and internal training.

As a team coordinator at my school, I designed an induction programme for new teachers with regular mentoring sessions and a shared resource library. New colleagues told me afterwards that they settled in more quickly. I have also completed a course in adult learning.

I know I have a lot to learn about HR systems and employment law, and I have already signed up for an employment law course. In return, I bring experience of explaining clearly, building trust and following up.

I would be glad to discuss how my experience could strengthen your onboarding.

Kind regards,

Peter Mortensen

Why it works:

  • The bridge is obvious: The opening explains why teaching experience matters for HR.
  • A project close to the job: The induction programme mirrors the exact task he is applying for.
  • Honest about gaps: He names what he needs to learn and shows he has already started.

Read more about writing your CV and cover letter for a career change.

How to use these examples for your own cover letter

An example is a starting point, not a form to fill in. Employers read a lot of applications and quickly recognise copied text.

  1. Pick the example closest to your situation and read why it works.
  2. Find the three or four key requirements in your own job advert.
  3. Write one concrete example from your own experience for each requirement.
  4. Write your headline and opening last, once you know your strongest argument.
  5. Read the letter aloud and cut anything that could appear in any other application.

Frequently asked questions

What makes a good cover letter?
It shows you understand the job and proves with concrete examples that you can do the work. It fits on one page and includes a clear opening, your motivation, your key strengths and a short closing.
Can I copy a cover letter example?
Use examples for structure and tone, but write the text yourself. A copied letter rarely fits the job and is easy to spot.
What do I write in a cover letter with no experience?
Use university projects, part-time jobs, volunteering and societies as evidence. Show what you learned and how it relates to the tasks in the job.
How should I sign off a cover letter?
"Kind regards" followed by your full name is safe in both the UK and Denmark. "Yours sincerely" is also fine when you address a named person in a formal British letter.
Should I mention visa or relocation in my cover letter?
If you are applying from abroad, yes – one or two sentences on your right to work, moving date and start date answer the employer's practical questions early.

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