Short Cover Letter Example: A 150-Word Template

Many application portals don't let you upload a cover letter. They give you a text box labelled "Cover letter" or "Why are you interested in this role?" with a limit of around 1,000 characters. If your usual letter is a full page, it won't fit. This post gives you a short cover letter example and a 150-word template built for those boxes. It also shows you how to cut a longer letter down and paste it without breaking the formatting.

Why 150 words fits most small text boxes

Portals count limits in different ways. Some count words and some count characters, and some count spaces and line breaks too. As a rough guide, 150 words of plain English comes to somewhere between 800 and 1,000 characters including spaces. That fits most boxes labelled "1,000 characters" or "200 words".

If the box is smaller, for example 500 characters, use the compressed version further down. If you can't tell what the limit is, paste in a draft and check whether the portal shows a counter or cuts off your text.

A short letter also helps the person reading it. Recruiters often read the text box next to your CV on the same screen. They need a quick, specific reason to open your CV. They don't need a second copy of it.

The 150-word template, part by part

Each part has a word budget. Stick to it and you'll land close to 150.

Part	Purpose	Word budget
Greeting + opener	Name the role and who you are	20-25
Evidence	One or two results that match the ad	50-60
Fit	Why this employer, not just any job	25-30
Close	Next step, availability	15-20
Sign-off	Name and contact line	5-10

Here is the fill-in version:

Dear [Hiring Manager's name / Hiring Team],

I'm applying for the [job title] role [reference number, if given]. I'm a [your current or most relevant role] with [X years / relevant background] in [area that matches the ad].

Your ad asks for [requirement 1] and [requirement 2]. In my current role, I [specific action and result that proves requirement 1]. I also [specific action that proves requirement 2].

I'm interested in [organisation] because [one concrete, accurate reason: their product, service users, region, or way of working].

I'd welcome the chance to discuss the role. My CV is attached, and I'm available [notice period / interview availability].

Kind regards, [Full name] [Phone] | [Email]

Rules for filling it in

• Mirror the ad's wording only where it's true. If the ad says "stakeholder management" and you've actually done it, use that phrase. If you haven't, don't claim it. Write about the nearest real experience you have.
• Use one number per result if you have a real one. Ticket volumes, budgets, class sizes, turnaround times. If you can't verify a number, describe the result in words.
• Don't repeat your CV line by line. Pick the one or two points most relevant to this ad.
• Make the "why them" reason specific. "Your company is a leader in the industry" fits any employer, so it tells the reader nothing.

Short cover letter example (about 150 words)

This is an illustration for a fictional applicant applying for a remote customer support role. Swap in your own real details.

Dear Hiring Team,

I'm applying for the Customer Support Specialist role (ref. CS-214). I've spent three years handling email and live-chat support for a software company, using Zendesk and writing help-centre articles.

Your ad asks for clear written English and SaaS experience. Last year I rewrote our ten most-viewed help articles after noticing the same questions coming in each week, and I now review new articles before they go live. I also trained two new colleagues on our escalation process.

I'm interested in your team because you support customers across several time zones. I've worked remotely on UK and US hours since 2022, so I'm comfortable with shift handovers and written updates.

I'd welcome the chance to discuss the role. My CV is attached, and I can start with two weeks' notice.

Kind regards, Amara Okafor [Phone] | [Email]

Why it works:

• The opener names the role and reference, so it can't be mistaken for another application.
• The evidence answers two requirements from the ad directly. Each one is backed by something the applicant actually did.
• The fit line links a real feature of the job (time zones) to real experience.
• The close gives practical information (notice period) instead of a vague "I look forward to hearing from you".

If you have a long letter or a job ad and want help cutting it to this length, the QuickApplyPilot cover letter tool can draft a shorter version from your details and the ad. Treat the draft as a starting point. Check that every claim is accurate and reads like you before you paste it.

Compressed version for 500-character boxes

When space is very tight, drop the greeting and sign-off if the portal already shows your name. Keep just the evidence and the fit:

I'm applying for the Customer Support Specialist role. I have three years of email and chat support for a SaaS company, including rewriting our most-viewed help articles and training new starters on escalations. I've worked remote UK and US hours since 2022 and would value supporting your multi-time-zone team. CV attached; two weeks' notice.

Variations by situation

• Graduate or no paid experience: Use a university project, placement, volunteering or part-time job as your evidence. Describe what you did and what changed because of it.
• Career changer: Use the fit section to name the transferable skill plainly, for example "Ten years of teaching has given me daily practice explaining complex topics to mixed audiences."
• Applying from another country: Add one short, factual line about your location or right to work if the ad asks for it. If you'll need sponsorship, see how to mention visa sponsorship in a cover letter for neutral wording. Don't state an immigration status you don't hold. Rules differ by country, so check the official government immigration website for the country you're applying to.

How to paste it without breaking the formatting

Text boxes usually strip formatting, and some remove line breaks too. To avoid a wall of text:

1. Write in a plain-text editor (Notepad, TextEdit in plain-text mode, or your phone's notes app). Word processors add smart quotes and hidden characters that can turn into odd symbols.
2. Avoid bullet symbols, bold and emojis. Use short paragraphs instead.
3. Leave a blank line between paragraphs. If the portal still merges them, short paragraphs are easier to read anyway.
4. Check the counter, then add a buffer. If the limit is 1,000 characters, aim for about 950. Some systems count line breaks as characters.
5. Save a copy before submitting. Portals can time out and wipe the box.

If the portal also lets you upload a file, you can upload your full letter there. In that case, use the box for a two- or three-sentence summary rather than pasting the same text twice. For applications sent by email instead of a portal, the email body works much like the text box. See these short templates for what to write when sending a CV.

Small differences by country

The 150-word structure works across English-speaking job markets, but tone and conventions vary a little:

• UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand: A direct, fairly informal tone is normal. "Dear Hiring Team" or the manager's first and last name is fine. Sign off with "Kind regards".
• US and Canada: Employers often say "resume" rather than "CV", so match the ad's wording in your letter. Leave out age, marital status and photos. For Canada, see this Canadian cover letter format guide.
• Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, India and the UAE: Some employers, especially in government and banking, still expect a more formal tone. "Dear Sir/Madam" is acceptable when no name is given. If you're applying to international or remote employers from these countries, a direct style like the example above is usually safer.
• Philippines and Singapore: Formal-but-brief works well. Mention your availability and notice period clearly, because employers often ask about them early.

Wherever you apply, follow the portal's own instructions first. If it asks a specific question, such as "Why do you want this job?", answer that question. Don't paste in a generic letter.

Checklist before you click submit

• The job title and reference number are correct (check them when you reuse a letter)
• The company name is right throughout
• Each requirement you mention matches something real on your CV
• Every number is one you could explain in an interview
• One specific reason for wanting this employer
• Notice period or availability included if relevant
• Under the character limit with a small buffer
• Pasted from plain text, with no stray symbols
• Read aloud once to catch typos and awkward phrasing

A short letter won't guarantee a reply, and no template can. What it can do is make your strongest, truthful evidence easy to see in the few seconds the reader spends on the box. Write a fresh evidence section for each role, keep the rest as your base, and you can tailor a 150-word letter in about ten minutes.