Generic cover letters get rejected. Tailored ones get interviews.

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Tailored to the role Professional UK format References your experience

Why generic cover letters don't work — and what to do instead

Recruiters at Goldman Sachs, McKinsey, and Clifford Chance read hundreds of cover letters per role. The generic ones — "I am writing to apply for the position of..." followed by a CV summary — are immediately obvious. Research from the Institute of Student Employers suggests over 60% of graduate applications are rejected at initial sift, with cover letter quality cited as a primary differentiator.

What separates successful cover letters is specificity. Referencing a particular deal the firm worked on, connecting a specific experience to a specific requirement, and demonstrating you understand what the role actually involves. A recruiter at a Magic Circle firm noted that they can tell within two sentences whether a candidate has written the letter specifically for them.

The challenge is scale. If you're applying to 15-20 firms, writing a genuinely tailored letter for each takes hours. Most people either send one generic letter everywhere (which fails) or spend so long per letter that they miss deadlines. Neither is sustainable during peak application season from September to January.

Intervyo reads both your CV and the job description, identifies the strongest experience matches, and generates a unique letter in seconds. You still add personal touches — specific conversations, events, motivations — but the structural work is done. The AI explains its reasoning so you understand why it highlighted certain experiences.

What recruiters look for

The anatomy of a cover letter that gets interviews

What works

  • Opens with genuine motivation, not "I am writing to apply"
  • References specific firm deals, cases, or initiatives
  • Matches 2-3 CV experiences to specific role requirements
  • Quantifies achievements ("increased by 23%", not "helped with")
  • Shows commercial awareness relevant to the sector
  • Under 350 words — every sentence earns its place
  • Closes with specific next steps and availability
  • UK business letter format with correct salutation

What gets rejected

  • Generic opening that could apply to any firm
  • Restating the CV without adding context
  • No connection between your experience and the role
  • Same letter sent to multiple firms unchanged
  • Exceeding one page or having formatting issues
  • Mentioning the wrong firm name (more common than you think)
  • Vague language with no specific examples
  • Not addressing requirements in the job description

Sector-specific

What each sector expects in a cover letter

A Goldman Sachs cover letter reads differently from a McKinsey one. Here's what each sector values.

  • 1Reference specific deals the firm closed (check their press releases)
  • 2Mention M&A, ECM, or DCM — show you understand divisional differences
  • 3Quantify analytical experience: "built 12 DCF models" beats "experience in financial modelling"
  • 4Name-drop conversations with analysts at networking events
  • 5Keep tone formal but not stiff — banks want sharp, not robotic

Letter structure

The 4-paragraph formula top candidates use

1

The Hook

Open with why you want this firm specifically. Reference a deal, a conversation, an event. This paragraph must be impossible to send to another firm unchanged.

2

The Match

Connect your strongest experience to the most important requirement. Quantify. "Led a team of 4 to deliver a £15K consulting project" beats "experience in team leadership."

3

The Depth

Add a second match or demonstrate commercial awareness. This differentiates you from the 80% of candidates who only have one relevant story.

4

The Close

Express enthusiasm for the next step. Mention availability. 1-2 sentences. Do not introduce new information.

Compare options

Cover letter options compared

FeatureIntervyoChatGPTWrite yourselfCareers service
Reads CV + JD togetherN/A
Tailored to specific roleWith prompting
Time per letter10 sec1-2 min30-60 min1-2 weeks
AI reasoningN/A
Touch-up tipsN/A
Unlimited generation
Consistent qualityVariableVariable
Sector conventionsWith promptingIf you know them
Free tier

How it works

Three inputs. One tailored letter.

Step 1

Upload your CV

PDF or DOCX. The AI extracts experiences, skills, achievements, and education to find the strongest matches.

Step 2

Paste the job description

The full role description. The AI identifies what the recruiter is testing for and what matters most.

Step 3

Get your letter

A tailored cover letter with AI reasoning for its choices and manual touch-up tips.

FAQ

Cover letter questions

15 applications. 15 tailored letters.
Under 3 minutes total.

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