By Medcruit Careers Desk — HealthTech recruitment editorial team · Updated 2026-06-10
The four-paragraph structure
This structure works across industries and countries because it answers the reader's questions in the order they ask them.
- Paragraph 1 — Why this employer specifically, in one concrete sentence.
- Paragraph 2 — Two pieces of evidence mapped to their top two requirements, with numbers.
- Paragraph 3 — What you would focus on in the first 90 days.
- Paragraph 4 — Availability, visa or notice status, and a clear close.
Openings that work
Compare: 'I am writing to apply for the ICU Nurse position advertised on your website' against 'Your ECMO programme is one of only four in the region, and having supported 40+ ECMO runs at Kenyatta National Hospital, that is exactly where I want to keep building.' One is filler; the other is a reason to keep reading.
When cover letters matter most
They matter most for career changers, speculative approaches, employment gaps, senior roles and small organisations where a human reads everything. They matter least for high-volume graduate schemes where the ATS score dominates the first cut.