Max one page, around 400–500 words. Shorter is almost always better than longer. An HR employee often skims applications in under a minute — give them the essentials quickly. Prioritise motivation and one or two concrete examples over listing all your experience.
Application help
How to Write a Cover Letter – Guide and Example
A complete guide to writing a strong job application. Structure, opening line, motivation, and closing — with examples. Get help from the Arbejd.com AI application tool.
Step-by-step guide
- 1
Read the job posting carefully — and find what matters
Before you write a single line, understand what the employer is actually looking for. Read the posting at least twice. Identify the three most important requirements and note them down. Look for keywords such as "experience with", "knowledge of", and "responsible for" — those are exactly the words you should mirror in your application. Research the company for 10–15 minutes: what do they do, what are their values, do they have current projects or challenges you can comment on?
- 2
Open with a strong, concrete line
The first two sentences decide whether the employer keeps reading. Avoid: "I hereby apply for the position of X." It is dull and says nothing. Instead, start with your motivation or a concrete observation about the company: "Your expansion into the German market is exactly the type of complex operations I have worked with over the past three years." A strong opening shows the application was written for them — not copy-pasted from a template.
- 3
Explain your motivation — why this job and this company
Employers value motivation highly — 73% according to a survey from Ansøgningshjælpen.dk. Explain specifically what attracts you to the role and the company. Use concrete details from the job posting and your research. Generic phrases like "I am looking for new challenges" say nothing. Connect your motivation directly to the company's situation: what can you contribute that solves one of their real needs?
- 4
Match your skills to the requirements with concrete examples
Choose 2–3 of the most important requirements from the posting and show that you meet them with specific examples. Use the STAR structure: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Example: "At [company] I (S) faced reducing complaint handling time (T). I mapped the process and implemented a new triage system (A), which reduced response time by 40% over six months (R)." One example beats ten self-declarations.
- 5
Close with a clear call to action
The closing should be active and forward-looking. Avoid passive phrases like "I hope to hear from you." Instead write: "I look forward to telling you more about how I can contribute to [company] — please feel free to contact me at [phone/email]." State when you are available for an interview if possible. Close with a professional greeting and your full name.
- 6
Tailor, proofread, and send
An application should be max one page and around 400–500 words. Read it aloud — that reveals awkward sentences and repetition. Ask a colleague or friend for a second pair of eyes. Make sure the filename is professional: "Application_[FirstName_LastName]_[Company].pdf". Always send as PDF unless the posting specifically asks for Word.
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Frequently asked questions
A motivated application is a personal cover letter where you explain why you are applying for this specific job at this specific company. It supplements the CV by providing context, showing personality, and explaining your fit for the role. It is "motivated" because it focuses on your motivation rather than simply repeating your CV.
An unsolicited application is sent to a company that does not have an active job posting. You express interest in working there and explain what you can contribute. It requires more research and is a bigger bet, but can open doors that would otherwise stay closed. Always research the company thoroughly and address a concrete need they likely have.
Yes, almost always. The application and CV are a pair — the application explains motivation and fit, the CV documents your background. Most job postings specifically ask for both. The exception is if the posting explicitly says "send application only" or you apply via a platform that already has your profile.
A motivated application responds to a specific job posting — you argue that you match the requirements. An unsolicited application is sent to a company that has not advertised a job, and you must identify a need and justify it yourself. The motivated one is more structured by the posting; the unsolicited one requires more research but can open doors to hidden roles.
Yes. The Arbejd.com application generator reads your CV and the job posting and writes a personalised draft in under a minute. You adjust the tone and add personal details — the AI handles structure, keyword matching, and the opening line. It is a strong starting point that saves time and avoids the blank page problem.
The Arbejd.com AI generator is free to use and produces a tailored draft — not a generic template. A template gives you structure; the generator gives you content tailored to the specific job. Most recruiters can tell the difference between a template and a genuine application, so customisation is always more important than a polished layout.