The basis of a cover letter is the same everywhere: a recognisable opening, a strong example and a clear closing. What differs from one occupation to the next are the words and the points the reader is looking for. A nurse is judged on care and record keeping. A production operative on safety and quality. A sales assistant on how they help customers. A content marketer on results and tone of voice.
Below you will find one example for each occupation. Every example consists of a short explanation and a letter. Use the letter as a starting point, replace the examples with your own work and adapt the wording to the vacancy.
Cover letter for a nurse
Healthcare organisations mainly read whether you have the right registration, who you work with and how you deal with clients. State your level and your area of experience, such as elderly care, mental health care or disability care. Give one example from your daily work, for instance how you communicated with a family or how you adjusted a care plan.
Dear Ms Kok, I am writing with great interest to apply for the nurse vacancy on the somatic ward at [name of care organisation]. I am a nurse [level and registration] and have worked in [sector] for [number] years. I am looking for a ward where I can put my experience with complex care to further use. In my current role I regularly support residents during a hospital admission and on their return to the ward. I make sure the handover is complete and that the family knows what is going on. This resulted in [result, for example fewer repeat questions from families]. I keep accurate records in the care file and enjoy working in a permanent team. At [name of care organisation] I would like to expand my knowledge of wound care and to train new colleagues. My CV and proof of my BIG registration (the Dutch register for healthcare professionals) are attached. I look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards, [Your name] [Phone number] · [Email address]
Cover letter for a doctor’s assistant
A GP practice is looking for an assistant who can handle the phone, the front desk and the consulting room at the same time. In your letter, say whether you carry out triage and under which protocol, which medical procedures you perform independently and which patient record system you work with. A practice also wants to know how you deal with patients who are worried or angry. One situation on the phone says more about that than the words ‘customer-friendly’.
Are you applying with a motivation letter, for example for a training place or for your first job after vocational education (mbo)? Then put the emphasis on why you want to do this work and what you already did independently during your placement. The structure below stays the same.
Dear Ms Dijkstra, In your vacancy you are looking for a doctor’s assistant who carries out telephone triage independently and manages the consulting hours of three GPs. I have been doing exactly that work for [number] years at [name of current practice]. That is why I would like to apply to your practice. Every morning I answer the phone during the busiest hour. I assess the questions using the NHG-TriageWijzer (the Dutch GPs’ triage guide) and schedule urgent cases for the same day. Recently a mother called, worried about her child with a fever. I asked the questions from the protocol, heard a signal that could not wait and consulted the GP straight away. The child was able to come in within the hour. Besides the phone, I run the clinic for blood pressure, blood glucose and ECGs, and I organise the check-ups for patients with diabetes. I work in [name of patient record system] and keep track of the stock. In your vacancy I read that the assistants also run their own clinic for older patients. I would be glad to contribute to that. You will find my CV attached. I would be happy to tell you in an interview how I work. Kind regards, [Your name] [Phone number] · [Email address]
Cover letter for a warehouse operative
In a warehouse, accuracy, safety and pace count. Mention your certificates, such as a forklift licence, and the type of work you have done: order picking, goods receipt, packing or stock control. A figure makes it concrete, such as the number of orders per hour or an error rate you have reduced, as long as you are sure of it.
Dear Mr Bos, I would like to apply for the position of warehouse operative at [company name]. I have [number] years of experience in order picking and packing at [type of company], and I know what it takes to keep quality up in a peak week. I work accurately and pay close attention to safety. I hold [your certificates, for example a forklift certificate], and before every shipment I check that the product, size and label are correct. This has led to [result]. I enjoy working in a team that complements each other. In your vacancy I read that every shift starts with a fixed handover. That is how I work now too, and it prevents mistakes. You will find my CV attached. Please let me know when I can come by for an introductory meeting. Kind regards, [Your name] [Phone number] · [Email address]
Cover letter for a production operative
In production, the employer wants to know which machines you operated, whether you work safely and whether you can work in shifts. Mention your VCA certificate (the Dutch safety certificate for operational staff), the type of product and the checks you carried out, such as a dimension check or a visual inspection. Use one example to show that you spot a deviation and report it before a whole batch goes wrong. In this work, that is the reason a team leader trusts you.
Dear Mr Kramer, I would like to apply for the position of production operative on the shift rota at [company name]. I have worked in the metal industry for [number] years, where I set up and operate machines and inspect the products. I have worked a two-shift pattern for years and know how important a good handover is. At the start of every batch I measure the first product with a calliper and compare it with the drawing. Last month I noticed that one dimension was slowly drifting. I stopped the machine, warned the team leader and replaced the tooling together with the mechanic. As a result, the rejects were limited to [number] pieces. In your vacancy I read that you work with fixed quality rounds and that new employees get their own machine. I hold my VCA certificate and like helping new colleagues get started with machine setup. You will find my CV attached. I would be glad to come by for an interview and a tour of the shop floor. Kind regards, [Your name] [Phone number] · [Email address]
Cover letter for a sales assistant
A shop is looking for someone who helps customers, sells and keeps the shop tidy. Mention the kind of shop you worked in, how you advise customers and which till system you use. Put your availability in the letter: evenings, Saturdays and Sunday opening days are often the first question for a shop manager. If you are applying for a part-time job, a shorter letter is enough, with your availability and one example of how you deal with people. If the vacancy addresses you informally (‘je’ instead of the formal ‘u’), as in many shops, the letter may also address the manager by first name, as the example does.
Hi [first name of shop manager], I am applying for the sales assistant vacancy in your shop on [street]. I have worked in a fashion shop for [number] years, and I enjoy helping someone who walks in without knowing exactly what they are looking for. Recently a woman came in looking for an outfit for a wedding, but she did not have much time. I asked about the dress code and the budget, put together three combinations and helped with the sizes in the fitting room. She went home with a complete outfit and came back a week later with a friend. That is how I would like to work for you too: ask calm questions and give honest advice. I work with [name of till system], handle returns and restock the shelves in between. I am available on [days], including Saturdays and Sunday opening days. My CV is attached. I would love to come by to meet you. Kind regards, [Your name] [Phone number] · [Email address]
Cover letter for a content marketer
For a content marketer, the portfolio counts. Mention two or three pieces or campaigns and what they delivered. Also show that you can recognise a brand’s voice and that you know which channel you work with. A link to your portfolio belongs in the letter, not only in your CV.
Dear Ms Hendriks, I am delighted to apply for the position of content marketer at [company name]. I have been writing for brands in business services for [number] years, and I am looking for a team that sees content not as separate pieces but as part of a growth plan. The project I am proudest of is a series of articles and a newsletter for a software company. I drew up the editorial calendar, wrote about half of the pieces and worked with the sales department on the topics. The result: [result of your project, with figures if you have them]. You can find my portfolio with those pieces at [link]. I know how to safeguard a tone of voice without it becoming stiff, and I am used to working with data: which topics get read, where people drop off and what that means for the next step. That combination of writing and measuring is what I am looking for. You will find my CV attached. I look forward to hearing when we can talk. Kind regards, [Your name] [Phone number] · [Email address]
Cover letter for a customer service representative
In customer service you show that you can communicate patiently and clearly, even when it is busy. Mention the systems you know, such as a ticketing system or a CRM, and an example of a difficult customer you helped successfully. Describe your approach, not only the result.
Dear Ms Groen, I am applying for the customer service representative vacancy at [company name]. I have worked in customer service at [type of company] for [number] years, where I call and email customers every day about invoices, payments and outages. I get real satisfaction from this work: understanding the customer’s story in a short time and offering a solution. I work with a ticketing system and a CRM, and I am used to serving several channels at once. An example from my work: [describe a difficult situation, what you did and what it achieved]. What appeals to me about [company name] is [what appeals to you about the organisation]. That fits how I deal with customers in my work. You will find my CV attached. I look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards, [Your name] [Phone number] · [Email address]
How to adapt the letter to your profession
Take the structure from the example and replace the sentences that are about the profession. Start with the tasks from the vacancy, then the example from your own work and finally the reason why you want to work for this organisation. That order works for every occupation.
Pay attention to the language of your profession. A nurse writes about care plans and handovers, a content marketer about target groups and channels. Only use those words if you really use them in your work. A recruiter notices immediately when the jargon does not ring true.
Compare your letter with the job description. If there are tasks in it that your letter does not mention, choose one that you can back up. A letter with three strong points works better than a letter with ten mediocre ones.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to write the letter completely from scratch for each occupation?
Not completely. The structure stays the same. Adapt the examples, the jargon and the points the vacancy mentions. A letter in which only the job title has been changed stands out.
Which example should I choose if my profession is not listed?
Look at the structure and the explanation of the closest occupation. Replace the example with a situation from your own work. The structure works for most jobs.
How much do certificates and registrations count?
In some occupations, such as healthcare and engineering, registrations or certificates are mandatory or very important. Mention them in the letter and in your CV, with the year and the issuing body if you know them.
Is a motivation letter for a doctor’s assistant different from a cover letter?
The structure is the same. In a motivation letter you put more emphasis on why you want to do this work, for example what you noticed during your placement at the GP. In a cover letter the emphasis is on what you already do independently, such as triage and medical procedures.
Should I put a figure in the letter?
Only if it is accurate and you can back it up. A figure makes an example concrete, but an invented number is a bigger risk than a sentence without a number.
Can I have a letter drafted from my CV?
Yes. First create your CV on CVmakenOnline.nl. Then paste the vacancy text next to your CV, and the AI writes a first version of the letter using the details from your CV. Read that version critically and adapt it, so that the letter is really about you and this vacancy.
Make your CV and cover letter
You start without an account. Make your CV first; editing and the preview are free. You pay a one-off €12.95 to unlock your CV. The AI then writes up to five letters for that CV, which you edit yourself and download as a PDF.
Read also
- Short cover letterA five-paragraph letter that takes a few minutes to read. With an example and a step-by-step plan.
- Motivation letterWhat makes a motivation letter different, how to support your motivation and an example to learn from.
- Open applicationApplying to a company with no vacancy: the approach, the letter and the best time to follow up.
- Internship letterYour first application as a student: what a host organisation looks for, how to use limited work experience, and a sample.
- English cover letterA cover letter in English for a job in the Netherlands: when to use it, how to structure it and a full sample.
- Salutation and closingHow to address the reader and how to open and close a Dutch cover letter, with examples for every situation.