Can I hire someone to write a cover letter?

Why hiring someone to write your cover letter isn’t cheating, it’s strategic.

Let’s face it, writing about yourself is hard. You either end up sounding too modest or like you’ve nominated yourself for sainthood. But when it comes to job applications, your cover letter is your one shot at adding warmth, personality and clarity to your CV.

So, can you hire someone to write your cover letter? Yes. Should you? If you want a competitive edge, absolutely.

Why people hire professional cover letter writers

There are several reasons people turn to professionals to write their cover letters, and it’s not laziness. It’s often about clarity, confidence, and standing out in a sea of generic templates.

Some common reasons include:

• Lack of time or writing confidence

• Switching careers or industries

• Not knowing how to tailor it effectively

• English not being their first language

• Struggling to sound professional without sounding robotic

  
  

A professionally written cover letter can help highlight your strengths, smooth over career gaps, and align you perfectly with a job spec.

Is it ethical to pay someone to write your cover letter?

Yes,  if it’s honest and accurate.

Using a professional writer to express your genuine experience and goals isn’t deceitful. You’re still providing the facts, the achievements, and the passion. The difference is, someone skilled is shaping it in a way that hiring managers actually want to read.

As career coach Jennifer Herrity at Indeed says, “A well-written cover letter can be the difference between your application being skipped or considered.” That doesn’t mean it needs to be written by you,  just that it needs to reflect you.

What does it cost to hire someone to write a cover letter?

The cost of hiring a professional to write your cover letter can vary widely depending on experience, turnaround time, and level of customisation. Most reputable services in the UK charge between £45 and £100 for a tailored cover letter. According to AirTasker, the average sits around £18 to £56 for high-quality work.

At LetterLab, our current prices sit below that industry average, not because of lower quality, but because we’re growing fast and building long-term relationships with our clients. These prices are likely to rise soon to reflect the standard market rate, so if you’re thinking of getting help, now’s the time.

What should a good cover letter writer offer?

When choosing a service, look for:

• Customisation: Not a one-size-fits-all letter

• Industry insight: Experience with your sector or role type

• Clear communication: They should ask questions and get to know you

• Proven results: Testimonials or portfolio examples

  
  

You should leave the process with a cover letter that sounds like you, only sharper, clearer and more confident.

A real example from one of our clients

A recent client at LetterLab was applying for a teaching assistant role after time away from work raising her children. She felt unsure how to phrase her career gap, but we worked with her to position her parenting years as a time of transferable skills: organisation, communication, and patience.

She got an interview two weeks later.

That’s the power of perspective, and good writing.

The verdict: Hiring help with your cover letter is smart, not lazy

Getting expert help to write your cover letter is no different from hiring an accountant to do your taxes or a designer to create your logo. You’re investing in results, and that’s a smart move.

If you’re ready to take the stress out of your next application and stand out for all the right reasons, LetterLab is here to help.

We’ll write it like it’s ours. You just sign it off.