Is a covering letter required? How long should it be? What do I say in it?

Absolutely! A covering letter is required to get the employer interested to read the rest of the CV. It also helps to highlight your achievements. The ideal length of a covering letter is 3 concise paragraphs – the introduction, the body- consisting of your career highlights/ achievements/ key responsibilities, and the conclusion – requesting the employer for a one-on-one interview session.