After looking through job offer after neverending job offer, you’ve finally found your dream position.
They offer amazing compensation and benefits. You’ll be
surrounded by great coworkers. Perhaps they even have free snacks and great
coffee in the breakroom.
But—
Before you can show them how well-suited you are at the
interview, you need to write a cover letter that convinces them to give you a
shot.
It’s not as hard as you think.
How to Write a Cover Letter:
- Format
the Cover Letter Template for Perfection
- Construct
a Cover Letter Header With Addresses & Dates
- Open
With a Formal Salutation Using Their Name
- Introduce
Yourself & the Position to Which You’re Applying
- Explain
How They Benefit From Hiring You
- Show
Enthusiasm & Inform Them Why They’re the Ideal Workplace for You
- Make
Them an Offer They Can’t Refuse
- Sign
Off Using a Closing Sentiment & Your Name
- Add a
Postscript for One Last Shot at Winning Them Over
Also—
After our guide on how to create a cover letter, there are
plenty of cover letter tips and advice to make sure you beat out other
candidates.
Then, we end the saga by giving you dozens of links to cover
letter examples for specific professions. Use these if you want to go more
in-depth on how to write a cover letter for a particular career path.
But first, here are…
3 Awesome Cover Letter Examples to Get the Gears Turning
Before we get to our guide on how to write a cover letter
for a job, let’s get things started with three great sample cover letters.
One is for an experienced candidate, and another is for an
entry-level applicant. The third one is a fill-in-the-blanks cover letter
template for you to copy, paste, and use for yourself.
1. Experienced Cover Letter Example (Mid-Level Job)
In this first cover letter sample, we have a seasoned professional applying for a job she’s got experience in.
Annabel is an office assistant in New Jersey. For the
unfortunate reason that her last office was shut down, she’s applying for a
similar position at a new company.
Let’s look at how Annabel wins the office manager’s heart over with this cover letter example:
What’d you think?
In less than 300 words, Annabel has definitely created an
attention-grabbing cover letter. She shows passion, plenty of experience, and
accomplishments to all but secure her a desk and a filing cabinet.
Next up—
2. Entry-Level Cover Letter Example (First-Time Job)
In this next example, we’re now going to see how to write a
cover letter for a job with no experience in that field.
Here we have Thomas.
Thomas just graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Software
Engineering. He has no professional working experience in IT, but he is
positive he would be a great fit nonetheless.
Let’s watch how he pulls this off:
How about that?
Thomas has had real-world working
experience in the past, but his time employed as a barista was to help him get
through college. Though he learned some great skills as a barista, they don’t
help him much in getting the job as a software engineer.
However, he makes up for his lack of paid IT experience by
showing he has the skills, knowledge, and passion for software engineering.
Use this style also when thinking of how to write a cover
letter for an internship.
Let’s continue—
3. General Cover Letter Example (Fill-in-the-Blanks Template)
Below is a sample cover letter template you can copy and
paste and use for yourself. Simply replace the bold items in brackets with your
information, and you’ll have a great, personalized cover letter written in
under 15 minutes!
Here is our cover letter sample template:
[Your Full Name]
[Your Professional Title] (Optional)
[Your Address]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]
[Your LinkedIn Profile URL]
[Date of Writing]
[Employer’s Full Name]
[Employer’s Professional Title]
[Company Name]
[Company Address]
[Company Address Line 2]
Dear [Employer’s Name]:
I was thrilled to locate the [Job
Title] at [New Company Name]. With my [## of Years] years
working as a [Previous or Current Job Title], I’ve become quite
experienced with [Give Example of Most Relevant Skills or Competencies]. I
am sure that I possess the necessary skills, background, and experience to be a
perfect candidate for this position.
In the employment ad’s job responsibilities section, it says
you require a [Job Title] with expertise in [List Competencies
You Have Which Are Mentioned in the Job Advertisement]. As a [Previous or
Current Job Title] with [Previous or Current Company], I successfully
managed [Give One or Two Responsibilities Relevant to the New Job Title].
On top of that, I had a few wins which I am quite proud of, including:
- [Add
an Achievement With Numbers to Prove You’re Talented]
- [Another
Accomplishment With Numbers to Drive the Point Home]
Working at [New Company Name] would be an amazing
opportunity for me, but not solely because I fit the requirements. Your company
also [Mention Something About the Company You Admire, e.g., Values,
Projects, Contributions, Ethics, etc.]. Because of that, it would be an honor
for me to work for [New Company Name] as the next [Job Title].
Do you have time for a brief chat in the next few days? I’d
love to talk about how I can help [New Company Name] achieve its
upcoming [Plans, Goals, KPIs, Targets, etc.].
Sincerely,
[Digital Signature] (optional)
[Your First & Last Name]
P.S. [Add a Postscript, Optionally, to Remind Them of Your
Value, Throw in One More Fact, or to Add a Creative Touch].
Not so bad, right?
This one follows our standard guidelines on what to include
in a cover letter.
Also, show your resume the same love and attention—it’s just
as important if you want that interview.
Otherwise, let’s continue—
Here is our step-by-step guide on…. How to Write a Cover Letter
1. Format the Cover Letter Before You Begin Writing
Most employers prefer to read a resume if a cover letter
comes attached.
And guess what?
Those same employers favor a cover letter that is arranged
correctly.
Here’s how to format a cover letter effectively:
- Align
everything to the left side (block formatting), from beginning to end.
Don’t use text justification.
- Single
line space all text (or use 1.15 line spacing).
- Use double-space between each cover letter section and paragraph.
- Include
a 1-inch margin on
all sides of the cover letter.
- Choose a great cover
letter font. Select the font by how legible it is over how pretty it
looks.
- When
in doubt, a cover letter is a business document, so follow formal letter
formatting rules.
- Pick a
cover letter template that matches your resume template to give the
employer one unified job application package.
- Unless
otherwise instructed, send them a cover letter PDF rather than Microsoft
Word doc or another format. PDFs look better on more devices than Word
cover letters.
Never let your cover letter spill over onto a second page.
One page is plenty. In general, the best cover letters are relevant, concise,
and have a word count which doesn’t exceed 300 words.
A COVER LETTER SHOULD BE RELATIVELY SIMPLE: WHY YOU ARE
INTERESTED IN THE POSITION, WHY THE COMPANY SHOULD BE INTERESTED IN YOU, AND
HOW YOU FIT THE JOB POSTING. A RESUME TELLS THE READER WHERE YOU’VE BEEN WHILE
THE COVER LETTER TELLS THEM WHERE YOU HOPE TO GO. BE AUTHENTIC, KEEP THAT ONE
THING IN MIND, AND DON’T OVERCOMPLICATE IT.
Pro Tip: If you choose a creative cover letter template with your personal details enlarged and styled to the center or right, don’t worry. Just make sure it matches your resume, and left-align the remainder of your job application letter.
2. Construct a Proper Header Including Your Info and Theirs
The header of a cover letter is quite simple—it’s basically
like addressing a postcard. Just your deets, a date, and their info.
Here’s how to write an effective cover letter heading
area:
- On any
formal letter, such as when writing a good cover letter, the sender’s
information goes first. Include your name and address, to follow standard
letter formatting rules. Add relevant contact information, such as your
phone number, email address, or LinkedIn URL.
- Leave
a line break, then add the date of writing.
- Finally,
add the recipient’s information, including the name and job title of the
person reviewing your application, followed by the company’s name and
address.
This is what it looks like in practice:
[Your Full Name]
[Your Job Title] (Optional)
[Your Address]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]
[Your LinkedIn Profile URL]
[Date of Writing]
[Hiring Manager’s Full Name]
[Hiring Manager’s Title]
[Company Name]
[Company Address]
[Company Address Line 2]
Like I said, piece of cake, right?
Pro Tip: Don’t worry about adding other contact
details of the hiring manager or company; their name and address will do.
3. Open Using a Simple Salutation as a Greeting
Dear Jennifer:
The cover letter salutation sounds even easier than the
heading, doesn’t it?
Not so fast.
There are a lot of nuances to be considered here.
Who to address a cover letter to?
- Find
the name of the hiring manager or recruiter, because science
says people are more receptive to the sound of their own names.
- Locate
their names by searching LinkedIn, checking the job ad, or looking at the
company’s about page online.
- If those
fail, give them a call!
First name or last?
If applying to a more traditional role, such as at a law
firm or at a university, go with their title (e.g., Mr., Ms., Mrs., Dr.) and
their last name to be on the safe side. Otherwise, using their first name is a
great way to grab the reader’s attention.
How to address a cover letter with no name?
If you tried everything and can’t find the hiring manager’s
name, go with “Dear hiring manager.” Replace “hiring manager” with a job title
(e.g., “IT director,” “HR manager”) if you at least have that information.
If you aren’t happy with these options, go ahead and skip
the salutation, jumping straight to the first paragraph. That’s much better
than the universally despised “Dear sir or madam.”
Comma, semicolon, or colon?
Finally, use a colon (:) rather than a comma after your cover
letter greeting. Save the commas for less-formal letters to your grandparents.
Pro Tip: How to address a cover letter to two or
more people? Separate each name as you would any comma-separated list (e.g.,
“Dear Jessica, John, and Jill:”). However, go in descending order by job title,
listing the person who is highest in company rank first.
4. Start by Introducing Yourself and Stating the Position You’re Applying For
The opening of a cover letter sets the tone for what
follows.
Bore them at your own peril.
Intrigue them, and they’ll be dying to read more.
How to write a cover letter opening paragraph that’ll keep
you in the running?
Here’s how to make a cover letter intro:
- It
must introduce you to them as a candidate.
- It
needs to officially identify the position to which you’re applying.
- It
should give a quick overview of your professional background, skills, and
experience.
- It has
to be relevant to the company and the particular position.
Let’s look at a sample customer service representative
cover letter introduction:
I just happened across the opening for the customer service
representative position at Swerve Media Group, and I’m excited at the chance to
apply for the position. As a CSR for The Bright Agency for over two years, I’ve
become well-versed in resolving conflict, assisting clients, and promoting
upsells. I’m certain I have the patience, attentiveness, and personable nature
needed to be a stellar customer service rep at Swerve.
As you can see, writing a cover letter is not rocket
science.
This cover letter beginning is basic but it will deliver—it
ticks all the boxes I mentioned above.
Pro Tip: Cut any unnecessary or irrelevant
sentences from your cover letter, whether it’s in your intro or later on. A
cover letter should be brief and to the point. Save the hiring manager time
while saving yourself time, and save some space while you’re at it.
Need more ideas for how to write a good cover letter
introduction paragraph? There are a few effective hacks and strategies. You can
get a bit creative, use enthusiasm, or name drop someone who referred you to
this job.
5. Explain How the Company Benefits by Adding You to the Team
You’re applying for a job, and the hiring manager’s job is
to assess how well you’d fit.
In the second paragraph, it’s time to show them you’re the best candidate they could possibly consider.
How?
Refer to the job description.
The employment offer’s job requirements section tells you
exactly the applicant they’re looking for.
Let them know their search is over.
Here’s a sample cover letter second paragraph continuing
with our CSR job:
According to the job description I found on Indeed, you’re
searching for a customer service representative with knowledge of the
Salesforce customer relationship management software and who is able to resolve
disputes and inquiries professionally. As a customer service representative at
The Bright Agency, I used Salesforce on a daily basis, going even further to
help train new colleagues on the CRM software. Furthermore, I had the highest
client satisfaction rating (97.9%) based on closed cases. I am confident I
could bring the same level of attentiveness and initiative to Swerve Media
Group as the new CSR.
See how effective that is?
In this middle paragraph, we reiterate a few of the key
qualifications they’re looking for according to the job ad. Then, we show them
how we meet and exceed their expectations.
Let’s check out one more, this time using a slightly
different format:
According to the job ad for the marketing position from
LinkedIn, you’re searching for a digital marketer with a wide breadth of
expertise in managing campaigns, social media marketing, content strategy, and
SEO. At my last position at Smart Marketing Ventures, I had quite a few wins
I’m proud of, including:
- Increased
website traffic on last 10 client websites by an average of 125% through
combination of social media strategy and content marketing initiatives.
- Improved
year-over-year revenue for 5 online retailers by 30% on average,
accounting for more than $57,000 in increased profit overall.
- Boosted
returning readers and customers by 23% through new marketing campaigns.
As you can see, I take my work seriously and care completely
about the results I deliver on behalf of my company. Were you to hire me at The
Jonas Agency, I would bring that same drive and commitment with me each and
every day.
That one’s a bit longer, but it’s super impressive.
Use this bullet point style when you have multiple
achievements with numbers to allow them to stand out and be readily seen. Great
for jobs like sales, IT, or teaching, for example.
WRITE A COVER LETTER LIKE YOU WOULD A MARKETING EMAIL. SO
INSTEAD OF STARTING WITH, ‘I’M WRITING THIS LETTER TO SHOW MY INTEREST FOR THE
MARKETING JOB YOU HAVE ADVERTISED,’ START IT WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS –
‘LOOKING FOR MORE LEADS? IN MY ROLE AT GOOGLE, I HELPED GENERATE OVER 327 LEADS
THIS YEAR WITH AN ROI OF 217%.’ BY GIVING A BENEFIT OF HAVING YOU IN THE COMPANY
WITH A CONCRETE EXAMPLE OF YOUR SUCCESS, YOU’LL CAPTIVATE THE READER AND
INCREASE YOUR LIKELIHOOD OF A RESPONSE.
Pro Tip: Don’t echo your resume. A great cover letter should complement your resume rather than repeat its contents. A great use of a cover letter is also to explain any employment gaps which may be blatantly obvious on your resume.
6. Show You’re Interested in Them Rather Than Any General Company
Don’t simply tell them how you’ll make their lives better.
Explain to them that they’re perfect
for you, as well.
Of course the company needs to know that you have the job
skills, work experience, and professional background they’re seeking. However,
they also want to hire someone who’ll enjoy coming to work for them and who’ll
be a great fit on the team.
There are several ways to go about this:
Show love for the company, its products, or its history:
I’ve been a fan of Samsung products from my very first flip
phone back when I was a teenager. Admittedly, part of that fond hindsight may
be due to the fact that it helped me contact my high school crush on the
weekends. However, I have been a Samsung devotee ever since, and I’m currently
married to the Note 10 and engaged to that same high school crush (so thanks,
Samsung!). I would be incredibly fortunate to be considered for the position at
a company I’ve admired for more than a decade.
Display enthusiasm for the work you’ll be involved in:
My grandmother immigrated to New York from Bologna almost 50
years ago, and I used to enjoy helping her prepare dishes from her native
Emilia-Romagna region when I was a little boy. The love of Italian food,
particularly the flavors of this area, hasn’t left me. I’d be thrilled to be
considered for the chef position at such a fabulous restaurant, especially one
that keeps the tastes and smells of my grandmother’s kitchen alive as
authentically as you do.
Demonstrate your willingness and readiness to take on
their challenges:
Given the recent investment into your company by Angel
Partners—congratulations, by the way!—your company has now allocated a large
portion of it to your content marketing efforts. I happen to thrive under
pressure and with tight deadlines, and I always make sure the quality of my
work is never sacrificed for quantity. If you consider me for the copywriting
position, I’m certain I would bring the same balance of high-quality writing
and quick turnaround time you’re looking for.
What did you think of these three cover letter examples?
As you can see, there’s no one right way to go about it. Use
creativity, bits of humor, even exclamation marks to believably highlight your
enthusiasm.
The key thing here is to show them you’re interested in more
than the money they’re offering, and you’ll be fine.
7. Make Your Offer by Crafting a Powerful Closing Statement
You’re almost there—
Time to wrap it up with a powerful and compelling cover
letter closing paragraph.
How to end a cover letter effectively?
In the last paragraph of a cover letter, invite them to
discuss further, request a meeting, and promise them all this greatness you’ve
exemplified is just the tip of the iceberg.
Here is a simple cover letter closing example:
Would you have time for a quick phone call or meeting? I’d
love to demonstrate how I could bring similar results (the 35% decrease in
overhead) to your company.
That’s what you call “ending on a high note!”
Pro Tip: There are two important things to keep
in mind when ending a cover letter. Don’t come off needy (no begging!), and
skip that tired phrase “thanks for your time and consideration” or any
variation like it.
8. Sign Off With a Complimentary Close and Your Name
Signing off on a cover letter is super straightforward and
simple.
Here’s what it looks like:
Sincerely,
Jessica Paris
Easy peasy.
“Sincerely” is the most standard complimentary close (also
known as a valediction), but feel free to use other formal or
semi-formal options, as well. “Regards,” “Yours Truly,” or “Thank You” work
just fine, too.
Avoid anything too informal, such as “Peace,” “Cheers,” or
“TTYL.” Just as you start a cover letter formally, end the cover letter
formally, also.
Pro Tip: If you’re handing in a physical copy of
your cover letter, leave a few extra spaces between the complimentary closing
and your name. Then, add a handwritten signature between for a stylish and
professional flourish. If you know-how, you can also include your digital
signature for some bonus points.
9. Add a Postscript for One More Shot at Calling Their Attention to Your Offer
Thought you were done?
Not so fast.
While you could end a cover letter here,
there’s one nifty little trick that works wonders.
The postscript.
A postscript is meant to be used as a sort of written
afterthought. However, you can use the P.S. statement on a cover letter to get
one more word in edgewise.
You could use it to reiterate your value statement, like
this:
P.S. I was instrumental in raising NPS scores by 30%, and
I’d be happy to give you my plan for how I’d implement a similar overhaul at
your company, as well.
Or, you could use it to show some early company spirit:
P.S. I know it’s early and I don’t want to be presumptuous.
However, I found myself already trying on some black and gold outfits in
anticipation!
Or, get them excited about meeting you:
P.S. By the way, I saw on the company’s about page that you
enjoy pastries and good coffee. What would you think about meeting at Daily
Provisions? They’ve got amazing donuts and the best espresso to wash it all
down!
The sky’s the limit!
7+ Cover Letter Tips & How NOT to Write a Cover Letter
Here are cover letter tips and advice to smooth down the
edges:
1. Don’t Write a Generic Cover Letter
If there’s only one thing you’ll remember from this guide,
it should be this—
Always tailor your cover letter to one specific company
and one particular job position.
Hiring managers can tell immediately if you created one
generic cover letter and sent it all over the tri-state area. They throw those
out.
If you want to save time, consider making a “master” cover
letter. Using this, you can just do a few minor modifications prior to sending
each cover letter and resume out.
Saves time while still feeling targeted!
2. Be Professional in Your Contact Details
When adding an email address, don’t use your old high school
handle (str8ballin69@…). Use a respected email service such as Gmail,
rather than one that makes you look ancient (sorry, AOL). Also, it’s
disrespectful to use your current company’s email address as your contact
email, so just don’t.
Finally, fix your LinkedIn
URL. Many people keep the one that’s given to them, such as linkedin.com/in/john-smith-58914z7b.
Take 30 seconds, go into your settings, and adjust the URL to just your name or
something that represents you professionally.
3. Don’t Make the Cover Letter All About You
The application letter is meant to inform them just how well
you match the company’s needs.
However, don’t make it all “I’m looking for such-and-such”
or “I have this skill and that ability.”
Rather, say those things while bringing each around to the
company’s point of view. If you have communication skills, explain to them how
your ability to communicate effectively would benefit them.
4. Show Personality
The resume you wrote probably included fragmented sentences
and nothing but fact after monotonous fact.
Let loose a bit on your cover letter to exhibit your human
side. Don’t be afraid to tell an (appropriate) joke or let your passion shine
through.
THE COVER LETTER IS WHERE YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SHOWCASE YOUR PERSONALITY A BIT. TAKE A LOOK AT THE COMPANY’S WEBPAGE AND
SOCIAL MEDIA AND MIMIC THEIR STYLE AND CULTURE. ALWAYS BE AUTHENTIC AND
YOURSELF, BUT IF YOU FEEL THAT THERE IS A SYNERGY TO YOUR PERSONALITY AND THE
ORGANIZATION’S PHILOSOPHY OR ETHOS, THEN THE COVER LETTER IS WHERE YOU CAN
BEGIN TO ILLUSTRATE THAT!
5. Use Keywords
Many organizations, particularly larger ones, use an ATS
(applicant tracking system) to help them sort through and manage all the
resumes and cover letters they get each day.
The ATS also has the added role of locating particular keywords and phrases the
HR manager or recruiter searches for. The ATS then scores each resume and cover
letter based on how well they match the job description.
If you’re a poor match, no interview.
So, look through the job description to identify the
particular skills and experience they want. Work those keywords into your cover
letter and resume for a job application sure to get a callback.
6. Refrain from Buzzwords and Jargon
You might know what it means.
And your potential future supervisor may understand it.
However, industry buzzwords and jargon often get lost in
translation somewhere in the middle. Hiring managers often know just the basics
about your particular role, since they recruit for multiple positions. Specific
lingo from your niche will confuse them or mean nothing, at the very least.
7. Proofread
It sounds obvious, but this doesn’t stop a sizable portion
of cover letters and resumes from having typos, dating errors, and other
mistakes.
Use a spell checker and grammar checker such as Grammarly to
be safe. Then, give it to a friend or family member for another once-over just
in case.
It would be a shame to be super qualified but dismissed from
the running for such a stupid oversight!
8. Prepare for the Interview!
By now, you know how to write a cover letter for a job
application sure to get a reply and an interview offer.
There’s no time to waste—
There are plenty more cover letter tips and advice to heed and to help ensure you get that job offer or interview.
Key Takeaway
Writing a cover letter always sounds like a bore and a pain.
However—
Hopefully, you now see that it’s not so difficult to write a
cover letter that’ll score you an interview after all.
Let’s go over the general rules once again.
Here’s how to write a cover letter:
- Format
the cover letter template first.
- Create
a cover letter heading in a formal style.
- Use
the hiring manager’s name in the cover letter greeting.
- Introduce
yourself with a captivating opening statement.
- Identify
how the company benefits by taking you on board.
- Show
them you’re interested in more than the money.
- End
the cover letter with a powerful call to action.
- Sign
off professionally with a complimentary close and signature.
- Consider
an optional postscript to grab their attention once more.
There you have it! If you’ve got any additional questions
on how to write a cover letter for a resume, we’d be happy to answer them below
in the comment area. Thanks for reading!