A cover letter can make or break a job application so it’s
critical to get it right. Whether your letter is being read by HR or the
hiring manager directly, there are several important boxes you must tick.
This guide provides a free cover letter template and an explanation of what you
need to know to have the best shot at being selected for an interview.
The cover letter template below is designed to be customized
with your own personal information and submitted with your resume to
an employer.
How to Use this Cover Letter Template
This cover letter template was designed to help make your
application process as smooth as possible.
You can simply follow the steps below to make the most of
this guide:
- Copy
the cover letter template below and paste it into a Word Doc, Google Doc,
or email
- Change
all of the personal information at the top to be your own
- Edit
and customize the paragraphs so they include your work experience, skills,
and other points you want to highlight
- Ensure
the formatting looks good and that the font matches your resume
- Proofread,
spellcheck, and grammar check multiple times
- Send the cover letter along with your resume to the employer (and consider a cover email as well)
Cover Letter Template
[Your Name]
[Your Street Address]
[Your City, State/Province, Country]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]
[Optional: Your LinkedIn Profile]
[Today’s Date]
[Employer Contact Name]
[Employer Title]
[Employer Company Name]
Dear [Employer Contact Name],
[First paragraph: A short 3-4 line introduction. The first
sentence should entice the reader and explain why you want to work for the
company. The rest of the paragraph should briefly outline how you will use your
skills towards tasks mentioned in the job description.]
[Second paragraph: The body of your cover letter. Pick one
or two tasks described in the job description. Detail how your hard skills
gained from previous experiences will help you excel at these tasks in your new
position.]
[Third Paragraph: Pick one or two soft skills mentioned in
the job description and show how you fit these skills using one of your
experiences. This paragraph is to demonstrate why you are a good fit for the
company and why they would need you. Focus on the company, not yourself.]
[Fourth Paragraph: The conclusion to your letter. The first
sentence should relate to your introduction and tie it all together. Thank the
employer for their time and consideration, and state that you are looking
forward to hearing from them soon.]
Sincerely,
[Image of Signature]
[Your Name]
Download Cover Letter Template
Thank you for reading this guide – please download the
cover letter template from this article and use it however you see fit!