generic cover letter job

How to Write a General Cover Letter (w/ Templates & Tips!)

You're on the hunt for a job, and your resume is all set.

It's the perfect summary of your professional journey so far, and you’re hoping it will land you at least one of the gigs you’re applying to.

There's just one thing left - you need to write a cover letter that fits your resume like a glove.

And, as you’re applying for several positions, you likely don’t want to start your cover letter from scratch every time. Instead, you’d rather learn how to write a general cover letter that you can tweak to fit many applications.

Well, we’re here to help you learn how to do just that.

In this article, we're going to cover:

• What Is a General Cover Letter
• How to Write a General Cover Letter
• General Cover Letter Examples

...and more!

Let's get started.

What is a General Cover Letter?

A general cover letter is a flexible document that’s designed to accompany your CV or resume during a job application.

Unlike a regular cover letter, a general cover letter isn’t tailored to one job.

You can personalize general cover letters without being too specific about a position and easily adapt them to suit applications for different professions and industries.

The structure of a general cover letter makes it more versatile because it includes placeholders (or ‘blanks’) that you can easily swap out for job-specific details.

For example, your general cover letter could have a blank where the company’s name or the specific industry would be written, so you can quickly modify it before sending it out with different job applications.

General cover letters allow you to strike a balance between broad appeal and leaving room for a touch of customization, so you don’t have to struggle against writer’s block every time you try to write a new cover letter during your job hunt .

Still haven’t finished your resume? Check out our full guide on how to make a resume !

General Vs Generic Cover Letter

Writing a cover letter that can be used for different job applications might make you think you should write a generic cover letter.

But there’s a huge difference between writing a general cover letter and a generic cover letter.

A general cover letter is adaptable, and you can customize it to apply for different jobs and industries. The key to a general cover letter is that it has parts that you can easily change, such as the industry you’re applying to or the title of the job you’re after.

These gaps let you quickly tailor each cover letter to the specific position you want. They also manage to show employers that you've thought about how you would fit into their company without having to write a cover letter from scratch.

A generic cover letter, on the other hand, is a cover letter that’s the same for every job application.

Generic cover letters don’t change to match different jobs or companies. Because they aren’t tailored, they rarely impress hiring managers or show them why you’d be a good match for the job.

While generic cover letters are a one-and-done job, they’re not a particularly well-done job at all. Generic cover letters come off as impersonal and forgettable, so we recommend steering clear of them during your job search and instead going for a general cover letter that you can tailor.

Want a Standout Cover Letter? Use a Template!

Making sure your cover letter leaves a good impression on the hiring manager can feel overwhelming.

You have to carefully adjust the layout, tweak the page margins, set the line spacing, choose the most appropriate font, and make sure your text never spills over to page two.

Well, it doesn’t have to be that hard.

Just try one of our cover letter templates !

Each of our templates is made in collaboration with leading HR specialists to make sure your application is industry-friendly 

and stylish. You can even use our resume templates and pick a cover letter template for a matching set.

When Should You Use a General Cover Letter?

There are a few cases when you can use a general cover letter as opposed to a uniquely tailored cover letter for each job application.

These include:

#1. When You’re Applying for More Than One Position

If you’re applying for more than one position with the same employer, a general cover letter can help you showcase your interest in contributing to the company in various roles.

In this case, instead of writing a cover letter to fill in the blanks for separate job applications, you should aim for a single, thorough general cover letter that’s tailored to the different positions in the same company you’re applying for.

You can use your general cover letter to communicate your adaptability and enthusiasm for being part of the organization, not just filling a specific position, which can be a great angle for an entry-level cover letter .

Unlike a regular cover letter, which you tailor to the exact position you’re applying for, a general cover letter allows you to highlight skills and experiences that are relevant across all the roles you’re targeting. Use it to emphasize your overall potential as an asset to the company and demonstrate your ability to fit into multiple teams or projects.

Since you’re not focusing on a specific job, your general cover letter should instead show the employer how your personal and professional values align with those of the company regardless of the specific position. Focusing on your broad compatibility with the employer positions you as a valuable candidate.

#2. When You’re Attending a Job Fair

At a job fair, your goal is to present yourself as a good candidate to multiple employers.

In a dynamic setting like this, you have to interact with various companies, so a general cover letter can help you quickly adapt your approach to each potential employer you meet. If you do it right, you can highlight skills and experiences that are applicable across different industries.

A general cover letter also helps you make a strong first impression. Job fairs see their share of resumes, but having a cover letter ready to go puts you one step ahead of other candidates vying for the same job.

Instead of tailoring a cover letter for each company you might be interested in, you can focus on customizing key sections that are relevant to specific jobs or industries. For example, if you’re looking for a job as an accountant , you can easily write a general accountant cover letter and make minimal changes before applying for another job.

This can save you valuable time, and it lets you engage with more hiring managers at the job fair, so you can cast a wider net.

Not sure what to do at your first networking event? Check out these 75+ questions you can use at networking events to help break the ice.

#3. When You’re Applying Through a Referral

If you’re using your professional network to find your next job, a general cover letter can come in handy.

Applying for a job through a referral often means you don’t have a job ad to reference. So, when writing your cover letter, you should focus on your most impressive skills and relevant professional experiences.

Next, it’s time to remove all those blanks and placeholders and add details that will make the hiring manager notice your application.

The more you know about the company, the better. Researching the employer means that even if you don’t know the exact details of the job, you can still highlight what makes you a great candidate for the company in general.

Take the time to also mention your connection with the person who referred you. This can add a personal touch and show that someone who’s already part of the company thinks highly of you.

Trying to write a cover letter for your first internship ? Check out our detailed guide to learn how!

General Cover Letter Text Template

If you’re not sure how to write a general cover letter from scratch, there’s no need to worry. You can borrow our very own general cover letter text template!

Just copy and paste our free cover letter text template into the cover letter builder, and swap out the variables for your details.

[Your Full Name]

[Your Professional Title]

[Your Phone Number]

[Your Email Address]

[Your Location]

[Your LinkedIn Profile URL (optional)]

[Your Personal Website URL (optional)]

[Recipient's Name, e.g., Jane Doe],

[Recipient's Position, e.g., Hiring Manager]

[Company Name, e.g., ABC Corporation]

[Company Address]

[City, State/Country]

Dear [Recipient's Full Name],

As a seasoned [Your Profession] with [Number of Years of Experience] years of industry experience, I am eager to express my interest in the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. With my experience in [Your Industry/Sector] and the successes I've achieved throughout my education and career, I believe I can bring unique value and creativity to your team.

In my current role as [Your Current Job Title], I've taken the lead on more than [Number of Projects/Assignments] projects, some valued up to $[Highest Project Value]. I pride myself on consistently exceeding client expectations and have successfully [Mention a Key Achievement] in just a [Amount of Time] through [Skill] and [Skill].

I've collaborated with various professionals, such as [List Roles], ensuring that all [projects/tasks] meet [relevant standards or objectives]. This hands-on experience, coupled with my dedication to understanding each [client's/customer's] vision, has equipped me to navigate and deliver on complex projects.

My key strengths include:

• Improving [Achievement] by [%] over [Amount of Time] which resulted in [Quantified Result].
• Optimizing [Work Process/Responsibility] which saved [Previous Employer] [Amount of Time/Budget/Other Metric] over [Weeks/Months/Years].
• Spearheading team of [Number of People] to [Task] and achieving [Quantified Result].

Alongside this letter, I've attached my resume. My educational background, a [Your Degree] with a concentration in [Your Specialization], complements the practical skills that I'm particularly eager to share with [Company Name].

I'm excited about the possibility of contributing to [Something Notable About the Company or Its Mission]. I'd be grateful for the chance to delve deeper into how my expertise aligns with your needs.

Thank you for considering my application, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Steps to Writing a General Cover Letter

Now that you’ve seen what a general cover letter looks like, it’s time to write your own.

Just follow these steps, and you’ll be done in no time:

#1. Add Contact Information

At the top of your cover letter, you should include all the information required for the hiring manager to reach you.

This includes:

• Full Name. We recommend you bold your name and place it at the top of the page.
• Professional Job Title. If you’re applying for more than one job, you might have to swap this out regularly. Make sure it matches the specific position you're applying for.
• Email Address. Include a professional and straightforward email address, preferably a version of your first and last name. (E.g.: [email protected], not [email protected])
• Phone Number. Make sure there are no typos in your phone number, so the hiring manager can easily contact you.
• Location. Typically, your city and state/country are enough information. But if you're looking for remote work or are willing to relocate, make sure to specify that somewhere.
• Relevant Links (optional). Feel free to add links to any relevant websites or social media profiles, such as your LinkedIn profile, GitHub, or an online portfolio.

Except for the job title, you don’t need to change your contact information between applications. But you also need to add the hiring manager’s contact information.

Customize this for each cover letter you plan to send:

• Company Name. Always include the name of the company you're applying for.
• Hiring Manager's Name. If possible, find the name of the hiring manager for the job you're interested in.
• Hiring Manager's Title. The hiring managers for different companies will likely have different roles. Some will be head of the department you want to join, while others will be part of the HR team. If you want one less thing to swap out, you can simply keep the job title of the hiring manager in your cover letter as “Hiring Manager.”
• Location. The general location of the company, such as the city and state/country, is enough. We don’t recommend going into more detail for your general cover letter.
• Date of Writing (optional). Including the date you wrote your cover letter can add an extra professional touch to your application, so it’s something to consider.

#2. Address the Hiring Manager

Even in your general cover letter, you should skip the impersonal “To Whom It May Concern.”

Instead, give your cover letter a more personalized greeting. If possible, address the hiring manager by name .

You might need to do some research for that. Check the job ad, company website, or LinkedIn page to find out who’s hiring for the role you want. Then, just swap out your placeholder for their full name.

However, you might not have the time to do that. If you’re at a job fair or you just can’t find the name of the hiring manager, you don’t have to worry.

It’s perfectly acceptable to address your cover letter as “Dear Hiring Manager” or even address the company as a whole, like “Dear Company X.”

Take your cover letter to the next level by using these 21+ cover letter tips !

#3. Start with a Strong Opening

Hiring managers tend to skim through cover letters before deciding if they’re worth reading, so your general cover letter should always have an eye-catching opening paragraph.

You should start your cover letter by introducing who you are and why you’re interested in the specific position. Then, mention an impressive achievement or crucial skill that shows you would be an ideal candidate for the role.

We recommend shortlisting several of your most impressive skills and achievements and swapping them out for each other depending on what best matches the specific job you’re tailoring your cover letter for.

Just remember to keep your opening paragraph short and sweet. You’ll have the opportunity to give the hiring manager more details later.

#4. Use the Body for Details

When writing a general cover letter, you might have a hard time figuring out how to craft the body.

This is where all the details about you as a candidate and what you know about the company should go.

But don’t worry! All you need to do is follow these tips:

• Explain what you can do for the employer. Talk about your most impressive skills and how you can use them to contribute to the company’s work.
• Mention what you like about the job or industry. Focus on what you enjoy about the specific job or industry you’re aiming for.
• Be enthusiastic about joining their team. Express genuine enthusiasm about joining their team, as well as confidence that you can make a meaningful contribution.
• Use proactive language. Swap out cliche phrases for eye-catching action verbs and power words to make your cover letter pop.

Depending on how much time you have, you can research each employer in-depth and provide more details that show why you’re the best candidate according to each of these points.

Need more inspiration? Check out dozens of cover letter examples for different professions !

#5. Conclude It Professionally

Once you write the main body of your general cover letter, all you have to do is prepare a conclusion.

The end of your cover letter should leave the hiring manager confident that you’re the right person for the job.

You can do that by either summarizing your main selling points, like your top skills and most impressive achievements or by reminding them how you believe you can contribute to the company.

We recommend leaving a portion of your conclusion blank so you can tailor it for the specific job you’re applying for and leave the best impression possible on the hiring manager.

Next, include a call to action. This can be a polite prompt for the hiring manager to reach out to you and discuss your application or arrange an interview.

There’s no need to personalize your call to action—it can be simple and universal across all your applications. Finally, include a professional closing line and sign your name underneath to seal the deal on your cover letter.

Here’s an example:

I look forward to discussing how I may contribute to your business, so please don’t hesitate to contact me at your earliest convenience.

Best regards,

Cameron Pearson

General Cover Letter FAQs

Still have some questions about general cover letters? Check out the answers to the most frequently asked questions below!

#1. Is a generic cover letter okay?

You should never send a generic cover letter with your job application.

Generic cover letters don’t have any personalization that can show your genuine interest in the specific job or company. In fact, they come across as impersonal and show a lack of effort , which can make hiring managers reject your job application altogether.

You should always tailor your cover letter for each job so you can highlight the relevant skills and professional experiences that will impress the employer. This shows that you've done your homework” and that you’re genuinely enthusiastic about the position.

Even a slightly customized general cover letter is always going to be better than a generic cover letter.

Your general cover letter should still address the employer's needs and make a strong case for your application. It's your best tool for making a memorable first impression, and that’s something a generic cover letter simply won’t help you achieve.

#2. Should a cover letter be simple?

Yes, as a rule, cover letters should be kept simple.

The main focus of any cover letter should be its content. Make sure you keep your formatting clean , with an easy-to-read font and plenty of white space, so the hiring manager can quickly find the essential information.

If you’re applying for a more traditional industry, like law or finance , we recommend sticking to a minimalistic cover letter template. Bold colors or flashy fonts just don’t match those professions.

However, if you’re applying to an industry where creativity is valued, such as graphic design , you can try a more customized template. A strategically placed pop of color could make your cover letter stand out.

#3. How do you format a general cover letter?

A general cover letter is structured with blanks and placeholder information that you can easily swap out depending on the job application.

Make sure you include a place for the hiring manager’s contact information, the company’s name, the date of writing, and the title of the specific position you’re applying for.

Keep the text of your general cover letter separated into neat paragraphs so you can find and swap out the placeholders quickly and the hiring manager can easily navigate and read it later.

#4. Do employers read cover letters?

Yes, employers do read cover letters.

Regardless of whether the job ad explicitly asks for one, you should always submit a cover letter .

Once the hiring manager goes through the initial resume screening, they might use cover letters to decide among candidates they’re on the fence about.

That said, hiring managers might not read the entire cover letter in detail immediately, which is why your opening paragraph is crucial. You want to make sure to catch their attention right off the bat, so they want to read more about you.

If they skim through your cover letter and don’t see any relevant keywords or qualifications, they might skip your cover letter, and your application could get tossed in the ‘no’ pile.

#5. How long should a general cover letter be?

Your general cover letter can range from a half-page to one full page. On average, a cover letter should always be between 250 and 400 words .

The cover letter is your first chance to communicate who you are to the hiring manager and why you’re the right candidate for the job, using your own words. If you don’t consider the standard cover letter length, you could leave the hiring manager with a bad impression.

A good cover letter gets your point across quickly without delving into too many details the hiring manager could get lost in. If you go over the recommended length, the hiring manager might never actually bother reading your cover letter at all.

Key Takeaways

And you’ve made it to the end of our article!

Now you know all there is to know about writing a general cover letter. Hopefully, you feel confident about writing the perfect cover letter and landing your dream job!

But before we go, let’s quickly recap our main points:

• General cover letters can usually be applied to different job openings, industries, and employers with minimal tailoring. We recommend writing one template with placeholders or blanks that you can swap out for details as necessary.
• A general cover letter doesn’t need as much tailoring as writing a cover letter from scratch, but you should still put effort into it. Sending the same generic text to every employer is a huge mistake that could cost you a job opportunity.
• Formatting your general cover letter can be time-consuming. Instead of spending valuable time on the layout, consider using one of our cover letter templates instead.
• You’re most likely to need a general cover letter when applying for more than one job at the same company when applying for a job through a referral, or during a job fair.

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How to Create a General Cover Letter (With Examples and Tips)

In This Guide:

Template for general cover letter, 5 tips to create a master cover letter template, general cover letter examples: entry-level, creative, and career change, how to create a general cover letter: key insights.

You've decided that you're going to strike out in a new direction, hit up several job fairs, and find several new positions to apply for.

But you don't want to spend the time to create a new cover letter from scratch every time you apply.

This is where a general cover letter template can help you out.

Creating a general cover letter, also called a master cover letter, can allow you to minimize the time you take to write each cover letter for each individual job, while also allowing you to create a personalized cover letter which tells your story .

A master cover letter template is a multipurpose document which promotes all of your skills and work experience, while also pointing to major highlights from your resume.

In this article, we will touch on:

• What a  template for a general cover letter looks like.
• How to create a general cover letter without it becoming generic.
• What to do if a cover letter isn't required.
• Examples of different cover letter templates tailored to the needs of entry level, career-change, and creative job positions.

Want to save time by creating a custom general cover letter? Enhancv has over 500+ Cover letter examples updated for 2022 . Check it out, and you'll be able to find tips to create your own master cover letter.

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[your name]

[phone number]

[email address]

[hiring manager's name]

[hiring manager's position within the company]

[Company name]

[Company address]

Dear [Hiring manager's name]

I recently found the listing for [job position title] and I was excited to apply for the position because [company name] is a major player in the field. As I examined more about your company through your website, I learned that my skills and abilities make me a valuable asset to your company. I also feel like my personality and work style would allow me to fit seamlessly into the culture at your workplace.

Let's talk a bit more about why I feel like I'm the perfect candidate. The application for this position that I found on [name of place, i.e. company website, job board] states that the ideal candidate would have proficiency in [mention a unique skill or specilization that you have], which is also an area of expertise that I have gained experience in. I currently work at [name of current company], where I have significantly contributed to the overall organization of the company by [Skill or Task]. In fact, during this [Period of Time], I've worked with a team who has raised our [Relevant Goal] by [%]. This was a major key performance indicator for my team and me, and we significantly contributed to the overall goals of the company.

Over my career, I have prided myself on my ability to problem solve and adapt to any situation, as well as lead groups of team members to complete their goals. Given my track record with [skill], I've helped establish a culture of success at [Current Company].

Thank you for taking the time to read this cover letter. I'm really looking forward to learning more about the [Position name] role. If you need any more information from me on my end, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

[Your Full Name]

If you want to create a master cover letter, one that you will use for multiple positions, then you should create a personalized document which can be easily altered to add new details which apply to the position.

The best cover letters are ones that showcase both the passion you have for the position, and the relevant skills that you bring to the table that make you the ideal candidate.

You can do this even when keeping 90% of the words the same.

Don’t believe me?

Here are some tips to keep in mind when crafting a master cover letter:

1. Minimize Work By Keeping Most of the Wording

The best thing about having a general cover letter is that you can keep almost 90% of the wording the same, and still create a personalized cover letter.

But how do you do this?

You can do this by creating spots within the document for personalization, like spaces where you can put in your hiring manager's name, the name of the company that you're applying for, as well as the position's name.

If you want to go one step further, skim over the company's vision and values, which you can easily find in a job description.

With an easy-to-follow, plug-and-play cover letter for multiple jobs, you can cut the work down from almost a half an hour to several minutes.

This way, you can crank out several cover letters for different job applications.

2. Show That You've Read the Job Description

Cover letters and resumes are completely different animals.

Your resume is something that is entirely yours: your work experience , your unique skills , and your education.

But your cover letter is for someone else to read.

Essentially, a resume is a one-way street, but a cover letter is an intersection of ideas and personalities.

Show the hiring manager you care within the first paragraph by learning a bit about the company, either through:

• Their website
• Their executive's social media posts
• Promotional material
• Through people that you know who work for them

According to the Harvard Business Review , it's important to do your research before applying for a position. You can glean information about the culture and values of the company, just by looking through the company's website.

More often than not, you can find a lot of information about the company in the job application. You may be able to find the mission statement of the company.

And please, whatever you do, try to find the name of the hiring manager. Try to avoid using the generic, "Dear hiring manager," salutation at the start of your cover letter.

3. Quantify Your Accomplishments

When creating a general cover letter, try to include accomplishments that you can quantify. This isn't always easy to do.

But if you look at your experience with the last company you worked for, what were the exceptional milestones throughout your time.

Did you help contribute to a major financial goal at your company?

For example, if you were on the sales team when you reached a profit increase of 7% for the first quarter of 2020, share about that. You played a role in that achievement, so mention your part.

You can also tie back into a specific skill that helped you lead to a key performance indicator.

Maybe you played an important role with updating the communications of your team by introducing them to a messaging program to help collaboration in the workplace.

You can point out the number of people who adopted using the platform, and show how productivity increased as a result of it.

4. It's Not Always about You

A cover letter is a place to brag about yourself, specifically about the skills and achievements that have led to your success.

However, mentioning your role within a team can show a hiring manager you are a team player, one that loves to collaborate and be involved in projects.

You can also mention your current manager, and the role that they have played in your life.

5.What To Do If A Cover Letter Is Optional

For some jobs that you apply to, cover letters will be optional.

One bit of advice: sending a generic, basic cover letter can hurt your chances of getting the job.

Instead, either send a more personalized cover letter, like a master cover letter, which is personalized to the business that you're applying for, or don't send one at all.

Entry-Level Cover Letter Sample

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am applying for the position of Drug Research Specialist (Entry Level) that I came across at PANDA Corp. I believe that my academic experience matches your requirements.

During my studies, I have gained experience in the field of medicine and pharmaceuticals. Moreover, during my master’s program, I’ve completed my diploma in Pharmaceutical Research, which helped me in better understanding the processes and best practices in drug development.

Additionally, under the ImunoHelp program, I have undergone various professional and self-development training. Each training permanently added to my skill set.

Having spent the last seven years of my life outside the United States, my home country has made me multicultural. My vibrant experience traveling and studying at different institutions, in UAE, USA, Portugal, and France have undoubtedly contributed to my open-mindedness, creativity, and adaptability, as well as working in a diverse and multilingual team.

I’m excited to have the opportunity to discuss how my skills can help your company grow. I’m available for an interview at your convenience.

Anna Kendrick

If you choose to build your general cover letter off of the one listed above, your hiring manager will take one look at it, and hope that another organization hasn't snatched you up yet.

Work experience isn't the only thing that a hiring manager is looking for. Even if you have minimal work experience, you can always highlight your area of studies and why it was effective in gaining skills.

Creative Cover Letter Sample

Dear Mr. John,

Having recently completed my Master of Arts degree in Gender, Feminist, and Women's Studies, I am a passionate advocate for advancing the scholarship, publicity, and works of marginalized communities and underrepresented women of color.

I was excited to see the Publicity and Digital Marketing position at ACME Inc. because it fits well with my PR and communications experience and skills in gender advocacy, social issues, and political science.

With 4 years of experience in social media management and public relations for SaaS companies, here is what I can offer specifically to ACME Inc.:

Using social media, I can bolster the reach and visibility of promotional events and digital media coverage. As the previous communications lead of a gender advocacy center, I can engage young adult demographics by bringing products and events to life using strategic marketing plans and innovative channels.

I can analyze and harness social media analytics to reach demographics most likely to resonate with the ideal ACME customer.

Lastly, my academic experience in political and social sciences has given me a strong attention to detail, research skills, and precise communication skills.

I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to meet with you to discuss how I am the best person for the Publicity and Digital Marketing position at ACME Inc.

Jack Austin

When you check out the example above, you see someone who is excited about the position, and has learned a little about the company to which they're applying.

Give concrete, authentic examples of why you want to be a part of their team because these examples help bolster your credibility.

If you are a social media expert, and you really enjoy the advocacy programs at a company, you can use it as an example of how you are passionate about driving views to the site.

Career Change Cover Letter Sample

My name is Nicholas and for the past 5 years, I’ve been the general manager for Coffi&Biscuits where I managed to increase the YoY revenue of the shop 10x in the past three years.

I was excited to see the Business Development Manager position for Bootstrap IO, as it is a career change that I’m looking forward to making.

Managing a team of 15 taught me a lot about budgeting, planning, and organizing the workload. I can help you with expanding your team in the next quarter and reach your goal of launching your new product across the United States.

I’d love to jump on a Zoom meeting with you to further discuss joining the team. I’m available at your disposal.

Nicholas Costa

When writing a cover letter, like the example above, always explain to the hiring manager how hiring you will help their company.

If you can show a hiring manager through practical examples that you're willing to jump on board the team, and lead them toward success, then you're going to get an interview.

• A properly crafted simple cover letter can save you time, while also sharing your story.
• Try to keep most of the words you use for each cover letter by creating spaces for personalization
• Show that you've read the job description and know a little bit about the company in the first paragraph of your cover letter.
• Quantify your accomplishments
• Share credit when credit is due.If you're interested in crafting a customizable, easy-to-use general cover letter, then Enhancv's Cover Letter Builder is the tool that you need. When using the CL Building you can receive feedback on your cover letter and craft custom cover letters for each position that you're applying to.

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Generic Cover Letter: Template, Examples & Writing Tips

In this article, we’ll cover:

• What Is a Generic Cover Letter?

Generic Cover Letter Examples

What to include in a generic cover letter, how to write a generic cover letter.

Writing and revising a cover letter for different job applications might be time-consuming and exhausting. This is when a general or generic cover letter comes in handy. If you're looking to apply for multiple positions or going to a job fair, consider using a generic application letter to pitch yourself directly to employers. 

Though a cover letter for general applications is convenient, hiring managers may sometimes find it boring, bland, or not specific enough. In this article, let us show you how to craft a strong generic cover letter as well as great examples and tips.

What Is a Generic Cover Letter ?

A cover letter is a single-page document that is usually sent along with your resume or CV to demonstrate your suitability for the job opening. When well-written, it will guide the hiring manager to feel interested and go over other documents that you've submitted. 

On the other hand, a generic cover letter (a.k.a general application letter) is an all-purpose document that you will find useful to apply for multiple positions or attend a job fair. Simply put, you can just use this general application letter for any position without thinking about how to showcase the connection to a specific company or role. Thus, you need to highlight your relevant skills and experience in your generic cover letter to distinguish yourself from many others candidates. 

This general cover letter template below will guide you on how to write an impressive letter to make the first impression on the hiring manager.

Generic Cover Letter Template

[Your Name]  [Your Address]  [Your Phone Number]  [Your Email Address]

[Hiring Manager’s Name]  [Company Name]  [Company Address]

Dear Hiring Manager (or [Name] ), 

This cover letter is being submitted in order to apply for the [job title] position at [company name] , as advertised on [website name] . I’m confident that I would be a valuable asset to your team as I have gained [number] years of experience in [area of expertise] . 

As a dynamic [your occupation] , I have handled a variety of tasks, including [list out your major job responsibilities], and here are some of my outstanding accomplishments: 

• Succeeded at [achievement 1]
• Optimized [achievement 2]
• My team has scored  [achievement 3] 

I believe that in addition to my experience, the ability to [soft skill 1] and [soft skill 2] together with [personal trait] will allow me to contribute to the [company name] ’s growth. 

Please kindly check out the files attached for your further review of my skills and work history.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you soon. 

Sincerely,  [Your Name]

We’re going to show you what an impressive general application letter looks like through the following examples. 

P.S.: You can copy & paste these samples and adjust the content accordingly to send your job application!  

Generic cover letter with no experience

Generic cover letter for teaching position, generic cover letter for career changers.

Subject: Casy Nguyen_Customer Service at KDDI Group

Dear Hiring Manager, 

I am writing to apply for the Customer Service position at KDDI Group which I saw in the advertisement on Cake. Having graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Customer Service Leadership, I can effectively assist customers with inquiries and complaints while ensuring that they fully understand the company's products. 

During my years as a student at Ohio University, I was the President of the College Media Association which produces campus-wide news and online magazines for over 5,000 readers. I was in charge of providing overall leadership to the club, setting short- and long-term objectives, and coordinating club activities through the board of directors. 

Additionally, my critical thinking and strong negotiation skills have taught me how to both reach and exceed customer expectations and deliver excellent service.  

Thank you very much for your time and consideration. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Best regards,  Casy Nguyen

0978-9988-222  [email protected]

Natalie Tsai 95 Fude Str., Xinyi Dist., Taipei 0982-222-999  [email protected]

May 24th, 2023

Katherine Connor Chinese Language Center 70 Dazhi Str., Zhongshan Dist., Taipei

Dear Ms. Katherine,

I am writing this letter to express my interest in the Chinese Teacher position at the Chinese Language Center. I believe that my background and passion for teaching Chinese make me the best candidate for this role. 

As a TCFL-certified teacher with 5 years of experience, I am capable of putting together Chinese curriculums to meet the school's requirements while helping individual students with specific skills like communication and grammar after class. Furthermore, I have the ability to foster collaborative and exciting educational sessions to enhance the student's learning experience. 

I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Chinese Language and Culture from Chinese Culture University and pride myself on strong communication, organization, and time management skills. With my experience and credentials, I am highly prepared to provide more to society by teaching and helping people improve their language skills. 

I would appreciate the opportunity for an interview or a teaching demo. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Thank you.

Best regards, Natalie Tsai

May 24, 2023

Kyrie Connor 2539 Gabriel St, Moreno Valley, CA 92551  [email protected] (+310)-555-9911

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am very excited to learn that Serenity R.E Solutions is looking for an Office Receptionist. Having worked as a yoga instructor for 5 years, I believe that my strong communication skills and thorough attention to detail have prepared me to fulfill all admin tasks. 

I fancy interacting with different people and solving their personal requests, which is why I'm passionate about changing my career to being a receptionist. I also understand that this job is more than just greeting guests, answering phone calls and emails, doing paperwork, etc. A great receptionist is expected to provide the most helpful assistance in a timely manner and keep the office running smoothly. 

I completed an office administration course from Ontario College and can speak English, French, and Spanish fluently in a professional business environment. 

Thank you for your time and consideration of my application. I am available for a video interview at your earliest convenience. I hope to hear from you soon.

Respectfully, Kyrie Connor

When writing a generic cover letter, you will need to include the following 7 sections:

• Letter header
• Opening paragraph
• Body paragraph
• Closing paragraph
• Complimentary close

1. Letter header

In every generic cover letter for a job application, you will need to provide the details listed below: 

• Date written
• Your info (full name, phone number, email, and address)
• Recipient's info (full name and job title)
• Company name and physical address

2. Salutation

The most common way to greet the employer is “Dear Hiring Manager," or “ To Whom It May Concern ,” if you don't know who will receive and review your generic cover letter for a resume in the first place. However, try to address the recipient directly to make your letter more personal and sincere by using these generic cover letter salutations:

• Dear Mr./Ms./Mx. + [Last name] ,
• Hi + [First name] ,
• Hello Mr./Ms./Mx. + [Last name] ,

3. Opening paragraph

To start off a general cover letter for job applications, you should introduce who you are and mention which position you're applying for. It's also important to explain the purpose of your writing while showing interest and sincerity to pique the hiring manager’s interest from the start.

4. Body paragraph

When writing a generic cover letter’s body paragraph, make sure you will cover the two major components; key qualifications and commitment to the company's growth . 

Regarding your key qualifications, point out your educational background, professional experience, skills, and qualities that make you the right fit for the role. You will need to include numbers and/or specific examples to support your claims. 

In addition, a brief explanation of how you will bring more value to the organization is a great way to showcase your knowledge of the company and your commitment to supporting its culture, mission, and values.

5. Closing paragraph

In the final paragraph, don't forget a strong CTA to remind the hiring manager to review the files attached (i.e., resume, portfolio, and work samples), especially when you submit a generic cover letter for a resume. Also, ensure that you've included a sincere thank you note for their time and consideration. 

6. Complimentary close

It's essential to choose a professional closing salutation for your general cover letter such as:

• Best regards,
• Kind regards,
• Respectfully,
• With gratitude,

7. Signature

Finally, sign your full name at the end of your generic cover letter and avoid using a nickname. Note that if you will send it via email, make sure your email signature looks professional and includes your contact info. 

Then you’re all set!

The 5 following tips will help you write a strong cover letter for a general application. 

💡 Make it more personal. 

Even though you're writing a generic cover letter, it should still be personalized with the name of the company, employer, or hiring manager. That way, they can see your interest in this role and your knowledge of the organization.  

💡 Create a strong opening paragraph.

Think of it as an effective way to call the recipient's attention to your letter because they have to review hundreds of cover letters like this every day. 

Check out the example below to see how to start a generic cover letter :

“When seeing your listing for the Content Marketing position at SIMA Tech on Cake, I feel that I would be a valuable asset to the team. As a goals-driven Digital Marketing specialist with five years of experience, I’m capable of conducting market research, analyzing consumer data, and running A/B testing to drive successful marketing campaigns.”

💡 Be specific with the metrics you include.

When it comes to job applications and interviews, you need to know that “numbers always speak louder than words.” Hence, you should always try to add metrics from your past achievements and responsibilities to make your generic application letter more convincing and credible.

💡 Avoid overused adjectives or buzzwords.

These words may sound appealing but are overused, for example:

• Hard-working
• Intelligent
• Knowledgeable

The reason is that they’re too commonly used for writing a generic cover letter and resume. Use more specific and descriptive words to stand out from others, and to get your meaning across as clearly as possible.

💡 Be unique and be yourself.

Since you haven't got a chance to meet or speak with employers, a cover letter is the first and only way to show off your personality. Through a cover letter, employers can sense whether you'll be the right cultural fit. Therefore, ensure that you cover letter shows off your personality.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

All in all, there is not much difference between a regular and general cover letter for a CV or resume. You will still need to include the following key points:

• Who you are
• Which role you're applying for 
• What motivates you to apply for this position
• What makes you the best fit
• What contribution you can make to the company

The main difference lies in when to use each one. A generic cover letter will be better if you go to a job fair or apply for various jobs at the same time.

With Cake, you can easily create a resume online, free download your resume’s PDF formats, and utilize ATS-compliant templates to create a resume. Land your dream job, create your resume online (free download) now with the best resume builder !

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--- Originally written by May Luong ---

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General Cover Letter: 15 Cover Letter Templates to Perfect Your Next Job Application

Published: April 17, 2024

Are cover letters necessary? I'm not in HR, but I've been approached by applicants who wondered whether their cover letter would actually be read.

My answer isn't very popular: "Sometimes." Sometimes it will be read. Other times, you can get away with just sending in your resume — like when you network your way into applying for a position.

The truth is, you can't really predict on a case-by-case basis — and you're better safe than sorry. For the most part, having a cover letter will give you an upper hand in ways your resume doesn't.

It allows you to show off your writing skills, provide details that you couldn't fit on your resume, demonstrate your passion, and show your willingness to put in as much time and effort as possible.

If you’ve ever rolled your eyes or balked at an application that required a cover letter, this guide is for you. I’ll go over how to write a cover letter and provide cover letter templates to help you perfect your own.

General Cover Letter

An general cover letter, sometimes called an application letter, is a written document addressed to an employer by a job applicant, explaining why they're interested in and qualified for an open position. More commonly known as a cover letter, this document can come in the form of an email, MS Word document, or similar application template offered by the employer.

Seems fairly basic, right? Cover letters can hold different levels of importance to an employer depending on your industry and the job you're applying for.

49% of recruiters say sending a cover letter along with your resume boosts your chance of landing the role.

If you do plan to write a cover letter, keep in mind there are certain qualities it should have that are not included in the definition above.

5 Free Cover Letter Templates

Five fill-in-the-blank cover letter templates to help you impress recruiters.

• Standard Cover Letter Template
• Entry-Level Cover Letter Template
• Data-Driven Cover Letter Template

Download Free

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How to Write a General Cover Letter

Job searching can be tedious and timely, so you may find yourself applying for dozens of jobs in the process.

To make this process simpler, I find that having a general cover letter that you can easily tweak to fit different job openings is a game changer. 

Here's how to write a general cover letter so that you don't to keep writing a new one from scratch with every application. 

1. Write Your Heading 

Your heading should always include your name and contact information. For years, it was also common to include your physical address and that of the recipient, but nowadays, it may not always be necessary. 

"I used to always include my physical address and that of my employer, but I stopped after realizing it takes up so much room and just feels archaic," says HubSpot blogger Erica Santiago.

She says, "I've never gotten any mail sent to my home from prospective jobs, and I've never had to mail my application. So, I just include my city and state in my heading, especially if the job posting explicitly states the company wants some based in a specific region." 

So, should you include the company's address in your cover letter?

"This is probably odd, but I always include the company's address because I like to think it shows I did my research," Santiago says. "I've sent probably over 100 cover letters in my life, and I eventually found myself at HubSpot, so I have to be doing something right (laughs)." 

If you think physical addresses are taking up too much space in your cover letter, then consider omitting them. I'll touch on contact information again later. 

2. Greet the recipient 

Avoid "To whom it may concern" if possible. I find that greeting the recipient that way gives the impression that you didn't take the time to research who you should be addressing. 

Instead, try to look up the name of the hiring manager or recruiter. Doing so shows attention to detail and care—qualities employers love to see. 

If you can't find a name, "Dear Hiring Manager" is fine. 

3. Introduce yourself and explain your intentions.

State early on who you are, what position you are applying for, and why. Often, businesses may be hiring for multiple roles, so you want to ensure whoever is reading your cover letter knows exactly why you're reaching out. 

4. Highlight your qualifications, skills, and passion for the job.

This is where things get a little tricky. Your attached resume will also include skills and qualifications, so you may think you just need to regurgitate what's in your resume, right? Wrong. 

Obviously, some information may overlap, but your cover letter is a chance to go into more detail than you could on your resume.

For example, Let's say a potential employer is looking for a self-starter and results-driven person.

This is a great opportunity to mention when you took it upon yourself to spearhead a project that generated more revenue for your previous or current company. 

Connect your skills and qualifications to your unique accomplishments. 

Finally, show that you are passionate about the opportunity. 

"I once had an interview with a pet insurance company," Santiago says. "I worked into the cover letter my love for my two cats, how pet insurance grants me peace of mind, and how I want to help give that same peace of mind to others via the job position."

She explains, "Cover letters are a chance to show your personality, your sense of humor, your motivations, and your passions. All these things can make you stand out from other other applicants."

5. Leave space for customization. 

Your general cover letter should be designed so that you can easily update it to appeal to whatever opportunity you're applying to.

So, leave a blank space for the hiring manager or company's name, and format it so you can add or remove skills and qualifications as needed.

6. End with a  "thank you" and mention how to contact you.

Santiago says she always includes a variation of the following sentence at the end of her cover letters:

"I would love to discuss this opportunity more via an interview. I can be reached via email, LinkedIn, and phone at XXX-XXX-XXXX."

She explains, "I always hyperlink my email and LinkedIn profiles, along with having them spelled out somewhere in the heading."

General Cover Letter Example

Notice the company's address is included but not the applicants and that there are blank spaces for the writer to change information such as the recipient, positions, and skills. 

My only critique of this example is that it could use more personality and a punchier hook (more on hooks later).

What to Include in a Cover Letter

So, what should you include? I covered a bit of this already, but I want to dive a little deeper.

Don't worry, I'll let the 11 templates below this list do most of the talking. No matter which one you download, pay attention to the following elements — all of which should shine through in the letter you send to your future manager.

Fill out this form to access your templates.

1. contact information.

Cover letters shouldn't just carry your contact information but also that of the company to which you're applying. Contact info includes your phone number, email address, and any social media accounts you're willing to share and receive connections to.

As I said earlier, home addresses aren't always required, but they can be a helpful reassurance to the employer that you already live nearby and would have no trouble coming into the office.

Avoid offering phone numbers, email addresses, or actual addresses that belong to your current employer.

Using your personal Gmail address over your work email, for example, ensures your correspondence with recruiters remains separate from all of your current work communication.

2. A Personal Address Line

For as often as you see "to whom it may concern" at the top of cover letters today, do your best to avoid writing this exhausted line.

Address lines that specify a person or company grab your reader's attention much more quickly, and show the employer that you've taken the time to tailor your application letter to them.

Don't have the name of the hiring manager? "Employers at [company name]" will do just fine.

A "hook" is a clever introduction that "hooks" your reader into wanting to learn more. Think about yourself as a job candidate — what makes you unique?

What about your career might a recruiter be intrigued by that you can package into an interesting first sentence?

4. Why You're Qualified

Again, today's best applications describe why this experience qualifies the applicant for the job they're applying for.

For example, don't just state that you spent three years writing for a company blog. Explain that this type of work lends itself to managing your new potential employer's content calendar every week.

5. General Knowledge of the Business

Grammatical errors could mean your application is thrown in the trash, but that's not the only thing that could get your letter tossed aside.

Using a generic "one-size-fits-all" cover letter — especially if you forget to change the name of the company — will also hurt your chances of landing an interview.

So, if you take the time to write a cover letter, take the time to comment on the business itself. Why are you applying to this company? What about their business stuck out to you as a professional?

Now, let's take a look at an example cover letter , what makes it effective, along with 11 templates you can download or draw inspiration from.

 Cover Letter Example

Image Source

The example above illustrates how to write a marketing cover letter using the elements I listed.

Besides the contact information and the address line, the first few paragraphs explain why the candidate is qualified for the position. This example uses specific data to show why they would be a good fit.

Additionally, in the second to last paragraph, the candidate discusses why they're interested in the specific company, demonstrating general knowledge of the business.

By combining all the elements to a cover letter, this is a great example to use for inspiration.

Featured Resource: 5 Professional Cover Letter Templates

14 Free Cover Letter Templates for Your Next Job Application

Template 1: basic.

The example above is a basic (but great) cover letter. The numbered sections are explained in more detail below.

The level of formality your header has will depend on the company to which you apply. If you're applying to a formal business, it's important to use a formal header to open your cover letter, like in the sample above.

Put your address, the date, and the company's address. But if you're applying to a company that isn't as formal, you don't need to include yours and the company's addresses. You can still include the date, though.

2. Greeting

Using "To Whom It May Concern" is okay, but you may want to take the time to research the name of the recruiter or hiring manager online.

If you do your research and aren't confident you found the right name, then you should definitely use the generic greeting — but if you are sure, then it shows you put in the effort to find their name and it will catch the recruiter's eye.

If you have the recruiter's name, do you greet them by their full name, or by their courtesy title (i.e. Mr., Ms., or Mrs.)? Similar to the header, it depends on the company's level of formality.

If you're applying to a corporate business, you may want to consider using "Mr. Snaper" instead of "Jon Snaper." If you're applying to a start-up or a business with a more casual culture, you can use "Jon Snaper," as shown in the example.

3. Introduction

Your opening paragraph should, in 1-3 sentences, state why you're excited to apply and what makes you the perfect candidate. Get right to the point, and don't worry about explaining where you found the posting or who you know at the company.

This isn't a place to go into detail about why you're a great candidate — that's for the second paragraph. Here, simply list a few key reasons in one sentence to set up the rest of your letter.

Keep in mind that the recruiter may cross-reference your cover letter with your resume, so make sure the two sync up.

4. Paragraph 2: Why You're a Great Fit for the Job

Next, sell yourself and your experience by choosing one or two concrete examples that show why you're a great fit for the position. What did you do at a previous company that gave you relevant experience?

Which projects have you worked on that would benefit the new company? How will your prior experience help this company grow? Stay humble in your explanation of credentials while still showing that you would be an asset to the team.

Use this paragraph to show you're genuinely excited and interested in the position.

5. Third Paragraph: Why the Company Is a Great Fit for You

While it's certainly important you're a good fit for the job, it's also important that the company is a good fit for you.

"A cover letter typically describes why you're great for a company — but how will you benefit from getting hired?" asks former HubSpot Team Development Manager Emily MacIntyre . "We want to know why our company appeals to you, and how it will be a mutually beneficial working relationship."

In the third paragraph, show you're serious about growing and developing your career at this new company. What impresses and excites you about the company?

Is there something that you feel strongly about that aligns with the company's goals? For example, the candidate in the sample letter used this space to show his personal commitment to environmental causes aligns with the company's green initiatives.

6. Strong Closer and Signature

Don't get lazy in the final few sentences of your cover letter — it's important to finish strong.

Be straightforward about your interest and enthusiasm about the new position, and tell them you're available to talk about the opportunity at any time. Be sure to include your phone number and email address.

At this point, the ball is (rightly) in the recruiter's court to decide how to follow up.

Last but certainly not least, thank them for their time and consideration. Use a formal sign-off like "Best," "All the best," or "Sincerely," and finish by typing out your full name. You don't need to sign it with a pen.

Template 2: Data-Driven Marketing Cover Letter

Get it here..

When applying to a data-driven position, it might be tempting to inject your cover letter with, well, the data to describe what you've done for other employers.

But in an application letter — particularly for the marketing industry — how you convey this data is just as important as the data itself.

The cover letter template above, which we created here at HubSpot, can help you present the data that's most important to you as a candidate such that it'll matter to your future employer.

Notice the three bullet points near the center of the letter above, preceded by the statement: "... I've developed a strategy that has helped the company achieve ..."

This setup is important, because while you can add as many statistics as you want to this template, your data points should describe how your current/former business benefited from your work, rather than how you, yourself, benefited.

Template 3: Straight-to-the-Point Cover Letter

Harvard Business Review contributor David Silverman hailed the above cover letter example as "The Best Cover Letter I Ever Received."

For context, Silverman believes there are only a handful of times when writing a cover letter is actually necessary:

• When you know the name of the hiring manager.
• When you know something about what the job requires.
• When you've been referred to the job personally.

Under those three circumstances, a straight-to-the-point cover letter like the one above could be your best bet. Because it's so concise, however, make a point to add your own letterhead above the message itself.

It might be easy for a recruiter to sift through a short and sweet cover letter like the one above, but it's just as easy for it to get lost in the shuffle of their application list without a unique design or format.

Template 4: Referral Cover Letter

Just because a friend or colleague recommended you for a job doesn't mean the company is all set to hire you. Therefore, the cover letter template above is written specifically for referrals.

We made this one here at HubSpot. Download it here (it comes with four other cover letter templates , too).

As you can see in the picture above, the first paragraph of the cover letter is dedicated entirely to acknowledging the circumstances of your applying: You know someone who works there — no harm in that.

But there might be harm in not mentioning it to the hiring manager. Telling the reader about your connection at the company shows you're aware and confident of the actions you take to get the opportunities you're interested in.

Ultimately, it's better than the recruiter hearing about your employee connection from somebody else.

As for the rest of the cover letter, treat your message the same way you would if you had applied with no connection from within. Your skills and successes are no less important because of your internal referral.

Template 5: Photo Letterhead Cover Letter

The cover letter template above was designed by Microsoft Office, and as comprehensive as it looks, it's completely free to download and modify.

As it looks right now, this cover letter contains about half photo, half text. Feel free to shrink (and change) the image to give yourself more room to tell your story. Of course, a nice washed-out image that expresses who you are can be part of that story ...

Template 6: Digital Creative Cover Letter

This sixth template is perfect for the applicant who wants to emphasize the many different digital channels they areon. This template goes well with a resume of the same format.

As you personalize this letter with your own experience, make note of the social networks and industry software included in this template.

You'll see there’s additional space along the top to add your LinkedIn and personal website to fill with your own information.

You can improve upon this template by formatting your most important highlights and accomplishments with bullet points. This will make the document easier to read for the hiring manager and emphasizes the value you provide.

Template 7: Marketing Manager Cover Letter

Our seventh cover letter comes from Monster.com. This cover letter, shown above, is focused specifically on a marketing role.

Notice how the writer includes references to important marketing metrics and terminology.

If you're applying to a data-driven role, you might not want to fill the page with a story of your experience in paragraph form, like Template 1 does at the beginning of this article.

Instead, consider highlighting three (or four, or five) of your successes that you believe the hiring manager would resonate most with, in bulleted form.

As a marketing professional, breaking up your letter with bulleted details like the ones above shows a respect for the hiring manager's limited time — a mentality that all marketers must understand when communicating with a brand's audience.

Template 8: Career Day Follow-Up Cover Letter

This is a unique kind of cover letter from Princeton University.

LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Monster, and Indeed might take the lion's share of your job searches online, but still some employment opportunities come out of a trade show, job fair, or similar networking event.

For those occurrences, you have the follow-up cover letter template above.

This cover letter has everything you need to help an employer recall a conversation you had with him/her at a career fair.

As you can see in the second paragraph, the letter is particularly useful to people who are about to graduate college.

Template 9: Logo and Watermarked Cover Letter

Here's another cover letter template from Microsoft Office.

This one has a light touch of color in the design just above the letterhead, but make no mistake — the template caters to any professional looking to make a good first impression on their future employer.

Don't let the logo space on the top-right of the page confuse you. This can be the logo of the company to which you're applying — to quickly get the attention of the recruiter — or your own logo.

Perhaps you freelance on the side or simply like branding yourself. This cover letter template is meant for customization.

Template 10: Data Scientist Cover Letter

This is our second template from Princeton University. While this is focused on a data scientist role, it is an excellent template to use for students applying to jobs prior to graduation.

The text emphasizes how the applicant’s academic research and projects makes them an ideal candidate for the position. The format is also simple enough to submit as a pdf, as text in an email message or an application text box.

Template 11: Business Cover Letter

The cover letter template above is perfect for entry- and mid-level marketers who want to show a little extra professionalism in their opening note to a potential employer.

The multi-colored header (you can change the color if you wish) shows just the right amount of creativity and can go quite well with a resume of the same style. If you don't have enough experience to fill the entire page, don't worry.

Feel free to write to a length you think is representative of who you are and what the hiring manager wants to see.

No matter how long your final cover letter is, the above template is your opportunity to show your attention to detail — from your contact information in the top header, to the personalized address line where you can include the name of the hiring manager.

Like I said, "to whom it may concern" is pretty outdated, anyway.

Template 12: Entry-Level Cover Letter

The cover letter template above, written by HubSpot, is specifically designed for entry-level applicants.

When you only have a few years experience, it's important to display how you gained your skills and what you learned from your education or internships.

Additionally, it's important to mention why you want to work at the company you're applying to.

No matter your experience, the template above will help you decide what skills you want to highlight and flesh out in your cover letter.

You can download it here (it comes with four other cover letter templates , too).

Template 13: Healthcare Cover Letter

The cover letter, created by The Balance Careers, cuts down on repetition by following the "I have" statement with six bullet points that highlight the applicant's strengths, including "I have ... practical knowledge of creating and implementing care plans" and "I have ... a proven track record of compassionate, effective care".

Additionally, phrases like "I'd love to put my skills to work for your clinic" and "Please contact me at your convenience and let me know how I can help you" focus on what the business will gain as a result of hiring the applicant, rather than what the applicant is looking to gain.

Template 14: Freelance Cover Letter

If you're looking for freelance work, your biggest goal is to get your strengths across quickly, so busy clients won't pass by your cover letter entirely.

Additionally, if you're sending out multiple cover letters to different clients, you'll want to target each one to that client's unique goals.

For instance, if one client is looking for SEO-optimized content related to marketing, you'll want to highlight past experience writing marketing content; this will change if, for instance, the client is looking for fitness content.

For this reason, it's a good idea to structure your cover letter so you start with a) past credentials or references, and b) bullet-point information related to the client's goal, as shown in the cover letter above.

Template 15: Director Cover Letter

In the cover letter above, the candidate does a good job outlining how she succeeded in a leadership role previously:

"For the past five years, I have successfully developed and maintained all data systems, including schedules and records for a business employing more than 100 people."

You'll want to demonstrate how your skills align with a Director position — both through organization and leadership — and, when possible, where you received recognition for your hard work (i.e. "I earned an award for Most Valuable Administrative Staff Member").

Write a Winning Cover Letter

Writing a cover letter is easier said than done. Don't hesitate to spend a lot of time writing and editing it.

Tap into the incredible potential of AI tools, such as the HubSpot paragraph rewriter , to infuse each paragraph with a flawless touch of excellence. Or, ask a friend or family member to read it over and give you feedback.

If the recruiter does end up reading it, you'll be thankful you did.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in November 2014 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

Don't forget to share this post!

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18 Free Cover Letter Templates That Will Actually Get You Interviews

Simple Cover Letter

Creative Cover Letter

Professional Cover Letter

Jobscan’s cover letter templates are clean and professional . We intentionally avoided using flashy colors and design elements when creating them. Why?

Because most companies nowadays use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen resumes and cover letters. These systems can struggle to read and interpret visually complex documents.

This means your beautifully designed, eye-catching cover letter might remain stuck in an ATS database, never to be seen by an actual human being.

By using one of our simple, easy-to-read templates, you’ll significantly improve the chances that your cover letter will successfully pass through an ATS and into the hands of a hiring manager.

It’s super easy to get started too! Simply click the download button to get your hands on a Word document that you can customize to fit your unique situation.

When you’re done writing your cover letter, run it through Jobscan’s ATS-friendly cover letter checker to get personalized feedback on how to improve your letter and make it even more compelling to employers.

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What is a cover letter?

It’s a letter of introduction that you send along with your resume when you apply for a job.

The key thing to remember about your cover letter is that it shouldn’t simply regurgitate your resume. Instead, it should support it.

Your cover letter can do this by:

• Explaining why you’re excited about the job opportunity.
• Showing how your skills and experience match the job requirements.
• Addressing any gaps in your work history.
• Showing off your personality (but not too much!).

By highlighting your strengths and showing your passion for the role and the company, your cover letter can make a strong case for why you deserve an interview.

NOTE : Get inspired by our expertly crafted cover letter examples and learn what makes each one shine. Our examples cover a wide range of jobs, industries, and situations, providing the guidance you need to create a winning cover letter.

Are cover letters necessary in 2023?

While some companies may not require one, a cover letter can still set you apart from other applicants and increase your chances of landing an interview.

In one survey , 83 percent of hiring managers said cover letters played an important role in their hiring decision.

In fact, most of the respondents in that survey claimed that a great cover letter might get you an interview even if your resume isn’t strong enough.

So don’t skip the cover letter ! When done correctly, it can be a powerful tool in your job search toolkit.

Why should you use a cover letter template?

Here are the 5 main reasons why you should use a cover letter template .

• It saves you time by creating personalized letters quickly and easily.
• It provides a framework or structure for your cover letter.
• It ensures that all the necessary information is included.
• It makes it easy to customize your cover letters for multiple applications.
• It helps you create a professional and polished cover letter without starting from scratch.

A template helps you streamline the cover letter writing process. This means you can devote more time and energy to other important aspects of your job search, such as networking and researching potential employers.

Generate a personalized cover letter in as little as 5 seconds

Our AI-powered cover letter generator uses GPT-4 technology to create a personalized and ATS-friendly cover letter in one click.

What should you include in your cover letter?

Every cover letter format should include the following information:

Contact information : Your name, address, phone number, and email address should be at the top of the letter.

Greetings : Address the letter to the hiring manager or the person who will be reviewing your application.

Opening paragraph : State the position you’re applying for and explain how you found out about the job. You can also briefly mention why you’re interested in the position and the company.

Body paragraphs : Use one or two paragraphs to highlight your relevant skills, experience, and qualifications that match the job requirements. Provide specific examples of your accomplishments and how they show off your abilities.

Closing paragraph : Repeat your interest in the position and thank the hiring manager for considering your application. You can also include a sentence or two about why you believe you’d be a good fit for the company culture.

Closing : Conclude your cover letter with a professional sign-off, such as “Best regards,” or “Sincerely”.

Do you need a unique cover letter for every job?

Absolutely! Do NOT use the exact same cover letter and simply change the name of the company and the position.

Instead, tailor each cover letter to the position you’re applying for.

You can do this by highlighting how your skills and experience match the specific requirements and responsibilities of the position.

It’s crucial to include the keywords that are in the job posting.

Why? Because your application will most likely go straight into an ATS database. Hiring managers search through this database for suitable job candidates by typing keywords into the search bar.

If your cover letter includes these keywords , it will be seen by the hiring manager. If it doesn’t include these keywords, your cover letter will remain in the database.

Not sure if your cover letter is ATS-friendly? Try running it through Jobscan’s cover letter checker .

This easy-to-use tool analyzes your cover letter and compares it to the job listing. It then identifies the key skills and qualifications that you should focus on in your letter.

How to write a cover letter if you have no work experience

If you don’t have much work experience, writing a strong cover letter can be challenging. But you can still do it!

Here are some tips to help you out:

Hook the reader right away . Introduce yourself and explain why you are interested in the position. If possible, mention a specific aspect of the company or role that especially appeals to you.

Highlight your relevant skills and experience . Focus on the skills you’ve gained through school projects, internships, volunteer work, or extracurricular activities. Be sure to provide specific examples .

Showcase your enthusiasm and willingness to learn . Employers look for candidates who are eager to learn and grow. Use your cover letter to convey your enthusiasm for the role and your willingness to take on new challenges.

Close with a strong call to action . End your cover letter by requesting an interview or expressing your interest in discussing the position further.

Proofread your cover letter carefully and customize it for each position you apply for.

Cover letter do’s and don’ts

• Use a generic greeting, such as “ To Whom It May Concern .”
• Use a one-size-fits-all cover letter for all your job applications.
• Simply repeat your resume in your cover letter.
• Use overly casual or informal language.
• Write a long and rambling cover letter.
• Use jargon or technical terms that the hiring manager may not understand.
• Include irrelevant information or details.
• Send a cover letter with spelling or grammatical errors.
• Address the letter to a specific person or hiring manager, if possible.
• Include your contact information at the top of the document.
• Tailor your letter to the company and position you’re applying for.
• Use keywords from the job description.
• Highlight your relevant skills and experiences.
• Use specific, measurable results to demonstrate your abilities.
• Try to inject some of your personality into the cover letter.
• Proofread your letter carefully for errors.
• Run your cover letter through Jobscan’s cover letter checker .

Q: How long should a cover letter be?

Most cover letters are too long. The ideal length is around 250-400 words. Hiring managers probably won’t read anything longer.

Q: Should I use a PDF or a Word cover letter template?

Either one should be fine. Some older ATS might not accept PDFs, but this is rare these days. Always check the job listing. If it says to submit a Word resume, then do that. Otherwise, a PDF resume works just as well.

Q: Can I email my cover letter instead of sending a cover letter?

Yes, you can email your cover letter instead of sending a physical copy through the mail. In fact, many employers now prefer to receive cover letters and resumes via email or through an online application system.

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• Generic Cover Letter

Good Generic Cover Letter

Sample generic cover letter. It is always advisable to personalize your general cover letter for the target job opportunity. However, there are  situations when it is appropriate to use a general cover letter. These are usually instances where you are not submitting your resume in response to a specific job posting or to a specific employer.

You can use a general cover letter when you go to a job fair and you are giving your resume and cover letter to a number of potential employers for different jobs.

You can also make use of the generic cover letter when you upload your resume and cover letter to a general job board or submit your resume to a recruitment agency to help you find a job.

If you are respond to an online job posting or networking with a specific potential employer it is important to customize your cover letter to each employer and each job opportunity to show how you fit the job and company requirements.

What is the best generic cover letter greeting?

When you have to use a generic greeting there a number of suitable options.

Dear Employer

Dear Sir or Madam

To Whom it May Concern

Some people use the salutation Dear Hiring Manager. This can be an issue if the person who reads the letter does not have that title. 

In an all purpose cover letter the first section of your cover letter should include all the information on how the employer can contact you.

The body of your generic cover letter should include:

• the special skills and knowledge you have that result in successful job performance
• the education and qualifications that have prepared you to successfully carry out work-related tasks
• the strengths you have that make you an asset to any employer
• your work-related achievements

Good example of a generic cover letter

I am a hard-working and determined professional seeking an opportunity to succeed in a dynamic company such as yours. I am confident that my knowledge, ability and experience allow me to deliver successful results for any company in a range of administrative positions

Please allow me to highlight my key skills:

• able to effectively manage my time through careful planning and organization of work activities
• an aptitude for identifying and resolving problems efficiently
• excellent communication skills that result in positive interpersonal relationships
• a track record of meeting deadlines and producing accurate work of a high standard
• proven ability to make sound decisions based on valid information
• the capacity to learn and and apply new information quickly and accurately
• strong computer skills with proficiency in MS Office

I am convinced that I can be an asset in any position requiring hard work, enthusiasm and reliability and I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

The enclosed resume expands on my qualifications and experience.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Janet Smith

What to focus on in your general cover letter

When writing a general cover letter for your job application it is best to focus on transferable skills and core competencies that ensure success in a range of jobs and companies.

12 Core Competencies

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Good generic application letter phrases

You can use phrases like these to describe general skills and competencies in your generic cover letter.

Motivation - I am an enthusiastic and self-directed worker looking to join a reputable company who would benefit from an employee who is ready to give his/her all to succeed

Problem solving   - able to collect and analyze information to find workable solutions to problems

Planning and Organizing -  My focus on efficiently planning and organizing my work has proven successful in prioritizing and handling multiple tasks

Communication - Proven ability to effectively communicate with a diverse range of people

Teamwork -   I enjoy working as part of a team and positively contributing to group achievement

Reliability - I approach all my work with focus and commitment to complete the task on time and to standard

Stress Tolerance - I  am accustomed to a fast-paced environment and work well under pressure

Generic Cover Letter Sample 2

All sample cover letters

We provide over 50 job-winning cover letters . Use these sample cover letters for different jobs.

Writing an entry level cover letter can be a real challenge. Use this entry level cover letter sample to get the results you want.

How to start and close your cover letter

Your cover letter introduction should compel the reader to continue to read your cover letter with interest and your closing should compel the reader to continue on to read your resume with serious attention.

Your cover letter intro - good examples

Cover letter closing paragraph - good examples

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Generic Cover Letter Samples and Examples for 2022

Having a good generic cover letter can give you a solid foundation for all the bespoke cover letters you send out. Learn how to create the best generic cover letter with our guide, including samples and examples!

In most situations, it’s not the best idea to apply for a job using a generic cover letter. Most hiring managers will want to see that you’re interested in working for their company in particular. If you send out a generic cover letter, you risk giving the impression that you don’t care enough about the job to customize your application.

But having a good generic cover letter can give you a solid foundation for all the bespoke cover letters you send out. You’ll be able to tweak your generic letter according to the needs of each role you apply for, instead of writing a brand new cover letter for every application you send. Getting your generic cover letter right can save you a lot of time and energy on your job search!

And it’s also worth remembering that in situations like job fairs, you may need to hand out a lot of cover letters and resumes to a lot of different companies. Obviously, that’s a situation in which you won’t be able to customize your cover letter for each job! So you’ll have a real advantage if your generic cover letter is well put together.

That’s why we’ve put together this guide to writing the best possible generic cover letter. On this page, we’ll cover the following points:

• How to write a generic cover letter
• How to address your generic cover letter
• Examples of generic cover letters tailored to situations when you may need them

How to Write a Generic Cover Letter

The idea of a generic cover letter is to cover all the same bases as a bespoke cover letter—just without any reference to a specific job or employer. This means that it should follow the same structure as a bespoke cover letter, as follows:

Introduction

• Experience, skills and achievements
• Your vision

We’ll cover each section, one at a time, so you can nail each one on your first try. Let’s get to it!

Your introductory paragraph can be short—ideally, it shouldn’t demand more than two or three sentences. Use it to introduce yourself and state that you would like to apply for a job.

Because this is a generic cover letter, don’t worry about specifying which particular job you’d like to apply for! When you customize your generic cover letter for specific roles, you can include that information—but at this stage, it’s fine to say “I would like to be considered for a role at your company,” or something equally vague.

You can also use this section to provide a brief description of who you are and what you specialize in. Remember not to repeat your resume! The benefit of a cover letter is being able to express yourself in a more personal and extended way, so make the most of that opportunity.

Experience, Skills and Achievements

This section can encompass up to two paragraphs, and should focus on the most relevant experience, skills and achievements you have. Remember, this isn't a resume, and you don’t have to write a comprehensive list! You can be selective when writing your cover letter.

But since this is a generic cover letter, how do you decide what’s relevant? The reality is that when you personalize this generic letter, you’ll probably need to make a lot of changes to this section. The experience, skills and achievements you include should reflect the requirements of the job description, and show that you can excel in the areas where you will need to excel in the role you want.

For the time being, though, choose your most impressive qualities and include them in this section. If you have a sense of the general type of role you’re likely to apply for, you can choose experience and skills that are relevant to that area! This will give you a slight head start when it’s time to personalize your letter.

Your Vision

In a bespoke cover letter, this paragraph is your chance to stand out from the crowd. It’s a place where you can mention what you would bring to a role if you were hired—whether that’s relevant skills, past experience, useful personality traits, or a genuine passion for the work.

But in a generic cover letter, you’ll need to keep it fairly vague. Like the experience, skills and achievements section, this is an area of your letter that you will need to change for each application you make! For the purposes of your generic cover letter, though, you can talk in non-specific terms about the qualities you hope to bring to a new role.

This paragraph should flow naturally from the experience, skills and achievements section. Your letter will read more cohesively if you draw on the qualities you’ve already stated that you have! After all, those are the qualities you will be bringing to the role—so use this paragraph as a way to summarize them for the reader.

A conclusion might seem like one of the easiest parts of a cover letter, but don’t get complacent! Your conclusion should hold the attention of a hiring manager right to the end of your letter. Even in a generic cover letter, your conclusion should avoid generic phrasing—“I look forward to hearing from you” will lose anyone’s interest right away

A good conclusion should thank the hiring manager for their time and proactively offer them ways to contact you. That way, they’ll need to keep reading all the way to the end for the sake of that important information.

How to Address a Generic Cover Letter

Figuring out how to address a cover letter can be a real challenge if you’re not sure how to do it. And when you’re writing a generic cover letter, and you aren’t sure who will end up reading it, knowing how to address it can be an even bigger headache. So how do you address a generic cover letter?

When you’re writing a bespoke cover letter for a particular role, and you know who your contact is at the company, you should address your contact directly and by name. The job description and application instructions may tell you who to address in your cover letter, so make sure to read them carefully!

But if you’re writing a generic cover letter, you will need to take a different approach. Because your letter won’t be targeted to a particular company or hiring manager, you will need a more generic form of address. “Dear hiring manager” is a reliable choice in this situation.

We always recommend steering clear of forms of address like “To whom it may concern,” mainly because hiring managers are likely to see it as impersonal and out of date. Likewise, “Dear sir” makes some assumptions about gender that may not go down well with a hiring manager! As such, you should avoid it wherever you can.

Generic Cover Letter Examples

Still not sure where to start with your generic cover letter? We’ve prepared some generic cover letter examples for a range of relevant situations. Whether you’re providing application materials to a placement agency or asking a careers office to help you find an internship placement, we’ve got you covered.

Generic Internship Cover Letter Example

When you’re preparing to apply for internships, having a strong generic cover letter to start from can save you a lot of time! Here’s an example of a generic cover letter for an internship placement.

Dear hiring manager,

I am thrilled to submit my application for the internship scheme at your company. As a current student at New York University, I am keen to bring my work ethic and enthusiasm for learning to your workplace. I hope that this amazing learning opportunity will allow me to put what I have learned about the world of work into practice.

NYU has allowed me to hone my self-discipline and self-motivation, both in and out of the classroom. I am currently an honors student, in receipt of the Irwin Prize for exemplary performance in final exams. These achievements have taught me the value of hard work and determination, both of which I am confident I can bring to an internship placement with your company.

I am also the current President of the NYU Debate Society, which recently placed first in the statewide collegiate debating championships. Leading my team to victory has helped me to develop vital teamwork and collaboration skills, resulting in better outcomes for everyone involved. I know I can bring that same mindset to your company as an intern.

As a young person at the beginning of my career, I hope to support the work of your company with drive, enthusiasm, and a deep willingness to develop as a professional. I believe this would be a great opportunity for me to further hone my skills and learn more about the industry.

I appreciate your time, and look forward to discussing this role in greater depth. I am available to speak further via email at [email protected]

Sincerely, Rachel Chiu

Generic Cover Letter for Placement Agency Example

Placement or recruitment agencies will often ask for a generic cover letter, so they can pass it on to a range of clients who might be prepared to take you on. As such, this generic cover letter example assumes a specific career background, but isn’t targeted to a particular company or role.

I am excited to take the next step on my career journey alongside your company. As an experienced wealth management professional, I am confident that I can bring my skills and experience to bear as part of your team, and deliver the results you need in order to thrive.

My financial knowledge and customer service skills were both crucial to my success at Walkers Wealth Management. As a junior financial advisor, I was able to develop my skills in a stimulating, challenging environment. I was able to support families buying their first homes, new investors learning how to invest their wealth, and individuals in need of a plan to build their savings.

In a difficult economic climate, I found it deeply rewarding to assist people who wanted their money to work for them. That passion for finance, as well as my commitment to compassionate service, enabled me to achieve highly in the role. In my first year on the job, I achieved a 98% customer satisfaction rating—the highest in the company.

I want to bring that same commitment to service with me to your company. I am confident that I can apply my financial expertise, my out-of-the-box thinking, and my dedication to client satisfaction in a new role.

I appreciate your time and look forward to speaking with you directly. You can reach me via email at [email protected]

Sincerely, Evan Branson

Generic Cover Letter for Teacher Job Fair

Teacher job fairs are a common way for teaching professionals to find work—and they can involve handing out a high number of generic cover letters and resumes! To help you get ready for the next teacher job fair, we’ve put together an example cover letter for an educator in search of a new role.

As an experienced elementary school teacher, I am excited to introduce myself as a candidate for work at your school. With four years of fourth-grade teaching experience behind me, I believe I can deliver amazing results for your school and your students alike.

As a member of the team at West Orchard Elementary School, I have been able to develop hands-on teaching and lesson planning experience which I believe will serve me well in any future role. The lesson plans I created for my fourth-grade Math class have been adopted by all schools across our district, and are due to be adopted by two other school districts in the coming year.

I have also been able to achieve incredible results working directly with students. During my time at West Orchard Elementary, I have reduced student tardiness in my classroom by 55%. I have also achieved a 99% student graduation rate—one of the highest in the whole district.

I’m confident that I can help your school to work toward similar achievements, for the betterment of your students’ education and the improvement of your school as a whole. I am a deeply committed educator, and I would love the opportunity to bring my passion and drive to a new environment.

I appreciate your consideration and look forward to discussing this role with you personally. I am available to talk over the phone at (333) 333-3333 or via email at [email protected]

Sincerely, Evelyn Glennie

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How to Write a Generic Cover Letter (and Still Make a Mark with It)

Having a generic cover letter prepared to accompany your resume is always a good idea. Say what? Most career advice blogs will unanimously tell you that you need to customize your cover letter to every job you are applying to. That’s the advice we also stand by at Freesumes. But to every rule in life, there are some exceptions. 

Why Would I Use A Generic Cover Letter?

Having a generic cover letter for a resume makes sense in the following cases: 

• When you are submitting your resume to the company for general consideration. A lot of employers these days prompt people to pitch them their resume even if they don’t have open roles at the moment. Doing so is a good way to ‘get your foot in the door’ and get on the recruiter’s radar. So when a new position for your skill set becomes available, you’d be among the first to get considered or called up. 
• When visiting job fairs. Job fairs are an excellent way of building up your professional network as a recent graduate. Since you don’t know which companies would be there and whom you may get interested in, having a printed generic cover letter with a resume can come in handy. 
• If you plan to use a staffing agency . Another situation when a generic cover letter is perfectly acceptable is when you are planning to search for a job in-directly, via an agency. 

In other cases, that is when you are applying to jobs posted online, it’s best to write a personalized cover letter . 

But since writing doesn’t come naturally to all of us, you can (and should!) create a general-purpose cover letter and then personalize it for each position. This way, you won’t waste hours, staring onto a blank page or gathering your thoughts whenever you’d want to jump on a freshly posted opportunity.

And remember: speed is often key. Data from Smart Recruiters suggests that people who apply within the first 4 days after the job is posted have a nearly 65% higher chance to get considered than later applicants. 

How to Write a Generic Cover Letter To Speed Up Job Applications 

A pre-made generic cover letter template that you can easily customize can be a true time-saver. Instead of fretting over clever wording and keywords , you’ll just need to fill in certain gaps and add a quick few personalized touches. Blissful, right?

So let’s help you build that master ‘cover letter’ that you can use over and over again for any good job you come across. 

The Basics: What To Include in a Cover Letter 

The standard cover letter has four key elements:

• Customary greeting 
• Catchy intro paragraph 
• Detail-heavy body 
• Concluding paragraph with call-to-action (CTA). 

You can spell out most of these details within a generic template and leave out gaps or highlights for information that needs to be customized. 

Now let’s have a quick walkthrough over each section with some quick generic cover letter examples. 

How to Address a Generic Cover Letter

If you plan to submit a generic cover letter to a staffing agency or someone at a job fair, it’s alright to make the greeting impersonal. For example: 

• Dear Employer
• To Whom It May Concern

In all other cases (including when you are pitching to a company without any open roles at the moment), it’s best to do the following. 

• Use the company name: “Dear [Company Name] HR team” or “[Company Name] Recruiting Department is good enough if you are pitching to the business through an on-site form.
• Try to learn the recruiter’s name: This is the best thing you can do — use the recipient’s full name. On LinkedIn, you can often see the job publisher’s name next to the vacancy. Also, you can often find the contact person’s name in the company’s profile if applying via popular job search websites such as Indeed, Monster, and others.  Take the time to research it when you customize your generic cover letter for a particular job. 

The Introductory Paragraph for a General Purpose Cover Letter 

The purpose of the intro is to explain who you are, how you’ve got to know about the job opportunity, and what makes you qualified. Keep it short and sweet up to 2-3 sentences max. 

You generic cover letter can go like this:

My name is Joan Smith and I’d like to get considered for the [position name] at [company name]. As a certified Salesforce email marketing specialist and CRO expert with 3+ years of experience in the ecommerce domain, I believe that I could be a valuable addition to [company name] team. 

That’s a quick universal opening you can quickly customize by replacing data in the brackets. Need more inspiration? Check other cover letter examples we wrote. 

The Main Body Of Your Generic Cover Letter

The body of your cover letter is where you need to make the most impact. It should highlight your special technical skills , industry knowledge, and relevant work experience and/or professional training. 

You could also include here some details about your very specialaccomplishments, awards, industry recognition, or projects you are super proud of. But don’t duplicate the information from your resume . That will make you sound repetitive. Instead, use the cover letter to provide extra context about the facts and figures you’ve listed on your resume. 

For example, you can work in the next paragraph:

At my current role, I helped [company name] increase the average customer order by 15% within 3 months. Using data from Salesforce and Google Analytics, I’ve suggested a new email list segmentation approach and ran a test set of highly-personalized promotion campaigns to repeat customers. The average open rate was 45% (thanks to good titles) and the click-through-rate was 4.5% — higher than the industry average.

Here, the author expands on the general stat (15% order increase) they had shared in their resume by explaining what exactly they did to achieve that. Using these tactics is a solid way to improve the credibility of your claims. 

Next, you could go on to mention any relevant educational qualifications you have that can back up your knowledge and expertise in your field of employment. This is optional for more experienced candidates, but a good move for a recent graduate or someone changing careers. Here’s a quick example:

Five months ago, I completed my certification at Nutrition Academy and am now a licensed nutritionist. During my studies, I gave individual consultations to a small pool of clients and you can read their feedback on my website. I believe that my new skillset, combined with past experience in customer support, could make me a valuable addition to the Holistic Wellness Center — a company, placing great emphasis on customer experience.

Lastly, stick to including relevant facts only. Recruiting officers are busy people and would not be interested to read that you currently hold a world record in gum chewing, or that you collect Star Wars memorabilia.

You should leave out ‘filler’ things off your cover letter and instead focus on promoting:

• Core competencies
• Technical and interpersonal skills
• Past achievements. 

Cover Letter Conclusion 

The final paragraph of the cover letter is the easiest one to keep generic. You should re-confirm your interest in the position and suggest further action by the employer. So you can end your cover letter with something like this:

I’d be glad to further discuss how I could help [company name] achieve its goals. Please let me know when you would like to meet.

Generic Cover Letter Example 

Now let’s put all of these things together in a generic cover letter sample. 

Your Name Your Phone Number(s) Your Email Address Today’s date

Dear [Company Name] Recruitment Team,

I have over three years’ experience in the hospitality industry, and I believe the knowledge and skills built up during this time make me the perfect candidate for a role within your company.

In my current role as a Customer Experience Manager at  [Company Name], I managed to increase our incoming client bookings for our services by 150% in just over 9 months, which helped the business to greatly increase its annual turnover. This, along with my everyday commitment to creating a delightful experience for our guests and B2B partners, has earned me the “Employee of the Year” title. 

My skills include, but are not limited to:

• Excellent time-management skills using careful planning and organization of work activities.
• Vendor selection, wholesale prices negotiation, contract management. 
• Expert user of Salesforce, SAP, and Hubspot. 
• Strong communication and conflict management skills.
• An openness to learning and applying new information.

With my previous experience and expertise, I believe I can hit the ground running and start actively contributing to the business as soon as possible.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to meeting with you to discuss my application further.

[Your name]

Wrap Up 

When you are writing a generic cover letter place a greater focus on your core skills aka those that adapt to suit just about any role across a wide range of different companies.

Also, remember that your cover letter can act as a snapshot of your achievements so far. Your resume has the job of giving your recruiter a more in-depth look at your past education, further education, and training courses completed as well as other work-related experience, but your cover letter is there to introduce yourself and deliver a positive overview of why you should be considered for an interview!

Last updated on December 2020

Elena runs content operations at Freesumes since 2017. She works closely with copywriters, designers, and invited career experts to ensure that all content meets our highest editorial standards. Up to date, she wrote over 200 career-related pieces around resume writing, career advice... more

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4 Cover Letter Examples (Plus Tips on How to Write Yours)

We love having examples. It’s so much easier to decorate a cake, build a model, or yes, even write a cover letter when you know what the end product could look like. So that’s what we’re going to give you—all the cover letter examples and tips you need to make yours shine (unfortunately we’re not experts in cake decorating or model building). 

You'll see that writing a cover letter is all about highlighting your relevant skills, professional experience, and accomplishments, while emphasizing your interest for the role in an engaging manner.

Want to get right down to business? Skip ahead to:

1. The traditional cover letter example

2. the impact cover letter example, 3. the writing sample cover letter example, 4. the career change cover letter example, bonus cover letter examples, a few more cover letter tips, why bother with a cover letter at all.

We bet when you see a job listing that says “ cover letter optional ,” you breathe a sigh of relief, gleefully submit your resume, and move on. But you’re truly doing yourself a disservice by not including a cover letter (or by writing one that’s super generic or formulaic).

“When you’re writing a resume you’re oftentimes confined by space, by resume speak, by keywords—you’re up against a lot of technical requirements,” says Melody Godfred, a career coach and the founder of Write in Color who’s read thousands of cover letters over the course of her career. “In a cover letter you have an opportunity to craft a narrative that aligns you not only with the position you’re applying to but also the company you’re applying to.”

Whether you’re writing a cover letter for a data scientist or marketing manager position, an internship or a senior-level role, a startup or a Fortune 500 company, you’re going to want to tailor it to the role, company, and culture. A strong, customized cover letter will help you explain your value proposition and stand out from the stack of applicants. 

If there’s a gap in your resume , you have the opportunity to explain why it’s there. If you’re changing careers, you have the chance to describe why you’re making the switch. If your resume is pretty dull, a cover letter helps you show some personality . And yes, cover letters still get read.

Deep in the job search, or just browsing? These open jobs on The Muse could be your ideal next step »

What do I write in a cover letter? The 3 basic elements

You'll notice from our cover letter examples that the body of your text can vary a lot depending on factors like the position you're applying for, your career stage, and the type of cover letter requested by the hiring manager. For instance, a writing sample cover letter is different from a traditional professional cover letter (we'll get there soon.)

However, there is some information that you can't leave out. It's important to highlight your most relevant experience, skills, and qualifications for the role in any type of cover letter. Plus, make sure to write an engaging first paragraph to grab the reader's attention, and an effective final paragraph, ideally followed by a call to action, in order to leave a lasting positive impression.

You could say that cover letters are a little like puzzles. When you put each component in its proper place (and remove any parts that don’t fit), you create a complete picture. Even though that picture is always different, the types of pieces are basically the same. We've broken down these three key elements for you:

1. An engaging opener

How you start a cover letter is everything. Your opening lines influence whether someone keeps reading—and you want them to, right? “Starting with something that immediately connects you to the company is essential—something that tells the company that this is not a generic cover letter,” Godfred says. “You have to say something that tells the employer, ‘I wrote this just for you.’”

It can be a childhood memory tying you back to the company’s mission. It can be a story about the time you fell in love with the company’s product. It can be an anecdote from another job or experience showing how hard of a worker you are. Whatever you decide to open with, make it memorable.

2. A clear pitch

Use the next few paragraphs of your cover letter to “hit them with the strongest results you have that are aligned with the opportunity,” Godfred says. Ryan Kahn , Muse career coach and founder of The Hired Group , calls this your pitch. In other words, the part where you’re “selling yourself for the position and why you’re qualified for it.”

Additionally, Godfred says, “If you’re someone who’s transitioning careers, and you need to explain that transition, you do it there.”

This section should have a balance of soft and hard skills . Talk about your experience using Salesforce or doing SEO work, but also highlight your ability to lead teams and communicate effectively.

“Companies are embracing authenticity, they’re embracing humanity, they’re looking for people who are going to fit their culture,” says Godfred. “So what are your values? What do you stand for? These values should be as much a part of your cover letter as the super specialized hard skills.

3. A great closing line

Your closing line could include your next steps or a call to action, Kahn says, such as “ I welcome the opportunity to speak with you more about how I can contribute to the team ,” or, “ I would love to schedule a time for us to discuss this role and my experience. ” But more importantly, “You want to make sure that you’re gracious and thanking them,” he says. While seemingly cliché , it never hurts to end on a simple, “ Thank you for your consideration. ”

Does that sound a bit overwhelming? Don’t panic! We’ve got examples of four types of cover letters below: a traditional cover letter , an impact cover letter , a writing sample cover letter , and a career change cover letter . So let’s take a look at these examples, why they work, and how you can use them to craft your own.

A traditional cover letter is similar to what you’d come up with using position-based cover letter templates . It moves in reverse chronological order through your career history, highlighting parts of your past jobs that make you well suited for this position.

You might want to use this type of cover letter if:

• You’re applying to a more formal company (like a law firm or major healthcare company ) or a more conventional role (like a lawyer or accountant).
• You want to play it safe and conservative with your application materials.

What does the job description say?

Imagine you’re applying to a paralegal job opening at a law firm. The job description might include:

Responsibilities

• Draft routine legal documents for review and use by attorneys
• Coordinate and organize materials and presentations for legal proceedings
• Research legal and related issues and report findings and conclusions to team
• Provide overall legal administrative support to the legal team
• Maintain calendars and ensure timely filings

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent of relevant education and work experience
• Strong communication skills (oral and written)
• Strong organizational , multitasking, and prioritization skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and LexisNexis
• Trustworthy, positive, energetic, and optimistic attitude with a willingness to roll up your sleeves

The cover letter example

Here’s an example of a traditional cover letter you could write for this role—keeping things strictly professional but without sounding too boring or jargon-y:

Dear Ms. Jessica Sanchez,

In my five-year career as a paralegal, I have honed my legal research and writing skills, and the attorneys I’ve worked with have complimented me on my command of case law and litigation support. Spiegel Law Firm’s 20 years in practice proves that the firm has strong values and excellent attorneys, and I’d be eager to join such a talented team.

I currently serve as a paralegal for Chandler, Chandler, and Greene, where I work closely with the partners on a number of high-priority cases. During my time here, I implemented a new calendar system that ensures timely filing of court papers. This system has prevented missed deadlines and allowed for better organization of internal and client meetings.

Previously, as a paralegal for the Neuerburg Law Firm, I received praise for my overall support of the legal team and my positive attitude. While working there, I came up with and implemented a plan for digitizing their old files while still ensuring security and privacy. This led to more efficiency when preparing for client meetings and legal proceedings.

My further qualifications include a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University, a paralegal certificate, and training in LexisNexis, Westlaw, and Microsoft Office Suite.

I would love the opportunity to discuss how I can contribute to your legal team. Thank you in advance for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Chase Broadstein [email protected] (222) 222-2222

Download this example

Why this works

This cover letter example is short, sweet, and to the point. It shows the candidate has a knack for getting things done in a thorough and timely manner and a track record for helping out wherever needed. The opening lines also express a genuine interest in this specific firm. Plus, there are some important keywords in there like “calendar system,” “bachelor’s degree,” “paralegal certificate,” and “LexisNexis.”

The impact cover letter puts your accomplishments front and center rather than organizing your paragraphs by past roles. You might use a cover letter like this if:

• You’re applying for roles where you’re expected to deliver on certain goals or results (for example, if the jobs involve sales quotas or marketing metrics).
• You haven’t followed a straightforward career path and your past job titles don’t show the extent of your qualifications.
• You want your personality to stand out a bit more than it might in a traditional cover letter.

What does the job description say

Imagine you’ve come across an opening for an email marketing manager . Part of the job description states:

• Manage email marketing strategy and calendar, including copywriting, optimization, monitoring, analyzing, and reporting on campaigns
• Improve campaign success through conversion optimization, A/B testing, and other experiments
• Collaborate with the design team to ensure brand guidelines are followed in emails
• Partner and collaborate cross-functionally with sales, product, product marketing, and data teams
• 3+ years in email marketing
• Experience with Constant Contact, Google Analytics, HTML, CSS, Photoshop, and Microsoft Excel, a plus
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written) and an eye for copyediting
• Strong interpersonal , relationship-building, and stakeholder management skills
• Excellent project management, problem-solving , and time management skills, with the ability to multitask effectively

Here’s an example of an impact cover letter where the writer’s hard skills and successes stand out:

Dear Russ Roman,

I have a problem. See, my inbox currently (and embarrassingly) hosts 1,500 unread emails—including newsletters from at least 50 different brands.

But this problem only fuels my passion for creating emails that are worth opening. Because from my perspective, as someone who can barely get through their own stack of mail, that’s a true win.

I’ve been following Vitabe for years, and can proudly say that I open every single email you send to me. I’m a sucker for a good subject line—“Take a Vitamin-ute—We’ll A-B-C You Soon” being my favorite—and the way your email content feels both fun and expert-backed really speaks to me. This is why I’m thrilled to submit my application for a role as email marketing manager at your company.

I have over four years of experience working in the email marketing space. In my current role at Westside Bank, I was able to implement new email campaigns centered around reengaging churned clients. By analyzing data around the types of clients who churn and the engagement of our current email subscribers, as well as A/B testing headlines and newsletter layouts, we were able to increase email subscribers by 15% and convert 30% of those subscribers to purchase our product, a significant increase from the previous year. 

I also launched a “Your Credit Matters” newsletter focused on educating our clients on how they spend and manage their credit—which became our highest performing campaign in terms of open-rates and click-through to date.

Previously, as a member of the marketing team at Dream Diary Mattresses, I collaborated with the sales and product team to understand how I could best support them in hitting their quarterly goals. One specific project involving creating personalized emails for customers drew more people to come back to our site after 30 days than direct paid ad campaigns, leading to a 112% increase in revenue from the last quarter.

I take the content I write and the calendars I manage seriously, editing and refining beyond detail-oriented and into meticulous territory, and I feel my experience and drive would greatly help Vitabe further develop their email program for success.

Thank you very much for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.

Lad Miller [email protected] (987) 654-3210

This sample cover letter concisely highlights the applicant’s most significant, relevant achievements. By adding context to how their projects were created, monitored, and completed, they’re able to show just how results-driven they are and how they’ve successfully leveraged some of the skills the company is looking for.

One thing worth noting: This person didn’t include keywords such as Constant Contact, Google Analytics, HTML, CSS, Photoshop, or Microsoft Excel—all of which are listed in the job description. But those skills are most likely in their resume already, and leaving them out gives them the space to discuss specific projects and tell a story not visible on other parts of their job application.

For roles where written communication is key, such as PR, copywriting , or journalism jobs, your cover letter will likely be the first writing sample your future employer sees. So it’s just as important to show your skill set in action through eloquent writing.

• Writing or editing is a key component of the role you’re applying to.
• You want to show off your creativity.

Here’s part of a job description for a staff writer position:

• Pitch and write articles, reporting on timely issues and trends
• Collaborate with editorial and other teams to launch each digital issue and other special projects on schedule
• Evaluate content performance and digital trends on a daily basis to constantly adjust pitches and packaging
• Utilize CMS tools, strategically select photos and videos, and request original graphics to optimize all written content for maximum engagement
• At least 2-3 years of experience creating content at a digital-first outlet
• Strong writing and reporting skills, and the ability to write clearly and quickly
• Familiarity working in a CMS and with analytics tools such as Google Analytics
• Deadline-driven, strategic thinker with a knack for crafting click-y headlines
• Strong collaborator who thrives in fast-paced environments

Have fun with this one, but triple-check for spelling and grammar mistakes, and make sure you’re showing off your best writing. Here's the cover letter sample:

Dear Tai Chen,

Since I could walk, I’ve been dancing. And since I could read, I’ve been glued to Arabesque Weekly. At one point, you featured one of my local heroes—a ballerina who struggled with an injury early in her career and went on to become a principal dancer at Pacific Northwest Ballet—and I plastered the article above my childhood bed. It’s still there today.

That article—and so many others you’ve published—taught me that dancing was about more than just pirouettes and arabesques and that the right kind of writer can shed light on aspects of the art that make it surprising, impactful, and universal. I can be that writer.

As an editorial assistant at TheImprovGroup.com for the past two and a half years, my main responsibility was to get all of our content ready to go live on the site. This included fact-checking, proofreading, adding in HTML where necessary, and finding photos, videos, and GIFs that would complement the content and optimize audience engagement. 

As I tinkered with each post, I became intimately familiar with our internal CMS. Reviewing every single article we published and following reactions and engagement helped me gain a deep understanding of what makes a piece really land with our audience.

But by far my favorite aspect of this role has been writing. Each week, I pitch and write at least one article, from 250-word news items to 900-word advice pieces to even longer profiles, features, and personal essays. I love the challenge of developing pitches that align with the trends we see in the data, reflect with the company’s brand and mission, and allow me to flex my creative muscles.

Collaborating with my team to form the best content library we can has been a dream come true. I would be so excited to use my experience to help Arabesque Weekly achieve its goals. And I hope to one day write a story that another little dance lover tapes to their wall forever.

It would be an honor to be a part of your editorial team, and I look forward to the possibility of discussing the opportunity with you.

Hoping to be your next staff writer,

Marlee Wood [email protected] (555) 666-4433

This candidate is clearly passionate about this specific publication and leads with a unique personal anecdote tied to the company’s mission that demonstrates their ability to tell stories in a compelling way. There are relevant keywords and phrases, sure, but they’re not just thrown in there. Their voice comes through in every sentence, proving this person knows how to communicate effectively and creatively.

Cover letters can play a big part in helping career changers prove their qualifications—especially when it’s unclear how their skills transfer over to this new field.

You might write a career change cover letter if:

• You want to highlight the transferable skills you have that relate to the job description.
• You want to explain why you’re making the switch and what’s driving you toward this specific industry, company, or position.

Imagine you’re someone who has experience supporting a sales team as an administrative assistant , and you’re now looking to become a sales representative. You come across a job posting that includes:

• Develop new sales techniques and strategies to build pipeline and hit team goals
• Coordinate with other teams to increase lead-generation efforts
• Assist in the processing of new business, including contacting customers to finalize sales and service transactions
• 1-3 years of successful sales experience
• Strong communication skills
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment
• Ability to work independently to plan, set priorities, and effectively organize work
• Proven ability to be persuasive, persistent, and confident in closing a sale

Typically, this type of cover letter should include a compelling narrative about your career change and how you can transfer your past experiences to this new role. Here’s how you might translate your past experience over to this new (and exciting) prospect:

Dear Maria Russo,

The head of sales at Sunshine Inc. was in a bind. She needed six client meetings scheduled, 18 service transactions processed, and a summary of the team’s new lead generation campaign drafted before getting on a flight to Austin—in three hours. So she turned to her cool-headed, sales-savvy administrative assistant for help. That assistant was me. Not only did I execute everything on her to-do list, I did it all before her plane left the ground.

For three years, I worked in lockstep with a busy, growth-oriented sales leader to support the business development team. As the sole administrative assistant in the department, I balanced a swath of competing priorities, ranging from coordinating meetings and inputting data to contacting customers, finalizing transactions, and creating promotional materials. This role helped me develop a comprehensive understanding of the sales cycle, sales strategy, and pipeline growth.

Like many others, my career path hasn’t been entirely straightforward. After leaving Crabapple Media, I enrolled in a local coding bootcamp. Six months later, I emerged with a certificate in computer programming and a certainty that I did not want to be a coder. But education is never wasted. I’m now an aspiring sales representative with experience supporting a thriving sales team and extensive knowledge of the tech space.

Here’s a little bit more about how my experience would translate into this role:

• At Crabapple Media, I assisted in coordinating three annual sales strategy rollouts, yielding an average increase in pipeline of 26% YoY.
• At Sunshine Inc., I supported 12 independent team members in their lead-generation efforts. I also assisted in processing an average of 300 sales transactions every quarter.
• I thrive in busy, ever-changing environments that require me to communicate clearly and concisely. Supporting a high-volume team and a busy executive helped me to hone these skills—I typically sent more than 200 emails a day!

I would, of course, love to schedule a time for us to discuss this role and my experience, and I truly want to thank you for considering me.

All the best,

Olu Abiola [email protected] (123) 456-789

The opener draws you in and makes you want to learn more. It toots the person’s horn, but in a way that’s substantiated. Then, the next couple sections explain their experience in the sales space and other relevant qualifications, before eventually tying that back to why they’re applying to this specific job. 

Similar to the impact cover letter, the author lists some of the more important qualities they bring to the table, doing a bit of keyword inclusion and resume gap explaining along the way.

To further guide you, check out some more cover letter examples:

• Pain point cover letter example
• Internship cover letter example
• Recent graduate cover letter example
• (Another) career changer cover letter example
• Stay-at-home parent returning to work cover letter example
• Sales cover letter example
• Email marketing manager cover letter example
• No job description or position cover letter example (a.k.a., a letter of intent or interest)
• Example cover letter with no experience

Let’s break down one of our example cover letters real quick

All three professional cover letter examples have some key elements that make them great and able to grab the hiring manager's attention. Check out this handy infographic that breaks down our impact cover letter:

Here are a few more tips to help the cover letter process:

Start with a “brain dump” 

If you’re staring at a blank page, Godfred always recommends that her clients start by getting all their ideas on the page without paying attention to length. Then “ask yourself how you can cut half of it,” she says. You’ll likely find that repeated information and very generic phrases are the first to go. (If it’s still too long, here are some tips for getting your cover letter down to one page .)

Don’t just repeat your resume

You only have so much space to get your point across, so focus on the information that isn’t stated elsewhere rather than simply regurgitating your resume. A good cover letter should complement your resume, so use the opportunity to elaborate your skills and qualifications further, as well as your accomplishments and why you're a good fit for that position.

Focus on quality over quantity 

Target the jobs you’re most closely drawn to and qualified for and give them all your energy, rather than trying to churn out hundreds of cover letters, Kahn says. You may not be able to apply to as many jobs, but you’ll have a better response rate.

Remember the ATS 

Much like your resume, an applicant tracking systems, or ATS , will be sifting through your cover letter. So you’ll want to scatter relevant keywords from the job description throughout your pitch where it makes sense.

Don’t stress over formatting 

You may see flashy cover letter examples across the internet, but for the most part, it just isn’t necessary. An ATS can’t read text that has been formatted beyond using bold, italics, underline, and color, so keep your font and layout simple—especially if you’re submitting your cover letter through an online portal.

Don't forget your contact information

Include your contact information on every page, including your name, phone number, and email. “Imagine you come across a cover letter and you print it out with a bunch of applications to review and it doesn’t have the person’s contact information on it,” Godfred says. “You never want to put yourself in a situation where you’re the right person and they can’t find you.”

Edit your cover letter before submitting

Never submit a cover letter right after you finish writing it—there could be critical errors that you didn't notice while typing. Take some time away from your text, then revisit it like you're reading someone else's letter. Be sure to double-check all the information you've included, paying special attention to:

• The company's name
• The hiring manager's name
• The job title
• Your contact information
• Basic grammar and spelling

You're ready to go

If you've come this far, you're equipped with all the information you need to craft a great cover letter. Hopefully these cover letter examples help as you go to tackle your own. Remember: This is just one small step in the process! Take your time, but learn to move on when you’ve given it your all.

Amanda Cardoso contributed to the latest version of this article.

How to Write a General Cover Letter (Complete With Cover Letter Templates and Examples)

3 key takeaways

• What a general cover letter is
• Tips for writing your general cover letter
• A faster way to write a cover letter with Teal's Cover Letter Generator

Keeping a top-notch general cover letter on hand can help you save considerable time and effort when hunting for a new position. A well-written general cover letter is a valuable resource when applying for numerous jobs because it can be repeatedly customized to reflect each role’s unique requirements.

Below you’ll learn what to include in a generic cover letter and how to quickly repurpose and customize a cover letter for multiple roles. You’ll also find multiple cover letter samples to help you create a general cover letter tailor-made for you.

What is a general cover letter?

Unlike a specific cover letter tailored to a particular job opening, a general cover letter can be adapted and customized for multiple job applications, even when applying to more than one job at the same company. Your generic cover letter will showcase your transferable skills , qualifications, and experience in a way that is easily applicable across various industries and multiple jobs. 

When job hunting, an ideal general cover letter can be quickly repurposed many times over, saving the applicant time and energy on their applications.

How to write a generic cover letter 

Use a professional format in your cover letter.

While it’s important to use a warm and friendly tone, it’s more important to remain professional. Employers are looking for evidence that you approach your work earnestly and take your responsibilities seriously. By formatting a cover letter professionally, you’ll afford yourself the leeway to infuse a personal touch, providing hiring managers with more background and insight into your personality and professional brand .

Employ a general greeting for easy editing

Before you begin, it’s important to know how to address a cover letter . You can keep this aspect static while you customize other portions of each application to save time. When the aim is efficiency, you don’t want to be fussing over something as simple as your greeting.

You’ll want to greet the hiring manager by name as often as possible. When you have a contact person’s name, you can address the cover letter:

Example: Dear Ms. Doh,

When a job posting doesn’t identify the hiring manager, make an effort to find out who it is. LinkedIn is a great resource to do some digging; you can also explore the company website or call the company directly and ask to speak to human resources. Briefly explain that you're submitting a job application and would like to address the hiring manager by name on your cover letter.

Some companies may prefer not to disclose the hiring manager’s name; if this is the case, you can use a generic cover letter greeting:

Example: Dear Hiring Manager,

Include your personal contact information in each cover letter

Always include your contact information near the top of the letter. You want to be sure you’re easy to get in touch with should they find you a qualified fit.

While there is no agreed-upon standard on where to place this information, it’s usually somewhere up top. You can place it along the top, where you’d put a header, or in the right or left corners of a generic cover letter for multiple jobs. 

You’ll also want to include the hiring manager's contact information. By providing the hiring manager's details, you can rest assured that your letter will reach the correct recipient, knowing it’s properly addressed.

Introduce yourself and explain why you’re applying

You’ll want to start your general cover letters with a brief snapshot of your professional background, which you can customize with more detail later, and explain what drew you to the role. Your potential employers are looking for someone who cares about and understands their work. 

Showcase your passion

A passionate cover letter will stand out more than all-purpose cover letters that only show mild interest. Highlight a few aspects you enjoy about work in general that would be applicable to multiple positions, enabling you to use your generic cover letter for numerous applications. For example, you might draw attention to your collaborative instincts, passion for mentoring others, affinity for your target industry, or desire for professional growth.

Highlight relevant skills demonstrated in previous roles

When writing a cover letter, showcase your transferable skills from past experiences that would be valuable for any job you’re applying for. Think about valuable competencies like organizational skills, attention to detail, self-starting nature, or the ability to remain focused under pressure. An excellent general cover letter should demonstrate clear value to various roles—which can then be expanded upon and customized for each job application.

Even if you have limited work experience , you can still pull relevant skills from academic projects, volunteer work, group/club leadership, etc.

Express a willingness to adapt and learn in your generic cover letter

Communicating your willingness to learn and adapt to a new job setting can be valuable for a company. Employers want to hire individuals who are open to learning and can adjust to new or fast-paced environments. You can show this by highlighting instances from previous roles where you’ve had to learn unique key skills or adapt quickly. By expressing your welcoming approach to challenges, you can make a strong case for why you would be an excellent fit for the job.

Include “blanks” for both customization and plug-and-play 

While it’s important to include portions that will be valuable to any role, leave space for customization. This lets you tailor your letter each time—and also reminds you to do so. Your generic letter might include something that looks like the following:

I'm thrilled to apply for [ROLE] at [COMPANY]. I appreciate the way [COMPANY] approaches [insert specific market challenge or problem] to provide consumers with [insert notable value]. I am a sales professional with 10 years of experience in outbound sales, inbound sales, renewals, and business development. My experience in [insert applicable experiences] would provide substantial value to [COMPANY] due to my demonstrated ability to [include specific skills].

Show respect through flexibility

In your closing remarks, state that you look forward to hearing from the person and are looking forward to an interview. If your schedule allows for flexibility, make it clear you’re happy to work around their schedule. Hiring managers are often inundated with applications, and by making yourself easy to schedule, you make it easy to confirm your interview.

Tips for writing a general cover letter

Demonstrate enthusiasm and motivation.

Employers want to hire an ideal candidate who is motivated to contribute in a meaningful way. Expressing enthusiasm professionally can help you stand out from other candidates who may have similar qualifications but are less passionate about the work, giving you a leg up in the hiring process.

Keep it concise and error-free

Keep your general cover letter brief yet thorough and, most of all, error-free. A well-written, concise cover letter free of grammatical and spelling errors shows professionalism and attention to detail. Excellent resources commonly used are Grammarly and pretty much any spell-check feature. By keeping the letter concise, you’re not only providing a focused look at your candidacy but respecting the hiring manager’s time.

Use a professional tone

When writing a cover letter, use a professional tone when conveying your interest for the job. A professional demeanor shows that you take the work seriously and put effort and careful planning into your application. You can still be warm and friendly, but it’s best to avoid overly casual terms or colloquial expressions. 

Write your general cover letter with Teal

Want to skip the steps and write a cover letter in seconds? Give Teal a try. Teal's Cover Letter Generator combines your work experience with the details of any job description to write an AI-generated cover letter in less than 30-seconds.

General cover letter example and template 

Dear [Hiring Manager], I am thrilled to express my interest in the [Position] role at [Company]. As an experienced [Industry] professional with [X] years of experience, I’m confident my skill set and qualifications would provide considerable value to this position. In my current role at [Current Company], I have gained valuable experience in [relevant skill or experience]. I am particularly proud of [accomplishment or project], which demonstrates my ability to [skill or trait related to the position]. I am drawn to [Company] because of its reputation for [company values or mission]. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute my skills and experience to a company that shares my passion for [industry or field]. In addition to my experience, I possess excellent [skill relevant to the position], as well as [soft skill or trait]. I am a quick learner, a team player, and I can work under pressure to meet tight deadlines. Thank you for considering my application and enclosed resume. Please let me know a time and day that works best with your schedule to further discuss my qualifications and the role. I’d love to learn more about what you’re seeking in a [Position], I’m happy to work around any time constraints. Sincerely, [Your Name]

You can use AI technology like ChatGPT to generate cover letters or try Teal's AI Cover Letter Generation Tool for different positions and multiple applications.

Cover letter templates for different job titles

Executive assistant.

Dear [Hiring Manager], I am excited to apply for the Executive Assistant position at [Company]. With over [number of years] of experience as an executive assistant, I am confident in my ability to provide comprehensive support to senior executives and make a positive impact on your organization. In my previous role at [Previous Company], I worked closely with the CEO and other senior leaders to manage their calendars, arrange travel, and coordinate meetings and events. I also played a key role in managing projects, preparing reports and presentations, and handling confidential information. My strong organizational and communication skills, attention to detail, and ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment have enabled me to consistently deliver high-quality work and build positive relationships with colleagues and clients alike. I am excited about the opportunity to bring my experience and skills to your team and contribute to your organization's success. Thank you for considering my application. Sincerely, [Your Name]

For more examples, check out these executive assistant cover letter samples .

Marketing manager

Dear [Hiring Manager], I am excited to apply for the Marketing Manager position at [Company]. With my extensive experience in marketing strategy and execution, I am confident that I can lead your team in achieving your marketing goals and driving growth for the company. In my previous role at [Previous Company], I successfully managed a team of marketing professionals to develop and implement effective marketing campaigns that increased brand awareness and drove sales. I am experienced in market research, consumer behavior analysis, and developing comprehensive marketing plans that align with company objectives. In addition to my strategic skills, I have strong project management skills and experience working cross-functionally with teams such as product, sales, and design. I am also proficient in marketing automation tools, CRM systems, and data analytics software. I am passionate about marketing and am excited about the opportunity to bring my experience and skills to your team. Thank you for considering my application. Sincerely, [Your Name]

Click here for more samples of marketing manager cover letters .

Human resources coordinator

Dear [Hiring Manager], I am excited to apply for the Human Resources Coordinator position at [Company]. With my strong organizational skills and experience in HR administration, I am confident in my ability to provide valuable support to your team and contribute to the success of your organization. In my previous role at [Previous Company], I managed HR processes such as onboarding, benefits administration, and employee records management. I also supported recruitment efforts by screening resumes, scheduling interviews, and assisting with the hiring process. I am proficient in HRIS systems and have a deep understanding of HR compliance and regulations. Additionally, my strong communication skills and ability to build positive relationships have enabled me to effectively support employees and management. I am passionate about HR and am excited about the opportunity to bring my experience and skills to your team. Thank you for considering my application. Sincerely, [Your Name]

See more examples of cover letters in these human resources cover letter examples .

Dear [Hiring Manager], I am excited to apply for the Accountant position at [Company]. With my extensive experience in accounting and financial analysis, I am confident in my ability to contribute to your organization's success. In my previous role at [Previous Company], I managed general accounting processes, prepared financial statements, and provided analysis to support strategic decision-making. I am also experienced in tax planning and compliance, payroll processing, and internal controls. I am proficient in accounting software such as QuickBooks, and have strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Additionally, my attention to detail and ability to work collaboratively with colleagues have enabled me to consistently deliver high-quality work. I am passionate about accounting and am excited about the opportunity to bring my experience and skills to your team. Thank you for considering my application. Sincerely, [Your Name]

For more cover letter inspiration, explore these example cover letters for accountants .

Project manager

Dear [Hiring Manager], I am excited to apply for the Project Manager position at [Company]. With my extensive experience in project management and leadership, I am confident in my ability to deliver successful projects and drive growth for your organization. In my previous role at [Previous Company], I managed complex projects from conception to completion, utilizing project management methodologies such as Agile and Scrum. I am experienced in resource allocation, risk management, and stakeholder communication, ensuring projects are delivered on-time and within budget. I have strong leadership skills and experience managing cross-functional teams of both internal and external stakeholders. My ability to foster positive relationships and communicate effectively with colleagues and clients has enabled me to deliver successful projects and exceed expectations. I am proficient in project management software such as Asana and Trello, and have a deep understanding of project management best practices. Additionally, my problem-solving skills and ability to adapt to change make me a valuable asset to any team. I am passionate about project management and am excited about the opportunity to bring my experience and skills to your team. Thank you for considering my application. Sincerely, [Your Name]

Explore these example cover letters for project managers for even more general cover letters.

Software engineer

Dear [Hiring Manager], I am excited to apply for the Software Engineer position at [Company]. With my extensive experience in software development and programming languages, I am confident in my ability to contribute to your organization's success. In my previous role at [Previous Company], I designed, developed and maintained complex software systems utilizing programming languages such as Java, Python and C++. I am experienced in the full software development life cycle including requirement gathering, design, development, testing and deployment. I have strong analytical and problem-solving skills and am proficient in software engineering tools such as Git and Jenkins. Additionally, my ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues and clients has enabled me to consistently deliver high-quality software solutions. I am passionate about software engineering and am excited about the opportunity to bring my experience and skills to your team. Thank you for considering my application. Sincerely, [Your Name]

For more examples, check out these software engineer cover letter samples .

Graphic designer

Dear [Hiring Manager], I am excited to apply for the Graphic Designer position at [Company]. With my strong design skills and experience in visual communication, I am confident in my ability to create effective and impactful designs for your organization. In my previous role at [Previous Company], I designed a wide range of marketing collateral, including logos, brochures, social media graphics, and website layouts. I am proficient in design software such as Adobe Creative Suite and have a deep understanding of design principles such as color theory, typography, and composition. I have a strong creative vision and am experienced in working collaboratively with clients and colleagues to bring their ideas to life. Additionally, my ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet tight deadlines has enabled me to consistently deliver high-quality work. I am passionate about design and am excited about the opportunity to bring my experience and skills to your team. Thank you for considering my application. Sincerely, [Your Name]

Check out more general cover letters in these graphic designer cover letter examples .

Biochemical research assistant

Dear [Hiring Manager], I am excited to apply for the Biochemical Research Assistant position at [Company]. With my strong background in biochemistry and experience in laboratory research, I am confident in my ability to contribute to your organization's scientific research. In my previous role at [Previous Company], I conducted biochemical assays, performed data analysis, and contributed to research publications. I am experienced in techniques such as protein purification, gel electrophoresis, and spectrophotometry. I have a deep understanding of biochemical principles and am proficient in laboratory software such as GraphPad Prism and Excel. Additionally, my attention to detail and ability to work collaboratively with colleagues have enabled me to consistently deliver high-quality work. I am passionate about biochemistry and am excited about the opportunity to bring my experience and skills to your team. Thank you for considering my application. Sincerely, [Your Name]

For more inspiration, check out these cover letter examples .

Social work case manager

Dear [Hiring Manager], I am excited to apply for the Social Work Case Manager position at [Company]. With my strong background in social work and experience in case management, I am confident in my ability to provide effective services to your organization's clients. In my previous role at [Previous Company], I provided case management services to individuals experiencing homelessness and mental health challenges. I conducted assessments, developed treatment plans, and connected clients to necessary services such as housing, mental health treatment, and medical care. I have a deep understanding of social work principles and am proficient in case management software such as HMIS and ClientTrack. Additionally, my ability to build rapport with clients and work collaboratively with colleagues has enabled me to consistently provide high-quality services. I am passionate about social work and am committed to helping vulnerable populations access necessary services and resources. I am excited about the opportunity to bring my experience and skills to your team. Thank you for considering my application. Sincerely, [Your Name]

Click here for more great samples of cover letter examples .

Limitations of a general cover letter for multiple positions

Keep in mind that your generic cover letters are intended as a starting point for further customization, serving as a tool to build upon. Tailoring your generic cover letter to a job description is paramount to an application that indicates your clear suitability and candidacy for the role. Neglecting to mention specifics can come across as lazy and careless. 

When crafting your general cover letter, whether it’s a cover letter for an internship or a full industry shift, be sure to infuse some personality into it so that your cover letter doesn’t fall flat. You want to be professional without sounding robotic while reminding the reader you’re a human. 

Hiring managers read many cover letters, and it’s clear who has put time and consideration into submitting personal, thoughtful cover letters and who has used the same cover letter repeatedly. Employers don’t want to hire someone who is merely looking for their next salary; they want an individual who will be thrilled to join the team and grow with the company.

Craft a customized cover letter with Teal

With Teal, you can select a cover letter template using the AI Resume Builder with AI functionality to help you easily personalize your cover letter to incorporate job-specific phrases and ATS keywords. Teal’s AI Resume Builder and cover letter template feature leverages AI to collect key details from your resume and any job posting to quickly produce a custom cover letter for multiple positions.

Use the AI functionality within Teal’s AI Resume Builder to tailor multiple versions of your cover letter to make it easier to apply to more than one position.

Remember that you have a lot to offer, and Teal can help you identify all your applicable skills. By customizing your cover letters to your desired roles, you will have a better chance of securing an interview and landing your dream job.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do you write in a general cover letter.

In a general cover letter, you write a brief introduction about yourself, your skills, and experiences, how they align with job requirements in your field, and why you are interested in the position or company.

Is it okay to have a general cover letter?

It's acceptable to have a general cover letter, especially when applying to multiple positions, but it should be tailored to each job application to show genuine interest and relevance.

What is the general format of a cover letter?

The general format of a cover letter includes a greeting, an introduction, a body paragraph detailing your qualifications, a closing paragraph expressing your interest and thanking the reader, a call to action for what you'd like the reader to do next, and a professional closing with your name and the best way to reach you.

Rachael Gilpin

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How to Write a Generic Cover Letter for Multiple Purposes

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How to Sell Yourself in a 60 Second Interview

How to write a letter to reject an interview, how to write a sample letter accepting an interview opportunity.

• How to Present Yourself on a Job Application
• How to Write a Cover Letter Without a Job in Mind

Writing a generic cover letter can be an efficient and effective way to quickly apply for multiple jobs without having to create every application or resume package from scratch. The trick to doing this effectively is to write a generic cover letter that doesn’t sound blase, and that can be appropriate for a variety of purposes.

Writing a Solid Cover Letter

A persuasive cover letter contains a number of key elements that both catch the hiring manager's eye and establish you as a capable professional in your field. Even if you're crafting a boiler plate generic template, you can use this approach by employing the following openers:

Enthusiasm: Get a good start right out of the gate with the language you use to convey interest in the position. For example:

• I was very excited to learn that you're looking for a...
• I'd be delighted with the opportunity to join your dynamic team as...
• It would be a professional pleasure to be considered for...

Company kudos: While you don't want to come across as cloying, demonstrate your respect for the company you're applying with.

• As a well-respected industry leader, it would be a privilege to join your team.
• I understand your organization is known for its dynamic approach to teamwork - it's that type of professional work environment I'm looking to become part of.
• My objective is to join a respected company, known for its professionalism, focus on customer service and delivery of quality products.

Somewhat vague job description: To be useful as a cover letter for multiple job purposes, a generic cover letter should allude to the type of work you're seeking without being too specific.

• Seeking a challenging role in communications.
• Looking for to join a dynamic marketing team.
• Looking for the chance to flex my high-level customer service skills.

Focus on Your Key Skills

While a job-specific cover letter would focus on your skills as they apply to the job description you're referencing, a generic cover letter should provide a broad overview of your abilities and achievements. This might include:

• Summary of experience: I have more than 20 years' experience in marketing, sales and communications, with a focus on healthcare industry promotions. 
• Professional career highlights: I have been the top-earning sales rep in my region for the past three years, and was twice recognized with the ABC Career Sales Award.  
• P ersonal skills: I am a strong communicator , and have the ability to get along with a diverse variety of customers, clients and colleagues.
• Unique skill sets: I speak fluent Spanish, French and German, and I am well-versed in working with a global customer base.
• What you're looking for: I want an opportunity to lead a dynamic marketing team in achieving ambitious goals while simultaneously delivering high quality customer service.

Highlight Personality Traits

Spotlight your personal and professional traits in your generic application letter that make you a good overall employee. For example:

• I'm detail-oriented, have exceptional time management skills, and consistently meet deadlines.
• I enjoy working as part of a team, and I believe that collaborative work efforts create the best end results.
• I have a unique management approach that hs served me well, which includes pairing.
• The management approach that has served me well, which includes pairing the right people with the right projects and inviting input from all departments in crafting a strategic vision.
• I have a good sense of humor, a personable nature, and appreciate the opportunity to work with other creative individuals in a fast-paced work environment.

It's also wise to includ e a summary of programs or equipment you're familiar with.

For example: Proficient in Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Workfront and OneNote.

Cast a Wide Net

If you're applying for jobs across a wide geographic range and want to use the same cover letter for multiple job s, your generic cover letter should indicate as much so employers aren't concerned about the current address on your resume. For example:

• While I currently reside in Chicago, I am interested in expanding my career horizons and am happy to relocate for the right opportunity.

If you're looking for an opportunity move to a specific location, make it clear.

• While I have called New York home for the past 10 years, my spouse is relocating to Los Angels for a new role and I am subsequently seeking new opportunity in Southern California myself.

Reference Outside Sources

You can make a generic application letter more personal by including links to outside sources that will give potential employers more detail about your professional background. This might include a link to an online portfolio or resume, a personal website or a professional networking site. Use caution in linking to personal social media pages. If you include them, make sure they are free or embarrassing, polarizing or controversial information that could paint you in a bad light - even by association with your friend's posts.

Customize Generic Cover Letters

If you're looking for work across a variety of fields, consider creating different versions of your generic application letter that can be used for multiple purposes. This allows you to use the same cover letter for different jobs and focus in on different key areas without investing too much addition time. For example, if you're a marketing professional who would also be interested in sales, customer service, communications, social media, branding or a related field, create individual generic versions, with each focusing on its own particular area.

Consider Best Practices

While it's true that an all-purpose generic cover letter allows you to apply for more jobs at a faster pace, there's still no escaping the fact that the letter is not specifically tailored to the job being sought. Here's why:

• You won't be addressing the specific qualifications outlined in a job description. Just as you are mass-submitting your resume, the company may very well be mass-sorting applications, and if it's a computerized process, your cover letter may get discarded if it doesn't contain specific key words or phrases from the posted job description.
• You won't get the opportunity to speak to how you fit into a specific company, nor demonstrate your knowledge of the organization, which can also put you at a disadvantage. Being able to say, " I have always wanted the opportunity to be part of the 100-year legacy of Waterworks in providing high-quality plumbing services to the greater Nashville area " looks better than, " I'm interested in a plumbing-related occupation ."  

In short, using the same cover letter for different jobs is better than not using a cover letter at all, but it also doesn't allow you to position yourself as someone who is pinpoint focused on and serious about a specific opportunity. Hiring managers will appreciate it if you take the time to prepare correspondence specifically tailored just for their job posting. Consider the benefits of a hybrid approach - creating a generic application letter that you can tweak and tailor to the specific roles you're applying for.

• Fast Company: 5 Methods To Make Your Cover Letter Irresistible To Hiring Managers
• Entrepreneur: 6 of the Most Captivating Cover Letter Openers -- and Why They Work
• Business Insider: The Three Cover Letter Mistakes to Avoid if you Want to Get an Interview
• Robert Half: How to Write a Cover Letter
• Format your letter using basic rules for formatting business correspondence. Use one-inch margins and divide your letter into several paragraphs. Virginia Tech Division of Student Affairs suggests using a clear, commonplace font such as Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman for easier readability.
• Avoid discussing personal information unless it specifically relates to your career. While you may be proud of your softball league trophy or your hobby tying fishing flies, don’t include this kind of information in a cover letter. It won’t help you get the job and may distract the employer from reading about your accomplishments.

Lisa McQuerrey has been an award-winning writer and author for more than 25 years. She specializes in business, finance, workplace/career and education. Publications she’s written for include Southwest Exchange and InBusiness Las Vegas.

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How To Write a Cover Letter in 3 Easy Paragraphs

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Although you might have written a resume before, cover letters can be a bigger mystery. The good news is: by following a simple, three-paragraph process, you can quickly write a cover letter that will get attention and likely lead to a job interview!

What Is a Cover Letter?

Imagine you’re handing your resume to someone in person. Maybe you’re at a job or career fair, going into an employer’s office, or even handing it to an acquaintance so that they can get it to the hiring manager. You wouldn’t just give that person your resume, turn, and walk away without saying a word. You would probably take the time to  introduce yourself  and explain why you’re giving that person your resume, how you found out about the job, and why you think you’re qualified for it.

That’s the  purpose of a cover letter .

The cover letter is a more personalized introduction than your resume. It’s a message that represents what you would otherwise say in person, face-to-face. It should be uniquely written for each company and position, follow a standard; one-page business letter format, and consist of three to four paragraphs. If possible, it should also include the hiring manager’s name.

The cover letter usually accompanies a resume. It allows you to expand on the  information in the resume  or explain something that might appear as a red flag or barrier to employment. However, just as important is that the cover letter allows the recruiter to assess your written communication skills!

Why Do I Need a Cover Letter?

Cover letters aren’t always required for a job application. Often, they’re listed as an optional document. Most applicants  won’t  submit a cover letter because of this (let’s face it, job applications can take a lot of time!). However, this also means that submitting a cover letter is an extra step that will help you to stand out from the other applicants — and show how interested you are in the position!

How Do I Write a Cover Letter?

Here’s how to write a cover letter in three easy paragraphs:

Paragraph 1 (About You)

This is where you briefly introduce yourself, what position you’re interested in, and how you discovered it (i.e., job posting site, flyer, social media). If someone recommended you for the position, drop their name in the very first sentence and include their title and affiliation.

Also be enthusiastic! List three of your most important or impressive qualifications from your resume to explain why you’re applying for the position. You may also wish to include the degree or program you’re currently studying.

Example: I’m applying for your Human Resource Specialist position found on LinkedIn, as recommended by John Smith, your Office of Human Resource Manager. I would be a valuable addition to your team, with my five years of administrative experience, BAS in Organizational Management, and Microsoft Office certification.

Paragraph 2 (About the Company)

Answer the question “Why do you want to work here?” by researching the company and writing about at least one way that you resonate with its culture, values, or mission. You can get great information by visiting the company’s website (check the About Us or Mission/Vision pages) or by looking them up in the news category of your favorite search engine. Emphasize how your experience meets the company’s needs and why it would be a privilege to work for them.

Example: Congratulations on your team participating in a local Habitat for Humanity build. I would love to work for an organization that is so committed to improving our local communities. I’ve personally participated in four Habitat for Humanity builds; the skills I’ve learned, coupled with the knowledge I gained, have inspired me to seek out other, similar volunteer opportunities within our community.

Paragraph 3 (Thank You and Closing)

Be sure to thank the employer/hiring manager, provide contact information, and mention that you look forward to hearing from them. Express enthusiasm about an upcoming interview!

Example: Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to discussing my professional experience in greater detail in an upcoming interview. You can reach me at [phone number] or [email address].

Is There a Cover Letter Template I Can Use?

Microsoft Word has many attractive and pre-formatted cover letter templates you can use. Simply open Microsoft Word, click new, and then search for “cover letter” to browse all the options.

You can also use this cover letter template sample for reference:

Who Can Help Me Write a Cover Letter?

Eastern Florida State College’s Career Services team is here to assist! Did you know you can  schedule meetings with an EFSC Career Services Coordinator  to get help writing a cover letter?

Whether you have questions about your career path, job hunting, or interview preparation, you can contact your campus’ Career Services Center for personalized assistance or  check our our upcoming events . We look forward to helping you succeed this semester and beyond!

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3 Keys to Writing Cover Letters That Stand Out

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3 Keys to Writing Cover Letters That Stand Out was originally published on Vault .

It's a myth that high quality job openings are few and far between thanks to Covid. The truth is, despite the economic uncertainty created by the pandemic, there are many great openings out there. And to get them—or, at least, have a chance at getting them—you first need to capture the attention of hiring managers. And the best way to do that is to write compelling cover letters. So here are the three keys to writing cover letters that stand out.

1. Convey your personality, quirks and all.

Showcasing your uniqueness and allowing your personality to shine through in your cover letters can magnetize hiring managers, sending instant messages that you might be the candidate they're looking for. The secret to achieving this is to use specific details, rather than vague ones.

For example, the following was recently used by an applicant when applying for a Head of Marketing position (shortly after sending this, the candidate was interviewed and then hired):

“I have a passion for data and analytics. I enjoy spending (a little too much time) geeking out in Google analytics, advertising platforms, and BI tools (Tableau and Looker), digging deep into data to identify opportunities that can be leveraged to drive growth and inform testing strategies for campaigns, websites, and products.”

Now compare the above to the below (which has less personality and fewer details, and thus would likely not stand out):

“I am well versed in data analytics, and I am experienced with Google analytics, BI Tools, and other advertising platforms. I have a proven ability to inform testing strategies for campaigns for websites and products.”

Here's another example of cover letter phrasing that captures the attention of hiring managers:

“I'm rather obsessed with personal organization. I read three organizational blogs on my own time, and I've organized my desktop folders into color-coded sub-categories. My friends laugh at me for saying things like, ‘An organized space equals an organized mind,' but I don't like wasting time looking for things.” 

Now compare that to this less specific phrasing:

“I have a proven track record of being organized, and I have a passion for it. I have a proven knack for keeping files organized on an ongoing basis, and I have put organizational processes and procedures in place for my department. The bottom line is organization is always my highest priority.” 

2. Prove your level of dedication to your profession.

Another way to stand out is to illustrate specific things about your dedication to your field. In the following example, a candidate showcases her dedication to her profession, proves that she spends a lot of time thinking about driving results in her field, and shows that she takes concrete steps in order to be a high quality contributor in her field. All of which goes a long way when it comes time for hiring managers to decide which candidates to interview. 

“I believe that a good marketing strategy requires seeking out the latest trends and staying one step ahead of the competition. I've attended the Traction conference two years in a row and completed the 2018 Reforge Growth Series, a highly credible and exclusive course that only accepts 10 percent of applicants and is built by leaders from Hubspot, Uber, and other firms. Through these professional developments, I've opened my mind to uncommon marketing methods, and I pride myself on thinking outside the box to develop strategies that create sustainable, low-cost customer acquisition loops that lead to long-term positive ROI.” 

Now compare the above to the below, which is less detailed and includes less specific phrasing:

“I have the skills and requirements for this position, and I believe I would complete every task asked of me to the highest standard expected. My background and experience make me an excellent fit for this position for many reasons. I am very interested in marketing, and I think I would be a great asset to the team.”

3. Include concrete, quantitative results that show your value.

In any written application, you'll need to showcase some form of quantitative results to stand out. Note that even if you don't have a lot of shiny results in your career yet (or even any relevant experience—which is okay!), you can still use words to capture someone's attention with what you have done. And if you do have a record of achieving quantifiable results, then by all means include them, like in the below:

“I developed several Google ad campaigns that were worth more than $500,000 and that resulted in high-level customers. Also, through testing and optimization, I increased newsletter sign-ups by more than 200 percent.”

Now compare that to this bland sentence:

“I have experience in Google ad campaigns, as well as experience in testing and optimization.”

A final note

When trying to convey your personality, get across your dedication, or communicate your value, there's a big difference between saying you're a good fit for the job and actually showing it.

So, when writing your cover letters, try to hold these words in mind: I know you (the hiring managers) don't know me, so let me show you exactly why I'm completely invested, committed, and passionate about doing this specific type of work. And let me show you the specific reasons why hiring me, over all other candidates, would be beneficial to you.

If you hold all this in mind, the right details and words will flow right out of you—and into your cover letters.

Natalie Fisher is best known for helping professionals land their ideal roles and achieve explosive salary growth (even with little experience). If you want to dive deeper on the topic of your career mindset and become a person who knows exactly how to land their dream job offer, listen to her on the podcast Get a Six Figure Job You Love .

Election latest: Party leaders among millions of voters; dogs pictured at polling stations

Polling stations are open until 10pm. Scroll down to read how to follow Sky's election night coverage.

Thursday 4 July 2024 16:10, UK

• General Election 2024

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• Polling stations open at 7am and close at 10pm as Britain votes in General Election
• What counts as voter ID?
• Key election day timings
• In pictures: Dogs, dogs, more dogs... and a horse at polling stations
• Why is there no political news today?
• What is the exit poll?
• How to watch election night coverage on Sky News

Fergus the cockapoo helped his owners vote in Old Isleworth, southwest London.

Owner Maddie told Sky News: "We finally made it to the polling station and Fergus was very excited for us to vote.

"The polling staff were great and really spoilt him."

Sky News' chief political correspondent Jon Craig has done his democratic duty and voted with wife Caroline and border terrier Wilbur in Tooting, south London.

The exit poll is the first big moment of the night - the moment millions tune in for a first indication of the eventual result of the general election.

Commissioned by the broadcasters - Sky News, the BBC and ITV News - the fieldwork is carried out by Ipsos UK who will have interviewers at 133 polling stations around the country this year.

People who have just voted will be asked to privately fill in a replica ballot paper and place it into a ballot box as they leave their local community centre, church hall or station.

Researchers can only deploy to a fraction of the total constituencies in England, Scotland and Wales, so locations are chosen to best reflect the demographics of the country with an urban and rural spread.

However, many of the locations will be in marginal seats, where the swing between the main parties will be tracked.

The same polling stations are targeted year after year so the swing from the last election's exit poll, along with other data at constituency level, can be analysed by those crunching the numbers.

The data collected at the polling stations is sent back by interviewers to Ipsos UK at several stages throughout the day.

It's processed there and sent via a secure data pipeline to the broadcasters' statisticians and political scientists who are locked down in a secret location in the capital.

Electoral rules mean that no polling can be reported while people are voting - Sky News and the other broadcasters will cover it in full from 10pm.

Election coverage begins on Sky News from 9pm, and it is free, wherever you get your news.  Here is how to watch and follow live .

Ivy, 18 months, was excited for her first election day in Walthamstow, northeast London.

George and Bonnie were up bright and early this morning to greet voters in Greenwich.

Sky News readers from across the UK have been sending in pictures of their dogs outside polling stations.

Here is a collection of some more that people have kindly sent in, while performing their democratic duties.

The weather for most voters across the UK has so far been fairly sunny today, with rain for a few.

Sky News weather producer Dr Chris England has the forecast for the rest of the day:

Southern Britain looks mostly dry with plenty of sunshine, although the southwest will see cloud and a little patchy rain later. 

Northern and central Britain will have sunny spells and a scattering of showers, some heavy and thunder. 

They will be concentrated over Scotland, merging to give some longer spells of rain in the north, but will gradually die out over northern England. 

Early showers over Northern Ireland will largely fade too, as cloud and rain spread into the south.

There are strict rules broadcasters have to adhere to on polling day, which is why you won't see any political news on the Sky News website or TV channel for the next 13 hours or so.

The rules are there to prevent any influence over how people choose to vote.

Ofcom rules state that any discussion and analysis of election issues must finish when the polls open, which was at 7am today.

Broadcasters are also not allowed to publish the results of any opinion poll on election day, until the polls close at 10pm.

Over the past decade, this has meant that photos of dogs at polling stations has become a phenomenon - in lieu of more substantial political news.

We will also be keeping a close out for people taking more unusual animals with them as they exercise their democratic right - so stay tuned for potential shots of voters accompanied by horses, cats and hamsters - as well as dogs, of course.

Charli the miniature schnauzer and her best friend, Toby the Cockerpoo, are general election veterans.

This will be their fourth.

Here they are in Shenley, Hertfordshire.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage already posted his ballot by post, so is not visiting a polling station today.

But, he was seen taking a stroll in Clacton-on-Sea as he enjoyed an ice cream.

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