Cover Letter Examples and Writing Tips

•••
BY 
ALISON DOYLE
 
Updated on March 06, 2022

Do you need to write a cover letter? A cover letter should be sent or posted with your
resume or curriculum vitae when applying for a job, so it's essential to write a good one.
Your cover letter is an opportunity to show the employer how you're an excellent match
for a position.

Learn about writing a cover letter, including what to include, how to send it, review
examples, and get free templates to download for many different types of occupations
and applications. There are also guidelines and samples for writing email cover letters,
inquiry letters, referral letters, prospecting letters, and networking letters.

What is a Cover Letter?

A cover letter is a (typically) one-page document that explains to the hiring manager
why you are an ideal candidate for the job. It goes beyond your resume to explain in
detail how you could add value to the company. 1

A cover letter is a document that you send or upload with your resume when applying
for jobs to provide additional information on your skills and experience.

A cover letter may be required by an employer, optional, or not needed as part of a job
application. The requirements should be listed in the job posting.

How to Write a Cover Letter

Keep in mind that your cover letter doesn't have to be boring. Taking some time
to showcase your personality and how it will be an asset to the employer can help your
application get noticed. Follow these tips on how to write an effective cover letter.
Tailor each letter to the job. It takes a little extra time, but be sure to write a unique
cover letter for each job. Your cover letter should be specific to the position you are
applying for, relating your skills and experiences to those noted in the job posting.

Use keywords. One useful way to tailor your letter to the job is to use keywords from
the job posting. Circle any words from the job posting that seem critical to the job, such
as specific skills or qualifications. Try to use some of these words in your letter. This
way, at a glance, the employer can see that you match the requirements of the job.

Explain how you will add value. Think of concrete ways to prove you will add value to
the company. Include examples of specific accomplishments from previous jobs. For
example, if you helped reduce turnover by 10% at your last company, or implemented a
filing strategy that reduced file errors by 15%, include this information.

Try to quantify your successes when possible to clearly demonstrate how you could add
value to the company.

Carefully edit your letter. Your cover letter is your first, and best, chance to sell
the hiring manager on your candidacy for employment, so make sure it's perfect. Read
through your letter, proofreading it for any spelling or grammar errors. Ask a friend,
family member, or career counselor to read it as well. You want to make sure the letter
is polished before submitting it.

Cover Letter Examples and Templates

It can be beneficial to look at cover letter examples when writing your own. A sample
can help you decide what to include in your letter, and show you how to format it.

This collection of free, professionally written cover letters will help you get started writing
your own letters.

Below you'll find both hard copy and email samples and templates, for a variety of
different types of employment inquiries and job applications, including general cover
letters, cold contact cover letters, referral letters, customized cover letters, job
promotion letters, networking outreach letters, and letters to inquire about unadvertised
openings.

Basic Cover Letters to Apply for a Job

Applying for a new job can be both exciting and nerve-wracking at the same
time. However, writing a cover letter that really “sells” the qualities you have to offer an
employer is a great confidence-builder—you’ll know your letter is perfect when you read
it and think, “Hey—I’d interview me!” Here are some examples of effective cover letters,
with downloadable templates.

 Basic Cover Letter Example for a Resume

 Sample Cover Letter for a Job Application
 Cover Letter Example Matched to a Job
 General Cover Letter
 Academic Cover Letter
 Applying for More Than One Job
 Cold Contact Letter
 Letter For Unadvertised Openings

Email Cover Letter Examples

While cover letters that are emailed do not have as conservative a format as traditional
“snail mail” cover letters, there is still a specific structure one should observe when
drafting and sending them. Here’s how to make sure your email cover letter gets read.

 Email Cover Letter

 Email Cover Letter With Resume
 Email Cover Letter - Part-Time Job
 Email Cover Letter - Summer Job
 Email Message - Volunteer Position

Cover Letters With a Referral

One of the best ways to “get your foot in the door” at a company you would love to work
for is to mention a professional connection to one of their current personnel. Here’s how
to ask someone to serve as a referral for you and how to drop their name in your cover
letter.

 Employee Referral
 Referral Cover Letter
 Referred by a Contact
 Requesting a Meeting
 Temp to Perm
 Value Proposition
 With Salary History
 With Salary Requirements

Examples Listed by Type of Applicant

The ideal content and format of a cover letter depend both upon the type of position you
are applying for and your relevant experience.

The cover letter of a seasoned professional will emphasize experience, whereas that of
a recent college graduate is best focused upon training and potential.

Similarly, a cover letter for a sales position will use more aggressive marketing
language than one designed for a social work role. The following cover letter samples
are for candidates who are applying for a specific type or level of position.

 Samples Listed by Occupation

 Career Change
 College Graduate
 Entry-Level
 Internship
 Management
 Part-Time Jobs
  Summer Jobs
 Transferable Skills
 Volunteer

Cover Letters Listed by Occupation

Here's a list of cover letter samples and downloadable templates listed by industry and
position. Choose one that's a match for the jobs you're applying for, then tweak it to
include your most relevant skills and experience.

 Cover Letters Listed by Type of Job

Applying for a Transfer or Promotion

When you’ve worked for an employer for a while and know, through both your own
impressions and strong performance reviews, that they value your work, it may be time
to ask for a promotion or a transfer to a better position. Be proactive—companies don’t
always have upward career tracks, and may not automatically award a promotion
unless this is requested.

 Job Promotion
 Job Transfer Request Letter
 Job Transfer Request Letter - Relocation

Inquiry and Networking Letters

Applying to officially advertised positions isn’t the only way to land your dream job.
Often opportunities can be discovered through strategic networking; more than one
person has been offered a position because they made their availability and interest
known to employers who were not actively hiring.

 Inquiring About Job Openings

 Letter of Interest 
 Networking Cover Letters
Cover Letter Formats and Templates
Review more examples of professional formats, layouts, and templates to use to apply
for jobs, keeping in mind that you should tailor any cover letter template you decide to
use as your model to reflect your own circumstances and personality.

 Cover Letter Format

 Cover Letter Layout
 Cover Letter Template
 Email Cover Letter Template
 Google Docs Cover Letter Templates
 Microsoft Word Cover Letter Templates

Cover Letter Template to Download