Cover Letter Samples and Cover Letter Examples for Job Applications: 10+ Samples and Templates

A cover letter allows you to write about what you cannot in a resume: why you are interested in this particular position, how you can contribute to their team on day one, and why your resume is a perfect fit for the position. Even though many employers don’t require one, a carefully crafted letter can mean the difference between a skimmed and a closely-read application.

Here are over a dozen original cover letter examples, a cover letter template, tips on formatting, and answers to the most frequently-asked cover letter questions from candidates ranging from first job to senior position with years of achievements under their belt. Start with the examples and tweak the information to make the letter feel like it’s your and specifically targeted to the position you are seeking.

What’s a Cover Letter?

A cover letter is a brief one-page letter you send along with your resume or CV to the employer when you’re applying for a job. While a resume outlines work experience, education and skills in a step-by-step fashion, a cover letter tells a short story: why you are applying, how you are a good fit for the job and what you will bring to it.

Cover letters are requested by employers because they do not convey tone, motivation or communication skills that are evident in a resume. You can include a resume that lists a team of five employees you managed, but what a cover letter will do is explain to the hiring manager why that experience is relevant to the job you’re applying for.

A strong cover letter is never a “one size fits all. It addresses one specific position, one specific employer and it relates your experience to a specific business need. If you are sending the same letter over and over again, it’s clear, and hiring managers see.

A cover letter should at least include the following points:

• The particular job for which you’re applying
• One or two relevant qualifications/achievements
• Your reasons for being interested in that job/company.
• A clear, professional wrap; call to action

What to Put in Your Cover Letter?

While the content of your cover letter will vary with each job, most cover letters have the same structure.

Contact Information

Enter your name, phone number, email address, and city/state (most new applications don’t require a full street address). You can abbreviate some of this if you apply through a Web-based application where you’ve already posted your resume.

Greeting

If known, use the name of the person who will be managing the hiring process (e.g., “Dear Ms. Alvarez”) — it’s more personal than “To Whom It May Concern and If not mentioned in the job posting, go to the company’s website or LinkedIn. If you can’t find it, then “Dear Hiring Manager” will serve as a safe and professional default.

Opening Paragraph

Specify the position for which you are applying and how you learned about it, and provide an opening to continue reading—whether an accomplishment, a connection, or a sincere interest in the business.

Specific Skill Requirements, Experience and Training

The letter’s main message is here. Identify 2-3 qualifications from a job description and provide a specific example for each to demonstrate how you have demonstrated those qualities. Don’t repeat your resume verbatim, line by line.

Why Interested in the Position

Employers want to see that you’re applying for a specific position and not any position. Make references to a particular aspect of the company, its mission, or the position itself.

Closing Paragraph

Restate your interest, thank them for their time and invite them to follow up – for example, express your desire to learn more about your qualifications.

Professional Sign-Off

Use the standard ending (e.g., “Sincerely,” “Best regards,” or “Respectfully”) and your full name.

10+ Cover Letter Job Application Templates | Free & Premium Downloads

The below examples are for particular situations. Read the description to see if there is one that is similar, then adjust wording, details and tone of the description to fit one’s background and the job they are applying for.

This Should Be Used When Applying for a Position

Use for: Use this for a typical, general purpose job application looking for a balanced and professional tone.

Dear Mr. Reyes,

We are applying for the job of Office Coordinator that was posted on your Careers page. As a manager with three years experience working in a schedule, managing vendors and daily office operations, I am sure I can help your group work in a smooth and efficient manner.

My current job position is with Falcon Media where I work with a team of twelve, coordinate calendars, supply and vendor budgets, and am the initial point of contact for visitors and new hires. I redesigned the checklist for getting new employees up and running for last year, and reduced the time to set them up by almost 50%.

I like Bright Path Consulting because of your hands-on approach with the small business, and would love to have that same approach in your office.

Thanks for your consideration of my application. I would be happy to chat with you about my experience at your time and convenience.

Sincerely, Dana Whitfield

Why it works: It identifies the specific location and business, substantiates the claim of being organized and has a clear call to action for further conversation.

What to customize: Change the achievement to something you’ve done or could have, with a number or outcome, and customize the reason for interest with something that is specific to the company you are applying for.

A Basic Cover Letter Template. A Basic Template for a Cover Letter.

Ideal for: People who wish to apply for a letter which is simple, yet still professional.

Dear Hiring Manager,

I’m interested in applying for a Northgate Home Goods Retail Associate position. 2 years of experience in retail positions working with customers to assist them with their needs, and maintaining sales floor organization.

I currently work at Pinecrest Market and I am responsible for checking out, re-stocking, and answering any questions from the customers during very busy weekends. Twice have been recognized for having the least checkout errors on my team.

I would like to have the chance to do the exact same thing for Northgate Home Goods. I am willing to interview at your convenience, and can begin work within 2 weeks of an offer.

Thank you very much for your time.

Sincerely, Marcus Lee

Why it works: Remember that simple doesn’t mean vague — the letter still specifies a particular achievement and a clear next step, but in fewer words, more simple terms.

What you can edit: Edit the job title, the achievement, and your job availability.

Sample Cover Letter #3

Use when: You’re instructed to submit a short letter with a job posting, or you are looking to be considerate of a hiring manager’s time.

Dear Ms. Okafor,

I’m sending my application to a Data Entry Clerk job at Summit Health Partners. Excellent attention to detail with 2 years experience of working with large numbers of records to a high level of accuracy and on time.

In my current position, I work with more than 200 records a day and have a 99.8% accuracy. I would take that exactitude to your team.

I’d be interested in the opportunity of further discussion with regards to this role. Many thanks for your thoughts.

Sincerely, Priya Nair

Why it works: It tells what you’re looking for, one solid quantified qualification, and a gracious ending – all the necessary ingredients of a short letter and none of the unnecessary ones.

What to customize: Change the accuracy statistic to whatever quality that you can measure for your own work.

Do You Need to Write a Professional Cover Letter? Need a Professional Cover Letter Example?

For: Mature job seekers seeking a position with a company or a client-facing position that requires a professional touch.

Dear Mr. Castillo,

This is to express my interest in the job of Senior Account Manager at Delacroix Financial Group. I have amassed 7+ years of experience in managing enterprise clients and consistently achieved retention and growth goals, and am confident that I can do the same for your team.

Now, I have 40 accounts with $12 million in annual revenues that I’m handling at Ashford Capital. In the last 2 years I have boosted portfolio retention from 88% to 96% with a redo of our client check-in and a quarterly client performance review.

Delacroix’s recent move into mid-market advisory services is very similar to my background and I’m excited to bring my client-retention experience to a company that’s poised for that growth.

I’d love to talk to you about how my experience can help your team continue to excel. Thank you for your consideration and time.

Respectfully, Grace Halloran

Why it works: It gets straight to the business impact and relates the applicant’s experience to the firm’s articulated mission—it demonstrates research on the employer.

What to customize: Reference something current, specific and about the company you’re targeting and use your own portfolio size, percentage improvements or project outcomes.

6. Cover Letter No Experience Template in Word (DOCX)

Who it’s best for: First time job seekers, or recent graduates without direct paid work experience in the field.

Dear Hiring Manager,

This letter is in application for the Rivertown Creative position of Junior Marketing Assistant. Although I’m not a pro at marketing yet, I have recently graduated from a marketing program and worked on a semester long project for the career centre of my University to increase the number of followers on their Instagram and Twitter accounts by 40% in 12 weeks.

Throughout my coursework I have taken part in a capstone project to gain a better understanding of how to analyze a local nonprofit’s outreach strategy, creating a content calendar and understanding basic engagement metrics, all of which I believe are integral parts of this position. I’m also familiar with Canva, Google Analytics and scheduling tools such as Later.

I like Rivertown Creative because you work with small local businesses and I would love to work with a group that appreciates that type of marketing for the community with students and projects that I have worked on.

Thanks for your consideration of my application. If you need to interview me, please do so anytime you like.

Sincerely, Ethan Marsh

Why it works: Rather than saying any of this is my fault because I’m inexperienced, it starts with relevant academic projects and specific and transferable results.

What to customize: Replace with your own personal work, volunteer work or your own projects; change names of tools or skills the job requires.

6. Cover Letter for Internships Example

Best for students or those who have recently graduated who are seeking internships.

Dear Ms. Bettencourt,

I’m applying for an Alder & Finch Summer Marketing Internship. Currently I am a Junior in Communications and seeking to gain experience in a fast-paced agency.

I’ve written copy, created basic email campaigns and learned how to read basic performance data through coursework and a publication that is run by students. I am able to follow instructions, work to deadlines and seek clarification if I am not sure.

I’m particularly interested in Alder & Finch due to your recent work with regional restaurant brands which is something I would like to better understand. I’d love to be a part of your team this summer and I would like to get some real-life experience as well.

Many thanks for your thoughts.

Sincerely, Jasmine Ortiz

Why it works: It says that it’s young in a career but also demonstrates initiative, class and interest in the particular company.

What to customize: Refer to your year in school, relevant class, club and something specific the employer has done recently.

7. Sample Job Cover Letter Written from a Distance

Ideal for: Individuals applying for remote job opportunities who demonstrate they can work autonomously.

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am looking for a job as Remote Customer Support Specialist for Lumen Cloud Services. 3 years of fully remote customer support experience and good at working without supervision and communicate well with a remote team.

As I am currently working remotely, I am responsible for 60 support tickets a day on average with Zendesk and Slack and have been 95% happy with customer satisfaction in the last 1 year. I’ve also had the opportunity to train 2 new remote hires on internal documentation process.

I think I’d like to be a part of Lumen Cloud Services because of your fully asynchronous team setup, which is how I prefer to work: clear verbal and written communication, with no need to check in with people very often.

I’d love to have that experience be added to your support team. Thanks for your time.

Sincerely, Oliver Bennett

Why it works: It speaks directly to the concerns employers have about remote hires (independence and communication), and provides proof of that instead of just claiming to be “a self-starter.

What to adjust: Mention the particular remote tools the job posting says they are looking for and tell about your own experience of self-working.

Example Career Change Cover Letter

Ideal for: People that are transitioning from one industry or position to a new one.

Dear Mr. Yamamoto,

This is to apply for the Project Coordinator role at Highline Construction Group. I have worked for 8 years in restaurant management, and have decided to make the leap into project coordination where I feel that the skills and experience I gained in the restaurant industry carry over — scheduling, vendor management and problem solving under tight time frames.

Working as a Restaurant Manager, I was responsible for working with more than a dozen suppliers, daily staff scheduling with a 25-person team, and solving the various problems that came up every day – sometimes more than one. Recently, I took a project management fundamentals class to enhance my ability to incorporate formal tools and techniques to project management, such as task sequencing and budget tracking.

The commercial projects you do are so large and complex that it’s what attracts me to Highline Construction Group and I’m excited to bring my organizational skills to a new place.

I would love to get the opportunity to talk about how my experience would help your team. Many thanks for your thoughts.

Sincerely, Renata Ibarra

Why it works: This approach is straightforward and transparent, it acknowledges the career change, and then highlights how past roles are applicable transferable skills in the new career.

What to customize: Pick 2-3 skills from last occupation you held, and relate them in a specific way to the requirements of the new one.

Cover Letter Examples: #9 Experienced Professional

For: People who have a lot of experience applying for a job at the senior level or at a leadership level.

Dear Dr. Whitmore,

My name is Elvezina Skrale and I am applying for a position as Director of Operations at Cascade Health Network. As a department head for the last five years, I am a seasoned leader in the healthcare industry with 12+ years experience and have a proven history of streamlining operations without compromising excellent patient care.

In Meridian Regional Hospital, I spearheaded a change and re-structuring of our outpatient booking system where we decreased our average wait time by 30% and our no shows by 18% in our first year of the change. I also have responsibility for a team of 45 members of staff in 3 departments and have been responsible for 2 successful accreditation renewals.

I’m interested in health care access in rural areas, and Cascade Health Network’s recent expansion to that area is work that is near my heart, and would love to be able to apply my operational experience to this area of work.

I’m excited to get the chance to talk more about this position! Thank you for your consideration and time.

Respectfully, Samuel Ferreira, MD

Why it works: It’s almost completely focused on the outcomes of leadership, which is what senior Hiring Committees tend to value more than job duties.

Customization: Your own leadership scope (team size, budget, or scope of projects) and specific and quantified results.

11. Entry Level Cover Letter Sample

Best for: Person in the initial stage of their professional career (but different from the no-experience example above as it is assumed that there is some prior work experience, such as part-time jobs, internships).

Dear Ms. Danvers,

I would like to join Corbett & Wray as a Financial Analyst (Entry Level). Just recently, I graduated with a Finance degree, and had the chance to do an internship this summer with a credit union in my area, helping the accounting department with recon and simple reporting.

While on the internship I was involved in improving a monthly reporting spreadsheet, saving two hours per month for processing, and I had the opportunity to learn some Excel modeling and basic financial statement analysis. I also had jobs during college to learn how to deal with multiple deadlines on the job.

I was interested in Corbett & Wray due to your emphasis on small-business lending, which I have been studying in my courses. I would love to have the opportunity to contribute my analytical abilities and internship experience with your team.

Many thanks for your thoughts.

Sincerely, Wei Chen

How it works: It’s a combination of internship outcomes and work ethic, with the hiring manager seeing tangible results.

What to personalize: Replace your internship or part time accomplishments (no matter how small), with a specific outcome.

12. Job Application Letter for a Job at a Friendly Company

Use for: Applicants who desire a simple job application letter (may use as a template for English job applications).

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am applying for the job of a Warehouse Associate that you have posted on your website. One year work experience in a warehouse, with experience of using forklift and conducting stock counts.

Now, at my current job, I unload and load deliveries, keep up accurate inventory and observe all safety guidelines. I am on time, physically able to meet the demands of the position and I am okay working alone or in teams.

I would like to discuss this opportunity further. Thank you for your consideration and time.

Sincerely, Carlos Medina

Cover letter and job application letter are interchangeable terms, with the exception that cover letter is used in some cases for more general or entry-level positions particularly if they are not in a corporate environment. Whether or not, the structure and purpose is the same.

Why it works: It is a clear statement composed in simple, direct sentences and highlights specific responsibilities, and skills, over personality traits.

What to tweak: Change the job responsibilities to those related to the job and industry you’re targeting.

Cover Letter Sample for a Variety of Careers

The format of a cover letter remains the same, but the content will vary depending on the job that you’re applying for. Below are simplified examples for typical occupations.

Customer Service Cover Letter Example

The Customer Service Cover Letter Example provides a template for you to create your own cover letter.

2 years experience of customer resolution in a fast paced call center with a 92% first call resolution. Savvy with keeping my cool when things get stressful and getting an irate caller to agree.

Administrative Assistant Cover Letter Sample

Sample Administrative Assistant Cover Letter Template. Administrative Assistant Cover Letter Sample.

At my current job I work with 3 executives and their calendars, organize travel itineraries and organized digital filing systems. I pride myself on being able to anticipate the needs before it becomes a problem.

Marketing Cover Letter Example

The following is an example of a marketing cover letter.

Organically engaged 35% more people in one quarter, through a social media campaign, with a combination of organic and paid social promotion. I love taking information and turning into artful decisions.

Cover Letter for Sales Job

I’ve been over the quota by 22% last year, mainly due to the referral program that I’ve created for my existing clients. I’m driven by establishing a relationship vs transaction.

Cover Letter for Teachers. Teacher Cover Letter Sample.

In my fifth grade classroom, I have differentiated reading, math, science and social studies lesson plans that have resulted in the average reading level increase by one grade level over four years of teaching. Classroom relationships are the key to learning and I believe they are strong.

IT/Technology Cover Letter Example

Review the IT/Technology Cover Letter Example and use it as a guide when you compose your letter.

Three years of experience in troubleshooting network related problems and managing helpdesk tickets with an average SOLT (time to solve) of less than two hours. I’m in the process of expanding my skills in cloud infrastructure by doing a certification.

Healthcare Cover Letter Example

I am a certified medical assistant with 2 years experience in the clinic; handled patient check-in, vitals, charting, and received great reviews from patients for my bedside manner as a medical assistant at a high-volume family practice.

Cover Letter Format

Whether it’s a PDF, Word document or pasted into an online application form, most US employers have a fairly standard format for a business letter.

• Your contact information (Name, Phone number, Email, City/State)
• If submitting as a stand-alone document, the date of the document MUST be included.
• Information about the employer including the name of the hiring manager, their title, company and address (if known)
• Greeting — “Dear [Name]”, or “Dear Hiring Manager”,
• The position and a “hook” in the opening paragraph.
• Body paragraph(s) — pertinent skills and interests in the position
• Call to action and thanks at end of the paragraph
• Sign-off – “Sincerely,” your full name

There are some basic formatting rules that are relevant to all industries:

• Use a normal and easy to read font (Calibri, Arial, Times New Roman) in 11-12pt.
• Limit letter to one page.
• Use 1″ spacing with a blank line between paragraphs.
• Use the same formatting (font, header, etc.) in your resume as you did for a congruent and professional appearance.
• Save the file as a PDF unless the employer has requested a different format, to maintain formatting on devices.

Cover Letter Template

Make a copy of this template and fill in the brackets with your information.

[Your Name] [Phone Number] [Email Address] [City, State]

[Date]

[Hiring Manager’s Name] [Company Name] Address of the company (if known).

To whom it may concern,

First paragraph: State the job title you are applying for and where you found the information and then give one good reason for the reader to read on.

Body paragraph: Explain two to three skills or accomplishments that are relevant, with details and specific examples, and measurable outcomes (where possible).

Body paragraph (optional): Discuss your interest in this particular position/company.

Conclude with a restatement of interest, a thank-you message and some next steps.

Sincerely, [Your Name]

Tips on How to Make Your Cover Letter “Your Own”

• Thoroughly read the job description. Pay attention to the particular skills, tools and qualifications the employer has mentioned and record them in the order that they were mentioned which typically indicates priority.
• List employer’s essential needs. Select 2-3 that are most applicable to your background.
• Pick out what is relevant skills and experience. Try not to cover everything, a few points in depth are better than many in depth.
• Respond to the job according to your expertise. Include words and phrases that are related to the posting, but don’t quote it verbatim.
• State by name the company and the position you are applying for. A letter that’s not written personal to the company will be the simplest for hiring managers to discover and ignore.
• Select appropriate words from the posting, using them in a natural way. That will make an applicant tracking system and people easier to see a match.
• Remove anything irrelevant. Trim any detail that will not contribute to your argument for this position.
• Proofread before submitting. Read it out loud, verify the company name, job title and ensure the file is attached in the right manner. See our interview preparation guide for what comes after the cover letter stage.

Don’t Make These Mistakes in Your Cover Letter

• Using the same letter with all employers. Even if it is just little changes in specific areas, there is a significant impact.
• Restating the whole CV. A cover letter is not a restatement of a list of duties for the job; it is a way of adding context.
• Making unsupported claims. Without an example, I’m a hard worker’ isn’t enough.
• Writing more than 1 page. People who are looking to hire you tend to skimp; a long letter is bad.
• Utilizing a not professional e-mail handle. Keep it simple; use your name.
• Spelling errors and grammatical errors. This is one of the quickest ways to lose cred.
• Using other registration names. This is more common than people think when re-using a template.
• Skipping customization entirely. The letter is very “standard” and indicates that the position is not of much interest.
• Only concentrating on what you want. Be realistic about what you can provide the employer and what you’re looking for in return.
• Leveraging buzzwords without substantiation with overuse of ‘synergy’ and ‘go-getter’.
• Not verifying file format and attachments prior to submitting. For general application etiquette, Indeed’s cover letter guide is a solid outside reference.

Cover Letter vs. Job Application Letter. Differences between Cover Letter and Job Application Letter.

The terms “cover letter” and “job application letter” are often synonymous and refer to the letter you send along with your resume that introduces yourself to an employer. In fact, the term “job application letter” is occasionally used more generously, such as when no resume is included at all or in certain industries or areas where the term is used more often.

There is no hard and fast rule as to the difference between them in US hiring, so if the job description specifies either of them, the guidance and structure outlined in this article is appropriate for either. If you’re not sure, stick with the standard cover letter format listed above. Harvard’s Office of Career Services also covers this format in detail.

Is It OK to Use the Same Cover Letter for All Applications?

Absolutely, the same opening format, the same paragraph structure, the same tone, but, don’t effectively recycle the content in the middle, each employer should be different. At least, change the job title, the company name, the particular abilities that you mention, and your interest statement. Usually this takes only a few minutes and can really help to personalize the letter for the reader.

Your contact information, overall structure and your core skills list are all that can remain consistent. What should change: What skills you’re emphasizing, how you describe them, and the company you’re describing interest in.

Final Takeaway

Length and complexity are not the qualities of the best cover letters – what matters is when an applicant’s actual experience clearly relates to the job opportunity, and a real person’s tone comes through in the writing. Pick any of the examples above and select the template that fits your needs, then tailor it to fit each employer. That’s the additional endeavor that makes the difference between an app people forget and an app that receives a response.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)