How To Write A Cover Letter
Knowing how to write a cover letter involves understanding a cover letters structure. Follow the sample cover letter template below to easily write your own letter.
Dear ,
Opening paragraph: State who you are, say where you found the job listing, and explain why youre interested in the position.
Body paragraphs: Give an overview of your previous job experience, skills, qualifications, and accomplishments. Dont repeat your resume. Explain what makes you a unique candidate and how you can help the company meet its goals. Use numbers to back up your claims.
Closing paragraph: State that youd like to schedule an interview and provide your contact information. Say youll be in touch within a week if you dont hear back. Finish by thanking the employer for their time and consideration.
Warm regards,
Make sure you include all the sections in our cover letter sample and write detailed body paragraphs about your expertise. Hiring managers often read your cover letter before your resume, so its important to sell yourself and your skills.
Information For Your Resume
No matter what type of resume you choose, you will need to gather specific information in order to write your resume.
You will need:
- Contact Information: The first section of your resume should include information on how the employer can contact you
- Objective: Job title youre applying for and reason to hire you.
- Career Highlights: List key achievements, skills, strengths and experiences that are relevant to the position for which you are applying.
- Work Experience and Skills: This section of your resume includes your work history. Include the businesses you worked for, the dates of employment, the positions you held, a bulleted list of major responsibilities, accomplishments or achievements and a list of your skills.
Cover Letter Template : Response To A Job Ad
Dear : Im writing in response to your recently advertised position for a . I am very interested in this opportunity with and believe that my qualifications, education and professional experience would make me a strong candidate for the position. I am a professional who . . Enclosed is my resume that more fully details my background and work experience, and how they relate to your position. As you can see, . I firmly believe that I can be a valuable asset to your team. I welcome the opportunity to speak with you about this position and how my experience could help achieve its goals. Thank you in advance for your consideration. Kind regards, |
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Create An Effective Resume
The resumes primary function is to showcase your talents and skills to an employer – clearly, convincingly and quickly. A resume is:
- An individual summary of your background, experience, training and skills
- A way to tell employers what you have accomplished in the past and what you can do for their company now
- Your most important job search tool that can get you an interview, and leaves a lasting impression on a potential employer
- A guide for you and the employer during an interview
It is critical that you invest your time and effort into creating a resume that meets the employers needs and highlights your assets. You should target your resume for specific jobs, and edit and update it according to what job youre applying for.
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Free Cover Letter Templates
Dear ,
I would like to communicate my sincere interest in the posting with that I found on . While reviewing your company website, I noticed that your firm is an . I am particularly interested in working with you in because I also find to be the most important factor in marketing and business.
My keen are well demonstrated in my over in . Currently, I work as a , focusing on where my attention to detail and were essential to the success of my team and .
I have acquired an understanding of , as well as how to meet and exceed set by the companies I have had the pleasure of working for.
I believe I am prepared to handle the exciting challenges this position presents, and I hope you allow me to further discuss my qualifications with you in an interview. I have attached a copy of my resume to this application for your review. Please let me know if you require additional information.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Regards,
Dear ,
I am writing to you to inquire about open positions at your celebrated organization. I learned of through and I found fascinating. The interests me at your company. Do you know of any upcoming job openings for that position?
I believe my skills and qualifications would be a good fit for your company’s needs. I have in as well as in . I received at one of the companies I worked at for my and professionalism.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to discussing open job positions with you.
Kind regards,
Sincerely,
Rsum & Cover Letter Examples
Listed below are résumé and cover letter examples designed by the Career Services team.
Whether you are simply updating your experience or applying for positions of interest, we hope you find these samples to be helpful in designing and writing your own documents. As you can see, there is more than one way to write a résumé and cover letter so that they are unique to you!
Remember, the goal of your document is to highlight your experience and skill sets tailored to a specific job description.
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Cover Letter Template : Letter To A Recruiter On Linkedin
Dear : I came across your profile on LinkedIn and see that you are a recruitment specialist in . As a interested in new positions in the area, I would be keen to find out more about the positions you place and whether your agency might be able to assist me in my search. I have years of experience in the industry and most recently I have . My key skills are and my career highlights include: |
Why This Is The Best Cover Letter Template
This is a great cover letter template because it has:
- professionally designed formatting that makes your application stand out
- bracketed writing prompts that tell you exactly what to write to impress hiring managers
- bullet points for readability
- a link to a matching resume template in the Word version
Prefer another color scheme or different design elements? Find a cover letter template you like more online, paste our template into it, and customize it for your application.
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What Should A Great Cover Letter Say
Not sure what a cover letter is or what it should include? A killer cover letter is made of the following four parts:
The cover letter template below describes how to write each of these key sections:
Salutation
Your Name
What Makes This A Great Cover Letter
This entry-level cover letter sample stands out because the applicant emphasizes her enthusiasm about the opportunity from the very first sentence.
Beyond her enthusiasm, the candidate also shows shesqualified. She quickly , including relevant hard skills and soft skills .
Employers know theyre taking a risk by hiring a recent graduate. Showing some passion is especially important for new grads because they dont have the work experience to win them the job yet.
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How To Use Samples And Templates
Designing a document from scratch can be time-consuming and difficult. Along with helping with your layout, written examples can help you see what kind of content you should include in your document. They can also give you ideas on the type of language you want to use. For example, a sample resume might show you the kind of action words you should include in your resume.
A template helps you with the layout of your document. Templates also show you what elements you need to include. For example, a resume template will show you some possible sections you might include in your resume.
As a starting point for your documents, its a good idea to spend some time reviewing a few examples and templates.
You might use the same design elements as the sample, or order your information in the same way. However, you should always be flexible. You can change any of the elements of the sample to fit your own needs.
Dont expect to make your document look exactly the same as an example or template. For example, if an example resume lacks a skills section, but you want to include one, you should definitely do so. Your documents should fit your individual work history and the requirements of the job for which you are applying. Take the time to match your qualifications to the job, and customize the applications for every job you apply to.
Use This Template To Easily Write Your Own Cover Letter
Your Contact Information :
Email Address
Date:
Write the date when you will submit your cover letter, with the month written out. For example: March 15, 2021.
Target Company Contact Information :
Recipients Full Name
Dear Mr./Ms./Mx. ,
Opening Paragraph:
State your name, the title of the job youre applying for, and how you found it. Follow up with a sentence or two explaining why you want the job, and why youd be a good fit at the company.
Second Paragraph:
In your second paragraph, include details about your relevant work experience, skills, certifications, and other information that show you have the necessary knowledge and abilities to excel in your target role. Dont include everything only mention the information you believe would be most valuable to the company youre applying to.
Third Paragraph:
Your third paragraph should focus on achievements. Include one or two examples of how you used key skills or knowledge to accomplish something impressive at a previous company. Be sure to pick examples that you believe are relevant to and would also greatly benefit your target company.
Closing Paragraph:
In your first sentence restate some of the details that prove youre a strong candidate for the job. Follow up with your contact information , and details about when you can be contacted. Finish by thanking the hiring manager or recruiter for taking the time to read your cover letter.
Sign-off:
Your Name
Enclosure :
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Why This Is A Great Example Of A Cover Letter
In the cover letter example above, the candidate is concise and direct. She conveys much of what a cover letter should say in the opening paragraph, like her amount and type of experience, plus where she found the job.
Then the candidate lists specific responsibilities from the job description, and mentions her experience handling similar work. She even gives an example of how her efforts have benefited her current employer.
At this point, the candidates cover letter has already helped the hiring manager better understand her value as a hire. But shes not done yet.
Finally, the candidate signs off by mentioning how shell reach out if she doesnt hear back from the hiring manager. This is a key part of a general cover letter, because it highlights the writers interest in the job, and willingness to go further than other candidates for the opportunity.
Write your own call to action to show youre serious about the job, and willing to make the first move if necessary.
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Curriculum Vitae Examples And Templates
Curriculum vitae are structured much differently than standard resumes. The resumes submitted for most industries are qualifications-based they emphasize the skills one can bring to an employer. CVs, however, are more credential-based, providing detailed listings of ones education and training, publications, presentations, and professional memberships.
Curriculum Vitae ExamplesCVs are used in the United States when applying for international, academic, medical, or research positions, and when seeking fellowships or grants. A curriculum vitae includes your name, contact information, education, skills, and experience. A CV also includes all research and teaching experience, publications, awards, grants and fellowships, and professional associations and licenses.
Professional Cover Letter Example
Dear ,
In my role as Restaurant Manager for Bar Louie, I proved to be an efficient, enthusiastic, and strong leader. My value quickly became apparent to Bar Louies shareholders after I single-handedly trained and prepared the entire waitstaff for opening night and beyond. Not only did our team meet sales goals each month for the first year, but the down payment for the property was even paid back after the first six months of operating.
MOD Sequel would benefit from my skills in the following areas:
Eye for excellence and high level of standards Strong work ethic and leadership skills Positive attitude even under pressure
I believe MOD Sequel will be a great success for many years to come, and my extensive expertise will help ensure your establishment succeeds well into the future. My time spent in this industry has prepared me for such an opportunity, and I sincerely hope I can contribute soon as a member of your team.
It would be a privilege to discuss your Restaurant Manager position in more detail. Im happy to come by whenever its most convenient for you. Thank you for your time, and Im looking forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
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Career Change Cover Letter Example
Writing a cover letter for a job in your current industry is pretty straightforward. But writing a career change cover letter requires a slightly different approach.
The sample cover letter below includes the three elements you need to persuade a hiring manager youre ready to transfer industries, such as:
The Best Professional Cover Letter Samples
When applying for a job, it’s always a good idea to include a cover letter, unless the employer specifies that they only want an application or a resume. Even if a job listing does not specifically request a cover letter, including one can be a terrific way to summarize your skills and experiences and explain why you are an ideal candidate for the job.
What’s most important is writing a cover letter that shows the hiring manager what makes you one of the best candidates for the position.
Think of your cover letter as your introductory sales pitch, your golden opportunity to make a positive first impression on a company.
Reviewing cover letter samples is a great place to start before writing your own letter. You can then download a template to get started creating your own letter.
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How To Write A Great Cover Letter
Theres a lot that goes into writing a great cover letter. If you want to get the full picture, you can check out our guide on how to write a cover letter.
Here are, however, some of the key takeaways:
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Avoid Fluff – You want to be as specific as possible with your cover letter. Avoid vague statements like Im a good fit for the company because Im a good critical thinker!
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Do Your Research – Most companies dont like people who spray and pray – applying for dozens of jobs without giving any much thought. What they ARE looking for is someone thats passionate about their company, and wants to contribute. So, do your research about the companies you apply for, and show off your knowledge and passion in your cover letter.
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Back Up Your Achievements with Data – When possible, back up your experience with data. Instead of saying, I improved company revenue, say I managed to hit and exceed sales KPIs for 5+ months in a row.
Our Cover Letter Templates Are Ats
Many companies use applicant tracking systems to filter out unqualified cover letters or resumes before they land at the recruiters desk. These systems use software trained to scan your cover letter and resume for keywords listed in the job description. All of our templates can only be formatted with ATS-friendly fonts, line height and so on.
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Myth : You Wont Stand Out If You Use A Cover Letter Template For Word
Put yourself in the hiring managers position. Would you rather read:
a) A poorly formatted cover letter made from scratch or,
b) A well-structure and professional looking cover letter?
Hint: the answer is b. A cover letter written using a well formatted, professional cover letter template, will always stand out more than a messy cover letter made from scratch.
A cover letter template is simply a framework that allows you to easily write the best cover letter possible. Once youve added your own skills, professional experiences, and unique wording, itll already stand out from any other cover letter as uniquely yours and the hiring manager will see that too.