What Makes The Best Cover Letter Format
No matter your industry or experience level, there are a few design elements that are essential for the proper formatting of your cover letter. By following these widely accepted guidelines, youll make sure employers can quickly find the information they are looking for. Clean and straightforward formatting also encourages a hiring manager to actually read the content of your letter. With a strong template, youll make a good impression from beginning to end.
Pay attention to your templates white space. An attractive layout contains a healthy balance of blank space and text or other design elements. This space might seem empty but it actually serves to make your document more readable.
When thinking about how to select a free cover letter template, its a good idea to choose one that gives you the best chances of personalization. While our builder toolallows for optimal customization, choosing a template that already meets some of your needs can save you time and effort. Lets break down some of the most important design elements of a cover letter and explore how to select and personalize them.
Name: Your name is the primary focus of your cover letter heading so youll want it to stand out. You can also match the font size and text style between the heading of your cover letter and resume to have a better chance of catching a hiring managers attention.
Date: This helps a hiring manager identify the time frame for your application.
Microsoft Word Cover Letter Templates To Download For Free
Welcome to our curated gallery of more than 50 free cover letter templates for Word. Theyre all 100% free to download and edit. Each template was hand-picked by a career expert.
You just hit the jackpot.
We searched far and wide to find the best free Word cover letter templates on Earth.
We stacked them in five categories to help you find your favorite quick.
Bonus: we added hints and tips on flawless cover letter writing.
Free means these cover letter templates are 100% free to download and edit.
You dont even have to sign up for a spam list.
Save hours of work and get a cover letter like this. Pick a template, fill it in. Quick and easy. Choose from
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I had an interview yesterday and the first thing they said on the phone was: Wow! I love your cover letter.PatrickI love the variety of templates. Good job guys, keep up the good work!Dylan My previous cover letter was really weak and I used to spend hours adjusting it in Word. Now, I can introduce any changes within minutes. Absolutely wonderful!George
Do you also need to write a resume? Here you can find several free MS Word Resume Templates.
Now, let’s move to the list of cover letter templates for Word:
General Cover Letter Template
Looking for a standard cover letter that works for any job application? Our general cover letter template follows the traditional cover letter format, but wont sound generic to employers.
Copy the free sample below into Microsoft Word, and fill in the blanks with your skills and experience. This cover letter template has helped thousands of job seekers land employment across every industry.
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Can I Customize My Resume Template
Yes, you can customize your resume template. Simply open the file in Microsoft Word or Google Docs, and manually adjust the design of your resume. Everything from the colors, to the fonts, to the layout of your resume template is fully customizable if youre comfortable using word processing software.
Alternatively, if youd like to save time, customizing your template in our resume builder is easy and quick.
Choose The Right Template For Your Cover Letter
Most applicants are under the impression that they would have to write their cover letter from scratch. This is why many would just skip writing a cover letter, especially when they feel like theyre not skilled enough in writing letters.
Thankfully, there are now cover letter templates that you can now use to speed up and make the process so much easier. You must, however, make sure that youre choosing the right cover letter to match your resume and the position you are applying for. Select one that looks professional yet attractive at the same time.
Choose a cover letter template that complements your resume. It should fit your profile and the message you want the hiring managers or recruiters to receive. Since your cover letter and resume go together, ideally, your cover letters appearance matches the overall look of your resume.
Tip:
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Include A Clear Call To Action
Consider what you want to happen as a result of your letter and include a request that makes sense for the intended audience. Depending on which type of cover letter you are writing, you might encourage the reader to review your resume, schedule a call or agree to meet with you in person or virtually. You can also communicate that youâll follow up with them in a specified amount of time so they have an incentive to respond to your letter.
Modern Cover Letter Templates
When youre in an industry thats forward-thinking and innovative, a traditional cover letter just wont cut it. Thats why weve developed a collection of sleek options to convey your unique abilities in fields like tech, start-ups, marketing and design. If a youthful look is what youre after, our free modern cover letter templates are right for you.
These templates are characterized by bold headers with energetic color palettes and strong fonts. They allow optimal white space for a clean look, all while highlighting what really matters your most impressive achievements and unique qualifications.
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Warehouse Worker Cover Letter
Make sure you use proper cover letter format to ensure that your cover letter is readable and professional.
hiring.manager@gmail.com
Dear ,
Im pleased to apply for the Warehouse Associate position advertised on Addecos website. I believe my expertise and knowledge of warehouse data systems, coupled with the ability to operate hand trucks, forklifts, and pallet jacks, will contribute greatly to streamlining your warehouse operations.
At my current company, Westbrook Logistics, my responsibilities include training new employees, reporting damaged products, and ensuring the organization of the warehouse space. Im proficient in using Capterra and Fishbowl to optimize the flow of goods and speed up transaction processing, and Im capable of efficient communication, planning, and delegation. Here are three major accomplishments that further demonstrate my suitability for this position:
- Maintained a shift average of 99% accuracy in order fulfilment during 2021
- Trained 60+ warehouse associates to use forklifts, reach and turret trucks, pallet jacks, and walkie riders as the Lead Equipment Trainer
- Suggested streamlined protocols and smartphone scanning system to the warehouse manager, leading to a 28% reduction in pallet sorting time
I believe I can exceed your expectations in this position. Feel free to contact me on my mobile at 734-6114 or by email at your.name@gmail.com to set up an interview. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Top 10 Tips For Cover Letter Formatting
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Do I Need A Different Cover Letter For Every Job
The answer is yes! You need to make a new cover letter for a resume every time you apply for a different job.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job seekers should tailor their cover letter to fit each roles job description.
Even if you are applying for two or more jobs in the same company, you should structure your resume and cover letter to match each job. Employers have specific needs and requirements mentioned in the job posting, and your cover letter should match them.
Another critical reason to tailor each cover letter to a specific job involves applicant tracking systems . ATS is a hiring tool many companies use to narrow down an applicant pool before hiring managers look at the remaining applications.
The ATS scans your resume and cover letter for preselected keywords the company desires in their candidates.
If your cover letter does not contain the right keywords, it may not pass the ATS nor get seen by the hiring manager!
Read through the job description and pull out keywords and important phrases. When they apply to your skills and experience, incorporate these keywords into your resume and cover letter.
It will help you get past the ATS and get noticed by employers!
Good cover letter templates are helpful in this whole process for three reasons:
Resume And Cover Letter Samples And Templates
Do you need to write a resume and cover letter to apply for a job or internship? When you’re applying for jobs, it’s helpful to review examples of student resumes and cover letters to get ideas for both the formatting and the content of your job search materials. Using a template to create your own personalized resumes and letters can give a professional-looking structure to your job application documents.
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Tailoring Your Cover Letter
Each cover letter you submit should be customized to its audience. Most people, including hiring managers and recruiters, can tell if youâve written a generic cover letter and might interpret it as a lack of genuine interest. Instead of using a one-size-fits-all approach, use a template as an outline and fill it in with information thatâs unique to the company and position.
Catch the attention of your reader by following these four steps:
Top 5 Good Cover Letter Templates
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Why Its Called The Original Professional
Timeless and formal, our Original Professional cover letter template is a modern update of the style of templates used by job seekers for decades. It features everything you need to make a strong first impression and communicate your qualifications without the distracting design elements featured in more contemporary cover letter templates.
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.
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General Cover Letter Example
This general cover letter was written by a candidate with two years of work experience.
In the example, the candidate is applying for a mid-level digital marketing position. In the first paragraph, the applicant:
Simple Cover Letter Templates
Sometimes, less is more. Our collection of straightforward designs are not only easy-to-use, their sleek and basic appeal can be a real advantage in fields where hard skills are most important. Combine your simple job application letter with our simple cover letter examples, and youve got a job-winning combination.
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Free Creative Cover Letter Templates For Word
Want to show a little flair?
That can go over big for creative jobs or jobs in smaller companies.
Hiring managers read cover letters. If your chosen job needs creativity, one of these creative free cover letters for Word can show it.
Each of the guides above will take you through the steps to turn a template into a job-getting cover letter.
Expert Hint: Waitdo you even need a cover letter? Well, almost half of all employers will skip resumes that dont have letters.
Professional Cover Letter Templates
If youre in a professional industry, then you know just how important presentation can be. Theres no point in creating a high-quality professional resume if your cover letter formatting doesnt have the polished look to match. Our professional cover letter templates make it easy for you to focus on conveying your expertise the visuals are taken care of.
These free templates feature neutral color palettes with soft leading lines to create an attractive layout without overpowering the essence of your letter. Our professional cover letter templates are especially effective for formal industries like education, administration, medicine, legal and finance.
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Why Do I Need A Different Resume For Every Job Application
No two jobs are exactly alike. Even if you apply for two positions with the exact same title, its extremely likely that each company highlights different skills and traits in the job description. Remember, the responsibilities of a Sales Associate at one store may look very different at another. Thats why we recommend that before you send out an application, you tailor your resume to address the specific requirements in the job description. Usually this can cause job seekers a lot of headaches, but our resume creator allows you to build dozens of fully-customized resumes in a fraction of the time.
How Long Should A Cover Letter Be
A cover letter should be one-page long, on a single-page cover letter template, and composed of around 4 paragraphs, along with contact information in the header. 400 words is a good limit, as more could mean no recruiter will read your document, and not enough will not make it seem worth the attempt. Depending on your experience, industry, and circumstances, the amount of information to write can vary. We encourage you to read our post on the ideal cover letter length in 2022.
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Should My Resume And Cover Letter Match
Yes, you should match your cover letter to your resume as much as possible. Try to coordinate in color and style, and choose the same font for both your resume and cover letter.
JobHero has matching cover letter templates and resume templates. Browse through our collection for your own matching cover letter and resume!
If you need additional resume resources, dont hesitate to check out our resume examples page or our full How to Write a Resume Guide. Theyll further help you ensure both documents are impressive!
Job Application Letter Template
Your job application letter is one of the best ways to convince an employer of your unique skills and qualities. It also allows you to highlight the personality traits that would make you a great fit for the companys work environment. Tailoring your cover letter to the unique needs of each employer and job posting is one of the most successful ways to land an interview. Get more expert tips on how to write the best cover letter in this overall guide.
Use the hiring managers correct salutation and last name in the greeting of your job application letter to establish a personal connection.
Address your letter to Whom It May Concern. If you dont have a specific name, include the company name and a collective noun like Hiring Team.
Your writing is not the only thing youll need to customize, however. You should also make sure that your job application template matches the look and feel of the company youre applying to. Our cover letter builder toolmakes it easy to choose the perfect job application letter template and adjust it to meet your needs and give you the best chance of making a great visual impression.
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