How to write a cover letter template.
Learn how to write a cover letter that will help you land a job interview.
A compelling cover letter and resume template sets great job candidates apart from the rest. It’s your chance to introduce yourself, tell your story, and make your best case for the job at hand. Yet it can get overwhelming to write a totally unique cover letter for every job application.
That’s why you want to have the basics in place so that you can easily customize your case for each opportunity you encounter. Learn how to craft an engaging cover letter template for your job search process.
What is a cover letter template?
A cover letter template is a cover letter containing filler text where information would need to go for a real cover letter. A cover letter template can show a made-up person with their own set of skills to serve as an example of what you could write in your own cover letter.
Cover letter templates provide a space for you to fill in your contact information and a general guideline for how long your cover letter should be. Templates can include different fonts, colors, and designs to reflect your personality along with your personal and professional accomplishments.
This template will show you what the layout of your cover letter should look like, as well as key elements such as the introduction, body paragraph, and call to action. These templates provide general guidelines, so if you feel you need to make your cover letter shorter or longer for a particular position, adjust accordingly.
Professional cover letter best practices.
Once you get your cover letter template building blocks in place, you can use it for all your job applications with a few simple tweaks. Make sure your template includes these essential components:
- Introduce yourself. Not just, “Hi, my name is,” but rather, what do you value? What are your career goals? What excites you about applying for this job?
- Tell a story. Your resume stores your laundry list of experiences. In your cover letter, you want to hook your reader with a story that illustrates how those experiences come together in real life. Think of a time at work when you had to solve a problem quickly, take the lead on an important project, or challenge yourself in a new way to complete an assignment. Tell that story succinctly.
- Highlight strengths. In your story, make sure you reference some of the skills and strengths that contributed to your success. Maybe it was your knowledge of a specific computer program, your organizational skills, or your strengths as a leader.
- Tie it back. Show you’ve done your research. Here is where you want to customize your template. Connect your story and strengths back to the specific organization and role you’re applying for to show how you would be a good fit for the position.
How to create a cover letter for a resume.
While the individual content will vary, there are some general guidelines for information that you should include in your cover letter.
- List your contact information.
Include the following information:
- Phone number
- Email address
- Optional: mailing address, pronouns, website or portfolio, LinkedIn profile
- Address the hiring manager by their name.
Under the header, include the company’s contact information. It should read like this:
- Name or job title of the person or team you’re addressing
- Company’s name
- Company’s street address
- Company’s phone number
- Hiring manager’s email address
Address the hiring manager by name, if possible. If you do not see the hiring manager’s name on the job post, you can still find it another way. Try searching for the company on LinkedIn under the People tab. Go through the company’s website and check out their About Us or Team page. If those options don’t work, reach out to the company’s Human Resources department. If you are unable to find the hiring manager’s name, you can say “Dear [insert department name] Department” or “Dear [Company Name] Recruiter.”
- Create an informative and direct opening paragraph.
In the first couple of sentences, discuss the position and organization you are applying for, how you found the position, and why you are excited about the opportunity. This opening paragraph will set the tone for the rest of the cover letter. Grab the reader’s attention by showing excitement and passion for what you do. If you have any connections at the job, this would be the place to mention them.
- Explain why you are qualified.
In your second or third paragraph, you must show why you are the right person for the position. This is the time to show your relevant skills, achievements, and work experience.
- Tie your experience to the company’s needs.
Close out your cover letter by redisplaying your interest in the job and how your skillset fits into the needs of the company.
- Sign off your letter.
At this point, you can encourage the hiring manager to schedule an interview with you and thank them for taking the time to read your cover letter.
Make your cover letter template.
Cover letters take time and effort. With the right creative set of tools, you can curate your cover letter content while adjusting formatting as needed with ease. Using a template as a guideline can help ensure that all the essential components are there while making the content personalized to your individual experience. Follow a cover letter and template guideline to properly showcase all your skills and accomplishments.
Explore how to make customizable cover letter PDF templates with Adobe Acrobat for a quick and stress-free cover letter writing process, and enjoy other features that allow you to convert files like Microsoft Word to PDF, split PDF files, add pages to PDF documents, and more.
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