Cover Letter Templates

Choose from dozens of free cover letter templates, add tailored content from career advice professionals and download it in the file format you need. Customize your template and craft a compelling cover letter in minutes with our Cover Letter Generator.

Last Updated: November 15, 2024

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Charismatic

This professional cover letter template features a dual-tone heading to make your name stand out.

Bold

This cover letter template will help you tell your story with a modern font and unique design.

Refined

Try this professional cover letter template to craft a straightforward and impressive letter.

Modern

A strong font makes this cover letter template ideal for modern architecture, technology and advertising jobs.

Artistic

No matter your industry, this creative cover letter template can help bring out your creative side.

Centered

Present your qualifications front and center with this professional cover letter template.

Contempo

Catch the recruiter’s attention with this cover letter template, which features your name and information aligned to the left.

Deluxe

This best-in-class cover letter template will speak volumes about your professionalism.

Distinguished

This straightforward cover letter template places your name front and center.

Executive

The elegant design of this sample cover letter template commands attention.

Managerial

Make a bold statement with this modern cover letter template, which offers customizable colors and fonts.

Original

Grab the recruiter’s attention with the pops of color and fun icons featured in this layout. It’s a great cover letter template for creative jobs.

Pacific

Change the colors and font type of this cover letter template to match your style.

Pinstripe

Make a subtle statement by choosing a cover letter template that colorfully highlights your contact information.

Professional

The sophisticated layout of this cover letter template tells employers you mean business.

Standout

A monogram graphic in the cover letter heading gives this cover template a unique look.

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Benefits of Our Free Cover Letter Templates

Professional and Effective Formatting

Our templates follow standard cover letter format rules, ensuring you use the correct line and margin spacing and proper fonts.

Eye-Catching Cover Letter Designs

From modern cover letter templates to creative and professional designs, our experts have designed templates to help you improve your chances of passing applicant tracking systems (ATS) and get noticed by hiring managers.

Easy to Customize Templates

You can easily customize your color palette, font size, section spacing and more to fit your career goals and stylistic preferences.

Generate a Personalized Cover Letter

Download our cover letter templates free of charge and edit them to fit your needs, or use our Cover Letter Generator to guide you through each step of creating your document in minutes.

Free Modern Cover Letter Templates

These cover letter templates are great for jobs in industries such as technology or business, where looking sharp and staying on top of the latest trends matters.

Bold Cover Letter Template

This is the best template cover letter for conveying that you’re a professional who is not afraid to take risks.

Blueprint Cover Letter Template

Stand out with this colorful cover letter template. Its two-column layout neatly displays your qualifications, making them easy to read.

Charismatic Cover Letter Template

This free cover letter template download injects some personality into your career story. Notice how two colors make the job applicant’s name pop.

Free Professional Cover Letter Templates

You can’t go wrong with the classic style of a formal cover letter. Download your favorite and show hiring managers you mean business.

Professional Cover Letter Template

Simple yet effective, this template shows that basic doesn’t have to mean boring.

Deluxe Cover Letter Template

This free cover letter template gives you all the room to present your accomplishments.

Executive Cover Letter Template

This is a good cover letter template for anyone who wants to get straight to the point.

Free Creative Cover Letter Templates

Creative jobs require imaginative designs. Use these layouts to show your personality and make a statement, especially if you’re applying for a job in a creative industry. 

Original Cover Letter Template

This free cover letter template combines icons, pops of color and a fun approach.

Standout Cover Letter Template

The minimalist design detail beside your name makes this cover letter template unforgettable.

Centered Cover Letter Template

Sleek fonts and bold colors make this free cover letter template download perfect for creative job seekers.

Free Simple and Basic Cover Letter Templates

A clean cover letter template is the best way to communicate your information and experience. Try a simple or basic cover letter for any industry and role.

Distinguished Cover Letter Template

This simple cover letter template has an elegant, understated style with classic fonts and dotted dividing lines.

Contempo Cover Letter Template

Keep it classy with a basic cover letter template that never goes out of style.

Whitespace Cover Letter Template

Give your letter a chic and intelligent look with a free cover letter template that perfectly spaces your information and boldly states your name.

Cover Letter Templates for Popular Jobs

Use our cover letter examples for guidance and inspiration. We have plenty of examples created by experts for different jobs and scenarios that use the cover letter templates featured on this page.

Teacher Cover Letter

Showcase your teaching experience with this unique teaching cover letter template with a bold header.

Administrative Assistant Cover Letter

This professional cover letter template will tell the recruiter more about your excellent time management and organizational skills.

Assistant Principal Cover Letter

Highlight your leadership and communication skills with this unique template.

Executive Assistant Cover Letter

This clean and straightforward template for a cover letter presents your reliability and expert organizational skills.

Customer Service Representative Cover Letter

This sleek and elegant cover letter template perfectly showcases your exceptional interpersonal skills.

Senior Project Manager Cover Letter

This distinguished sample cover letter template is ideal for demonstrating your management skills.

Flight Attendant Cover Letter

Excellent interpersonal skills and a diplomatic attitude are essential for this job, so use a cover letter template that can effectively tell your story.

Paralegal Cover Letter

A no-nonsense job requires a simple and easy-to-read template for a cover letter that hits the mark.

Cover Letter Templates for Unique Career Situations

We have free cover letter templates for a variety of unique career situations. Explore how to write a cover letter for additional guidance and examples.

Entry-Level Cover Letter Template

When you don’t have a lot of work experience, a cover letter is crucial to market yourself as an excellent addition to the team properly.

Career Change Cover Letter Template

When changing careers, you want a standard cover letter template that shows your transferable skills, bridges your experience and the new job and explains why you want to work with that company specifically. Use the content in this cover letter template as inspiration.

Employment Gap Cover Letter Template

Regarding employment gaps, you only have to address the gaps you feel comfortable discussing in your cover letter. Did you start your own business or explore artistic projects? Connect these experiences to the potential job as this sample cover letter template does.

Unadvertised Position Cover Letter Template

Don’t see a job posting? No problem! Explain how you heard about the job and why you want to join the team in a compelling letter of intent or cover letter.

Cold-Call Cover Letter Template

You came across a company you like but aren’t sure if they’re hiring. Get on their radar with a cold call cover letter that introduces who you are and your skills that could be valuable to the company, as this application letter template does.

Temporary-To-Permanent Employee Cover Letter Template

You like where you work and want to stay there permanently. Use a cover letter template to explain why keeping you around is in the company’s best interest.

Seeking Promotion Cover Letter Template

You’re ready to take the next step in your career and grow within the company. Recap your experience using a professional cover letter template and convince the employer you’re more than qualified for the new job.

Internal Position Application Cover Letter Template

Do you meet the requirements of a new position in your company? Take the leap and use a template for a cover letter to explain why you’re perfect for the role.

How to Use a Cover Letter Template

Select a Template That Showcases Your Unique Qualities

A cover letter is an extension of your resume. It’s your chance to present yourself to the employer and explain how your skills and experience suit the job.

Your cover letter template should answer four significant points:

  • Why you want the job.
  • How you’re prepared to handle the daily requirements of the job.
  • How you can fit in and adapt to the company’s culture.
  • How you can help the company move forward.

Demonstrate Passion and Interest in the Company

Use our professional cover letter templates to explain what inspires you about your potential employer.

It could be the company’s mission, a new initiative or how you can contribute to its long-term goals.

Show the hiring manager you’ve already invested time researching the company; they’ll be more likely to invest in you.

Align Your Skills and Experience With the Job Requirements

Respond directly to duties and skills listed in the job description, and show your capabilities in those areas through concrete examples from your own experience and training.

You can also point out a challenge the company is currently facing and how you can help solve it, similar to what our cover letter templates showcase.

Encourage the Hiring Manager to Learn More About You

Your cover letter should incentivize hiring managers to read your resume and follow up for an interview. Be forthright.

Direct the reader to examine your resume for more details on your relevant skills and accomplishments. Conclude by expressing your readiness to meet and discuss how you can contribute.

If you’re unsure how to do this, you can personalize one of our cover letter templates in our Cover Letter Generator to access professionally written content suggestions tailored to your job title.

Avoid Repeating Information From Your Resume

While your resume and cover letter template must be similar, they shouldn’t reiterate the same information.

Review your resume and note what you want to explain further in your cover letter; it could be a set of skills, a relevant achievement or a standout project.

A free downloadable cover letter template from this page will help you tell your story to get noticed. You can use our ATS Resume Checker to improve your job application and correct errors.

Customize Your Cover Letter Template for Each Job

Writing a customized resume and cover letter is essential for standing out to hiring managers.

This includes using keywords from the job description in your writing, using a tone of voice that reflects the company culture and addressing the letter to the hiring manager.

Match Your Resume and Cover Letter Templates

Matching your cover letter and resume template helps you craft a polished and cohesive job application.

We have all the tools and guides you need to build the perfect resume to complement your cover letter.

  • Resume Builder: With professional guidance and tailored phrases, a cover letter template combined with our Resume Builder makes it easy to create a resume in minutes.
  • How to Write a Resume: Follow our in-depth guide to learn how to write a strong resume that effectively captures your skills and qualifications.
  • Resume Examples: We have hundreds of professionally crafted resume examples for all jobs, industries, and career stages. 
  • Resume Templates: From creative to modern and professional, our resume templates are designed by the same experts who create our cover letter templates.

Choose Matching Resume Template

FAQ

What Is a Cover Letter?

A cover letter is a one-page document you submit alongside your resume or CV. Its purpose is to support the content of your resume or CV by expanding on your achievements, showcasing your personality and explaining why you’re a great fit for the company.

Even though a cover letter has a supporting role in the application process, it’s no less critical and could decide whether you get hired. Explore the qualities of successful cover letters to learn more.

Are Cover Letters Necessary?

Yes. A recent survey found that 83% of hiring managers, recruiters and HR staff consider cover letters essential to decision-making. We always recommend writing a cover letter because:

  • It allows you to provide information that isn’t in your resume.
  • It gives hiring managers and recruiters a glimpse into your personality.
  • It has the space you need to market yourself as the best candidate.

Choose a cover letter template from this page to increase your chances of getting the job. Explore our guide on the necessity of cover letters for additional tips and guidance.

How Do You Write a Strong Cover Letter?

A successful cover letter should be formatted neatly for easy reading and have content that catches hiring managers’ attention. To achieve the first goal, use a cover letter sample template as a model and keep your letter to the point and one page long.

To ensure your content fits the bill, consult the job description and pinpoint essential keywords that you should mention in your letter. For example, if you’re applying to a customer service position that stresses knowledge of customer relations management (CRM) systems, mention your experience with CRM in your cover letter. 

Doing so will also help your letter pass automated applicant tracking systems (ATS), which many employers use to scan cover letters for the right keywords. We also recommend exploring how to apply ATS formatting best practices to increase the chances that your job application will reach hiring managers.

Finally, your cover letter should answer the most critical question: Why are you interested in the job and the company? Explain why you should be hired for the role and what makes you the best fit.

What Do Employers Look for in a Cover Letter?

A cover letter is a blank canvas where you can formally introduce yourself to the hiring manager — think of it as your sales pitch. 

Generally speaking, the hiring manager wants to know more about your skills and background, why you want to work for them and how you will help them. Still, this approach may differ depending on your professional experience.

We recommend checking out our guide on what to include in a cover letter for tips from career advice professionals. Using an AI cover letter generator can help you tailor your cover letter to your target job with keywords and industry-specific content. 

Is It OK to Use a Cover Letter Builder?

Using a cover letter builder is not just OK but encouraged! 

Our Cover Letter Generator makes the writing process a breeze with professional cover letter templates, expert content suggestions, guidance and customization tools to create and save as many versions of your cover letter as you want.

It’s the easiest way to assemble a professional cover letter for your resume. To get started, choose the downloadable cover letter template that best suits you.

How Long Should a Cover Letter Be?

A cover letter should be one page long. This cover letter length allows you to detail key achievements without overwhelming the reader. 

The recruiter or hiring manager won’t spend that much time reviewing your application, so your writing must be concise and straightforward. 

A cover letter template from this page can help you organize your cover letter effectively on one page.

How Do You Start a Cover Letter if You Don’t Know the Name?

If you don’t know who to address your cover letter to, here are some options to try:

  • Address the cover letter to the department you’re interested in joining. For example, “Dear Creative Department,” “Dear Accounting Department,” or “Dear [Company] Team.”
  • If you have the hiring manager’s name but are unsure whether to use titles like Mr., Mrs., or Ms., you can leave it out and use their full name. For example, “Dear John Smith” or “Dear Helena Law.”

Avoid starting your cover letter with greetings such as “To whom it may concern” or “Dear sir or madam” — they’re old-fashioned. 

See our guide on how to address a cover letter for additional tips and examples from career advice experts.

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Since 2013, we have helped more than 15 million job seekers. We want to make your career journey accessible and manageable through our services and Career Center’s how-to guides and tips. In our commitment to bring you a transparent process, we present our Editorial Process.

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