One page, always. Three or four short paragraphs is plenty: open with the role and why you fit, give one specific result, point to your resume, and close with a clear next step. If it runs long, cut the generic lines first.
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Free Sample Cover Letter
FREE TEMPLATE
Employment Cover Letter
This free sample cover letter gives you wording you can copy, adjust to the role, and send with your resume. A strong one is short and specific. It speaks to what the employer needs instead of restating your resume, and it gives the reader a reason to keep going.
This is one of several letters in our free Business Letter Templates collection.
Download Free: Collection of Business Letter Templates
The cover letter is the first thing your prospective employer, or other decision-maker, will see and they will judge you in part based on your ability to stand out during the job application process.
Therefore, your goal is to do "no less than impress", right?
An effective cover letter provides a doorway that you want another person to walk through; to gain interest in finding out more about you; to consider you for a position within their business. So, you want to introduce yourself as the solution to a problem they have. Market yourself as an experienced professional with the skills and track record they're looking for.
Rather than simply stating you are the best person for the job, briefly sell yourself with specific examples of the value you bring. Note accomplishments you've made and leadership traits you possess. Articulate your commitment for doing what it takes to ensure success and exceed expectations.
"An effective cover letter will make a great first impression and effectively introduce you with professionalism, style and class."
As you prepare a cover letter, put yourself in the shoes of the decision-maker(s). Realize yours is one of many resumes and cover letters being considered for a single position. If the cover letter is bad, will that person even read your resume? Possibly not. However, if your cover letter is solid, the odds are good they'll want to learn more about your background and experience.
Take the time to personalize each cover letter to the specific employer. Do not send a formula cover
letter. One size does not fit all employers. Use our free sample cover letter template to ensure the proper balance between brevity and providing key details that will make them want to learn more.
Next, set your completed letter aside and let some time pass before proofreading your document. Then, make some final edits. Pay close attention to spelling and proper use of grammar. Lastly, always have a trusted friend or colleague complete a final proofread of your cover letter before sending.
Jump To: When to Use It | The Leadership Lens | Copy the Letter | Examples | Customize It | Cover Letter Tips | FAQ | Get Updates Free | Download Templates
When to Use a Cover Letter
Send a cover letter whenever you submit your resume for a new role. The same template covers two common situations.
- Responding to a posted opening: You've found a specific job posting and want to connect your background to what it asks for.
- Reaching out without a posting: There's no advertised role, but you'd like to work for a particular organization and want to introduce yourself.
In both cases the letter should accompany an updated resume. It doesn't replace it.
The Leadership Lens
Lead with what you can do for the employer, not what you want from them. The person reading your cover letter is trying to solve a problem, so open by connecting your strengths to their needs, and let your interest in the role show through in how well you understand it.
Then prove it with one specific result. A single sentence about a problem you solved or a goal you achieved (backed by data) does more than a paragraph of self-description, and it gives the reader a concrete reason to want to learn more and follow up on your resume.
Cover Letter Template
Copy the free sample cover letter below, replace each blue field with your own details, and treat the italic blue notes as guidance rather than text to send blindly. The email version follows, with the address block dropped.
Tip: for a printed letter, hand-sign your name in blue ink above your typed name. It signals the note is personal.
Cover Letter Email Version
Same message, built for sending online. This version has no address block, adds a subject line, and a little tighter messaging.
Worked Examples
These free sample cover letters highlight two common scenarios: first as a reply to a posted opening, then as a letter to an organization with no posting in process.
Open Posting Example
No Posting Example
Both letters lead with the employer's need and back it up with one real result, then point to the resume for everything else. That's the whole job of a cover letter.
Take the version that fits your situation, swap in your own details, and keep it to a single tailored page.
"The objective of strategic communications is to achieve a specific result with those you hope to persuade."
- Tony Jeary
How to Customize This Template
The sample is a starting point. A few quick changes turn it into a letter for your specific application.
- Name the role and company: Use the exact job title and organization so it never reads as a mass mailing.
- Answer their biggest need: Read the posting, find the one or two things they care about most, and speak to those first.
- Swap in one real result: Replace the example's proof point with a number you moved, a problem you solved, or an outcome you led.
- Cut anything generic: If a sentence could sit in anyone's letter, it isn't helping yours.
- End with a clear next step: Invite the conversation, give your contact details, and offer references or past reviews.
Free Sample Cover Letter Tips
Additional tips to keep in mind as you complete a cover letter for a new employment opportunity include the following:
- Research the role: Understand what the employer needs before you write a word, then speak to those needs.
- Lead with their needs: Make it easy to see how you solve the problem they care about most.
- Prove it with an example: Name a specific result you delivered so the claim holds up.
- Tailor every letter: One size doesn't fit all employers, so personalize each one to the role.
- Offer something extra: Mention that references are available, and offer to share past performance reviews. Almost no one does this, so it sets you apart.
Using our free sample cover letters, customize the letter for the specific job you are applying for. Always emphasize how you have historically contributed to the organizations you've worked for in the past.
Provide letters of reference if possible. Even better, offer to provide copies of your past annual reviews. This one action will make you an instant standout as almost no one makes this offer, which is a big miss!
Before you send: Set the letter aside, come back to it later, and read it once more. Ask someone you trust to proofread it too. A typo on a cover letter doesn't make a good first impression.
Frequently Asked Questions
Click on the (+) sign below to expand each question. Click the (-) sign to collapse it again.
How long should a cover letter be?
Do I still need a cover letter?
Often, yes. Some applications make it optional, but a short, specific letter still helps when the field is crowded or the role is competitive. When an application asks for one, skipping it can read as a lack of interest. When it's optional, a strong letter rarely hurts and usually helps.
Should I customize every cover letter?
Yes. A letter tailored to the role and employer stands out, and a generic one signals you sent the same version everywhere. Change the opening, the need you address, and the result you highlight for each job.
Can I use the same sample for every job?
Use the same template, not the same letter. The structure carries over from one application to the next. The details, the opening line, and the result you feature should match each role.
What if I don't know the hiring manager's name?
Check the company site or LinkedIn first, since a real name is always better. If you can't find one, address the team or the role, such as Dear Hiring Team or Dear Marketing Team. Skip To Whom It May Concern, which reads as dated.
What should I put first?
Open by connecting your strengths to the employer's need. Lead with what you can do for them, name the role you're applying for, and save the supporting detail for the paragraphs that follow.
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