12 Perfect Employment Cover Letter Examples + Templates

Hiring managers commonly use cover letters to evaluate a job applicant’s credentials and potential. By highlighting skills closely matched to the demands of the position, you show how valuable you would be to the company in your cover letter. When paired with your resume, a solid cover letter increases your chance of getting interviewed for an employment opportunity.

An employment cover letter is a document that goes with your CV and states why you are submitting a job application for that particular position.

It describes how you meet the firm’s requirements and why you are the ideal candidate. It also introduces you to the potential employer and explains what you can offer the company. While a cover letter builds a connection between your resume and the position you’re applying for, a resume only showcases your education and employment background. Although cover letters are often optional, most businesses make them mandatory when posting jobs.

If you’re trying to apply for a job that requires a cover letter, you’re at the right place. This post teaches you how to write a cover letter that sets you apart from the competition by:

• Showing you the art of writing a standout cover letter from scratch.
• Showing you how to connect your resume and cover letter to help you get more interviews.
• Giving access to tips and good cover letter samples can boost your chance of being hired.

Picking the Correct Cover Letter Template

The first impression you create while writing an employment cover letter is crucial. You need a professional-looking paper in addition to the proper wording if you want employers to take notice of you. You may build a letter that will wow employers using the free, expertly-designed templates of employment cover letters offered on this website. There is something here for everyone, regardless of your level of experience.

To assure quality, all templates have been tested by professionals in the area. By using them, you may; 

• Spend less time and stress.
• Use appropriate fonts and formatting.
• Design a cover letter that distinguishes itself from the competitors.
• You may convince potential employers that you are a professional and dedicated to the job.

Hiring managers often use cover letters as a deciding factor in their choice. You should therefore ensure your cover letter is in excellent shape, showcasing why you should be hired ahead of other job seekers. To achieve this, some elements must be present in your cover letter.

The following are components of a winning cover letter:

A professional header

Your employment cover letter must have a formal header containing your contact information. The following information must be provided in this section:

• Your legal name (don’t use an alias or nickname)
• Your email address (Use a professional email account containing your first and last name. Use of email addresses like “[email protected]” might ruin your employment chances)
• Your telephone number
• Your location (Your city and state are enough; your full residential address is not required in most cases)
• Date of writing the cover letter
• Name of the recruitment manager. If you don’t know the recipient’s name, send your letter to the relevant department at the business or organization (e.g., office manager or executive assistant). Avoid writing “To Whom It May Concern” in your letter, and you should also avoid a phrase like “Dear Sir or Madam.”
• You can also include your profile on a networking site like LinkedIn or GitHub. A link to your portfolio or website might also strengthen your application.

An example of a poor header:

“Allan Stone
“332 St NE, High River, Alberta, Canada.”

In addition to seeming amateurish, this header lacks all the information a potential employer would need or find relevant.

A properly written header should look like this:

Allan Stone
Social Media Advertiser
(403) 652-1443
[email protected]
Alberta, Canada
allan.stoneconsultancy.com
24th August 2022
Davis Johnson
The Hiring Manager
Green Optimal Workplace Inc.
Canada.

Respectful salutation

Once you have included all relevant contact information, you may begin composing the cover letter’s body. The person in charge of hiring new staff should always be addressed in the cover letter. Rather than “Dear Sir or Madam”, you should address it to the recruiting manager!

You want to demonstrate to your future employer that you have done your research on the business and that you are eager to join the team. Nobody wants to receive an application from someone who has sent several applications without carefully examining their intended addressees.

If you don’t know the hiring manager, here are a few techniques to accomplish this:

A LinkedIn search is the right place to start when looking for a contact person’s name and job title. For example; let’s say you’re requesting a position as a communication specialist. Most likely, the director of communications or the chief communications officer should get your letter. Again, you can find this on LinkedIn.

Similarly, when applying to work as a bartender at a restaurant, you would be looking for the “restaurant manager.” There is also a reasonable probability that you will locate the appropriate person under the “Team” part of the organization’s website, which is another approach to finding their name. If you’re still having difficulties finding it, call the business and ask for this information.

A bad example of salutation is:

“Dear Sir/Madam”

It can set you off on the wrong foot. You do not want to send a message that the receiver is unimportant. 

However, you can’t go wrong with something like this:

Dear Dr. Johnson,

Attention-grabbing introduction

Make a strong initial impression in your cover letter if you want to stand out from the competition among job seekers. Of course, it’s doubtful that recruiters would read every employment cover letter in its entirety since they typically receive hundreds of applications for each post. Nevertheless, you must engage them from the start if you want your cover letter to stand out from the competition.

Take the following passage as an example of a weak introduction:

I’m David, and I’d like to talk to you about the project manager job at Digirep. My prior work as a project manager at ABC Inc. has equipped me with the abilities and knowledge required for the position. 

The above introduction is not particularly useful. It says nothing about your abilities, background, or any other credentials you could have to provide. All the applicants you are competing with have experience in a similar or similar sector.

Instead, accentuate significant achievements that make you a solid contender for the job in your employment cover letter. The successes must be connected to the position so that the recruiting manager is immediately intrigued.

Now let’s have a look at a compelling introduction:

Hello, Dr. Johnson:

Pete is my name. I’ve been paying careful attention to your company’s attempts to improve its project management capabilities, and I’ve looked into the talent it’s looking for. I’ve worked as a project manager for Company M for over three years, and during that time, I’ve closed five deals with Fortune 500 companies. Therefore, I feel I am qualified for the post you are advertising due to my past industry experience and excellent project management abilities.

There is a clear difference between the two project managers. Pete is a desirable candidate in this case since his cover letter clearly describes his successes and skills, unlike David’s hazy introduction. Take advantage of this tactic.

Compelling body paragraphs

You must highlight your professional experience to stand out and convince the hiring manager that you are the ideal person for the job. This part must be written appropriately and include information on how your experience will help you accomplish your duties at work. First, identify the job description’s prerequisites for the role.

Let’s consider a situation where you’re trying to apply for an opening as a Financial Analyst. Upon reading the job description, you’re able to observe that the following are the main requirements:

• Analyze financial data and create models to aid strategic decision making
• Review existing internal control and processes to drive continuous efficiency and improvement
• Advanced Microsoft Office Excel skills

Now, let’s look at a feeble attempt to achieve all of the above:

I am a specialist in social media marketing with a lot of experience in creating and implementing marketing strategies for XYZ Inc. I have taken advantage of social media platforms to access fresh growth opportunities.

Now you must explain how you fulfill these requirements effectively. An illustration of how to accomplish it is:

My analysis and recommendations generated an average of 30% return during my tenure as Financial Analyst at ABC. As a senior financial analyst, I oversaw the development of financial models to guide strategic decisions. In addition, my excellent budgeting and forecasting skills using Excel directly led to a buy-rated choice gain of 150%.

For obvious reasons, the candidate in the second scenario would be preferred over the applicant in the first.

However, remember that a cover letter shouldn’t be a mere repetition of your CV. The purpose is defeated if you use the exact phrases in both documents. 

Call to action

The conclusion should leave the reader with a favorable opinion by reiterating the key ideas from your cover letter. Any pertinent information that you may have omitted from the preceding sentences should be included in the conclusion.

It should:

•  Include any other information you believe may be crucial to the hiring manager’s choice.
• Express your heartfelt gratitude to the recruiter for their time. Avoid sounding overly enthusiastic.
• Ask for an interview or suggest the hiring manager contact you for further information.

A formal signoff, such as “Sincerely” or “Respectfully,” should be used to bring an end to your cover letter. Lastly,  consider including a digital signature if you have access to one.

A poor but prevalent approach to finishing a cover letter is to say, 

I’m delighted to join the team. I look forward to hearing from you.
Allan Stone 

It doesn’t exude confidence or urgency and won’t motivate the recruiter to proceed.

Let’s consider an appropriate example:

Thank you for considering my application. I’m eager to explain how my work at XYZ Inc. will assist Company X in achieving its marketing goals. Please get in touch with me at any time this week to arrange a time to talk about how I might be able to help you further.

Sincerely,

Allan Stone

The Cover Letter Writing Checklist

If you want the job, you must leave a positive impression on the recruiting manager. This impression might be made with an effective cover letter that is timely. The following checklist will ensure that no crucial details are left out of your cover letter and that you demonstrate your mastery of suitable business etiquette and your capacity for crystal-clear written communication.

Here’s a checklist for your cover letter:

Make sure you have provided all relevant information in your cover letter’s header as follows:

• Your legal name 
• Your Email address
• Your telephone number
• Your location
• A link to your portfolio or website, if available 
• Date (Optional)
• Name of the recruiting manager and company

Make sure you addressed the person in charge adequately as given below:

• Dear [Name of the recruitment manager]

Ensure your introductory paragraph is strong enough to capture the reader’s attention in the following way:

• Highlight your significant accomplishments and back them up with relevant statistics

You must prove that you are the best candidate for the position by following the given points:

• Show your understanding of the job’s requirements
• Use your experience to set yourself up as the best candidate

Show passion for the organization:

• Highlight the strengths of their business
• State honest and unique reasons motivating you to become a part of the company

Make sure to include a call to action at the end of the body of the letter.

Sign off the letter with the appropriate formality.

A Template for an Employment Cover Letter

Following are the employment cover letter templates:

#01

#02

#03

#04

#05

#06

#07

#08

#09

Some of the best practices to follow while writing an employment cover letter are as follows:

Offer something different from a resume.

Use your cover letter as a supplement to your resume. You can tell a tale about your professional history and use a little more casual language than the one used on your resume. It is unusual to submit a cover letter by itself rather than with a resume. As a result, your cover letter will offer something different by highlighting information that your resume does not. 

Tailor each cover letter

Your cover letter should be designed for the position you’re applying for and should explain how your skills align with those required by the job offer. An excellent way to tailor your letter to the role is to use keywords from the job description.

Use keywords

Make use of keywords. First, note the crucial phrases in the job description, such as specific skills or prerequisites. Then, consider including some of these words in your letter. This will allow the firm to decide whether you satisfy the requirements for employment rapidly.

Edit your cover letter meticulously.

Proofread your letter carefully. Make sure your cover letter is impeccable. It is your first and best chance to convince the hiring manager that you are the best applicant for the job. As you review your letter, be sure there are no grammatical or typographical errors. If you want a second set of eyes, ask a friend, family member, or career counselor to read it.

• You must create a 3–4 paragraph structure before you start writing. This way, you will likely avoid missing any crucial information that can make you eligible for the job.
• Your cover letter shouldn’t be more than a page document or 250- 400 words.
• Only a strong opening paragraph will make your employer read your letter. Work on one. 
• You must avoid restating what is in your resume. They both have unique roles to play in your job application. 
• Your motivation for applying for the job should be clearly stated so that the hiring manager will consider you a passionate candidate.
• Be truthful and free of unnecessary details in your writing.
• Proofread your letter to ensure you are not sending a bluff cover letter.

About This Article

Authored by:

Haley S.

Resume Writing, Cover Letter Writing, Content Writing, Curriculum Vitae, Biographies

Haley Sawyer has transformed the professional narratives of thousands, meticulously crafting resumes and cover letters that unlock the doors to their dream jobs. Whether it is sales, healthcare, or any other domain, Haley's expertise in creating ATS-compatible resumes always stand out in the crowd. Haley's portfolio spans a diverse range of industries: from Healthcare and Business to IT, Sales Leadership, and Engineering. She caters to professionals at all stages, from entry-level aspirants to seasoned C-suite executives. Beyond resumes, her services extend to cover letter writing, crafting compelling biographies, and content writing.