Free cover letter template, built with AI

What is a cover letter?

A cover letter is a one-page letter you send with your resume when you apply for a job. Your resume lists what you’ve done; your cover letter explains why you want this specific role and why your experience makes you a strong fit. It’s your chance to connect the dots for the hiring manager and show some personality, which a resume can’t do.

A good cover letter template saves you from the hardest part: the blank page. This one gives you a clear structure, so you only have to fill in the details that are unique to you and the job.

Do you still need a cover letter?

Not every employer reads them, but many still do, especially for competitive roles, smaller companies and positions that involve writing or client contact. If the job post asks for one, it’s required. If it says “optional”, send one anyway: it’s an easy way to stand out from the applicants who skip it. The only time to leave it out is when the application system gives you no way to attach it.

Cover letter format

Keep it to one page, roughly 250 to 400 words, in the same font as your resume. A standard cover letter format looks like this:

1. Header: your name and contact details, the date, and the employer’s name and address.
2. Greeting: address the hiring manager by name whenever you can.
3. Opening paragraph: the role you’re applying for and your strongest reason you fit.
4. Body (one or two paragraphs): two or three achievements that match the job’s needs.
5. Closing paragraph: why this company, and a clear next step.
6. Sign-off: “Sincerely” or “Best regards”, followed by your name.

How to write a cover letter, step by step

1. Research the company and the role

Read the job post twice and highlight the three skills or results they care about most. Then look at the company’s website and recent news. You’ll use both in your letter.

2. Find the hiring manager’s name

Check the job post, the company’s team page or LinkedIn. “Dear Alex Morgan” feels personal; “To whom it may concern” feels like a form letter. If you really can’t find a name, use “Dear Hiring Manager”.

3. Open with a strong first line

Skip “I am writing to apply for…”. Name the role and lead with your best result:

“I’m applying for the Senior Marketing Manager role at Brightline Software. In my current role, I grew inbound leads 140% in 12 months.”

4. Match your experience to their needs

In the body, pick two or three achievements that line up with what the job post asks for. Use numbers wherever you can, and connect each one to the employer’s goals rather than just listing them.

5. Show why you want this company

Mention something specific: a product, a market, a value or a recent milestone. It proves you’re not sending the same letter to fifty companies.

6. Close with a next step

Thank them for their time and say you’d welcome a conversation. Keep it confident, not pushy.

Cover letter example

Here’s how a strong body paragraph reads when it’s tailored to the job post:

“Your job post mentions scaling pipeline from organic search while lowering acquisition costs. At Northwind I rebuilt our SEO strategy from scratch, launched a blog that now drives 45% of all demo requests, and cut cost per lead 35%.”

Notice how it repeats the employer’s own priority, then answers it with concrete results. The full example in the template follows the same pattern from start to finish.

Common cover letter mistakes to avoid

• Repeating your resume line by line instead of telling the story behind it.
• Making it all about what you want rather than what you can do for the employer.
• Sending the same generic letter to every company.
• Going over one page.
• Getting the company name or hiring manager’s name wrong. Always check before you send.

Who this simple cover letter template is for

This template works for most industries and career stages. Graduates can focus the body on internships, projects and coursework. Career changers can use it to explain the move and highlight transferable skills. Experienced professionals can lead with their biggest results and keep it short and sharp.

Cover letter questions