Use This Cover Letter Template to Get an Interview!
Download a free template
Over 1.8 million professionals use CFI to learn accounting, financial analysis, modeling and more. Start with a free account to explore 20+ always-free courses and hundreds of finance templates and cheat sheets.
Cover Letter Template for a Job Application
A cover letter can make or break a job application so it’s critical to get it right. Whether your letter is being read by HR or the hiring manager directly, there are several important boxes you must tick. This guide provides a free cover letter template and explanation of what you need to know to have the best shot at being selected for an interview.
The cover letter template below is designed to be customized with your own personal information and submitted with your resume to an employer.
How to Use this Cover Letter Template
This cover letter template was designed to help make your application process as smooth as possible.
You can simply follow the steps below to make the most of this guide:
- Copy the cover letter template below and paste it into a Word Doc, Google Doc, or email
- Change all of the personal information at the top to be your own
- Edit and customize the paragraphs so they include your work experience, skills, and other points you want to highlight
- Ensure the formatting looks good and that the font matches your resume
- Proofread, spellcheck, and grammar check multiple times
- Send the cover letter along with your resume to the employer (and consider a cover email as well)
Cover Letter Template
[Your Name]
[Your Street Address]
[Your City, State/Province, Country]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]
[Optional: Your LinkedIn Profile]
[Today’s Date]
[Employer Contact Name]
[Employer Title]
[Employer Company Name]
Dear [Employer Contact Name],
[First paragraph: A short 3-4 line introduction. The first sentence should entice the reader and explain why you want to work for the company. The rest of the paragraph should briefly outline how you will use your skills towards tasks mentioned in the job description.]
[Second paragraph: The body of your cover letter. Pick one or two tasks described in the job description. Detail how your hard skills gained from previous experiences will help you excel at these tasks in your new position.]
[Third Paragraph: Pick one or two soft skills mentioned in the job description and show how you fit these skills using one of your experiences. This paragraph is to demonstrate why you are a good fit for the company and why they would need you. Focus on the company, not yourself.]
[Fourth Paragraph: The conclusion to your letter. The first sentence should relate to your introduction and tie it all together. Thank the employer for their time and consideration, and state that you are looking forward to hearing from them soon.]
Sincerely,
[Image of Signature]
[Your Name]
Download Cover Letter Template #1
Thank you for reading this CFI guide – please download the cover letter template from this article and use it however you see fit!
Download the Free Template
Enter your name and email in the form below and download the free template now!
Additional Cover Letter Templates to Download
The above example is extremely clean and simple. If you’re looking for something with a little more flair, check out these additional templates that you can download as well. A word of caution: using a highly stylish letter may work well in some industries (marketing, social media), but not in more traditional industries (investment banking, law, accounting).
Template #2
Download the Line Cover Letter Template.
Download the Free Template
Enter your name and email in the form below and download the free template now!
Template #3
Download the Creative Cover Letter template.
Download the Free Template
Enter your name and email in the form below and download the free template now!
How to Send the Cover Letter & Resume
Once you’ve completed all of the above steps (copied and pasted the cover letter template, added your own personal information, etc.), then it’s time so send it to the employer.
There are several ways to submit your letter and resume:
- Email (as an attachment)
- Company website (upload)
- Job posting website (upload)
- Via a friend or someone you know at the company (best option!)
Document Formats for your Cover Letter Template
You can create the letter in a variety of formats including:
- Microsoft Word Document
- Google Doc
- PDF (most recommended option!)
Video Cover Letters
This guide has focused on a traditional approach to cover letters, which is a written document. This is by far the safest approach and what is recommended for most industries.
Alternative methods are gaining popularity, including making a video cover letter. Video cover letters are higher risk but also have a higher ability to really wow the company you’re submitting it to.
Read about video interviews, which are becoming popular as well!
The Best Cover Letter Ever
If you want some more tips on how to write the best cover letter ever, how about referencing the world-famous university, Harvard.
Read this post from the Harvard Business Review about the best cover letter ever received.
Additional Resources
Thank you for reading CFI’s guide to a cover letter template. To help you advance your career, CFI has created these additional, helpful resources:
