cover letter letter of application examples

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How to Write an Application Letter—Examples & Guide

I had an interview yesterday and the first thing they said on the phone was: “Wow! I love your cover letter.” Patrick I love the variety of templates. Good job guys, keep up the good work! Dylan  My previous cover letter was really weak and I used to spend hours adjusting it in Word. Now, I can introduce any changes within minutes. Absolutely wonderful! George

What Is a Letter of Application?

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240 + Cover Letter Examples for 2024

A cover letter is necessary for convincing hiring managers why they should hire you. Our cover letter examples are easy to customize so you can boost your application and land the job.

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12 popular 
cover letter examples

Our top cover letter examples are customized for various roles and career scenarios. From career changes to internships, discover tailored samples that address your specific needs.

Stand out from the resume pile! This cover letter for a resume tells your story, sparks interest and proves you're the perfect fit. Tailor it, quantify your impact and land that interview!

Changing career paths? Show employers why you’re the fresh perspective they need with a cover letter that shows passion, transferable skills and quantifiable achievements.

Fresh grad, fresh start! Showcase your motivation, highlight relevant education and quantify campus wins to prove you're ready to learn and grow. Land that dream job!

Ace your first job with this entry-level cover letter example! Share accomplishments from projects or volunteering and demonstrate your eagerness to learn.

Shine with a cover letter for an internship highlighting relevant skills and showing your genuine interest in a company. Skills and culture fit are equally important!

Crunch the data, not words! Focus on impactful metrics, clear insights and data-driven solutions with this sample cover letter.

Show your worth as a seasoned pro! Showcase quantifiable impact, proven leadership and relevant achievements. Tailor this cover letter to their challenges and show a strategic vision.

Showcase your publications, grant experience and pedagogical approaches. Tailor this sample of a cover letter to the department's research focus and show your collaborative spirit.

Passion meets purpose in this cover letter example! Showcase impactful community work, relevant skills and dedication to the cause with a cover letter for a job in a non-profit.

No experience, no problem! Use this cover letter sample to convince employers that a lack of formal work experience can’t stump your motivation, skills and subject-matter expertise.

Apply quickly to that dream role with this short cover letter example. No need to drag your letter on. Showcase your most relevant achievements in a concise paragraph.

Showcase those unique skills and qualities that make you stand out as a creative. This cover letter sample focuses on your technical skills and out-of-the-box thinking.

Job-specific cover letters

Browse our library of cover letter examples listed by job title and categorized by industry.

SEARCH BY JOB TITLE

Accounting & Finance Cover Letter Examples

Study our accounting and finance cover letter samples for your job application to multiply your chances of success. See how other candidates describe their math skills, tax code knowledge and education to earn these roles.

Accounting and Finance

Junior Accountant

Payroll Accountant

Administrative Cover Letter Examples

A cover letter demonstrates your organization and communication skills before you step into the office. These administrative letter examples will help you get ready to write. Use our cover letter examples for the job you desire.

Administrative

Administrative Assistant

Data Entry Clerk

Receptionist

Business Cover Letter Examples

Here are good cover letter examples for business roles. They’ll help you see the selling points your job competition uses to frame their experience.

Business Analyst

General Manager

Operations Manager

Construction Cover Letter Examples

We’ve got example cover letters that you can use as blueprints for your solid introduction. Get inspired and learn how other job seekers are framing their skills with a cover letter for a job application in the construction field.

Construction

Construction Supervisor

General Contractor

Site Supervisor

Customer Service Cover Letter Examples

Writing a cover letter is a breeze if you’ve got the patience and communication skills required for customer service roles. Just stick to the script! Write a great letter using our cover letter examples to guide you.

Call Center Representative

Customer Service

Customer Service Manager

Service Representative

Education Cover Letter Examples

A good cover letter example can show you what to say to get hired. Study our education cover letter examples below. They’ll help you brainstorm and craft a cover letter worthy of a gold star.

Assistant Teacher

School Principal

Fire Fighting Cover Letter Examples

Our firefighting example cover letters provide you with good ideas for how you can tell your own career story.

Fire Inspector

Firefighter

Firefighting

Healthcare Cover Letter Examples

Give your job search the booster shot it needs: a cover letter that demands attention. Our cover letter samples will help you write a letter that impresses hiring managers and land an interview.

Assisted Living Manager

Medical Office Assistant

Speech Therapist

Hotel & Hospitality Cover Letter Examples

Our cover letters are at your service! Check out our collection of hospitality cover letter samples below. They’re full of great ideas for describing your passion for hospitality, guest satisfaction and great service.

Hotel and Hospitality

Hotel Concierge

Hotel Manager

Hotel Receptionist

Human Resources Cover Letter Examples

HR is often responsible for hiring at many companies, so your cover letter should be top-notch. Review our cover letter samples for HR positions. See how others describe their skills in hiring, managing and developing talent within a company.

Compensation and Benefits

Corporate Recruiter

HR Coordinator

Human Resources

Information Technology Cover Letter Examples

Nearly every modern business needs technical support. Get insight into how others sell their tech skills. Take advantage of our great cover letter examples to help land your desired IT job.

Computer Technician

Data Coordinator

Information Technology

IT Service Manager

Janitorial Cover Letter Examples

Spruce up your cover letter to score a new job with our maintenance and janitorial example cover letters below. They’ll help you craft a letter that shows employers you’ll keep their workplaces up and running.

Housekeeper

Marketing Cover Letter Examples

If your resume is your personal branding statement, your cover letter is the sales pitch to get hired. Hone your message for marketing and advertising positions by reviewing cover letter examples here.

Account Manager

Brand Manager

Medical Cover Letter Examples

Our cover letter samples for medical professionals will show hiring managers you’ve got the necessary skills, schooling and work experience to succeed. We’ve got examples from every medical specialty.

Anesthesiologist

Phlebotomist

Ultrasound Technician

Nursing Cover Letter Examples

Our cover letter samples for nursing emphasize the importance of having a good balance of hard and soft skills necessary in this field of work.

New Grad Nurse

Nurse Manager

Registered Nurse

Retail Cover Letter Examples

Earn a new job in retail with a stellar cover letter. See how our cover example letters for retail jobs demonstrate the full range of skills needed in the industry.

Retail Merchandiser

Retail Sales Associate

Retail Supervisor

Sales Cover Letter Examples

Sell your future employer on hiring you with a professional cover letter. Browse through our sales cover letter samples for one matching your desired role.

Automotive Salesperson

Sales Account Executive

Sales Representative

Safety & Security Cover Letter Examples

Secure a job by submitting a great cover letter. Check out some top-notch security cover letter samples to see how to sell your experience to employers best.

Director of Security

Safety and Security

Security Guard

Transportation Cover Letter Examples

A cover letter is a vehicle to accelerate your job hunt. Look at our transportation application letter examples for ideas on impressing hiring managers. They’ll help you arrive at your next job.

Fleet Manager

Freight Associate

Transportation

Transportation Manager

How to write a cover letter

Every cover letter must include the following sections in this sample cover letter. Use this cover letter infographic to get a general idea of how to write a cover letter .

Ensure you choose a template that conveys professionalism and has the appropriate cover letter format — especially on the letterhead. Our cover letter templates are pre-formatted, so all you have to do is input your information.

Share your contact information at the top and include a letterhead with the date, recipient’s details, and address.

Introduce yourself to the hiring manager and state your interest in the job. Mention a relevant qualification or achievement that instantly grabs the reader’s attention.

In one or two paragraphs, share a story about your special skill set, impressive achievements or goals within the role.

In your closing paragraph, summarize your qualifications and share your interest in a job interview.

Don’t have time to write your cover letter from scratch? Try our Cover Letter Builder ! By just answering a few simple questions, our builder generated a personalized cover letter in mere minutes.

How important is a cover letter?

It depends! In many cases, a well-written cover letter can be the element that shows you go the extra mile, which can set you apart from other applicants. Writing a cover letter allows you to personalize your application, showcase your passion, and demonstrate how your skills perfectly align with the job. While some companies might not explicitly require them, submitting a strong cover letter always puts you in a better position.

What makes a great cover letter?

A great cover letter is like a short story about how you are a perfect match for the role.

Qualities of a great cover letter are:

Personal: You should address the reader by name and tailor the content to the specific role and company.

Concise: Keep it one page long, max. Recruiters are busy, so get to the point quickly and highlight your most relevant skills.

Compelling: Show, don’t tell! Use examples and achievements to demonstrate your value and impact.

Proofread: Typos and grammatical errors create a bad impression. Double-check everything before hitting submit.

Who writes these cover letter examples?

Our cover letter examples are written by career experts who ensure the content is well-written and showcases the natural career progression and accomplishments of someone in a specific role.

Customizing these cover letter samples is as easy as inputting your unique skills and specific, quantifiable achievements .

In addition, every cover letter we feature has been thoroughly vetted and approved by a professional resume and cover letter writer (CPRW).

This seal of approval means you’re getting a professional cover letter sample full of the most in-demand skills and relevant qualifications for your job.

How do I write a simple cover letter?

If you want to write a short and simple cover letter, follow this structure:

Introduction: Greet the reader, mention the job you’re applying for, and express your enthusiasm.

Body Paragraph: Highlight one to two key skills or experiences relevant to the role, using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to showcase your impact.

Conclusion: Briefly reiterate your interest and qualifications, express your call to action (e.g., interview request), and thank the reader for their time.

How do I write a cover letter for an internship?

When writing a cover letter for an internship, focus on transferable skills like teamwork, communication and eagerness to learn. Highlight any academic achievements or relevant volunteer work. A great way to show you’re a good culture fit is by researching the company and mentioning specific projects or initiatives you’re interested in contributing.

Why is it important to tailor my cover letter to each job?

A generic cover letter can be worse than no cover letter at all. For a cover letter to be effective (and not a waste of the recruiter’s time), it must show you possess the specific skill set, qualifications and experience the role requires. Tailoring your cover letter can be as simple as mentioning relevant keywords from the job description and demonstrating how your skills and experiences will contribute to better results for the company.

Should I mention salary expectations in a cover letter?

Generally, no. Salary negotiations usually happen later in the process. Focusing on your values and qualifications is more effective at this stage. However, if a job expressly requests you provide your salary expectations, follow these tips for putting your salary in a resume or cover letter.

How do I address the reader of my cover letter?

If the contact person’s name is listed, use it. However, you may not always find your letter’s recipient’s name. If you must address a cover letter without a name , “Dear Hiring Manager” is always safe. Avoid generic salutations like “To Whom It May Concern.”

How long should my cover letter be?

Ideally, your cover letter should be one page long, around 300-400 words. Keep it concise and impactful, but include the details that make you stand out..

See more on our FAQ Page

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How to Write a Cover Letter in 2024 + Examples

After weeks of heavy job search, you’re almost there!

You’ve perfected your resume. 

You’ve short-listed the coolest jobs you want to apply for.

You’ve even had a friend train you for every single interview question out there.

But then, before you can send your application and call it a day, you remember that the job ad requires a cover letter.

Now you’re stuck wondering how to write a cover letter ...

Don’t panic! We’ve got you covered. Writing a cover letter is a lot simpler than you might think. 

In this guide, we’re going to teach you how to write a cover letter that gets you the job you deserve.

• What’s a cover letter & why it’s important for your job search
• How to write a convincing cover letter that gets you the job (step-by-step!)
• How to perfect your cover letter with the Novoresume free checklist
• What excellent cover letter examples look like

New to cover letter writing? Give our resumes 101 video a watch before diving into the article!

So, let’s get started with the basics!

What is a Cover Letter? (and Why It’s Important)

A cover letter is a one-page document that you submit as part of your job application (alongside your CV or Resume). 

Its purpose is to introduce you and briefly summarize your professional background. On average, your cover letter should be from 250 to 400 words long .

A good cover letter can spark the HR manager’s interest and get them to read your resume. 

A bad cover letter, on the other hand, might mean that your application is going directly to the paper shredder. So, to make sure this doesn’t happen, it’s essential to know how to write a convincing cover letter.

How does a good cover letter look, you might ask. Well, here’s an example:

Keep in mind, though, that a cover letter is a supplement to your resume, not a replacement. Meaning, you don’t just repeat whatever is mentioned in your resume.

If you’re writing a cover letter for the first time, writing all this might seem pretty tough. After all, you’re probably not a professional writer.

The thing is, though, you don’t need to be creative, or even any good at writing. All you have to do is follow a tried-and-tested format:

• Header - Input contact information
• Greeting the hiring manager
• Opening paragraph - Grab the reader’s attention with 2-3 of your top achievements
• Second paragraph - Explain why you’re the perfect candidate for the job
• Third paragraph - Explain why you’re a good match for the company
• Formal closing

Or, here’s what this looks like in practice:

How to Write the Perfect Cover Letter (And Get Hired!)

Now that we’ve got the basics out of the way, we’re going to guide you through the process of writing a cover letter step by step. 

Step #1 - Pick the Right Cover Letter Template

A good cover letter is all about leaving the right first impression.

So, what’s a better way to leave a good impression than a well-formatted, visual template?

You can simply pick one of our hand-picked cover letter templates , and you’ll be all set in a jiffy!

As a bonus, our AI will even give you suggestions on how to improve your cover letter on the go.

Step #2 - Start the Cover Letter with a Header

As with a resume, it’s important to start your cover letter with a Contact Information section:

Here, you want to include all essential information, including:

• Phone Number
• Name of the hiring manager / their professional title
• Name of the company you’re applying to

In certain cases, you might also consider adding:

• Social Media Profiles - Any type of profile that’s relevant to your field. Social Profiles on websites like LinkedIn, GitHub (for developers), Medium (for writers), etc.
• Personal Website - If you have a personal website that somehow adds value to your application, you can mention it. Let’s say you’re a professional writer. In that case, you’d want to link to your blog.

And here’s what you shouldn’t mention in your header:

• Your Full Address 
• Unprofessional Email - Make sure your email is presentable. It’s pretty hard for a hiring manager to take you seriously if your email address is “[email protected].” Whenever applying for jobs, stick to the “[first name] + [last name] @ email provider.com” format.

Step #3 - Greet the Hiring Manager

Once you’ve properly listed your contact information, you need to start writing the cover letter contents.

The first thing to do here is to address the cover letter to the hiring manager .

That’s right, the hiring manager! Not the overly popular “Dear Sir or Madam.” You want to show your future boss that you did your research and are really passionate about working with their team.

No one wants to hire a job seeker who just spams 20+ companies and hopes to get hired in any of them.

So, how do you find out who’s the hiring manager? There are several ways to do this. 

The simplest option is to look up the head of the relevant department on LinkedIn. Let’s say you’re applying for the position of a Communication Specialist at Novoresume. The hiring manager is probably Head of Communications or Chief Communications Office.

So, you do a quick lookup on LinkedIn:

And voila! You have your hiring manager.

Or let’s say you’re applying for the position of a server. In that case, you’d be looking for the “restaurant manager.”

If this doesn’t work, you can also check out the “Team” page on the company website; there’s a good chance you’ll at least find the right person there.

Here are several other greetings you could use:

• Dear [Department] Hiring Manager
• Dear Hiring Manager
• To whom it may concern
• Dear [Department] Team

Step #4 - Write an Attention-Grabbing Introduction

First impressions matter, especially when it comes to your job search.

Recruiters get hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of applications. Chances are, they’re not going to be reading every single cover letter end-to-end.

So, it’s essential to catch their attention from the very first paragraph .

The #1 problem we see with most cover letter opening paragraphs is that they’re usually extremely generic. Most of them look something like this..

• Hey, my name is Jonathan and I’d like to work as a Sales Manager at XYZ Inc. I’ve worked as a sales manager at MadeUpCompany Inc. for 5+ years, so I believe that I’d be a good fit for the position.

See the issue here? This opening paragraph doesn’t say pretty much anything except the fact that you’ve worked the job before.

Do you know who else has similar work experience? All the other applicants you’re competing with.

Instead, you want to start off with 2-3 of your top achievements to really grab the reader’s attention. Preferably, the achievements should be as relevant as possible to the position.

So now, let’s make our previous example shine:

My name’s Michael and I’d like to help XYZ Inc. hit and exceed their sales goals as a Sales Manager. I’ve worked with Company X, a fin-tech company, for 3+ years. As a Sales Representative, I generated an average of $30,000+ in sales per month (beating the KPIs by around 40%). I believe that my previous industry experience, as well as excellence in sales, makes me the right candidate for the job.

See the difference between the two examples? If you were the hiring manager, which sales manager would you hire, Jonathan or Michael?

Now that we’ve covered the introduction, let’s talk about the body of your cover letter. This part is split into two paragraphs: the first is for explaining why you’re the perfect person for the job, and the latter is for proving that you’re a good fit for the company.

So, let’s get started...

Step #5 - Explain why you’re the perfect person for the job

This is where you show off your professional skills and convince the HR manager that you’re a better fit for the job than all the other applicants.

But first things first - before you even write anything, you need to learn what the most important requirements for the role are. So, open up the job ad and identify which of the responsibilities are the most critical.

For the sake of the example, let’s say you’re applying for the position of a Facebook Advertiser. You scan the job ad and see that the top requirements are:

• Experience managing a Facebook ad budget of $10,000+ / month
• Some skills in advertising on other platforms (Google Search + Twitter)
• Excellent copywriting skills

Now, in this section, you need to discuss how you fulfill these requirements. So, here’s how that would look for our example:

In my previous role as a Facebook Marketing Expert at XYZ Inc. I handled customer acquisition through ads, managing a monthly Facebook ad budget of $20,000+ . As the sole digital marketer at the company, I managed the ad creation & management process end-to-end. Meaning, I created the ad copy , images, picked the targeting, ran optimization trials, and so on.

Other than Facebook advertising, I’ve also delved into other online PPC channels, including:

• Google Search

Are you a student applying for your first internship? You probably don’t have a lot of work experience to show off in this section. Learn how to write an internship cover letter here.

Step #6 - Explain why you’re a good fit for the company

Once you’ve written the last paragraph, you might be thinking - I’m a shoo-in for the job! What else do I need to write? I’ll just wrap up the cover letter and hit that sweet SEND button.

Well, no. You’re not quite there yet.

The HR manager doesn’t only look at whether you’ll be good at the job or not. They’re looking for someone that’s also a good fit for the company culture.

After all, employees that don’t fit in are bound to quit, sooner or later. This ends up costing the company a ton of money, up to 50% of the employee’s annual salary . 

Meaning, you also need to convince the HR manager that you’re really passionate about working with them.

How do you do this? Well, as a start, you want to do some research about the company. You want to know things like:

• What’s the company’s business model?
• What’s the company product or service? Have you used it?
• What’s the culture like? Will someone micro-manage your work, or will you have autonomy on how you get things done?

So, get to Googling. Chances are, you’ll find all the information you need either on the company website or somewhere around the web.

Then, you need to figure out what you like about the company and turn that into text.

Let’s say, for example, you’re passionate about their product and you like the culture of innovation / independent work in the organization.

You’d write something like:

I’ve personally used the XYZ Smartphone, and I believe that it’s the most innovative tech I’ve used in years. The features such as Made-Up-Feature #1 and Made-Up-Feature #2 were real game changers for the device. 

I really admire how Company XYZ thrives for excellence for all its product lines, creating market-leading tech. As someone that thrives in a self-driven environment, I truly believe that I and Company XYZ will be a great match.

What you don’t want to do here is be super generic for the sake of having something to write. Most job seekers tend to mess this one up. Let’s take a look at a very common example we tend to see (way too often):

I’d love to work for Company XYZ because of its culture of innovation. I believe that since I’m super creative, I’d be a good fit for the company. The company values of integrity and transparency really vibe with me.

See what’s wrong here? The example doesn’t really say anything about the company. “Culture of Innovation” is something most companies claim to have. 

The same goes for “values of integrity and transparency” - the writer just googled what the values for the organization are, and said that they like them.

Any hiring manager that reads this will see through the fluff.

So, make sure to do a lot of research and come up with good reasons why you're applying.

Step #7 - Wrap up with a call to action

Finally, it’s time to finish up your cover letter and write the conclusion.

In the final paragraph, you want to:

• Wrap up any points you couldn't in the previous paragraphs. Do you have anything left to say? Any other information that could help the hiring manager make their decision? Mention it here.
• Thank the hiring manager for their time. It never hurts to be courteous, as long as you don’t come off as too needy.
• Finish the cover letter with a call to action. The very last sentence in your cover letter should be a call to action. You should ask the hiring manager to take some sort of action.

And now, let’s turn this into a practical example:

So to wrap it all up, thanks for looking into my application. I hope I can help Company X make the most out of their Facebook marketing initiatives. I'd love to further discuss how my previous success at XYZ Inc. can help you achieve your facebook marketing goals.

Step #8 - Use the right formal closing

Once you’re done with the final paragraph, all you have to do is write down a formal “goodbye” and you’re good to go.

Feel free to use one of the most popular conclusions to a cover letter:

• Best Regards,
• Kind Regards,

And we’re finally done! Before sending off the cover letter, make sure to proofread it with software like Grammarly, or maybe even get a friend to review it for you.

Does your cover letter heading include all essential information?

• Professional email
• Relevant Social Media Profiles

Do you address the right person? I.e. hiring manager in the company / your future direct supervisor

Does your introductory paragraph grab the reader's attention?

• Did you mention 2-3 of your top achievements?
• Did you use numbers and facts to back up your experience?

Do you successfully convey that you’re the right pro for the job?

• Did you identify the core requirements?
• Did you successfully convey how your experiences help you fit the requirements perfectly?

Do you convince the hiring manager that you’re passionate about the company you’re applying to?

• Did you identify the top 3 things that you like about the company?
• Did you avoid generic reasons for explaining your interest in the company?

Did you finalize the conclusion with a call to action?

Did you use the right formal closure for the cover letter?

5+ Cover Letter Examples

Need some inspiration? Read on to learn about some of the best cover letter examples we’ve seen (for different fields).

College Student Cover Letter Example

Middle Management Cover Letter Example

Career Change Cover Letter Example

Management Cover Letter Example

Senior Executive Cover Letter Example

Want to discover more examples AND learn what makes them stand out? Check out our guide to cover letter examples .

Next Steps in Your Job Search - Creating a Killer Resume

Your cover letter is only as good as your resume. If either one is weak, your entire application is for naught. 

After all, a cover letter is just an introduction. Imagine going through all this effort to leave an amazing first impression, but flopping at the end because of a mediocre resume.

...But don’t you worry, we’ve got you covered on that end, too.

If you want to learn more about Resumes & CVs, we have a dedicated FREE guide for that. Check out our complete guide on how to make a resume , as well as how to write a CV - our experts will teach you everything you need to know in order to land your dream job.

Or, if you’re already an expert, just pick one of our resume templates and get started.

Key Takeaways

Now that we’ve walked you through all the steps of writing a cover letter, let’s summarize everything we’ve learned:

• A cover letter is a 250 - 400 word document that convinces the hiring manager of your competence
• A cover letter goes in your job application alongside your resume
• Your introduction to the cover letter should grab the hiring manager’s attention and keep it all the way until the conclusion
• There are 2 main topics you need to include in your cover letter: why you’re the perfect candidate for the job & why you’re passionate about working in the company you’re applying to
• Most of the content of your cover letter should be factual , without any fluff or generalizations

At Novorésumé, we’re committed to helping you get the job you deserve, every step of the way! Follow our blog to stay up to date with the industry-leading advice. Or, check out some of our top guides…

• How to Write a Motivational Letter
• How to Write a Resume with No Work Experience
• Most Common Interview Questions and Answers

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