Professional cover letter examples by industry and job title
If you’re looking for good cover letter examples, you’ve come to the right place. Choose from a broad range of industries, job titles and experience levels to find the appropriate cover letter example for your role. Study it to learn exactly how to craft your own.
Accounting cover letter examples
If you enjoy crunching numbers and reading spreadsheets, you can count on our cover letter examples for accounting jobs to help you prepare for your job application.
Administration cover letter samples
Peruse these good cover letter examples to find inspiration for writing a standout letter that will help you land a job in the administration industry.
Architecture cover letter examples
Whether you’re an entry-level drafter or an experienced architect, use our cover letter examples to impress your next employer and build your career.
Banking cover letter examples
Whether you are looking for cover letter examples for an internship or a senior-level position, our examples will help you write a cover letter that can get you hired.
Child care cover letter samples
From babysitting to running a day care, you will find the inspiration you need in our child care cover letter examples.
Customer service cover letter examples
Whether you are a seasoned professional or just starting, you can rely on our cover letter examples for a job in customer service.
Education cover letter samples
Our education samples include some of the best cover letter examples for teachers, from elementary school to graduate level.
Engineering cover letter examples
Our professional cover letter examples for engineers are perfectly designed to help you write a job-winning document for your next engineering role.
Entertainment Cover Letter Example
Whether you’re an actor or a DJ, a good cover letter will help you take your act to the main stage. Study our entertainment cover letter examples and learn how to get noticed.
Film cover letter samples
A good cover letter example tells a story. Study these film cover letter samples to learn how to put the spotlight on your skills and experience.
Food service cover letter samples
The key to landing an excellent food service job is to serve up your skills and experience on a silver platter. Study these cover letter examples to learn how.
Health care support cover letter examples
A strong cover letter gives you a competitive advantage over similarly qualified candidates. Gather some writing ideas from our great cover letter examples for health care roles.
Hospitality cover letter examples
A good cover letter is critical to landing a role in this competitive field. Study our hospitality cover letter examples for a better shot at getting a recruiter’s attention.
Human resources Cover Letter Example
Our HR cover letter samples show you what a professional cover letter should look like for a job in human resources. Study them to learn how to write your own.
Information technology cover letter samples
Everyone from directors to desk workers will find value in these professional IT cover letter examples. Read them to learn how to write your own.
Law enforcement Cover Letter Example
Even seasoned professionals will learn something new from our library of cover letter examples for a job in law enforcement.
Law cover letter samples
The verdict is in — a strong cover letter is critical to landing a job in the field of law. Study our cover letter examples for a job as an attorney, legal assistant or lawyer.
Maintenance cover letter examples
To land your next big role, you must write a clean maintenance cover letter. Our cover letter examples will show you how to write a document that stands out from the pack.
Marketing cover letter examples
Our cover letter examples for marketing professionals show you how to articulate your interpersonal skills, media placement strategies and project management know-how.
Medical cover letter samples
Perform a checkup on your job search with a strong professional cover letter. Let our medical cover letter examples show you how.
Nursing cover letter examples
Our nursing cover letter examples show you how to give your cover letter a proper checkup. Study them to learn how to write a letter that will get you noticed by hiring managers.
Real estate cover letter samples
You know how to sell houses — now it’s time to sell yourself. Get ideas for writing your application letter from our library of real estate cover letter examples.
Retail cover letter examples
A stellar application letter can give you the edge over the competition. Our cover letter examples for retail jobs will get you started.
Safety and security cover letter examples
Enjoy good cover letter examples for safety positions to help secure your next post. See how to get noticed for your research skills, competency with equipment and ability to work in a team.
Sales cover letter samples
Whether you sell advertising or products, you must sell yourself in your cover letter. Check out our job application letter samples for work in sales.
The 6 parts of a cover letter
A cover letter should contain six sections — the header, a greeting, an opening paragraph, body paragraphs, a closing statement and a professional signoff.
All good cover letter examples contain these critical sections:
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6 cover letter examples for unique job situations
So far, we’ve focused on standard cover letters, but some circumstances call for variations on the classic application letter. Below, we outline some common scenarios job seekers face and provide cover letter examples that show how to explain them.
Recent graduate
If you’re about to graduate high school or college, your cover letter should focus on how your education, extracurriculars, side projects and part-time jobs make you a good fit for the role. A great cover letter example can lay this out for you.
Changing careers
When changing job titles or industries, it’s critical to highlight relevant transferable skills and back them up with samples of how you can apply them to your new job. Keep your eyes open for employment cover letter examples that show how to highlight those skills and experiences effectively.
Returning to work after an absence
A cover letter is a perfect place to explain why you’ve been away from the workforce. While it’s not imperative, you can highlight your reason for stepping away in just a couple of sentences — whether you were taking care of family or tending to a health issue. We have good cover letter examples to guide you.
Recently laid off/unemployed
With an ongoing pandemic, every candidate pool will have job seekers who’ve been unemployed. Use your cover letter to explain, in just a few words, why you lost your job. Honesty is key — there’s no reason to be ashamed of a job loss. Our job application letter sample is here to guide you through writing your cover letter.
When you have a referral
If you have a referral, you already have a head start. As long as you are certain the referral is responsible and highly valued by the company, you should mention the mutual connection in the opening of your cover letter. This sample cover letter for a job application with a referral will show you the way.
Job-hopping
Switching between jobs frequently is a red flag to some employers. Get ahead of their concerns by explaining why you left previous jobs by referring to a cover letter example for job-hopping. Remember: Be honest and don’t speak negatively about your previous employers.
Pro tip:Adding a personal touch to your cover letter is a must. Use a tone and language that’s true to you while remaining completely professional.
5 tips for crafting a great cover letter
Unless you’re a professional writer, putting together a great cover letter can seem challenging, but it’s more straightforward than you think. Here are five tips to help you write a convincing cover letter: .
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Professionally greet the hiring manager.
First impressions are important. Do all you can to find the name of the person reading your letter. Don’t be afraid to ask the company for the name of the person who will review your application documents if you can’t find it online. Then, start with “Dear [insert name here].” If you can’t find it, “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear HR Team” will suffice.
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Use bullet points effectively.
Employers rarely have the time to read cover letters word for word, so you should make your document easily scannable with a bullet-point list of key accomplishments. The most logical place to do this would be the body of your cover letter, where you make your sales pitch.
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Explain how you would help the company.
You’re trying to make the case that the company would be better off hiring you. The best way to do that? Tell them. Tout your most relevant achievement near the start of the letter to make the hiring manager feel they must interview you.
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Be concise when describing your experience.
With hiring managers so short on time, a cover letter with too much detail could bog them down or worse — lead them to reject the application. Tighten every sentence to keep only the most relevant facts about your skills and experience.
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Use a professional template.
Give your application a professional sheen with a well-designed cover letter template. There are free templates, including some you can download in Google Docs, and premium versions for a more deluxe design. Also, make sure you choose a matching resume template so that your design is consistent.
Hungry for more? See our detailed cover letter writing guide for additional advice on creating a standout application.
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7 benefits of using a sample cover letter for a job application
Good cover letter examples can help job candidates:
- Pick the best cover letter template for their job and industry.
- Ensure that their letter adheres to accepted standards.
- Choose the appropriate cover letter format.
- Decide what information to use and leave out.
- Set the proper tone for their cover letters.
- Pick the best keywords for their cover letters.
- Find the best words to express their experience and interest.
Pro tip:Research pays off! Make sure you look into a company’s mission statement and core values so you can explain how your skills and experience are a good match.
Cover letter examples FAQ
A good cover letter shouldn’t be long and complicated. The best cover letters are simple and to the point. Use your cover letter to introduce yourself to the hiring manager and outline the skills and qualifications that make you the right fit for the position. Study our professional cover letter examples for the job title you seek to learn how to craft a letter that will get you noticed.
A strong cover letter outlines the work experience and hard and soft skills that make you unique. Concentrate on highlighting the ones that relate directly to the role you seek. Be succinct — many recruiters read dozens of cover letters for every open role. Keeping the contents of your letter on point and relevant will improve your chances of landing a job interview.
Additionally, your cover letter should not simply repeat what’s in your resume. When you write your resume, you’ll have a strong objective statement that lays out your career goals. Your cover letter should expand on those points, not repeat them.
Speaking of your resume, use resume examples to make sure your document is properly formatted. A poorly-constructed resume will get your application tossed in the dust bin before anyone sees your cover letter.
The same goes for a curriculum vitae (CV). To be safe, make your CV with a builder where you can choose from professional templates and review dozens of examples to ensure your CV is high-quality and a good complement to your cover letter.
While there is no magic opening line for a cover letter, the opening paragraph should introduce you as a candidate and express your interest and enthusiasm for the role. Keep the opening lines of your cover letter professional and refrain from being overly casual or familiar. Our cover letter examples show you how to write a strong opening for your cover letter
The three main parts of a cover letter are the introduction, body and conclusion. Here’s what each part should include:
Introduction: A proper introduction will begin with a greeting for a specific person (like the hiring manager), followed by a statement about who you are and the position you’re interested in.
Body: This is the core of your cover letter. In two or three paragraphs, explain why you’d be a great candidate for the role. Be sure to highlight your relevant skills and any quantifiable metrics that prove you were successful in previous roles.
Conclusion: End a cover letter with a short paragraph thanking the hiring manager and welcoming an opportunity to interview. Then, after a space, insert a salutation, such as “Regards” or “Sincerely,” followed by your name.
Cover letter resources
Check out our library of free articles to learn how to make your cover letter even better.
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