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COVER LETTER

How to Use a Cover Letter Template

How to replace a template's generic paragraphs with three short ones that are actually about the job, and how to keep it under a page.

In this guide
  • Choose the right template
  • Rewrite the opening
  • Use one or two proof points
  • Keep it concise
  • Proofread names and details

1. Pick the structure that fits your situation

A simple or professional template works for most jobs. Entry-level and internship versions can give more weight to projects and transferable skills. Career-change templates help you explain why your previous experience is relevant to a new field.

2. Rewrite the opening every time

Name the role and explain why the opportunity makes sense for you. Avoid opening with a paragraph that could be sent unchanged to fifty companies.

3. Use one or two examples as proof

The middle of the letter should support your fit with evidence. Pick an achievement, project, responsibility, or result that connects to something the employer actually needs.

4. Do not repeat your resume line by line

The cover letter should add context. Explain a connection, motivation, transition, or particularly relevant achievement rather than copying bullet points into paragraphs.

Good target: three or four short paragraphs that comfortably fit on one page and can be understood in a quick skim.

5. Check company and role details before sending

Wrong company names are easy to miss when you reuse a file. Search the document for the previous employer name, confirm the role title, and review the greeting and closing before export.

Browse the 8 free cover letter templates →

Templates and matching resumes

Start from a letter that matches your resume: the Simple, Professional, Modern or ATS-Friendly Cover Letter, all under cover letter templates. Two are fully written: the Financial Analyst Cover Letter and Graphic Designer Cover Letter. Career changers should pair this with the Career Change Resume.

Related resources: Try the guidance on this professional cover letter layout, use Google Docs cover letter templates for comparison, and follow the free resume-building guide when you are ready to continue.
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Go back to the tutorial library for ATS, Google Docs formatting, PDF export, cover letters, and resume tailoring.

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