Cover Letter Examples for All Job Seekers in 2021
Create a first-class cover letter that gets you the job interview you want, using cover letter samples for over 500 jobs, written and designed by our experts. Each example is unique and can be used to create a cover letter that perfectly complements your resume, making a compelling case for you as a job candidate.
What is a cover letter and why do you need one?
Your cover letter serves as an introduction to potential employers (always accompanying your resume), and should achieve these aims:
Inform the employer of the job you’re interested in.
Highlight key skills and achievements from your background.
Explain why you believe you’re the right person for the job.
A cover letter is a “sales pitch” in which you quickly introduce yourself to the employer, and provide details about your top strengths and accomplishments. It also gives employers a better sense of your personality, attitude and how well you fit with the company.
How to use our cover letter examples
All our cover letter samples have the following six key elements — make sure yours does, too, and use our prewritten text in each example as a guide for how to write your letter.
- Contact information: List your phone number and professional email address.
- Employer’s contact information: Include the physical address, phone number and email address.
- Salutation: Address the letter to a specific person, such as the hiring manager.
- Opening: Start off by mentioning a notable, relevant accomplishment.
- Body: Elaborate on your best skills and qualifications, and how you will be a great asset to the company.
- Closing: Summarizing your strengths, reiterate your interest in the job, and invite the employer to get in touch with you.
To create a letter using our step-by-step advice, go straight to our Cover Letter Builder. Our cover letter formats page also features important tips on how to organize and format your letter.
Cover letter examples for specific situations
Whether you’re a first-time job applicant, switching careers, or inquiring about job openings at a company, we’ve got the right cover letter sample for you. Just pick an example based on your specific situation and adapt the text to fit your needs. For a complete guide that walks you through writing each of these letters, visit our how to write a cover letter page
Entry-level cover letter example
Notice how this example emphasizes the job seeker’s training, skills and career ambitions, while also connecting them to what the potential employer needs.
Career change cover letter example
Follow the lead of this sample cover letter by highlighting skills you’ve deployed in previous jobs that can carry over to the new one, and give some insight as to why you think you can be effective and happier in your new career.
Employment gap cover letter example
If you’ve been away from full-time work for any long stretches, it’s good to explain to employers what you’ve been up to during that time (e.g., part-time contract work, you tried your own business endeavor, or you did some volunteer work). As shown in this cover letter sample, keep your explanation concise, and explain the positive aspects of your experience, such as useful skills or education gained.
“Cold call” cover letter example
To get your foot in the door with a company that might not currently have a position available, follow this sample cover letter, which focuses on how the potential applicant’s skills match with the company’s goals. Note that the applicant has done her “homework” on the company — this supports her case and should also impress the employer.
Professional connection cover letter example
When sending in a cover letter for a job you’re applying to through a contact within the organization, provide details on the person who recommended you, and your professional relationship.
Temporary-to-permanent employee cover letter example
This sample cover letter shows how to take advantage of your knowledge and experience with your company, laying out your specific contributions while also pointing out the ways you can provide even more value as a full-time employee.
Seeking promotion cover letter example
In this example cover letter, the applicant stresses her familiarity with the company’s processes and goals—a big advantage over other applicants.
Unadvertised Position
No posted job description to refer to? No problem. Just explain how you heard about the role and share your enthusiasm about joining the team. Make sure you mention a few of your great skills and accomplishments.
New Position with Current Employer
Though you have your foot in the door, you still need to put your best foot forward with a cover letter and resume that emphasize your value. Start by discussing your accomplishments and then mention how you will benefit your employer on future projects.
Referral
When done correctly, telling the employer that someone in the company referred you lets them know that you’re someone they can trust. Use our referral cover letter sample to do this correctly and catch their attention.
Categories
Cover letter examples by job and industry
We have sample cover letters for jobs in all types of industries, with content to match. Just use any example as an inspiration for your own letter.
Accounting Cover Letter Examples
For an accounting job, emphasize your practical software and number-crunching skills, and your ability to work with others and multitask.
Administrative Cover Letter Examples
A keen eye for detail, good organization and communication skills, and proficiency with specific software programs are all musts for this job.
Business Operations Cover Letter Examples
Focus on your ability to coordinate teams and processes, and your superior communications skills.
Construction Cover Letter Examples
In your cover letter, emphasize a strong work ethic and collaboration skills, and your ability to work with specific equipment, such as forklifts or cranes.
Culinary Cover Letter Examples
Enthusiasm, experience in fast-paced work environments, and knowledge of food preparation and kitchen management are key areas to cover in your letter.
Customer Service Cover Letter Examples
Stress your commitment to communicate with and assist people, and your ability to work as part of a team.
Education Cover Letter Examples
Highlight your proficiency with specific teaching subjects, education apps and software, and intangible strengths such as flexibility, communication and patience.
Food Service Cover Letter Examples
Show off any experiences you have in fast-paced work environments where teamwork is a necessity, and your ability to handle both managers and customers.
Health Care Support Cover Letter Examples
Elaborate on training and experience you’ve had in health care situations and programs. Try to include an anecdote or two about services you’ve provided to patients.
Hospitality Cover Letter Examples
Show how you’ve ensured customer satisfaction in previous positions, and any practical skills that can help you do the job, such as knowledge of payroll software.
Information Technology Cover Letter Examples
Explain your top capabilities in computer system maintenance and management, and give examples of how you’ve successfully improved IT operations in previous jobs.
Marketing Cover Letter Examples
Give examples of how you’ve applied creativity, leadership and strategic thinking to marketing plans and campaigns, and focus on areas of speciality such as social media or email.
Medical Cover Letter Examples
Go beyond standard credentials and training, and point out your experiences in health care settings, and your ability to relate to clients and patients.
Nursing Cover Letter Examples
Emphasize your interpersonal and communication skills, and your areas of expertise and your best experiences caring for others.
Retail Cover Letter Examples
Provide details on job-related abilities, such as maintaining merchandise and point-of-sale systems, and interpersonal skills such as customer service and multitasking abilities.
Sales Cover Letter Examples
Give concrete examples of how you’ve helped improve a company’s bottom line through your sales efforts, and feature any abilities you have with sales tracking software.
Teaching Cover Letter Examples
Give recruiters an idea of your approach to education, your knowledge of specific online learning software, and how you handle children in a variety of teaching environments.
Cover letter examples for other popular industries
Cover letter FAQ
What makes our cover letter examples right for you?
- They’re professionally designed to look their best: Our cover letter samples and cover letter templates are built to display your content neatly and effectively.
- Guidance and tips for every job and industry: We have an example cover letter for every job. Just select any example on this page, and you’ll go straight to our Cover Letter Builder, which supplies expert suggestions and tips for every section.
- Customize your letter for different jobs: It’s easy to update these examples so they fit different jobs — and if you use our builder, you can save and download as many versions of your letter as you need.
- Match your perfect letter with a perfect resume: Use our Resume Builder to create resumes that complement your letter in look and layout.
Are cover letters really necessary?
The short answer is yes. According to the Society of Human Resources Management, a cover letter demonstrates your genuine interest in the job and company. It’s also an opportunity to talk further about your accomplishments, introduce yourself in a more personal way, and make a more detailed case for why the employer should be interested in you.
Should you write a different cover letter for each job application?
Absolutely!Every job application and company is different. Like a resume, your cover letter should be tailored to the job you’re applying for and the employer you’re directing that letter to. You want to make sure that what you write and the tone you use align with the company culture, values and, most importantly, the job application.
What should not be included in a cover letter?
- Spelling or grammatical errors
- Information not relevant to the job
- Personal information, such as your religious beliefs and political affiliations
- Negative comments about your current or former employer
- Overly flattering language
- Your salary or work benefits requirements
For more mistakes you should avoid, check out our article The 5 Biggest Cover Letter Mistakes.
Should you address employment gaps in a cover letter?
Employment gaps due to personal reasons (such as an illness or a family matter that needed attending to) don’t have to be discussed in detail in your cover letter. Neither do gaps caused by your former employer firing or laying you off. Instead, write about your skills, qualifications and relevant experiences, and how excited you are about this new opportunity. Just be prepared to discuss employment gaps during the job interview phase. If you can show you were busy with other important pursuits or trained up on new skills during your time off, mention them in your letter.
More cover letter resources
How to Write a Killer Cover Letter Conclusion
Finish off your letter as strong as you start it, using these tips.
Cover Letter Do’s & Don’ts for Smart Job Seekers
Don’t ruin your chances at getting a job interview by ignoring these essential pointers.
5 Cover Letter Moves that Managers Love
Yes, even “showing off” can be a good thing, as long as you know how to do it.
Social Services Cover Letter Examples
Emphasize your ability to interact with others in positive ways, and note any training and certifications you’ve had in specialized areas such as mental health or substance abuse work.