The Best Cover Letter Examples (And Tips)

So, after searching and searching, you’ve finally found that perfect job for you. You’ve looked into the position and realized that you meet all the requirements, have all the experience you need, and the pay is just right. You want to do whatever you can to land this one, but where do you start?

One of the best ways to leave a great, professional impression on an employer is to write a personalized cover letter that will highlight your application.

Maybe you’re nervous because this is the first time you’ve decided to write a cover letter, or because you’ve sought out other online guides that felt too cookie-cutter, and feel worried that using one of those templates won’t have the impact you’re hoping for.

You may be wondering how you start the letter, or how do you properly end it.

Don’t fret!

This article will give you a variety of cover letter examples that are far superior to the generic, “all-encompassing” cover letter samples many internet sources provide.

Make Yourself Memorable with a Strong Opening

Just like any other professional piece of writing, it’s important to open strong and leave a memorable impression on your potential employer. This will help show what makes you valuable before your letter is automatically added to the discard pile.

Start your first paragraph by giving an example of your experience or accomplishments, and how they are relevant to the position you’re applying for. For example:

As there are many fields and specializations, it’s important that you tailor your opening to fit your background and the position you’re applying for. You can mention your education, prior experience/positions at previous jobs, or any other relevant accomplishments. Choose wisely, as you do not want to overdue your opening and make it too lengthy.

More Value, Less Words

Using the same logic as the opening, it’s important that your entire letter emphasizes your value to the potential employer, without rambling and causing a loss of interest.

Preferably, your cover letter should be around 200 words. Sticking to this overall limit will ensure that you express your most crucial values without the unnecessary fluff. However, pack enough value in your letter to ensure that if the employer were to skim it, they’d still find importance in every sentence.

Here is an example of a 200 word cover letter:

As you can see, it’s more than possible to be detailed in a limited amount of words. Remember that a concise, carefully crafted statement will stand out to your potential employer far more than rambling or a pre-made template.

Be Enthusiastic, Show How Much You Want This Job

So you know how long to make your letter, and what to include, but it’s also important not to forget one final, crucial ingredient. Remember, you really want this job! Therefore, write in a way that shows your enthusiasm.

Let your potential employer know how much you love the industry, company, position etc. For example:

These examples show that you can blend your experience and accomplishments with your enthusiasm for the position you’re applying for. This is ideal, considering your limited word count!

Here is a sample of an enthusiastic cover letter:

Enthusiasm will show your employer that you have passion for this potential job, and to them, you will come across as a more productive and stable employee. Your enthusiasm will also humanize you and set you apart from robotic, template cover letters.

Examples From Around the Internet

With all of these tips in mind, here are some great cover letter examples from around the internet:

1. https://www.slideshare.net/smgmarcom/good-cover-letter-example-1

   This letter starts strong by stating the writer’s education. The writing also shows amazing enthusiasm, while at the same time emphasizing accomplishments over fluff.

2. https://career.virginia.edu/resumes/writing-cover-letter/cover-letter-sample

   There are several cover letter examples here, but they all show exceptional professionalism and adhere to the other guidelines outlined in this article.

3. https://studentaffairs.duke.edu/sites/default/files/2018-06/Ugrad%20Example%20Cover%20Letter%20Just%20It%20Clothing_Acc.pdf

   This cover letter example shows how a list format can also be useful for laying out your accomplishments. Just be careful not to get carried away and make your letter too lengthy.

4. https://english.washington.edu/writing-cover-letter

   Here are more examples that show the value of starting strong, and emphasizing your accomplishments that are relevant to the position you’re applying for.

5. https://www.coloradocollege.edu/offices/careercenter/documents/Cover+Letter+Examples+web.pdf

   Again, these letters show the importance of highlighting your education, interest and accomplishments.

When in doubt, start your letter strong and make sure you not only state your accomplishments and experience, but also show enthusiasm throughout. With all this in mind, keep to a decent word count and you’re on your way to having that new position you want!

Author

Jack Flynn

Jack Flynn is a writer for Zippia. In his professional career he’s written over 100 research papers, articles and blog posts. Some of his most popular published works include his writing about economic terms and research into job classifications. Jack received his BS from Hampshire College.

Expert

Matt Warzel, CPRW, CIR

Matt Warzel a President of a resume writing firm (MJW Careers, LLC) with 15+ years of recruitment, outplacement, career coaching and resume writing experience. Matt is also a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Certified Internet Recruiter (CIR) with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Marketing Focus) from John Carroll University.