A cover letter template gives you the shape of a persuasive letter: a specific opening, two paragraphs of evidence, and a short close. The value is in the structure — the words have to be yours, because hiring managers can spot an unedited template in one sentence.
Templates by industry
The four parts of a cover letter that works
- 1
Opening: name the role and one proof point
State the role and give a single number or outcome in the first two sentences. This is what earns the next paragraph.
- 2
Body one: the evidence closest to the job
Choose the project or result that maps most directly to the posting. Describe the constraint, what you did, and what changed.
- 3
Body two: why this employer
One specific, verifiable observation about their product, program, or market. Generic praise is worse than leaving it out.
- 4
Close: a clean, low-pressure ask
Thank them and offer a conversation. Do not re-summarize the letter or add a new claim at the end.
Cover letter do and do not
Do
- Lead with one quantified result.
- Mirror the employer's language where it is accurate.
- Keep it to one page and three or four paragraphs.
- Address a named person if the posting gives one.
Do not
- Repeat your resume line by line.
- Open with 'I am writing to apply' and nothing else.
- Claim results you cannot explain under questioning.
- Send the same letter to two employers.
Cover letter template FAQs
What is a cover letter template?
A template is a structure you adapt: an opening that names the role, two body paragraphs with evidence, and a short close. It is not text to send unchanged.
How long should a cover letter be?
One page, usually 250 to 350 words. Three or four short paragraphs is enough to show fit without repeating your resume.
Should I write a cover letter if it is optional?
Write one when you are changing industries, when your resume is adjacent rather than exact, or when the posting asks a specific question. Skip it when the application is a single-click form.
Can I use the same cover letter for every application?
No. Reuse the structure, but change the role, the company reference, and the evidence you lead with. Recruiters recognize an unedited template immediately.
Need the resume that goes with it? Start with a role-specific resume example or build both in the AI cover letter builder.