standard cover letter: candidates with some experience looking to transition into a similar role.
Dear (hiring manager’s name),
I am writing to apply for the position of (job role) at (company name), as advertised at (the place where you found the job listing).
I believe I would be an ideal candidate for this position, having had five years of experience working in a (previous job role) in (relevant industry). In my previous position, my responsibilities included managing a team of six in the (relevant department), organising communication for both internal and external purposes and creating content for company-wide promotion.
In doing so, I demonstrated my creativity, communication, and organisational skills while coordinating other outputs on a mass scale. During my time in (my previous job role), I boosted online engagement by 12 per cent and was responsible for managing highly successful (projects or examples of work).
My enclosed resume speaks to my compatibility with (company name). I have been following your organisation for some time and have found (company name)’s work very stimulating - particularly recent projects like (example). My interest in (relevant interest, skill or experience) aligns closely with (company name)’s objectives within (relevant industry), and I believe this shared vision will allow us both to prosper. The role of (job title) at (company name) excites me, and I am confident I can be a valuable asset to your organisation.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my application. I look forward to discussing the opportunity with you further. I can be reached at (your contact information).
Sincerely,
(Your name)
career change cover letter: for candidates looking further afield and hoping to switch up their career.
Dear (hiring manager’s name),
I am writing to apply for the position of (job role) at (company name), as advertised at (the place where you found the job listing). Please find my resume enclosed for review.
With four years of experience in IT, I wish to transition into a communications role, having had the opportunity to develop my interest in my previous position. Although as (previous role title), my duty was internal management of company IT systems, I was responsible for company-wide resources and coordinated across various state departments. I received three commendations for excellent interpersonal support from the executive board and was vital in spearheading (previous company’s name)’s ‘Ask an Expert’ campaign.
I believe that the organisational, managerial and interpersonal skills I developed in IT - coupled with my interdisciplinary perspective - make me uniquely qualified for the role of (job title). I am convinced that (company name)’s vision of increasing the accessibility of online education makes it the perfect place for me to transfer my knowledge and skills into a communications role. In doing so, I will be a genuine asset to your organisation. Recent ventures, like (company example), have me excited about the future of (company name) and how I could contribute to it.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my application. I look forward to discussing the opportunity with you further. I can be reached at (your contact information).
Sincerely,
(Your name)
a company-focused cover letter: for bolder candidates interested in a particular company that isn't currently advertising any vacancies.
Dear (hiring manager's name),
I am writing to inquire about possible job openings at (company name). I have been following the company for some time and recently found their (example of work) to be very inspiring. I am interested in a role in (relevant industry/profession/division) and was hoping to learn more about any potential opportunities at your organisation. Please find my resume enclosed for review.
I am a recent (degree name) graduate working in the (industry name) field and looking to further my career. During my time as a (job title), I have regularly exceeded targets, helping to boost company revenue by 5 per cent last year. I also demonstrated organisational ability when coordinating the company conference and leadership skills when chairing meetings between graduate staff members. I believe the drive and creativity I have shown in my career would prove valuable to your company.
My resume illustrates my determination to have a successful career in (industry name). I have found that the work being carried out by your organisation is particularly appealing, with recent projects like (example 1) and (example 2) closely matching my interests. If there is a potential opening within your organisation's (area or field) team, I would not only be highly grateful for consideration but believe that my experience and skill set can help the company continue to prosper.
I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss any possible vacancies at (company name) and provide additional information regarding the benefits I could bring to the organisation. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to speaking with you further.
Sincerely,
(Your name)
career break cover letter: candidates looking to re-enter the workforce after a career break.
Dear (hiring manager’s name),
I am writing to apply for the position of (job role) at (company name), as advertised at (the place where you found the job listing). Please see my enclosed resume for review.
I believe that my nine years of experience in (previous role) with (past company) have given me the skills needed to thrive in this position. My past duties included liaising with business partners, organising internal and external events, managing the company calendar and supervising a team of nine employees across the (relevant department). In this position, I cultivated my organisational and managerial abilities and was awarded employee of the month five times. I was also responsible for securing a partnership with (insert business name), which boosted (past company)’s output by 14 per cent, and managed the launch of (past company)’s website in 2017.
From 2019 to 2021, I elected to take a professional break to consider the future of my career. During that time, I travelled through Europe and vastly expanded my cultural awareness, communication skills and ability to negotiate challenging circumstances. Of note was the time I spent volunteering as an English support teacher in France for two months. I am confident that these experiences have contributed to my status as a well-rounded employee and team member.
For some time, I have been following your organisation with interest. The prospect of (job role) at (company name) has me incredibly excited to return to work and to utilise my updated skillset to the benefit of (company name). I believe that my international experiences will contribute to your organisation’s global mindset and expand culturally diverse markets. International projects that (company name) has been involved with recently, like (example), are particularly stimulating.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my application. I look forward to discussing the opportunity with you further. I can be reached at (your contact information).
Sincerely,
(Your name)
redundancy cover letter: for candidates dealing with a recent redundancy.
Dear (hiring manager's name),
I am writing to apply for the position of (job role) at (company name), as advertised at (the place where you found the job listing). Please see my enclosed resume for review.
With more than three years of experience in the (relevant industry), I believe that I would be an ideal candidate for this job. In my previous role as (job name), I demonstrated the organisational skills, creativity and drive that would be well suited to your company. My duties involved liaising with video and graphics departments to coordinate multimedia content, relationship building with external clients and overseeing our marketing output.
During my time (job role), I was responsible for increasing company turnover by 15 per cent, implementing several new measures to boost revenue and cut expenditure. I believe I can display similar financial acumen at (prospective company name) while furthering my knowledge of economic principles.
I believe I can bring the expertise and determination required for (company name) to continue its success in (relevant country) and abroad. The role of (job title) is exciting and one that I believe is an excellent fit for my skill set and experience. And I am available to start immediately.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my application. I look forward to discussing the opportunity with you further. I can be reached at (your contact information).
Sincerely,
(Your name)
N.B I would suggest the redundancy explanation should not be featured in your cover letter but instead discussed briefly once contacted. And in a simple sentence:e.g. due to the company's financial difficulties, they made significant cuts throughout the organisation. I took a redundancy package.
school leavers cover letter: for candidates who've recently graduated or left school.
Dear (hiring manager's name),
I am writing to apply for the position of (job role) at (company name), as advertised at (the place where you found the job listing). Please see my enclosed resume for review.
As you can see from my resume, I have recently completed my (exam name), where I achieved (overall grade) while studying (relevant subjects). I believe that the skills acquired during my studies make me an excellent fit for this role. During my time in education, I demonstrated time management skills by juggling exam revision alongside my prefect duties. I also showed leadership skills as part of my role as captain of the school rugby team. What's more, I believe that the ambition and drive I led when spearheading the Summer Fete charity effort make me a viable candidate for a position at your organisation.
My work experience role at a local newspaper furthered my enthusiasm for a career in media. As part of this role, I demonstrated my attention to detail by proofreading copy and my ambitious character by pushing for greater responsibility. This was ultimately rewarded through the opportunity to write a small news piece for the paper's website. I believe that my achievements here and the teamwork skills I demonstrate as part of my charity volunteer work would serve me well in your organisation's (job name) role.
Aside from my professional and academic achievements, my passion for writing would also be helpful for this position. I am a regular online blogger writing about (subject), which I believe shows the level of creativity I could bring to your company. Although only a hobby, I put a great deal of time and effort into each post and furthered my online web design knowledge.
I believe I can add significant value to (company name) with my academic and professional achievements. The role of (insert job title) excites me, and I am sure it will provide the perfect starting point for my career in (industry name).
Thank you for taking the time to consider my application. I look forward to discussing the opportunity with you further. I can be reached at (your contact information).
Sincerely,
(Your name)
