The Pros and Cons of Using Cover Letter Templates

Updated February 27, 20241.8k

A great cover letter can make all the difference to your job application. Cover letter templates can help you to stand out from the crowd and bring in job offers.

Free Cover Letter Templates

The average hiring manager receives hundreds of job applications for every single job that they post. This means that standing out from the crowd can be tough, even for the most qualified of job seekers. A great cover letter can make all the difference to your chances of success and the right cover letter template can elevate a basic cover letter and make it great.

Why Are Cover Letters Important?

First and foremost, a cover letter is an essential part of any job search because it is expected. Hiring managers expect a cover letter with every application. In fact, Forbes reports that 83% of recruiters look more favorably on resumes that have matching cover letters. Beyond this, a cover letter represents an opportunity to provide information that can’t be covered in your resume. For example, if you were only able to provide a brief overview of your most notable achievements in your resume, you can expand on them in your cover letter. As long as you don’t simply repeat the information in your resume, the best cover letter should add value to a job application rather than being just another document for the recruiter to read. Finally, the perfect cover letter will help your job application rank well with applicant tracking systems (ATS) employers use to scan resumes.

The Advantages of Using a Free Cover Letter Template

While the content of your cover letter is important to your job application, cover letter writing is not the only factor at work. The design and appearance of your application letter is also crucial to making a good first impression. A professional cover letter template can provide you with an effective cover letter structure that you can simply enter your own information into.

If you don’t have robust design skills yourself, cover letter templates can also provide you with appropriate design elements to suit your industry. There are templates available for many cover letter formats, too, so you can find an eye-catching option that suits you. For example, if you work in law or medicine, a modern cover letter template will give you the clean-cut, professional appearance that these industries prefer. On the other hand, if you want to work in a more creative or casual role like graphic design, software engineering, web design, or architecture, a creative cover letter template could give you the edge you need.

Whichever kind of cover letter template you choose, the benefits are clear. The main advantages of a using a template for your new cover letter are:

Creating a cover letter takes less time.
Create a “baseline” cover letter that can be edited for different jobs
Guaranteed to meet all formatting requirements

To make the process using simple cover letter templates even easier, you can use the ResumeNerd cover letter builder. You can consider cover letter examples that are relevant to the jobs you are applying for to get inspiration for the content of your letter, too.

How to Customize a Cover Letter Template

Once you have used a professional cover letter template to create a basic cover letter, you will still need to make changes for each job application. Each job application you submit should have a unique cover letter to impress a potential employer. When tailoring your cover letter, you should keep these factors in mind:

Contact information

Ensure that your phone number, email address, and professional portfolio link details are up to date. Update your LinkedIn profile when you start a new job search.
Salutation

You should update your cover letter to address the hiring manager by name. If you cannot do that ( for example, the hiring manager’s name is not listed or there is no single recruiter in charge of the hiring process), use a professional, generic salutation like “Dear Sir/ Dear Madam” or “Dear Hiring Manager.” While it is preferable to use the hiring manager’s name, these professional alternatives can be an acceptable last resort.
Job details

Consider the job description that you want to apply for and use the company name and the precise job title that you have applied for. Give the reason that you want this job, if you can. If it is your dream job, don’t be afraid to say so.
Relevant skills and achievements

The skills, qualifications, and achievements you discuss in your cover letter should be relevant to the job description you are applying for. Ask yourself what the best experiences you have that you can draw on are.
Call to action

Your call-to-action statement may not need to change much between drafts, but you should still review it. Something simple like “I look forward to speaking with you further” can prompt a recruiter to reach out to you.
Sign-off

Ensure that you sign off with an appropriate statement and your full name. Closings like “Yours sincerely” or “Warm regards” are appropriate in most cases.

If you want to make the best possible first impression on a hiring manager, use a resume template that matches your cover letter. Even if it is a minimalist template, recruiters will notice the similarities.

FAQ: Free Cover Letter Templates

Do I have to include a cover letter with a job application?

Yes, you should include a cover letter with your resume in every job application. Your cover letter is a unique opportunity to supplement your resume and provide additional information that will make you stick in a recruiter’s mind. If you fail to provide a cover letter, you could harm your chances of getting a new job.

What should a cover letter contain?

A cover letter should contain a header, your contact information, a personalized salutation, and two or three paragraphs containing supplementary information to support your job application. This can be information about notable achievements or details of relevant internships. Your opening paragraph should contain a brief introduction of yourself and a reference to the specific job you are applying for.

How long should a cover letter be?

A cover letter should be no more than one page in length, but somewhere between half a page and three-quarters of a page in length is ideal. Consider short cover letter samples for ideas on how to make a big impact in a limited space.

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About The Author

Jessie Oleson Moore

Jessie Oleson Moore is a Philadelphia-based freelance writer / ghostwriter and artist. As a writer, she has written extensively on finance, day trading, personal growth, and career development and has extensive experience producing in-depth, research-based articles and guides. In addition, she is an accomplished illustrator and author who has appeared on The Today Show and been featured in Publisher's Weekly. In her free time, she’s an avid traveler, Ashtanga yoga practitioner, and unicorn enthusiast.