Cover Letter Templates and Examples for 2025

Many job seekers overlook the potential impact of a cover letter, but it’s often the key to securing that coveted interview and ultimately landing a new job or project. Writing a compelling cover letter is your opportunity to showcase your enthusiasm, reveal a bit of your personality, and highlight the unique skills that make you the best candidate for the position.

The value of a well-written cover letter

A great cover letter serves as a bridge between your resume and a job posting. It highlights how your skills and work experience align with the role requirements and needs of the organization.

This commonly under-used professional document allows you to:

• Expand upon the information in your professional resume
• Offer meaningful context around your most relevant strengths
• Share specific examples of key accomplishments
• Illustrate how your skills and achievements relate to the job 

Investing time in creating a thoughtful and tailored cover letter shows prospective employers and clients that you’re serious about the opportunity and willing to go the extra mile. 

But for many job seekers, getting started is the hardest part. By using a professional cover letter template as a foundation, you can more quickly:

• Develop a customized, persuasive pitch
• Effectively communicate your value to potential employers or clients
• Express your strong interest in the opportunity 

In the coming sections, we’ll share free cover letter templates and examples to help you capture a hiring manager’s attention.

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The benefits of using a cover letter template

The best cover letter templates offer a structured framework for developing a well-organized document. Our cover letter templates can save you time and give you a significant jump start. Rather than beginning from scratch, you can focus your efforts on customizing the content to fit your specific situation and the requirements of the particular job.

Cover letter templates can help you with the following:

Structure and organization

Templates give you a clear structure for your cover letter, with sections for:

• Customized salutation
• Opening paragraph
• Body paragraphs
• Closing paragraph and sign-off

A template can help you organize your thoughts so that your letter flows logically and seamlessly from point to point—you won’t need to worry about your cover letter design or formatting.

Professionalism

Good cover letter templates meet the expectations of potential employers or clients by adhering to standard business letter formatting conventions. By utilizing a template, you aid in making sure that your cover letter is as polished, persuasive, and professional as possible.

Customization

While templates provide a general framework, they’re easily tailored to fit your unique circumstance. Whether you’re applying for a couple dream jobs or an array of opportunities, starting with a good cover letter template can help you be consistent in your job applications. Modify the language, add or remove sentences or paragraphs as needed, and adjust the tone to fit each company you contact.

Confidence boost

Writer’s block is common. And penning a letter about yourself can be especially challenging and intimidating. Knowing that you have a solid foundation to build upon can relieve some of the stress associated with the cover letter writing process.

4 tips for customizing a cover letter template

Customizing a sample cover letter or template is critical. You’ll want to tailor the following based on your experience and the job you’re applying to:

• Your language and tone
• The accomplishments and abilities you spotlight
• Specific industry terms

Doing so will help you create a narrative that resonates with the recipient. Consider these tips:

1. Thoroughly research the company and position 

Before customizing your cover letter template, thoroughly research the company. This can include:

• Visiting the company’s website and LinkedIn page
• Reading their mission statement
• Exploring their products, services, and leadership profiles 

Look for information about the company’s organizational culture, values, and goals, too. Review their LinkedIn profile page and do some additional web sleuthing to learn about their primary competitors. This research will help you better understand what the company seeks in a candidate. It will also allow you to target your language and examples to fit the company’s needs, tone, and brand worldview.

2. Dig into the job description

Make note of the key qualifications, skills, and responsibilities listed. Use this information to highlight how your experiences and abilities fit the role. Incorporating relevant industry-specific verbiage throughout the cover letter is also helpful. 

Using keywords from the job ad in your cover letter (when applicable, of course) can help your letter pass through applicant tracking systems (ATS) that scan for relevant terms and qualifications. By incorporating keywords from the job description, you increase the chances that your application is recognized as a match for the position. 

3. Win the name game

If possible, address your cover letter to the hiring manager or project manager by name. This personal touch shows your attention to detail—and it’s attention-grabbing. If the job post doesn’t include a contact name, visit the company website or LinkedIn to try to find the right person. If you can’t find a name, use a professional salutation such as "Dear Hiring Manager" or "Dear [Department] Team." 

4. Slow down and proofread

Before submitting your customized cover letter, thoroughly proofread your document for clarity, conciseness, and typos. (Be sure to triple-check the job title, hiring manager’s name and spelling, and company name.) It’s all too easy to make mistakes if you move too quickly. Read your letter aloud, as this can help you notice any awkward or unclear sentences. 

Make sure your letter is to the point, avoiding overly lengthy paragraphs or repetitive information. Consider asking a trusted friend, family member, or mentor to edit your cover letter and provide feedback. You could also work with a professional cover letter writer on Upwork for additional support.

Cover letter templates to use

The following cover letter templates can help you create a cover letter tailored to your specific career stage and situation. 

Cover letter templates by career stage

General cover letter template
A versatile template suitable for customizing to a wide array of industries and positions. When personalized appropriately, this cover letter format can be adapted to showcase your unique skills, experiences, and qualifications for each role you target.‍

Entry-level cover letter template
Ideal for recent college graduates or those with more limited work experience, focusing heavily on transferable skills and academic achievements.‍

Mid-career cover letter template
Intended for professionals with at least several years of experience, emphasizing career progression and key achievements. ‍

Career change cover letter template
Designed for those looking to break into a different field, highlighting transferable skills, adaptability, and passion for the new industry.

Cover letter by role

The following role-specific cover letter templates can help you align your application with the core requirements and responsibilities of the position, demonstrating your industry-specific skills, knowledge, and expertise.

• Virtual assistant cover letter template
  
• AI developer cover letter
  
• UX designer cover letter template
  
• Bookkeeper cover letter template
  
• SEO specialist cover letter template
  

‍If you are communicating with a hiring manager for a job through the Upwork platform, please note that sharing your personal contact information, such as email address, phone number, or LinkedIn profile, is not permitted in cover letters or at any time prior to the start of a contract. Additionally, all pre-contract communication should take place through the Upwork Messages feature. Learn more about using Upwork Messages here, and see more details on sharing information on Upwork here.