formal business cover letter

Business Cover Letter Examples and Templates for 2024

• Cover Letter Examples
• Cover Letter Text Examples

How To Write a Business Cover Letter

In today’s competitive job market, a strong business cover letter can make all the difference in securing interviews. As a business professional, think of your cover letter as a value proposition or proposal. Start by identifying the company’s needs and how your unique skills and industry knowledge can help the business grow and excel. Then, provide tangible examples of you successfully achieving positive business outcomes throughout your career. Below are business cover letter examples and expert tips to help translate your career into an impactful marketing document.

Business Cover Letter Templates and Examples

• Entry-Level
• Senior-Level

Business Text-Only Cover Letter Templates and Examples

Allison Rosenberg Financial Analyst Intern | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | Seattle, WA 12345 | LinkedIn

January 1, 2024

Caleb Johnson Hiring Manager Fidelity (987) 654-3210 [email protected]

Dear Mr. Johnson,

As a financial analyst intern at Seattle Investments, I had the opportunity to work with a team of financial analysts to evaluate financial data for potential acquisitions. This experience allowed me to develop expertise in investment strategy and market analysis, making me an ideal candidate for the financial analyst position with your organization.

Fidelity’s reputation for challenging the status quo and driving innovation resonates with me as a business professional. I can bring a fresh perspective to Fidelity based on some of my early career experiences:

• Supported the financial analysts in evaluating company financials and determining risk factors for potential acquisitions, which included conducting business modeling
• Participated in meetings with the finance team and contributed to presentations outlining financial data on the growth potential of businesses
• Received coaching and mentorship from seasoned financial analysts and expanded knowledge of investment strategies and risk management

I hope to schedule an interview with you to provide more insights into how my financial analysis experience can aid your organization. You can contact me at your convenience with any questions you have about my background. I appreciate your consideration.

Best regards,

Allison Rosenberg

Yaling Zhang Business Operations Analyst | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | Portland, OR 12345 | LinkedIn

Roger Smith Hiring Manager Portland Med Device Inc. (987) 654-3210 [email protected]

Dear Mr. Smith,

I’m interested in applying for the business operations manager position with Portland Med Device Corporation. During my time with SouthWest Medical, I analyzed critical business operations and identified process improvement opportunities for a leading manufacturer of medical devices. My experience within the health care manufacturing space could be a strong asset to your organization.

Portland Med Device Corporation’s reputation for operational excellence is what draws me to apply for this opportunity. I am confident my ability to identify creative business solutions would bring value to your company based on my career achievements:

• Evaluated critical business operations, identified process gaps, and proposed business solutions to streamline product delivery, which reduced costs by 10%
• Analyzed resource allocation for manufacturing processes and recommended enhancements to staffing, which reduced labor costs by $60,000 per year
• Developed financial reports for senior leadership on findings and attended meetings with the business operations team to discuss process improvement opportunities

I look forward to speaking with you regarding how my business analysis expertise can refine operations and reduce costs for your organization. You may contact me via phone or email for any additional questions you may have about my background. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Yaling Zhang

Jake Robertson  Business Manager | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | New York, NY 98122 | LinkedIn

Jessica Rivera Senior Hiring Manager Brooklyn Beverage Co. (987) 654-3210 [email protected]

Dear Ms. Rivera,

I’m reaching out regarding the Business Operations Director role with Brooklyn Beverage Co. As a Senior Business Manager for New York Brewing, I defined pricing strategy and conducted business planning for a craft beverage product line generating over $20 million in annual revenue. I am confident that my expertise in business strategy will allow me to achieve similar results for your organization.

Brooklyn Beverage Co’s reputation for its innovative craft beer and seltzer products is what draws me to apply for this position. With over 10 years of experience within the food and beverage industry, I can offer unique insights to help you expand your market share. Below, you’ll find some of my prior career achievements:

• Defined pricing strategy for a suite of craft beer beverage products based on competitor analysis and identified opportunities to enhance product efficiency, resulting in a 40% increase in sales
• Negotiated with vendors to secure optimal pricing for production materials and ingredients, which reduced costs by $500,000 over two years
• Managed profit and loss (P&L) valued at over $10 million, analyzed company financials, defined strategies to aid the business in scaling operations, and improved margins by 5%

I hope to hear back from you soon for an interview to tell you more about how my expertise in the beverage industry can aid the growth of Brooklyn Beverage Co. Feel free to contact me at your convenience to schedule a time via phone or email. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Jake Robertson

To write an engaging business cover letter, your content should reflect the potential value you can bring to prospective employers. Start by analyzing the job description and identifying the needs of the organization you’re applying to. For example, suppose a company is seeking a candidate for a business analyst position. In this situation, emphasize how you’ve leveraged data analytics to identify new business opportunities, financial trends, and potential risk factors. Below, you’ll find a step-by-step guide to walk you through every section of a business cover letter:

1. Contact information and salutation

The header of your business cover letter should list all essential contact information, including your name, phone number, email, and LinkedIn URL. It’s also important to address the hiring manager by name — Mr. or Ms. [Last Name]. If you can’t find the hiring manager’s name, use a variation of “Dear Hiring Manager.” This adds a personal touch to your business cover letter and shows that you’ve done your research before applying.

2. Introductory paragraph

Create a strong opening paragraph to introduce yourself and convey your interest in the position. Lead with an eye-catching achievement backed with a strong metric to draw the hiring manager in at the start of your business cover letter. Be sure to highlight specific skill sets or qualifications that match the job description.

For instance, if a company is seeking a candidate with a strong background in change management, you might include an example of you transforming business processes and strategy to drive long-term growth and profitability.

I’m reaching out regarding the Business Operations Director role with Brooklyn Beverage Co. As a senior business manager for New York Brewing, I defined pricing strategy and conducted business planning for a craft beverage product line generating over $20 million in annual revenue. I am confident that my expertise in business strategy will allow me to achieve similar results for your organization.

3. Body paragraphs

In the body paragraphs of your business cover letter, continue to showcase your qualifications for the position. Mention something specific about the company’s reputation, products, or culture and why this draws you to apply for the opportunity. This displays your genuine interest in the organization and can help your application stand out during the job search.

Next, create a list of bullet points featuring achievements from your work experience to demonstrate your financial and business expertise. Provide basic context for the accomplishment and include hard numbers for the results. If you can’t quantify an achievement, only list it if you can explain the value it brought to the company.

Brooklyn Beverage Co’s reputation for its innovative craft beer and seltzer products draws me to apply for this position. With over 10 years of experience within the food and beverage industry, I can offer unique insights to help you expand your market share. Below, you’ll find some of my prior career achievements:

• Managed P&L valued at over $10 million, analyzed company financials, defined strategies to aid the business in scaling operations, and improved margins by 5%

4. Key skills and qualifications

It’s not advisable to provide a list of key skills on your business cover letter, as this section should already be covered thoroughly in your resume. That said, it’s important to show hiring managers how you’ve applied your business knowledge to generate results throughout your career. As you build your content, be sure to infuse key terms from the job posting into your paragraphs. Below is a list of skills you may encounter while applying for business-related positions:

5. Closing section

Think of your conclusion as a call to action. Invite the hiring manager to schedule you for an interview or for additional information on your background. Reinforce how your business knowledge could be a strong asset to their team. Be sure to thank the hiring manager for their time and consideration in the last sentence of the paragraph.

Business Cover Letter Tips

1. emphasize your business acumen.

To make your cover letter stand out, focus on your business acumen and experience using tangible examples from your career. Demonstrate your ability to define business strategies based on market indicators and operational capabilities. Show potential employers that you can bring a fresh perspective to their organization and help their business scale.

2. Quantify your business achievements

When detailing your career achievements, be sure to incorporate hard numbers, metrics, and monetary figures to establish a sense of scope for your contributions. In addition to drawing the reader’s eye, numbers help to paint a clearer picture of your professional experience for the hiring manager. This is especially important for business-related roles, as companies will want to see you analyze and interpret financial data effectively.

3. Feature your leadership capabilities

Leadership and management skills are essential for many business occupations. As you craft your content, demonstrate your ability to manage personnel, interface with cross-functional teams, and communicate effectively with diverse clients. Provide examples of you mentoring team members and building strategic business partnerships. This shows you’re a dynamic candidate with both strong interpersonal and business management skills.

Business Cover Letter FAQs

How do i make my business cover letter stand out -.

To differentiate yourself from other applicants, highlight specific aspects of your business background that align with the job description. Generic content won’t make a lasting impression on the hiring manager. They want to see examples of how you can help their company reduce costs and improve profitability.

Why should I include a business cover letter? -

Not every job will ask for a cover letter, but including one is never a bad idea, especially if it’s properly tailored to the company you’re applying to. This allows you to convey why you’re the right fit for the organization’s culture and display the nuances of your industry expertise as a business professional.

How long should my business cover letter be? -

It’s best to keep your cover letter concise, limited to only three or four paragraphs. Think of your cover letter as a value proposition or business proposal. The goal is to capture the hiring manager’s attention by highlighting your most relevant and marketable skill sets. An overabundance of content can distort your sales pitch and make it difficult for the reader to see the value you can bring to the company.

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Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).

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5 Business Cover Letter Examples for Success in 2024

• Business Cover Letter
• Entry-Level Business
• Business Administration
• Business Manager
• HR Business Partner
• Write Your Business Cover Letter

You’re passionate about optimizing processes and achieving company goals. Businesses know they can count on you to manage expense reports and income statements, use your sales skills to increase profits, and much more while on the job. 

But are you capable of writing a great cover letter to accompany your stellar business resume for the competitive business space?

While you may be a business expert, creating a cover letter can be challenging. That’s why we’ve compiled some effective business cover letter examples that will land you the job in 2024.

Business Cover Letter Example

USE THIS TEMPLATE

Microsoft Word

Google Docs

Block Format

Copy this text for your business cover letter!

123 Fictional Avenue San Jose, CA 76208 (123) 456-7890

July 20, 2023

Arjun Iyer eBay Inc. Hiring Manager 123 Fictional Lane San Jose, CA 76208

Dear Mr. Iyer:

eBay’s commitment to enabling economic opportunity and creating a better, sustainable form of commerce resonates deeply with me, making me eager to contribute to your mission. I am excited to apply my skills to the role of business assistant at eBay.

During my tenure as a junior business analyst at Adobe, I worked extensively with data and was responsible for examining a wide range of data sets, identifying trends and anomalies, and designing compelling presentations to communicate my findings to a non-technical audience. This approach to data analysis led to a 34% increase in data-driven decisions within the company.

I also managed a diverse portfolio of projects, demonstrating exceptional organizational and leadership skills and initiated and led a project optimization initiative that resulted in a 21% reduction in project delivery timelines.

An in-depth understanding of CRM systems and a commitment to excellent customer service also allowed me to see a 32% improvement in client retention rates.

eBay’s recognition of the crucial role that business strategy and customer satisfaction play in their success aligns with my expertise and aspirations. I am excited about the opportunity to support eBay in refining its business processes and enhancing customer experiences. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the prospect of further discussing how I can contribute to your team.

Mateo Vargas

Why this cover letter works

• Detail specific examples from your life that connect to how the company does business. A personal anecdote can go a long way.
• This helps the employer visualize how your skills can fit into and improve their business operations.

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Entry-Level Business Cover Letter Example

Copy this text for your entry-level business cover letter!

123 Fictional Avenue Houston, TX 76208 (123) 456-7890

December 18, 2023

Riley Parker First Horizon Bank 123 Fictional Lane Memphis, TN 38101

Dear Mr. Parker:

Having followed First Horizon’s initiatives in financial literacy and local development, I’m keen to align my skills with a bank that clearly values both its customers and its social impact. It is with great enthusiasm that I apply for the administrative assistant position at your esteemed organization.

In my previous role at Radiant Group of Companies, I managed 38 corporate events including large-scale conferences and client meetings. Balancing multiple event logistics simultaneously, I ensured each event ran smoothly, often under tight deadlines. Here my strategic event planning skills and attention to detail resulted in a 19% boost in the number of event attendees, contributing significantly to our company’s branding efforts.

Moreover, my time at AutoZone allowed me to showcase my proficiency in document formatting and management where I successfully reformatted and handled 627 critical documents. My role also involved extensive travel arrangements for senior management, which included coordinating itineraries for international and domestic travel and managing last-minute changes seamlessly. My efficiency in this area reduced travel costs by $4,982 through effective negotiation with travel providers and meticulous planning.

Furthermore, my tenure at ServiceMaster involved managing high-volume email correspondence, where I maintained a response rate of 97% within 24 hours, acting as a communication liaison between various departments and external stakeholders.

I’m eager to bring these experiences to First Horizon Bank and excited about the possibility of joining your dynamic team.

Maya Haddad

• Make sure your cover letter is aligned with the job requirements listed on the application and emphasize them!

Business Administration Cover Letter Example

Copy this text for your Business Administration cover letter!

123 Fictional Avenue Tampa, FL 33601 (123) 456-7890

Zoey Mitchell Tampa General Hospital 123 Fictional Lane Tampa, FL 33601

Dear Mr. Mitchell:

Tampa General Hospital’s reputation as a leading healthcare provider, acclaimed for its cutting-edge medical treatments and compassion towards patient care, deeply connects with my professional aspirations. The hospital’s commitment to innovation and excellence in healthcare operations is what draws me to apply for the position of operations manager.

During my time at InSync Healthcare Solutions, I was able to apply my supply chain management skills in a project that helped reduce supply costs by $12,984 while maintaining optimal inventory levels. This was achieved through two primary techniques including strategic vendor negotiations and the implementation of a lean inventory management system.

In my previous role at Wendover Art Group, my focus on process improvement contributed to smoother procedures across multiple departments while also eliminating redundant tasks that previously cost time and money for the company.

Additionally, my tenure at FrankCrum helped me excel in my abilities in budgeting and financial analysis. In this role, I played a crucial role in managing departmental budgets, where I successfully identified cost-saving opportunities amounting to $326,576 annually.

I’m particularly keen to contribute to your mission of delivering high-quality healthcare by optimizing operational processes and ensuring financial sustainability. I’m eager to discuss how my background, skills, and commitment can be a valuable asset to your team at Tampa General Hospital. Thank you for considering my application.

Maxime Dubois

• Using concrete numbers like “helped reduce supply costs by $12,984” establishes the candidate’s impactful contribution at work. Follow this lead by presenting a track record of significant achievements in your previous jobs. You’re giving recruiters more reasons to call you for an interview.

Business Manager Cover Letter Example

Copy this text for your Business Manager cover letter!

123 Fictional Avenue Dallas, TX 76208 (123) 456-7890

Ahmed Ali Kimberly-Clark Corporation Hiring Manager 123 Fictional Lane Dallas, TX 76208

Dear Mr. Ali:

As a long-time admirer of the Kimberly-Clark Corporation’s reputation for innovation, coupled with a culture of problem-solving resilience, I was compelled to apply for the business manager position. My substantial background in business management makes me an optimal candidate for this role.

My most recent position was as the business development manager at Texas Instruments. Here, we faced challenges regarding product penetration in new markets, to which I responded by instituting an evidence-based market research approach. This initiative resulted in a 53% increase in market reach and boosted sales by 33% over a year.

I also developed solutions for financial estimation issues by spearheading the adoption of advanced financial modeling tools, effectively reducing inaccuracies by 64%.

As a fervent believer in data-driven decision-making, I am committed to enhancing business performance through innovative strategies and solutions. As your business manager, I am eager to employ my skills to further your financial accuracy, increase market reach, and improve project management efficiency.

Thank you for considering my application for this position. I am truly excited about the possibility of contributing to Kimberly-Clark Corporation.

Enclosures: Resume Academic Transcript Certified Financial Analyst (CFA) Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

• Don’t be afraid to share examples of how you’ve led teams to success in the past.
• Use concrete data to support your claims here. Doing so will emphasize your ability to consistently achieve results and gives your cover letter a more professional look.

HR Business Partner Cover Letter Example

Copy this text for your HR Business Partner cover letter!

Aisha Balogun ExxonMobil Corporation Hiring Manager 123 Fictional Lane Houston, TX 76208

Dear Ms. Balogun:

When I read about ExxonMobil’s commitment to workforce empowerment and the application of technology in shaping the future of energy, I knew I wanted to contribute my skills to your esteemed organization as an HR business partner. I am confident that my expertise can further enhance the productivity and efficacy of ExxonMobil’s human resources division.

Your organization’s dedication to creating a workplace culture that fosters innovation and inclusion resonates with my experience in human resources. As an HR associate at ConocoPhillips, I was tasked with managing an employee base of around 2000 personnel. Beyond the regular HR duties, I personally connected with employees to understand their needs and expectations, resulting in an increase in overall employee satisfaction by 46%. I also implemented data analytics to evaluate workforce performance, leading to a 32% reduction in turnover rates.

As a project lead, I worked with three different departments to ensure seamless integration, leading to a 37% decrease in the time spent on recruitment processes. Likewise, addressing any bottleneck in operations is something I prioritize. I found that some procedures were reducing the efficiency of our HR department. In response, I proposed and implemented performance management systems using HRIS, resulting in an efficiency increase of 26% over six months.

I am eager to utilize my skills to improve the effectiveness of your HR operations by joining ExxonMobil as an HR business partner. I am committed to collaborating with various teams to foster a work environment that encourages growth, innovation, and satisfaction. Thank you for your dedication to workforce empowerment, and I eagerly await your response.

Cesar Quispe

• Provide examples where your HR strategies improved employee engagement or business performance.
• Don’t leave hiring managers guessing. Be specific in what you’ve accomplished and what your skills could bring to the hiring company.

Related cover letter examples

• Business Analyst
• Administrative Assistant
• Human Resources
• Executive Assistant

How to Format a Business Cover Letter

Every business offers different products and services and has varying operational policies. Therefore, your cover letter shouldn’t be a one-step copy-and-paste solution for every business-related job you apply to. 

Instead, you want to tailor it based on the job description for each company’s needs. For instance, if you’re applying to a business financial analyst position, you may want to emphasize your knowledge of expense reports and income statements. 

Business cover letter greeting and introduction

As you would do for a business proposal, you want to lead off with a strong opening for your business cover letter. 

The first step is optimizing the greeting with the name of a specific hiring manager since personalization is always a great way to succeed in the business environment. However, if you can’t find a contact person in the job description , company website, or LinkedIn, leading with “Dear [company name] hiring manager” or something similar will also work. 

You also want to immediately connect the values and skills you bring to the table in the opening paragraph. For instance, if the company provides youth educational resources, you could connect to how you’d be passionate about using your sales skills to promote services that help kids feel empowered within their education at an early age. 

The example below is a decent start. That said, it doesn’t address anyone in specific or connect with the company or skills needed for the job the applicant is applying to.

Lead with a stronger connection to the role than this!

I’m excited to be applying for your business management position. I’ve had a strong business acumen from a young age, which is why I decided to go to school for business management. I believe I’m an ideal fit for the position.  

Instead, go for an opener that connects with the company you’re applying to, like the one below, that emphasizes the applicant’s passion for eBay’s sustainable form of commerce. 

Form a relevant connection with the company!

Dear Mr. Iver,

Business cover letter body

You understand the importance of metrics and credentials when making key business decisions. Emphasize those aspects in your business cover letter’s body to create a great foundation for your skills and to emphasize why you’re an excellent fit. 

Some common business metrics you may want to reference include ROI, conversions, or productive efficiency. 

If you don’t have much experience, you can also lean on achievements and courses from degrees in business management, finance, marketing, or other related fields to show you have the right skills for the job . 

Take a look at the example below, which does an excellent job of citing metrics like market reach and increases in sales. 

A good body paragraph optimized with business metrics

Business cover letter closing

You know that a solid closing with a CTA can make a big difference in landing the sale. It can also help when writing your business cover letter. 

Ideally, you’ll want to relate back to crucial characteristics of the position and the company’s mission. For example, if you’re applying to be a business development director for a company that sells fitness equipment, you could relate back to how you want to use your strategic prospecting abilities to help the company grow and achieve its goals of helping more people live a healthy lifestyle. 

The closing below doesn’t end as strongly as you’d like since it doesn’t refer back to the specifics of the position.

Yikes, too bland! 

Thank you for reading my cover letter. I hope to hear back from you soon and would be eager to get started in this position.

Jessica Sanchez

Instead, aim for a closer that sounds eager and engaged with the role, like the one below, emphasizing enthusiasm about joining ExxonMobil’s HR team and their work environment that encourages growth. 

An eager and engaged closer for the win! 

When you sell or develop products, you want to make every effort to stand out in business. You should do the same in the hiring process and submit a cover letter to showcase your skills, even if it’s listed as optional in the job description . 

You know that following up on leads can help land a sale in business. It can also help if you haven’t heard back a week or two after submitting your resume and cover letter. Just remember to keep a professional business tone to leave a good impression. 

The business environment is fast-paced, so your cover letter shouldn’t be longer than one page. To condense what you include, try to focus on the primary needs of the position. For instance, if the company needs help boosting sales, you could emphasize your lead generation and cold calling skills in your cover letter. 

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Business Cover Letter Samples & Examples That Worked in 2024

Creating a business cover letter that's convincing enough to provoke interest and spark curiosity requires a certain finesse. It's definitely not a walk in the park, but with the right guidance, you can pen an excellent cover letter that stands out. 

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll expose you to the secrets of crafting a compelling business cover letter that gets results. Filled with useful tips, examples, and well-articulated guidelines, this guide promises to be your trusty companion in your job hunt journey.

Now, let’s delve into:

• Formatting your business cover letter properly
• Writing an effective header
• Crafting a compelling cover letter headline
• Customizing the greeting of your cover letter
• Building a strong introduction for your business cover letter
• Making your business skills and accomplishments stand out
• Writing a persuasive conclusion
• Avoiding common mistakes on a business cover letter
• Average salary and job outlook for business professionals
• Business resources for job seekers

1. How to properly format your business cover letter

A well-structured business cover letter goes beyond impressive content. Equally crucial is how you package your message, here's how to do it right:

• Consistent font and size: Stick to a single, professional font type throughout your cover letter. Typical business-standard fonts include Times New Roman, Arial, and Calibri at font sizes 10-12.
• Appropriate margins: Set 1-inch margins on all sides to give plenty of white space, making your letter easier to read.
• Single spacing: Ideally, keep the body of your cover letter single-spaced with a space between each paragraph. 
• Contact information: At the top-left corner of your cover letter, include your full name, address, phone number, and email address. For email cover letters, this information can go after your signature.
• Clear sections: Divide your cover letter into clear sections — introduction, body, and conclusion. This gives it a coherent and professional structure.

Lastly, don't forget to proofread your letter to catch any errors or typos. Remember, your business cover letter is your first impression. Make it count!

Keeping these formatting tips in mind will ensure your business cover letter is both smooth to read and easy to navigate.

Create your cover letter fast with artificial intelligence.

2. how to write an effective business cover letter header.

The header of your business cover letter sits at the topmost part of the document. It contains crucial contact details and sets the tone for your letter. So, what exactly should your header contain ? Let's delve in.

Your header should include:

• Your full name
• Your mailing address
• Your phone number
• Your professional email address
• Date of the letter
• Full name and title of the hiring manager
• Company name
• Company mailing address

Now, let's have a look at a couple of examples to differentiate the correct and incorrect ways of formatting:

Incorrect business cover letter header example

[email protected] 1234567 ABC Company Today’s date

Why is this a weak header? It lacks essential information such as your full name, your and the employer's address, and the proper positioning of these details. It's also missing the hiring manager's name and lacks structure.

Correct business cover letter header example

John Doe 167 My Street My City, State, Zip Phone: (123) 456-7890 Email: [email protected] [Today’s Date]

To: Ms. Jane Smith ABC Company 123 Their Street Their City, State, Zip

Why is this a strong cover letter header? In this example, all necessary information is included. The contact information for both the jobseeker and hiring manager is well laid out with clear structure, making it easy for the recruiter to reach out if necessary. 

Remember that the header sets the stage for your business cover letter. And so, it’s definitely worth spending some time getting it right!

3. How to write a compelling cover letter headline

After shaping a professional header, let's focus on the next crucial element: your cover letter headline . This component, particularly important in email applications, serves as your letter's "front door," enticing the reader to enter and explore further. Here's how to make it impactful:

• Be brief but compelling
• Clearly state your intent, including the job title or reference number if available
• Be professional — avoid using slang, jargon or overly casual language

Now, let's look at a few examples of weak and strong cover letter headlines:

Weak business cover letter headline examples

• Job Application
• Resume Attached
• Ready to Get to Work!

Why are these incorrect? They lack specificity. These examples don't mention the role you're applying for and are overly generic ("Job Application", "Resume Attached"). What’s more, "Hello! Ready to Get to Work!" is simply too informal and unprofessional. 

Strong business cover letter headline examples

• Certified SEA Specialist John Doe Applying for Digital Marketing Role
• Bilingual Customer Service Professional for Account Manager Role
• Project Manager with 5 Years in Tech Seeking New Challenges

Why are these examples correct? These headlines are not only concise but also indicative of what's to come in the letter body. They mention the role targeted, offer a quick peek into the candidate's qualifications or unique selling points (certification, bilingual skills, industry specific experience), and thus add an intriguing layer to the professionalism. 

Remember, a powerful headline is essentially your “elevator pitch” — it should succinctly celebrate your most relevant strengths and hint at the potential value you could bring to the role.

Find out your resume score!

4. How to customize the greeting in your business cover letter

Personalizing the greeting in your business cover letter is more than just a polite formality — it's a subtle yet powerful way to convey respect and show that you've put in the effort to research the company . 

Why is it important? A personalized greeting creates a connection, demonstrating that you're not just sending a generic application but you've taken the time to tailor your letter to this specific job and company. 

But where do you find the name of the hiring manager? Here are some sources:

• The job listing: Sometimes, the name of the hiring manager may be given in the job advertisement.
• Company website: Many companies have a team page on their website where they list key personnel.
• LinkedIn: This professional networking site is a treasure trove of such information.
• Call or email: If you can't find the information online, it may be worth making a quick phone call or sending an email to the company to ask.

Let's look at examples of personalized greetings

• Dear Hiring Manager Nelly Johnson,
• Dear Mrs. Johnson,
• Dear Nelly Johnson,

Now, what if you've searched everywhere and still can't find a name ? Here are some general, yet respectful, greetings you could use:

• Dear Hiring Manager, — It's direct and applicable to any job application.
• Dear [Company Name] Team, — Best used when you're unsure who'll be reading your cover letter, but know it'll be a team. 
• To Whom It May Concern, — A traditional phrase for unknown recipients. Use it sparingly, as it can appear overly formal or outdated.

Remember, the goal of a personalized greeting is to start the letter on a respectful note, conveying your attention to detail and respect for the reader.

5. How to write a strong introduction to your business cover letter

The opening lines of your business cover letter carry a weighty task. They serve as a gateway into your professional story and set the stage for what's to follow. This section, typically includes:

• A quick introduction of yourself, comprising a brief overview of your professional and academic history
• A clear statement on why you're applying for this particular role
• A mention of a mutual connection, if applicable

Let's delve into examples showcasing what to avoid and tips for both experienced professionals and fresh graduates:

Incorrect business cover letter introduction example

I'm writing to apply for the Business Analyst position. I have a degree in Business and I’d love to get this job.

Why is this a weak intro? This introduction lacks enthusiasm and fails to convey any unique skills or reasons why the candidate wants the specific job.

Correct introduction for an experienced professional

As a seasoned Business Analyst with a Master’s in Business Analytics and over 10 years of experience in improving operational efficiency, I was excited to find the opening at XYZ Corporation. Having long admired your commitment to innovation, I am eager to contribute my strategic insights and implement solutions that drive growth.

Why is this a strong cover letter introduction? This example showcases the candidate's qualifications, explains why they are applying, and reflects an understanding of the company's values, showing both purpose and passion.

Swinging the spotlight over to fresh graduates now, let's examine how your intro can become a dynamic showcase of your academic prowess and enthusiasm for professional growth:

Business cover letter introduction for a fresh graduate

Greetings, my name is Susan and as a recent Business Graduate from ABC University, top of my class, I am eager to apply my theoretical knowledge in a practical setting. The entry-level Business Analyst role at XYZ Corporation seems like the perfect opportunity because of your focus on mentorship and professional growth.

Why is this a great opening? Fresh graduates may not have much professional experience, but this intro turns that into a positive. It highlights academic credentials, explains why the specific role is appealing, and showcases understanding of the company's ethos.

Remember, your introduction isn't just about stating who you are. It's about grabbing attention, sparking interest, and compelling the hiring manager to continue reading.

6. How to highlight your top business skills and accomplishments

The heart of your business cover letter lies in its body — it's where the spotlight falls on your skills, achievements , and qualifications.

Format it as a concise and easy-to-read narrative, spanning one to two paragraphs. Make use of bullet points to showcase multiple achievements, but keep it down to a maximum of three to five. Your aim is to make a strong case for why you are the right person for the job.

When highlighting your skills , focus on those most relevant to the position you're applying for and which align with the main requirements listed in the job ad. 

Some relevant skills for a business professional might include

• Strategic planning
• Project management
• Financial acumen
• Business development
• Analytical thinking
• Collaboration & team leadership
• Excellent communication

When it comes to achievements, quantify them wherever possible. Use numbers , percentages, or other specific metrics to demonstrate the impact you've made.

Cover letter body paragraph example for an experienced professional

In my role as Business Development Manager at ABC Corp, I implemented strategic initiatives that resulted in a 20% increase in annual revenue. My passion for fostering profitable relationships helped secure four major account contracts. I also led a team that successfully introduced a new product line, which boosted our market share by 15%.

Now, if you're a newbie without extensive experience, don't fret. Focus on your academic achievements, internships, or voluntary work that demonstrate transferable skills. Mention relevant coursework, projects, or case studies you've worked upon during your studies.

Cover letter body paragraph example for a fresh graduate

During my final year at XYZ University, my group won the top prize in the business strategy competition. We formulated a comprehensive go-to-market strategy for a hypothetical product, which was praised for its innovation and detailed understanding of market dynamics. Additionally, my internship at DEF Ltd. allowed me to work on a potentially disruptive business model and honed my analytical skills.

Remember, the body of your cover letter should not just echo your resume; it should supplement it with a narrative that brings out your passion, personality, and professional strengths .

7. How to craft a persuasive conclusion for your business cover letter

Wrapping up your business cover letter with a strong conclusion is as essential as a dynamic opening. It's your final pitch, your closing argument that reinforces your interest in the role and leaves a lasting, positive impression.

Your conclusion should include:

• A reiteration of your interest in the role and the company
• How and when you can be reached. This could be your email address, phone number, or both
• A statement suggesting when you would like to hear from them, if applicable
• Your plan to follow up
• A formal and polite sign-off

Remember, the aim of this closing part is to reinforce your eagerness for the role, politely push for the next steps, and provide easy ways for the employer to contact you.

Here's an example of a strong cover letter conclusion

In conclusion, I'm excited about the opportunity to bring my unique mix of experience, skills, and passion to XYZ Corp as your new Business Analyst. I'm ready to leverage my analytical abilities and strategic insights for the growth and success of your team. 

You can reach me at [email protected] or (123) 456-7890. I hope to hear from you by next week, but if I don’t, I will take the initiative to follow up. 

Thank you once again for considering my application. 

Sincerely, 

[Your Name]

In essence, a conclusion is the ribbon that ties your cover letter together, creating a neat, persuasive, and memorable package for the recruiter. Make it count!

8. How to avoid common mistakes on a business cover letter

Despite good intentions, many business professionals unwittingly fall into traps that weaken their cover letters . But with a little caution, these common missteps can be avoided. Let's explore:

• Using a generic template: While templates can be handy, if used indiscriminately, they rob your cover letter of individuality. Solution: Customize your letter for each application, reflecting the specific role and company values.
• Repeating your resume: Your cover letter should complement your resume , not replicate it. Solution: Use your cover letter to share your story, explain context, or delve deeper into key achievements.
• Neglecting company research: Failing to demonstrate an understanding of the company shows a lack of initiative. Solution: Do your homework about the company and articulate why you're a good match for not only the role, but also the company culture.
• Making it all about you: While it’s important to showcase your skills and qualifications, the cover letter should balance this with how you'll add value to the company. Solution: Make the connection between your abilities and the company's needs clear.
• Overlooking typos/mistakes: Even the smallest typo can suggest a lack of attention to detail. Solution: Proofread your cover letter multiple times. Consider using proofreading tools or having someone else review it for a fresh perspective.
• Being overly formal: While maintaining a professional tone is crucial, an overly formal tone can make your letter seem impersonal. Solution: Use a conversational but professional tone to add warmth to your writing.
• Writing lengthy paragraphs: Large blocks of text can deter the reader. Solution: Break down content into shorter paragraphs or bullet points for ease of reading.

Remember, an effective business cover letter is not just error-free, but also personalized, focused, and reflective of your professional brand.

9. Average salary and outlook for business professionals

For those angling their career compass towards business and financial sectors, the future looks promising. Drawing from the freshest data, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts a growth rate in this sector that outpaces the average across all professions from 2022 through 2032.

This positive trend signals a sea of job opportunities in the industry. The numbers speak volumes, with a whopping 911,400 job openings predicted annually on average in these fields.

Rewarding compensation comes hand in hand with these opportunities. As of May 2022, business and financial professionals could expect a median annual wage of $76,850 . As a comparison, this figure notably surpasses the median yearly wage for all occupations, which is pegged at $46,310. 

In a nutshell, for those looking at a career in business, the rising job prospects coupled with lucrative salaries make this sector a promising and fulfilling path to consider in the foreseeable future.

10. Essential business resources for job seekers

In the competitive landscape of business, having a stellar resume and cover letter is just the starting point. To stay ahead, you need to tap into resources that can help you not only land your dream job but also pioneer your ongoing professional journey. Here are a few resources you should be considering:

• LinkedIn: This professional networking platform is a treasure trove for job seekers, from connecting with potential employers to exploring job postings. What’s more, you can now turn your LinkedIn profile into a polished resume within a few seconds.
• Job boards: Job boards such as Indeed or Glassdoor allow you to search for vacancies across industries and locations, offer company reviews, and even provide estimates on salary expectations.
• Industry-related groups and forums: Joining groups and forums related to business and finance can give you insights into what's new in your field and who's hiring — for instance, groups on Facebook , Reddit , or LinkedIn .
• Professional associations: Being a part of associations such as the American Business Women’s Association or Business Professionals of America can offer networking opportunities, job listings, and professional development resources.
• Local chamber of commerce: Your local Chamber of Commerce can provide valuable networking opportunities, workshops, and information about local businesses. 
• Career fairs: Attending career fairs puts you in direct contact with potential employers. Be prepared with your "elevator pitch" about who you are and your qualifications.
• Online webinars and workshops: E-learning platforms such as Coursera , Udemy , or SkillShare  offer various business and finance related webinars and workshops. These platforms not only help you hone your skills but also often feature job opportunities, allowing industry professionals to connect directly with potential employers.

Remember, it’s vital to stay agile and open to opportunities in today’s dynamic business world. These resources can provide you with the edge you need to navigate the business career landscape successfully, keeping you informed, connected, and ready to seize opportunities with both hands.

Business Cover Letter FAQ

How long should my business cover letter be.

Keep your business cover letter concise and impactful; ideally, it should be no more than one page long and contain three to four short paragraphs.

Should I include a photo on my business cover letter?

No, it's typically not recommended to include a photo on your cover letter. Stay professional by focusing on your skills and qualifications.

What if the job advertisement does not ask for a business cover letter?

Even if not explicitly requested, it's a good idea to include a cover letter. A well-written cover letter provides an opportunity to showcase your motivation, skills and qualifications in a personalized narrative.

Should I use business jargon in my cover letter?

While it's good to demonstrate your knowledge of the industry, avoid using excessive jargon. Keep your language clear, professional, and accessible — remember, the person reading your letter might not be familiar with industry-specific terminologies.

Should I use the same cover letter for every job application?

No, it's important to tailor each cover letter to the specific job you are applying for. Highlight skills and experiences that are most relevant to the job at hand, and take the opportunity to show your knowledge of and interest in the specific company.

Julia Belak

Julia is a Certified Professional Résumé Writer (CPRW™) and an active member of the Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Career Coaches (PARWCC™). She is also a passionate translator and graphic designer. Julia holds degrees in translation and interpretation and has international work experience in various countries across Europe, as well as in China and Panama. Julia formerly taught academic writing and contributed as a graphic designer to outlets such as The Business of Business. You'll often find her with a book in one hand and a specialty coffee in the other, always on the lookout for new insights.

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How to Format a Cover Letter That’ll Get You an Interview

Do you ever feel like your resume couldn’t possibly tell the whole story of who you are and why a company should hire you? That’s because it doesn’t. But a strong, well-written, and correctly formatted cover letter helps fill in some of the gaps.

“Cover letters are worth the time ,” says Muse coach Jennifer Smith. “They provide an opportunity to expand on key points from your resume, show off your personality, and solidify your interest.” Perhaps most importantly, “They show an employer you put the time and energy into applying.” And—luckily—they don’t need to be difficult to write.

Most cover letters have a similar format that make them much easier to write than you might think. And we’ve laid it out exactly—so you can get that application in already.

Read More: Cover Letters Are Hard to Write—But These Templates Make It a Breeze

How to format and organize your cover letter content

Here’s the format most hiring professionals that read your cover letter will be looking for:

Your heading goes at the top of the page and contains your contact info as well as some other basics that a hiring manager or recruiter might use to learn more about you once they’ve read your cover letter.

So this means:

• Phone number
• LinkedIn profile link (if you have one)
• Pronouns (if you’re comfortable including them)
• Personal website or portfolio link (optional)
• Relevant and professional social media profiles (optional)

Nowadays it’s very uncommon, but if you’re asked to mail a paper cover letter, you would also include in your heading the company’s information:

• Hiring manager’s name (or whomever the letter is addressed to)
• Company name
• Company street address
• Company city, state, zip code

But you’d be more likely to send your cover letter in the body of an email than by snail mail if you’re not applying through an online system. In this case, your heading info would go after your name at the end.

Start your salutation with “Hello,” “Dear,” or “Hi” for more casual companies.

Then, you’ll usually address your cover letter to the hiring manager. Alternatively, Muse coach Leto Papadopoulos recommends job seekers “open the letter with ‘Dear Hiring Team’ because even if you can uncover the name of the hiring manager, they are usually not the first to read the cover letter,” she says, and “I like to acknowledge the recruiting team!”

You can also address your cover letter to the team you’d be joining or “[Position] Hiring Manager.” But you should never start your cover letter with “ To Whom It May Concern .”

Read More: The 3 Rules of Addressing Your Cover Letter

Your introduction should be one paragraph long, include the name of the position you’re applying to, and express why you’re applying and what excites you about the opportunity. But most importantly, you want to grab your reader. You can even “kick off with a brief but attention-grabbing anecdote,” Smith says. “Show off your personality.”

Read More: 30 Genius Cover Letter Openers Recruiters Will LOVE

Body paragraphs

Write two to three body paragraphs that sell you as a candidate. “Show, don’t tell,” Smith says. “Craft a narrative about how your experience led you to apply for the job you want.” Instead of regurgitating your resume, look at the job description and pull out a few skills you specialize in that the company is looking for. Then, elaborate on them by bringing up examples of how you’ve used these skills to help your past employers (and by extension will give the reader a preview of how you’ll help them).

Wrap everything up with your conclusion paragraph. Reiterate your interest in the company and your most important qualifications. Then, “Close with a statement about contributing your skills and experiences to the success of the company in the position you’re applying for,” Smith says.

Use a professional sign-off like “Sincerely,” “Respectfully,” or “Thank you for your consideration,” then add your first and last name.

If you’re sending your cover letter in the body of an email, add any info you would’ve included in your heading below your name.

Example cover letter

Check out this cover letter example, which follows the above cover letter format:

Curtis Chen [email protected] | 999-999-9999 linkedin.com/in/curtis-chen | he/him | Baltimore, MD

Hello Arianna,

When I saw the posting for the UX designer position at CloudCo, I was immediately drawn to it because of your unique approach to online storage. CloudCo is the only player in the space right now that has promised to keep their personal storage tiers under $10—and instead pass on the cost to the larger clients. I’d love to bring my dual experience as a front-end engineer and a UX researcher to make your interface more intuitive and keep individual customers renewing their contracts.

For the last two years, I’ve worked as a UX researcher for OnlineOffice Inc, where I was part of the team that launched the updated office suite. During the development process, I interviewed more than 50 users of both OOI’s and competitors’ products. I was able to translate their desires into actionable suggestions for the design and product teams, contributing to a product launch that has already grown OOI’s user base by 120% in the first year. Through these experiences, I learned to use both qualitative and quantitative data to advocate for users and make decisions about the most important product features. As your UX designer, I’d apply this knowledge to help boost the user experience for your personal-tier products.

I also spent three years as a front-end developer on a product team at TeckyCompany. In this role, I learned what it’s like for those actually building products, including what kinds of features take the most time and work. As your UX designer, I’d use this experience to weigh design decisions and collaborate with the product team. I’m used to working at startups where, as much as you’d like to, you can’t get everything done at once, so I’ll be able to prioritize features that will help users most while still making reasonable asks of the product team.

Cloud Co’s business model has shown me that not every tech startup prioritizes its larger clients over the individual user. I’d love to bring my development and UX experience to your team to help provide the very best experience for your subscribers.

Sincerely, Curtis Chen

Read More: 4 Cover Letter Examples That’ll Make Writing Yours Way Easier

Tips for formatting your document like a pro

When you’re formatting your cover letter, you want to prioritize readability and professionalism. But you should also keep in mind that many cover letters submitted online will be uploaded to an applicant tracking system or ATS , which is software that employers use to organize and search candidate application materials. ATSs are very advanced but there’s some formatting they have trouble with.

Follow these guidelines to format your cover letter correctly for both human and computer readers:

• Font : Stick to the default fonts that come with your word processor—classics like Arial, Helvetica, Times New Roman, Cambria, Calibri, and Georgia.
• Font size: The ideal size will vary based on which font you choose, but keep it between 10 and 12 pt. Any smaller and you’ll have recruiters squinting at their screens. Any larger and they’ll be wondering if you’re trying to compensate for not having a lot to write about.
• Margins : You can’t go wrong with the usual one-inch margins all around, but you can make some slight adjustments if needed. Papadopoulos suggests decreasing the header space first.
• Alignment: All your text should be left aligned and there’s no need to indent every paragraph.
• Line spacing: Single space your cover letter (1.15 spacing works if it looks too cramped). Include an extra line between each section and paragraph.
• Length : “A cover letter should comfortably fit on one page,” Papadopoulos says. Your cover letter should be at least three paragraphs long, but generally no more than five—unless the job description says otherwise. If it’s too long, check out this guide for cutting your cover letter down .
• File format : You can submit your cover letter within the body of an email or as a separate file. But if it’s a separate file you’re uploading to an online system, stick to docx or pdf only. ATs cannot reliably “read” other file types.
• File name : Always include your name and the phrase “cover letter,” and you can also include the name of the position. Just make sure it’s easy to read and follow any instructions in the job posting.

Formatted cover letter example

Here’s how the above example looks in a properly formatted cover letter document.

• SUGGESTED TOPICS
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• Work-life Balance
• The Big Idea
• Data & Visuals
• Case Selections
• HBR Learning
• Topic Feeds
• Account Settings
• Email Preferences

How to Write a Cover Letter

Advice for tackling one of the toughest parts of the job-hunting process.

Perhaps the most challenging part of the job application process is writing an effective cover letter. And yes, you should send one. Even if only one in two cover letters gets read, that’s still a 50% chance that including one could help you. Before you start writing, find out more about the company and the specific job you want. Next, catch the attention of the hiring manager or recruiter with a strong opening line. If you have a personal connection with the company or someone who works there, mention it in the first sentence or two, and try to address your letter to someone directly. Hiring managers are looking for people who can help them solve problems, so show that you know what the company does and some of the challenges it faces. Then explain how your experience has equipped you to meet those needs. If the online application doesn’t allow you to submit a cover letter, use the format you’re given to demonstrate your ability to do the job and your enthusiasm for the role.

No one likes job hunting. Scouring through online job listings, spiffing up your résumé , prepping for grueling interviews  — none of it is fun. For many, the most challenging part of the process is writing an effective cover letter. There’s so much conflicting advice out there, it’s hard to know where to start. Do you even need one, especially if you’re applying through an online system?

• Amy Gallo is a contributing editor at Harvard Business Review, cohost of the Women at Work podcast , and the author of two books: Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People) and the HBR Guide to Dealing with Conflict . She writes and speaks about workplace dynamics. Watch her TEDx talk on conflict and follow her on LinkedIn . amyegallo

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How to Format a Cover Letter (With Examples)

Cover Letter Format Guidelines

• How to Format a Cover Letter

What to Include in Each Section

• Formatting Tips for Cover Letters

Cover Letter Template

When you are applying for a job, how you format your cover letter is important because the letter is one of the first impressions you'll make on an employer. In fact, how you format your letter is almost as important as what you write in it.

A cover letter that is formatted incorrectly, or difficult to read, can quickly eliminate you from the pool of candidates, so it's important to pay just as much attention to the formatting of your letter as to its content.

Here's information on cover letter formatting guidelines including setting page margins, choosing a font style and size, paragraph and section spacing, and more tips on how to format cover letters for employment.

Formatting includes factors such as page margins , font type and size , line, paragraph and section spacing, and document type. For example, a letter without the correct spacing between paragraphs, or with too much text on a page, is going to look cluttered. Similarly, a letter saved as a file type that is not meant for a text document (such as a .jpg or a .png) may prevent the reader from opening and viewing it. 

Adhering to typical standards in formatting is especially important considering that communication skills are important in nearly every field, and failing to compose a readable cover letter will certainly not inspire confidence in your abilities.

On the other hand, a cover letter that is saved correctly and uses sufficient white space , a simple, reasonably sized font, and an appropriate salutation and closing will make a positive impression on your potential employers.

How to Format a Cover Letter

The easiest way to format a letter is to write the letter first, and then format it. Once you have all the content ( contact information , why you are applying and qualified, signature, etc.) on the page, you can then easily adjust the margins, font, and alignment. Here's an overview of each section.

• Contact Section:  How you include your contact information will vary based on how you are sending your cover letter. If you are uploading or mailing a letter, put the information at the top of the page.

With an email cover letter, your contact information should be below your signature.

• Employer Address : How you address the cover letter will depend on how much information you have about the employer. 
• Salutation:  A  salutation is the greeting you include at the beginning of a cover letter. Here's how to write a salutation, including what to use if you don't have the name of a contact person to list.
• Body:  The body of a cover letter includes the sections where you explain why you are interested in and qualified for the job for which you are applying. Here's what to include in each section of your letter.
• Paragraphs or Bulleted Lists:  A more traditional cover letter contains written paragraphs describing your qualifications. However, there are times when bulleted lists may also be appropriate to include.
• Closing:  When you're writing a cover letter or sending an email message to apply for a job it's important to close your cover letter professionally.

Here are details on what to include in each section of your cover letter.

Cover Letter Format Example

Your Contact Information Name Address City, State Zip Code Phone Number Email Address

Employer Contact Information  (if you have it) Name Title Company Address City, State Zip Code

• Cover Letter Contact Section Examples

Salutation Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name,

Cover Letter Greeting Examples : If you do not have a contact name, you can skip the salutation entirely. Or, you can use Dear Hiring Manager, To Whom It May Concern , or one of the other examples listed in the link. Ideally, you will be able to address your cover letter to a specific person. Doing research can help you figure out who is the most appropriate person to receive the letter. Note: If you do not know the gender of your contact, you can write out the person's full name, e.g., "Dear Cory Smith" or "Dear Jordan Parish."

Body of Cover Letter The body of your cover letter lets the employer know what position you are applying for, why the employer should select you for an interview, and how you will follow up. Organize the body of your cover letter into the following paragraphs:

• First Paragraph The first paragraph of your letter should include information on why you are writing. Mention the position you are applying for and where you found the job listing. Include the name of a mutual contact, if you have one.
• Middle Paragraph(s) The next section of your cover letter should describe what you have to offer the employer. Mention specifically how your qualifications match the job you are applying for. Think of this section of the cover letter as where you're making a pitch for your fit as an employee and showing what makes you a great candidate. Make the connection between your qualifications and the job requirements clear . Use this section to interpret your resume—don't repeat it verbatim.
• Final Paragraph  Conclude your cover letter by thanking the employer for considering you for the position. Include information on how you will follow up. Optionally, you can briefly restate why you would be a good fit for the position.

Complimentary Close Respectfully yours,

• Closing Examples

Handwritten Signature  (for a hard copy letter)

Typed Signature

• Signature Examples

Formatting Tips for Cover Letters

Here are some formatting tips to keep in mind when you are writing your letter:

• Font Choices:  The details count when it comes to cover letters, so choose a professional font in a 10- or 12-point size. This is no time to break out emoticons or emojis.
• Email vs. Hard Copy Letters:  The sample letter below is formatted for a printed-out hard copy. If you are emailing your cover letter, you'll need to pay particular attention to the  subject line  of your email. See more tips for  formatting your email cover letter .
• Letter Spacing:  Your letter should be single-spaced. Include a space between every paragraph, and in general, a space between each section of the letter. (That is, there should be a line break between the address and the date, and then again between the date and the salutation.)
• Email Spacing: In an email cover letter, where many sections are left off, you will want to include a space between the salutation and between each paragraph, and another space before your complimentary close. 
• Proofreading:  Remember that note about details counting in cover letters? Make sure to avoid errors by carefully proofreading your letter.

Use your word processor's spell check to catch common errors, and then consider reading your letter aloud—or having a friend review it—to catch additional errors.

Download the cover letter template (compatible with Google Docs or Word Online), or read the example below.

@ The Balance 2020

Cover Letter Sample (Text Version)

Molly Smith 21 Spring Street Anycity, NY 12000 555-122-3333 msmith@email.com 

May 11, 2024

John Brown Sales Manager Acme Corp. 321 Main Street Anycity, NY 12000

Dear Mr. Brown,

I wish to apply for the sales position advertised on Monster.com. Terry Johnson suggested that I contact you directly, as we have worked together, and he felt that I would be a good fit with your team.

For the past two years, I have been working in sales for Goodman & Co. I have consistently exceeded my targets, and I was recognized last quarter for outstanding service. As an avid cyclist and user of many of your products, I'm aware that Acme Corp. is a company with tremendous potential. I am confident that my experience, communication skills, and ability to convey product benefits effectively would enable me to excel in the sales role.

I would be delighted to discuss with you how I might be an asset to the Acme Corp. sales team. Thank you for your consideration; I look forward to hearing from you.

Respectfully yours,

Signature (hard copy letter)

Molly Smith

CareerOneStop. " How Do I Write a Cover Letter? "

60+ Cover Letter Examples in 2024 [For All Professions]

No matter where you are in your career, or what job you’re applying for, submitting a cover letter with your resume is a must . 

Done right, a cover letter will effectively complement your resume and explain to the hiring manager in more detail why you’re the right person for the job.

Writing a cover letter, however, is easier said than done. 

You have to effectively demonstrate that you’ll be able to perform the responsibilities listed in the job description and that you’d be a better fit for the company compared to other candidates. 

And unless you’re a professional writer, this can be a very hard task.

Fortunately, we created these cover letter examples to inspire you and help you get started with your own cover letter!

Let’s dive in!

21 Cover Letter Examples 

#1. career change cover letter example .

Here’s what this cover letter does right:

• Has an ideal length. This cover letter includes all the relevant information for the hiring manager without getting into too much detail.
• Relevant introduction. The candidate explains that they’re changing careers and why they want to work in this new field from the get-go.
• Explains their related experience. The candidate explains how their previous experience in retail sales can help them succeed in PR.

Check out our guide video guide to learn how to write a Cover Letter that gets you HIRED!

#2. Recent Graduate Cover Letter Example 

• Personally greets the hiring manager. The candidate has taken the time to find the hiring manager’s name and address them by it, which makes the opening of the cover letter much more personal.
• Wraps up with a call to action. The candidate wraps up the cover letter by suggesting a meeting with the hiring manager, which makes them more memorable.
• Explains why the candidate is the right person for the internship. In this cover letter for an internship , the candidate explains how they’ve previously interned in a different firm, which gives them the experience to succeed in this role.

Have you just graduated from college? Make sure to check out our guide on writing an entry-level cover letter from start to finish! 

#3. Middle Management Cover Letter Example

• Use of bullet points. The candidate presents the information in a concise and reader-friendly way, making it easy for the hiring manager to find their key achievements. 
• Formal closing. The candidate has used a formal and polite tone to conclude their cover letter, which combined with a call to action makes them look professional and passionate about getting the job. 
• Explains how the company would benefit from hiring them. The candidate outlines exactly what they could do for the company, which not only highlights their skills but also shows they’ve done their research on the company’s needs. 

#4. Business Manager Cover Letter Example

• Detailed header. In addition to the must-have contact details, this candidate has also included their professional Twitter and LinkedIn profiles, making it easy for the hiring manager to look more closely into their career. 
• Concise and to the point. This candidate has used short paragraphs and bullet points to make the cover letter easy to skim through. 
• Wraps up with a call to action. By letting the hiring manager know they’ll be contacting them soon, they’re more likely to make an impression.

Check out this article for a complete writing guide and an inspiring business manager resume sample. 

#5. Ph.D. Cover Letter Example

Here’s what this cover letter does right: 

• Attention-grabbing introduction. In the opening paragraph, this candidate explains why they’re passionate about pursuing a Ph.D. in great detail. 
• Explains the candidate’s qualifications in detail. The candidate builds on their passion by explaining how they’re also qualified for the degree because of their education history and academic achievements. 

#6. Senior Executive Cover Letter Example

• Professional and minimalistic template. This senior executive has used a professional but minimalistic template that lets their work experience do the talking. 
• Achievement-oriented opening paragraph. Right from the get-go, this candidate explains what makes them so good at their job, effectively grabbing the hiring manager’s attention.  
• Wraps up with a call to action. By suggesting to have a meeting and discussing how they can help the company meet its goals, the candidate stands more chance to make a positive lasting impression. 

#7. Architect Cover Letter Example 

• Modern resume template. This architect has picked a template that perfectly matches his industry, as it is professional and modern at the same time. 
• A personal greeting to the HR. They address the hiring manager by their first name, which helps make a better first impression. 
• Measurable achievements. By quantifying their achievements, the candidate proves their achievements instead of just claiming them.

Struggling with your architect resume ? Check out our full guide!

#8. Business Analyst Cover Letter Example 

• Detailed contact information. The candidate has listed both their LinkedIn and Twitter profiles, providing the HR manager an opportunity to learn more about the candidate.  
• Mentions what the candidate can do for the company. This cover letter doesn’t just explain why the job would be great for the candidate, but also how the candidate would benefit the company. Win-win, right? 
• Error-free and reader-friendly. It’s super important for the cover letter to have no spelling or grammatical errors and be reader-friendly. This candidate made sure they did both.

Need a resume alongside your cover letter? Check out our guide on how to write a business analyst resume . 

#9. Consultant Cover Letter Example 

• Professional cover letter template. Being an experienced consultant, this candidate has picked a professional template that doesn’t steal the spotlight from their achievements. 
• Experience and achievement-oriented. The candidate has effectively elaborated on their top achievements relevant to the job. 
• Highlights the candidate’s passion. To show they want the job, this candidate has also explained how passionate they are about their profession.

For more advice on landing a job as a consultant, check out our guide to writing a consultant resume .

#10. Digital Marketing Cover Letter Example

• Creative cover letter template. This digital marketer highlights their originality by picking a creative cover letter template. 
• Lists the candidate’s awards. The candidate has taken advantage of the cover letter to list their most noteworthy awards in the industry. 
• Concludes with a call to action. As they used a call to action to conclude their cover letter, the HR manager will be more likely to remember them.

Want to take your digital marketing resume to the next level? Check out our guide!

#11. Graphic Designer Cover Letter Example 

• Detailed contact information. The candidate has included additional contact information such as their website link, as well as their LinkedIn and Twitter profiles.  
• Ideal length. This cover letter is concise, which means that the HR manager is more likely to read it from start to finish.  
• Draws attention to the candidate’s strong points. Although this candidate is a recent college graduate, they’ve managed to effectively show that they have enough knowledge and experience to do the job right.

Read this guide to write a graphic designer resume that’s just as good as your cover letter!

#12. Administrative Assistant Cover Letter Example

• Minimalistic cover letter template. The candidate picked a well-designed but minimalistic template for their cover letter. 
• Focused on skills and achievements. This cover letter is packed with the candidate’s skills and achievements, proving he can be an excellent employee. 
• Formal closing. Politeness can go a long way and the candidate has used this to their advantage to make an impression. 

Our article on how to write an administrative assistant resume can help you take your job application to the next level.

#13. Front Desk Cover Letter Example

• Modern cover letter template. This template incorporates memorable colors and clear lines, which make the cover letter very visually appealing. 
• Attention-grabbing introduction. Using an attention-grabbing intro, the candidate is more likely to make an impression. 
• Calls the HR to action. By including a call to action, the candidate is reminding the HR of their immediate availability. 

#14. Human Resources Cover Letter Example

• It is concise and to the point. The candidate doesn’t dwell on unimportant details the HR won’t be interested in. 
• Uses a traditional cover letter template. The cover letter design is more on the conventional side, which fits the industry better. 
• Highlights the candidate’s strong points. The candidate has rich work experience and they use the cover letter to elaborate on it. 

This HR resume guide can help you get your resume just right.

#15. Sales Agent Cover Letter Example 

• Attention-grabbing cover letter template. As a salesperson, this candidate knows how important first impressions are, so they’ve picked a catchy cover letter template. 
• Has an ideal length. At the same time, they’ve also made sure to keep their cover letter at just the right length. 
• Lists the candidate’s career highlights. The candidate has made perfect use of the space by mentioning their most impressive professional achievements. 

Check out this sales agent resume guide to create an attention-grabbing sales resume .

#16. Receptionist Cover Letter Example

• Modern but minimalistic cover letter template. The template’s design hints the candidate is creative but professional at the same time. 
• Uses a catchy introduction. The candidate has used an attention-grabbing opening paragraph to catch HR’s attention. 
• Concludes the cover letter formally. The candidate proves that they’re polite and well-spoken, a quality very much important for the role they’re applying for. 

Take your receptionist resume to the next level with this receptionist resume guide .

#17. Information Technology Cover Letter Example

• Mentions measurable achievements. Numbers make an impact, which is why this candidate has included measurable achievements. 
• Lists both soft and hard skills. The candidate has mentioned a great mix of soft and hard skills, showing how well-rounded they are. 
• Contains relevant contact information. The candidate’s GitHub, website name, LinkedIn, and Twitter profiles are all great additions to the resume. 

Looking for tips to help you write a great IT resume ? Check out our guide!

#18. Real Estate Cover Letter Example

• Ideal length. Short and to the point, this cover letter is bound to get noticed by the HR manager. 
• Wraps up with a call to action. This candidate reinforces the HR to call them back through a final call to action. 
• Mentions the right skills. On top of their sales accomplishments, the candidate touch upon important soft skills such as customer service and communication . 

This real estate resume guide will help you take your resume from good to great.

#19. Teacher Cover Letter Example

• Mentions relevant contact information details. This candidate has included optional (but relevant) contact information details, such as their LinkedIn, Quora, and Medium profiles. 
• Achievement-oriented. The candidate has elaborated on their achievements in more detail throughout their cover letter. 
• Highlights the candidate’s passion. For some jobs, being passionate is much more important than for others. Teaching is one of these jobs, which is why this candidate explains their passion for the job. 

Our guide on how to write a teacher resume has all the tips you need to land the job.

#20. Project Manager Cover Letter Example

• Leverages a catchy introduction. Through a catchy introductory paragraph, this candidate is sure to grab the HR’s attention and get them to read the rest of their cover letter.
• Lists measurable accomplishments. This candidate explains exactly what they’ve achieved using numbers and hard data. 
• Personally greets the HR. A personal greeting sounds much better than “Dear Sir/Madam,” and the candidate knows this. 

This guide on how to write a project manager resume can help you perfect your appication.

#21. Paralegal Cover Letter Example

• Minimalistic cover letter template. This cover letter design looks good but doesn’t steal the show from the candidate’s abilities.
• Mentions the candidate’s academic achievements and extracurricular activities. Although the candidate is a recent graduate, they’ve used the cover letter to explain they have enough skills and achievements to do the job.
• Lists measurable achievements. The candidate proves they did well in their internship by mentioning quantifiable achievements.

Check out this paralegal resume guide to perfect yours.

40+ More Cover Letter Examples and Guides 

Couldn’t find a cover letter example for your field? Do not worry.

Below you can find a number of other cover letter examples for different fields and industries:

• Acting Cover Letter Examples
• Accounting Cover Letter Examples
• Administrative Assistant Cover Letter Examples
• Architecture Cover Letter Examples
• Attorney Cover Letter Examples
• Barista Cover Letter Examples
• Bartender Cover Letter Examples
• Business Cover Letter Examples
• Business Analyst Cover Letter Examples
• College Student Cover Letter Examples
• Computer Science Cover Letter Examples
• Construction Cover Letter Examples
• Consultant Cover Letter Examples
• Customer Service Cover Letter Examples
• Data Analyst Cover Letter Examples
• Data Entry Cover Letter Examples
• Dental Assistant Cover Letter Examples
• Digital Marketing Cover Letter Examples
• Elementary Teacher Cover Letter Examples
• Engineering Cover Letter Examples
• Executive Assistant Cover Letter Examples
• Finance Cover Letter Examples
• Graphic Design Cover Letter Examples
• Healthcare Cover Letter Examples
• Human Resources Cover Letter Examples
• IT Cover Letter Examples
• Law Cover Letter Examples
• Management Cover Letter Examples
• Marketing Cover Letter Examples
• Mechanical Engineering Cover Letter Examples
• Medical Assistant Cover Letter Examples
• Nurse Practitioner Cover Letter Examples
• Physician Cover Letter Examples
• Project Manager Cover Letter Examples
• Receptionist Cover Letter Examples
• Retail Cover Letter Examples
• Sales Cover Letter Examples
• Social Work Cover Letter Examples
• Software Engineer Cover Letter Examples
• Substitute Teacher Cover Letter Examples
• Teacher Assistant Cover Letter Examples
• Team Leader Cover Letter Example

What is a Cover Letter? 

A cover letter is a one-page document that you submit as part of your job application, alongside your resume . 

Its purpose is to introduce you and briefly summarize your professional background. On average, your cover letter should be from 250 to 400 words long .

A good cover letter can give the hiring manager more insight into what makes you a good candidate and help them make up their mind about whether they should invite you for an interview. A bad cover letter, though, will get ignored (at best) and lose you the job (at worst).

So, to make sure this doesn’t happen, it’s essential to know how to write a convincing cover letter.

The first thing to remember is that a cover letter is a supplement to your resume, not a replacement. Meaning, you shouldn’t just repeat whatever is mentioned in your resume and call it a day. 

Optimally, you should use your cover letter to shed more light on your skills and qualifications, as well as explain anything you didn’t have space for in your resume (e.g. a career gap or why you’re changing careers).

If you’re writing a cover letter for the first time, though, putting all this together might seem pretty tough. 

Fortunately, you can follow our tried-and-tested format to make the experience much easier:

• Header - Input your contact information.
• Greeting the hiring manager - Open the cover letter with a “Dear Sir or Madam,” or use the hiring manager’s name if you know what that is.
• Opening paragraph - Grab the hiring manager’s attention by getting straight to the point. Mention what your professional experiences are, and what role you’re applying for.
• The second paragraph - Explain why you’re the perfect candidate for the job. Mention your top 2-3 achievements, your top skills, why you want to work in that specific industry, and whatever else is relevant.
• The third paragraph - End your cover letter with a call to action. E.g. “I would love to meet personally and discuss how I can help Company X.”
• Formal closing - Something like this: “Thank you for your consideration. Best, John Doe.”

Here’s what this looks like in practice:

9 Tips to Write a Cover Letter (the Right Way)

Now that we've covered the basics, let's talk about cover letter tips . Below, we'll give you all the knowledge you need to take your cover letter from "OK" to "great."

#1. Pick the right template

A good cover letter is all about leaving the right first impression.

And what’s a better way to leave a good impression than through a professional, well-formatted, and visual template?

You can simply pick one of our tried-and-tested cover letter templates and you’ll be all set!

#2. Add your contact details on the header

The best way to start your cover letter is through a header. 

Here’s what you want to include there:

• Phone Number
• Name of the hiring manager / their professional title
• Name of the company you’re applying to

Optionally, you can also include the following:

• Social Media Profiles - Any type of profile that’s relevant to your field. Social Profiles on websites like LinkedIn, GitHub (for developers), Medium (for writers), etc.
• Personal Website - If you have a personal website that somehow adds value to your application, you can mention it. Let’s say you’re a professional writer. In that case, you’d want to link to your content portfolio site or blog.

#3. Greet the hiring manager the right way

Once you’ve listed all your relevant contact information, it’s time to address the hiring manager reading your cover letter. 

A good practice here is to find the hiring manager’s name and address them directly instead of using the traditional “dear sir or madam.” This shows that you’re really invested in the company and that you took your time to do some research about the job.

So, how can you find out the hiring manager’s name?

One way to do this is by looking up the head of the company’s relevant department on LinkedIn. Let’s say you’re applying for the position of Communication Specialist at Novoresume. The hiring manager is probably the Head of Communications or the Chief Communications Office.

Or let’s say you’re applying for the position of server at a restaurant. In that case, you’d be looking to find out who the restaurant manager is.

If this doesn’t work, you can also check out the “Team” page on the company website; there’s a good chance you’ll at least find the right person there.

If you still can’t find out the hiring manager’s name, here are several other greetings you can use:

• Dear [Department] Hiring Manager
• Dear Hiring Manager
• To whom it may concern
• Dear [Department] Team

#4. Create an attention-grabbing introduction

Recruiters get hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of applications. Chances are, they’re not going to be reading every single cover letter end-to-end.

So, it’s essential to catch their attention from the very first paragraph.

The problem with most cover letter opening paragraphs, though, is that they’re usually extremely generic, often looking something like this: 

Hey, my name is Jonathan and I’d like to work as a Sales Manager at XYZ Inc. I’ve worked as a sales manager at MadeUpCompany Inc. for 5+ years, so I believe that I’d be a good fit for the position.

As you can probably tell, this opening paragraph doesn’t tell the hiring manager anything other than that you’ve worked the job before - and that’s not really helpful in setting you apart from other candidates. 

What you want to do, instead, is start off with 2-3 of your top achievements to really grab the reader’s attention. Preferably, the achievements should be as relevant as possible to the position. 

For example:

My name’s Michael and I’d like to help XYZ Inc. hit and exceed its sales goals as a Sales Manager. I’ve worked with Company X, a fin-tech company, for 3+ years. As a Sales Representative, I generated an average of $30,000+ in sales per month (beating the KPIs by around 40%). I believe that my previous industry experience, as well as my excellence in sales, makes me the right candidate for the role of X at Company Y.

The second example shows how the candidate is a top performer. The first just shows that they’ve worked a sales job before.

Which one are YOU more likely to invite for an interview?

#5. Show you’re the perfect person for the job

One great thing about cover letters is that they allow you to expand more on the top achievements from your resume and really show the hiring manager that you’re the right person for the job. 

A good way to do that is to first read the job ad and really understand what skills/experiences are required, and then to ensure that your cover letter touches upon the said skills or experiences.

In my previous role as a Facebook Marketing Expert at XYZ Inc. I handled customer acquisition through ads, managing a monthly Facebook ad budget of $20,000+. As the sole digital marketer at the company, I managed the ad creation and management process end-to-end. This means I created the ad copy and images, as well as picked the targeting, ran optimization trials, and so on.

Other than Facebook advertising, I’ve also delved into other online PPC channels, including:

• Google Search

#6. Explain why you’re a great company fit

The HR manager doesn’t only look at whether you’ll be good at the job or not. They’re looking for someone that’s also a good fit for the company culture.

After all, employees that don’t fit in are bound to quit, sooner or later. This ends up costing the company a ton of money, up to 50% of the employee’s annual salary . 

To convince the hiring manager that you’re a great company fit, do some research on the company and find out what it is you like about them, or about working there. You want to know things like:

• What’s the company’s business model?
• What’s the company's product or service? Have you used it?
• What’s the culture like? Will someone micro-manage your work, or will you have autonomy on how you get things done?

Then, turn your top reasons for liking to work there into text and add them to your cover letter! 

#7. Wrap up with a call to action

To make the end of your cover letter as memorable as possible, you want to:

• Wrap up any points you couldn't in the previous paragraphs. Mention anything you’ve left out that you think could help the hiring manager make up your mind.
• Thank the hiring manager for their time. After all, it never hurts to be polite. 
• Finish the cover letter with a call to action. A call to action is a great way to make your cover letter ending as memorable as possible. 

#8. Write a formal closing

Once you’re done with the final paragraph, all you have to do is write down a formal “goodbye” and you’re good to go.

Feel free to use one of the most popular conclusions in a cover letter:

• Best Regards,
• Kind Regards,

#9. Proofread your cover letter

Last but not least, make sure to always proofread each and every document that you’ll be including in your job application - cover letter included. 

The last thing you want is to be claiming you’re a great candidate for the job with a cover letter full of typos! 

For an even more comprehensive guide on how to write an impactful cover letter , check out our article ! 

Cover Letter Writing Checklist 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you still have some questions about cover letters? Check out the answers below:

1. How do I write a simple cover letter? 

To write a cover letter that’s simple but also professional, make sure to include a header with your personal information, a formal greeting to the hiring manager, an attention-grabbing opening paragraph, a second paragraph explaining why you’re a good candidate for the job, and a formal closing (preferably with a call to action). 

2. What are the 3 parts of a cover letter? 

The three parts of a cover letter are: 

• The introduction , namely the header, the greeting to the hiring manager, and the opening paragraph. 
• The sales pitch is usually the body of the cover letter. 
• The conclusion involves a formal closing and a signature line.

3. What makes a great cover letter?

A great cover letter should be personalized for each job you’re applying for, instead of being overly generic. It’s also preferable to address the hiring manager by their name and not use the overly-used “Dear Sir/Madam.”

To make a great first impression, you should mention 1-2 of your top achievements in your opening paragraph - the more job-specific they are, the better. Also, don’t stop at showing the hiring manager why you’re a great candidate for the job. Make sure to also talk about how you’re a good culture fit for the company.

Last but not least, wrap up your closing paragraph with a call to action to give the hiring manager a little extra something to remember you by. 

4. When is a cover letter necessary?

Unless the job ad specifically states otherwise, you should always include a cover letter with your job application .

Even if the hiring manager doesn’t read it, you will look more professional simply by including one.

And that’s a wrap! We hope our cover letter examples and writing tips will inspire you to write a cover letter that will land you your next job.

If you’re looking for more invaluable career advice and articles, make sure to check out our career blog , or any of these related articles: 

• How to Write a Resume
• Cover Letter Mistakes to Avoid at All Costs
• Cover Letter Format (w/ Examples & Free Templates)

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Career Center

What is a resume.

Your resume is a concise summary of your education, experience, skills and accomplishments. It acts as a marketing tool to entice your reader to invite you to an interview!

General Resume Guidelines

• One page for recent graduates; two pages if you have extensive work history.
• Make your resume layout easy to read: Provide clear section headings. Use bullet points instead of blocks of text. Use 0.5-1.0” margins. Format text in 10-12 point font, with your name in 14-20 point font.
• Proofread to eliminate typographical, spelling or grammatical errors. Don’t rely on spell-check.
• Tailor contents to each job/application. Incorporate keywords and phrases from the job description.
• List information in reverse chronological order, beginning with the most recent.
• Organize information according to what is most relevant to the position and be selective about what you include.
• Use consistent verb tense - use past tense for roles completed and present tense for positions you currently hold.
• Some job boards and employer sites ask you to upload a plain text version of your resume.
• Templates are not recommended as they are often designed for people with more work experience and the formatting may be less flexible for your needs. Refer to our resume samples instead.
• Federal resumes follow their own content and formatting guidelines. View a sample federal resume .
• Resumes for international opportunities may differ by country.
• A CV, or Curriculum Vitae , is often longer and more focused on academic achievements.
• Please seek support from a career advisor to help determine the resume format and/or length that is right for you.

Additional Resources

• Highlighting your Transferable Skills
• Accomplishment Statements
• Resume Verbs List
• Resume and CV Samples
• Cover Letters and Other Materials
• YouTube Tutorials

There is no one perfect resume or resume format, but below are some guidelines and best practices for creating a resume that works for you.

Building Your Resume: Essential Sections

The following sections are essential to include on every resume or CV. Click on the sections below to view tips and best practices.

Header & Contact Information

Must include: name, city/state, phone number, email

Optional elements: LinkedIn URL, online portfolio

• Make sure email, phone number and webpage are “employer appropriate” and typo-free
• Full address is optional; city and state are sufficient
• Voicemail should be set up with a greeting that includes your first and last name
• Do not include social security number, birth date, gender, marital status, etc.

Must include:

• Name of school, degree earned, major and minor, expected graduation date
• GPA is required for some fields
• List your highest degree first followed by other degrees you have received (do not include high school)

Optional elements:

• Education abroad
• Related coursework (names only, not course numbers)
• Academic honors
• Spell out the full name of university, degree and major
• Position title, organization name, start/end dates
• 2-5 “ accomplishment statements ” in bullet point form
• List experiences in reverse chronological order (most recent first)
• List your highest degree first followed by other degrees you have received
• Include paid or unpaid positions, internships, military service, research and leadership experiences related to your objectives

Building Your Resume: Additional Sections

The following categories can be included on a resume. Choose the categories that best fit your goals, skills and experience.

Professional Profile or Objective Statement

Professional Profile:

• Brief 3-5 sentence summary to advance and organize the key ideas for your reader.
• Includes highlights of your experience, education, qualifications and career objectives that are most relevant to a specific field or position.

Objective Statement:

• A one-line description of the position you’re applying for
• Typically includes the job title and company name
• Your resume can include EITHER a Professional Profile OR an Objective Statement – but not both.
• Any skills you have that are listed in the job description
• Only the skills you can perform with little or no supervision
• Use exact words/phrases from the job description. Some employers use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that scan your document for keywords.
• Be sure to include your transferable skills on your resume.
• Skills may be grouped into sub-categories such as laboratory skills; computer and software skills; research techniques; language skills; communication skills; and administrative or professional skills.
• Consider including proficiency level (expert, proficient, intermediate, beginner), especially with technical skills.

Relevant Projects

• Project title, department/class name, start/end dates
• List projects in reverse chronological order (most recent first)
• Class or personal projects can be a great way to demonstrate evidence of knowledge or skills that are relevant to the position you are applying for.

Honors and Awards

• Name of award, grant, or scholarship
• Date received
• If space allows, include a brief description of the award.
• This can be its own section or included under Education.

Publications and Presentations

• Article or presentation title, name of publication or conference/meeting, date
• Describe applicable skills, methods and techniques
• List in reverse chronological order (most recent first)

Volunteer Activities or Community Service

• Organization name, start/end dates
• This section is helpful to include if you participate in meaningful community engagement activities not related to your career goals.
• Any career-related volunteer activities should be listed in the Experience section.
• List activities that require significant/ongoing time commitment, not single events.
• A list of 3-5 professional references should be prepared as a separate document. Do not include references on your resume.
• Do not list “References available upon request.” If an employer wants this information, they will ask for it. 

Should You Include a Cover Letter?

When applying to a position, unless specifically requested not to do so, you should always include a cover letter. If only one document can be uploaded for an online application, you can combine your cover letter and resume into one PDF. Learn more about what content to include in a cover letter .

Redirect Notice

Format attachments.

You'll find several kinds of fields in your grant application forms - check boxes, dates, data entry fields, and attachments. This page provides guidance on attachments: documents that are prepared outside the grant application using whatever editing software you desire (e.g., Microsoft Word), converted to PDF format,  and then added or uploaded to your application. We require PDF format to preserve document formatting and a consistent reading experience for reviewers and staff.

We have very specific attachment formatting requirements. Failure to follow these requirements may lead to application errors upon submission or withdrawal of your application from funding consideration.

• We do not require a specific citation format.
• The use of "et al." in place of listing all authors of a publication is acceptable practice.
• Most style guides include format guidance for citations and all formats are acceptable.
• SciENcv , a tool to prepare biosketches for NIH and other agencies, uses a standard format used by the National Library of Medicine (see Citing Medicine ). If your organization does not already have a standard, you may want to consider this one.
• Remember to comply with our public access policy by including the PMC reference number (PMCID) when citing applicable papers that you author or that arise from your NIH-funded research.

Combining Information into a Single Attachment

• If you need to combine information from different sources into a single document prior to uploading, do not use “bundling” or “portfolio” features which combine multiple documents into a single file by providing links to the individual files.

Electronic Signatures

• Electronic signatures on PDF attachments within your application are not allowed.
• To adhere to policies requiring electronic signatures on PDF attachments (e.g., electronically-signed other support format pages), you can electronically sign the document and then “flatten” the PDF .
• Documents with signatures (e.g., letters of support) can be printed, signed, scanned and attached in PDF format.
• Save all document attachments with descriptive filenames of 50 characters or less (including spaces).
• Use unique filenames for all attachments in an application (or within a component of a multi-project application).
• Use any of the following characters: A-Z, a-z, 0-9, underscore, hyphen, space, period, parenthesis, curly braces, square brackets, tilde, exclamation point, comma, apostrophe, at sign, number sign, dollar sign, percent sign, plus sign, and equal sign.
• If including spaces, use one space (not two or more) between words or characters. Do not begin the filename with a space or include a space immediately before the .pdf extension.
• Avoid the use of ampersand (&) since it requires special formatting (i.e., &amp).
• Ensure file size is greater than 0 bytes - we cannot accept a 0 byte attachment.
• Keep attachment file size to 100 MB or less.

Flattened PDFs

A PDF that has fillable fields, electronic signatures, text boxes or images inserted, becomes layered with each of these elements representing a layer. The existence of these layers interferes with the handling of the documents in eRA systems. Consequently, PDF documents included in applications, progress reports, and other information collected in eRA Commons must be flattened. A flattened PDF is simply one in which all the layers are merged together into a single flat layer. Many simple PDFs are already flattened - all the information is contained in a single layer. Uploading a PDF that isn’t flattened may result in an eRA Commons error message. You will need to replace your PDF with a flattened version to complete the submission process.

Font (Size, Color, Type density) and Line Spacing

Adherence to font size, type density, line spacing, and text color requirements is necessary to ensure readability and fairness. Although font requirements apply to all attachments, they are most important and most heavily scrutinized in attachments with page limits.

Text in your attachments must follow these minimum requirements:

• Some PDF conversion software reduces font size. It is important to confirm that the final PDF document complies with the font requirements.
• Type density: Must be no more than 15 characters per linear inch (including characters and spaces).
• Line spacing: Must be no more than six lines per vertical inch.
• Text color: No restriction. Though not required, black or other high-contrast text colors are recommended since they print well and are legible to the largest audience.
• Palatino Linotype

Legibility is of paramount importance. Applications that include PDF attachments that do not conform to the minimum requirements listed above may be withdrawn from consideration.

Format Pages

• Some attachment instructions refer to required format pages (e.g., biosketch, other support, training data tables).

Headers and Footers

• Do not include headers or footers in your attachments. We add headers, footers, page numbers, bookmarks, and a table of contents when we assemble your grant application upon submission.
• Some funding opportunities and form instructions provide guidance on organizing the content of attachments including specific headings that must be included.

Hypertext, Hyperlinks, and URLs

• Refer to NOT-OD-20-174: Reminder: NIH Policy on Use of Hypertext in NIH Grant Applications .
• Hyperlinks and URLs are only allowed when specifically noted in funding opportunities and/or form field instructions. It is highly unusual for a funding opportunity to allow links in Specific Aims, Research Strategy, and other page-limited attachments.
• Hyperlinks and URLs may not be used to provide information necessary to application review. Applications must be self-contained and reflect the information available at time of review.
• Reviewers are not obligated to view linked sites and are cautioned that they should not directly access a website (unless the link to the site was specifically requested in application instructions) as it could compromise their anonymity.
• NIH ( http://www.nih.gov/ )
• http://www.nih.gov/

Figures (e.g., Images, Graphics, Charts, Graphs, and Tables)

• Images and other figures must be readable as printed on an 8.5” x 11” page at normal (100%) scale.
• Figures should be included in the Research Strategy, Program Plan, or equivalent attachment and count towards page limits.
• Figures should not be included in the Specific Aims attachment. Figures can interfere with the NIH post-award process to categorize awards in RePORT .
• Unless otherwise stated in the funding opportunity, the Project Summary/Abstract and Project Narrative attachments should only include text (no figures). Figures can interfere with NIH post-award process to categorize awards in RePORT .
• Applicants should use image compression such as JPEG or PNG to reduce overall application file size.
• For advice on creating effective figures, refer to Tips for Tables, Charts, and Figures .
• Consider including Accessibility elements like structural headers and meaningful Alt Text in your figures to maximize visual and descriptive clarity for all readers.

Language and Style

• Use English. (See 2 CFR 200.111, English language .)
• Avoid jargon.
• Spell out acronyms the first time they are used in each application section or attachment. Note the appropriate abbreviation in parentheses. The abbreviation may be used in the section or attachment thereafter. Find a list of Abbreviations used in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Marking Up Attachments

• Do not markup your PDF documents with comments, sticky notes, or other features that are added on top of your PDF document content. This information may not be retained in your final application image.
• Do not use bracketing, indenting, highlighting, bolding, italicizing, underlining, margin lines, change in typography, font, or font color, or any other type of markup to identify changes in Resubmission Applications .

Orientation

• Both portrait and landscape attachments are accepted. However, keep in mind that landscape can be difficult to read online and may require reviewers and staff to scroll to see all available text.

Page Limits and Lines of Text Limits

• ​Page limits defined in a funding opportunity should be followed when different than those found in the Table of Page Limits . Page limits defined in a related NIH Guide notice should be followed if different than either the Table of Page Limits or the funding opportunity.
• ​If no page limit for an attachment is listed in either the Table of Page Limits, Section IV of the funding opportunity under Page Limitations, or in a related NIH Guide notice, you can assume the attachment does not have a limit.
• Some page limits apply to multiple attachments that when combined must stay within a designated limit. You may want to prepare your information in a single document to ensure you are within the page limit, then later break the information up into the various separate attachments. Our systems will accommodate a certain amount of white space resulting from splitting the information into the separate attachments when verifying compliance with a limit.
• We systematically check many page limit requirements and provide error or warning messages to minimize incomplete or non-compliant applications. These systematic checks may not address all page limit requirements for a specific opportunity and do not replace the checks done by staff after submission. You must comply with all documented page limits and should not rely solely on system validations.
• Page limits are strictly enforced to include all text included on the page including any headers. Limits measured in lines of text are not systematically enforced. In the case of the Project Summary/Abstract and Narrative attachments on the R&R Other Project Information form, we only systematically enforce egregious issues (text exceeds one page). Our manual checks would not remove an application from consideration if only the header information put the content over the specified line limit.
• When preparing an administrative supplement application, follow the Table of Page Limits using the activity code of the parent award and any additional limits specified in the funding opportunity or a related notice.
• Do not use the appendix or other sections of your application to circumvent page limits ( NOT-OD-11-080 ) .

Paper Size and Margins

• Use paper (page) size no larger than standard letter paper size (8 ½" x 11”) .
• Provide at least one-half inch margins ( ½" ) — top, bottom, left, and right — for all pages. No applicant-supplied information can appear in the margins.
• Avoid scanning text documents to produce the required PDFs. It is best to produce documents using your word processing software and then convert the documents to PDF. Scanning paper documents may hamper automated processing of your application for agency analysis and reporting.
• We recognize that sometimes scanning is necessary, especially when including letters of support or other signed documents on business letterhead.

Security Features

• Our systems must be able to open and edit your attached documents in order to generate your assembled application image for agency processing and funding consideration.
• Disable all security features in your PDF documents. Do not encrypt or password protect your documents. Using these features to protect your documents also prevents us from opening and processing them.

Single versus Multi-Column Page Format

• A single-column page format easily adapts to various screen sizes and is highly encouraged.
• Multi-column formats, especially for information spanning multiple pages, can be problematic for online review.
• Videos cannot be embedded in an application, but videos are accepted under limited circumstances as post-submission material. For additional guidance, check NOT-OD-24-067 .
• The cover letter submitted with the application must include information about the intent to submit a video. If this is not done, a video will not be accepted.
• Key images, “stills,” and a brief description of each video must be included within the page limits of the Research Strategy. Sufficient descriptive information must be provided within the Research Strategy to understand the information presented in the video, as not all reviewers may be able to access the video, depending on technological constraints.