cover letter text box

How to Write a Cover Letter: A Comprehensive Guide with Examples (2024)

Crafting a compelling cover letter is the first step towards landing an interview. It’s usually the first impression an employer gets before even seeing your resume, and it will help to set the tone and establish your personality before getting into your qualifications and suitability for the position.

Whether you're applying for a job, internship, or generally submitting your resume for consideration, understanding how to write a cover letter can significantly enhance your chances of success.

What is a Cover Letter?

A cover letter is a formal document accompanying your resume that introduces yourself to potential employers, highlighting your qualifications, experiences, and interest in a specific job or internship. It offers you the opportunity to showcase your personality and passion for the role in a more personalized manner than a resume alone.

Cover Letter Format

The format of a cover letter typically follows a standard business letter structure. It includes your contact information, the date, the recipient's contact details, a salutation, body paragraphs, and a closing. Ensure that your cover letter is concise, well-organized, and visually appealing, using a professional font and maintaining consistent formatting throughout.

As your cover letter will often be sent as an email, check this guide on how to write an email for some general tips on subject lines, email greetings, structuring the main content, and signing off.

Cover Letter for a Job

When applying for a job, a cover letter for your resume is often expected, and it serves as your initial introduction to potential employers. It should be customized for each position, showcasing how your skills and experiences fit the job requirements. A well-crafted cover letter can distinguish you from other applicants and increase your chances of securing an interview, especially if you can show that you’re genuinely aligned with the company’s goals.

Cover Letter for an Internship

For internship applications, a cover letter is equally essential. It allows you to convey your enthusiasm for the opportunity, relevant skills, and willingness to learn. Even if you have limited professional experience, your cover letter can highlight academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and relevant coursework that demonstrate your potential value to the organization.

Writing a Cover Letter

Let’s get into how to write a cover letter, step by step:

Step 1: How to Address a Cover Letter

When addressing your cover letter, it's essential to find out the name and title of the hiring manager or recruiter whenever possible. Addressing the letter to a specific individual adds a personal touch and demonstrates your initiative. A quick note on how to address a cover letter without a name. If you're unable to identify the recipient, you can use a general greeting such as "Dear Hiring Manager" or "Dear [Company Name] Recruiting Team."

Step 2: What to Include in a Cover Letter

Writing a compelling cover letter requires careful attention to detail and a strategic approach. Begin by thoroughly researching the company and the position to tailor your letter accordingly. Highlight your most relevant experiences and accomplishments, using specific examples to demonstrate your qualifications. Keep your language professional, yet engaging, and avoid using generic templates or clichés. Instead, strive to make a memorable impression that sets you apart from other candidates by showing you understand what the company is about.

Structure-wise, a well-written cover letter should include the following elements:

Introduction : Start by stating the position you're applying for and how you learned about it. Express your enthusiasm for the opportunity and briefly introduce yourself.

Body Paragraphs : Use one or two paragraphs to highlight your relevant experiences, skills, and achievements. Provide specific examples that demonstrate your qualifications and fit for the role. Tailor your content to align with the job description and company's needs.

Closing Paragraph : Summarize your interest in the position and reiterate your enthusiasm for the opportunity. Thank the employer for considering your application and express your willingness to discuss further in an interview.

Closing : End your cover letter with a professional closing, such as "Sincerely" or "Best regards," followed by your name and contact information.

By using this kind of cover letter template, you can keep a clear and structured approach whilst also easily adjusting your content each time to customize it for each specific contact.

Before you send

Remember maintain professionalism throughout and always proofread your cover letter before you send it off. Check this quick list of cover letter dos and don’ts so you can ensure you’ve done everything you can and haven’t made any glaring errors along the way.

Note for students: While it may be reasonable to apply for internships with your university email, it probably won’t come across as particularly professional for proper job applications. Contacting an employer from a free email account with a funny name you made when you were an adolescent also won’t be particularly impressive. You may want to use a service like Inbox.com and create a business email account that shows you’re a serious professional.

Cover letter examples

Here are some short cover letter samples that you can use as templates for your own letter. Note that although the content should be adapted both to you and to the company you’re applying to, a similar structure applies in all cases.

1. Marketing Manager Cover Letter:

Dear [Hiring Manager's Name],

I am writing to express my interest in the Marketing Manager position at [Company Name], as advertised on [where you found the job posting]. With over five years of experience in marketing strategy development, campaign management, and brand positioning, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to your team and drive results for [Company Name].

In my previous role at [Previous Company], I led cross-functional teams to develop and execute innovative marketing campaigns that resulted in a 30% increase in brand awareness and a 25% boost in lead generation. My ability to analyze market trends, identify customer insights, and leverage data-driven strategies has consistently delivered impactful results and exceeded organizational objectives.

I am particularly drawn to [specific aspect of the company or job description], and I am eager to bring my expertise in digital marketing, social media management, and content development to support [Company Name]'s mission of [mention company mission or values].

Thank you for considering my application. I am enthusiastic about the possibility of joining [Company Name] and contributing to its continued success. I am available for an interview at your earliest convenience and can be reached at [Your Phone Number] or [Your Email Address].

Sincerely, [Your Name]

2. Software Engineer Cover Letter:

I am writing to apply for the Software Engineer position at [Company Name], as advertised on [where you found the job posting]. With a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and three years of hands-on experience in software development and coding, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to your team and develop innovative solutions for [Company Name].

In my previous role at [Previous Company], I played a key role in designing and implementing scalable software solutions that optimized workflow efficiency and enhanced user experience. My proficiency in programming languages such as Java, Python, and JavaScript, coupled with my strong problem-solving skills, has enabled me to deliver high-quality software solutions that meet and exceed client expectations.

I am impressed by [specific aspect of the company or job description], and I am eager to leverage my technical skills and passion for innovation to support [Company Name]'s goals of [mention company goals or objectives].

Thank you for considering my application. I am eager to further discuss how my background and expertise align with the needs of [Company Name] and am available for an interview at your earliest convenience. Please feel free to contact me at [Your Phone Number] or [Your Email Address] to schedule a discussion.

3. Graphic Designer Cover Letter:

I am thrilled to apply for the Graphic Designer position at [Company Name], as advertised on [where you found the job posting]. With a strong background in visual communication, brand identity development, and multimedia design, I am excited about the opportunity to bring my creativity and expertise to your team and contribute to [Company Name]'s success.

In my previous role at [Previous Company], I collaborated with cross-functional teams to create visually compelling designs that effectively communicated brand messages and engaged target audiences. My proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, coupled with my attention to detail and passion for design, has allowed me to deliver innovative solutions that align with client objectives and exceed expectations.

I am particularly drawn to [specific aspect of the company or job description], and I am eager to leverage my design skills and artistic vision to support [Company Name]'s mission of [mention company mission or values].

Thank you for considering my application. I am enthusiastic about the possibility of joining [Company Name] and contributing to its creative endeavors. I am available for an interview at your earliest convenience and can be reached at [Your Phone Number] or [Your Email Address].

What is a cover letter for a job?

A cover letter for a job is a formal document submitted alongside a resume during the application process. It introduces the applicant to the potential employer and highlights their qualifications, experiences, and interest in the specific job position.

What is a cover letter for a resume?

A cover letter for a resume is a document that accompanies a resume when applying for a job. While the resume provides a summary of the applicant's skills and experiences, the cover letter offers additional context and insight into their suitability for the position.

What is the purpose of a cover letter?

The purpose of a cover letter is to introduce the applicant to the potential employer, showcase their qualifications and experiences, and express their interest in the job position. It allows applicants to personalize their application and demonstrate their enthusiasm and suitability for the role.

What does a cover letter look like?

A cover letter typically follows a formal business letter format, including the sender's and recipient's contact information, a salutation, body paragraphs, and a closing. It should be well-organized, concise, and visually appealing, with a professional tone and consistent formatting.

How long should a cover letter be?

A cover letter should be concise and to the point, typically no longer than one page. It should provide enough information to highlight the applicant's qualifications and interest in the position without overwhelming the reader with unnecessary details.

What should be in a cover letter?

A cover letter should include the sender's and recipient's contact information, a formal salutation, an introduction stating the position being applied for and how the applicant learned about it, body paragraphs highlighting relevant qualifications and experiences, and a closing expressing gratitude and interest in further discussion.

How to Start a Cover Letter

To start your cover letter effectively, consider using a strong opening sentence or attention-grabbing statement that immediately captures the reader's interest. You can mention a mutual connection, reference a recent company accomplishment, or highlight a specific aspect of the job that excites you.

How to End a Cover Letter

Ending your cover letter on a high note is crucial to leave a lasting impression. In the closing paragraph, reiterate your interest in the position and express your gratitude for the opportunity to apply. Convey confidence in your ability to contribute to the company's success. Finally, use a professional closing, such as "Sincerely" or "Best regards," followed by your name.

Updated: April 10, 2024 at 4:33 PM

Published: April 10, 2024 at 4:33 PM

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Online Cover Letter

Recruitment has gone digital. Many job applications will now require you to fill out an online cover letter, so do the same rules apply?

Essentially, in terms of writing style, length and lucidity, an online cover letter is very similar, which is why it’s a good idea to check out our ‘How to Write a Covering Letter’ article before you plough on with this article. Otherwise, the structure of an online cover letter is a whole different kettle of fish.

Essentially, online cover letters will vary depending on the website through which you are applying; on some, you’ll just be copying and pasting a pre-written cover letter into a text box, and on others you’ll be answering questions that will help you to structure your online cover letter.

In the latter case, make sure you familiarise yourself with all of the instructions relating to name and email fields, character limits and the various boxes you’ll have to fill out.

Draft it first…

Here’s the main thing to remember: online cover letters can expose a multitude of sins, so you’ll need to take your time when filling it out. Don’t write your cover letter directly into the boxes; instead, draft it in a Word document first.

This means you can easily check for mistakes, spend time making it as good as possible, and you won’t have to worry that you might lose it by accidently closing the internet browser.

E is for Effort…

Even if the website asks you to put answers into a template that will automatically rustle up a cover letter, make sure you draft your answers first, and answer the questions fully.

You should spend as much time on an online cover letter as you would do on a traditional cover letter.

Double check…

If you’re copying and pasting into text boxes, make sure you check the formatting. Sometimes things like styling, bullet points or spaces can get muddled in the transfer. Therefore, once you’ve pasted in the text, go back through it to check that it still reads well.

How long should my online cover letter be?

For online cover letters, the general wisdom is that they should be that little bit shorter than normal covering letters. Why? People have less patience when reading things on a screen. Some people even say that the online cover letter shouldn’t be longer than one screen in length.

Give it some personality…

When confronted with online cover letters, applicants often forget that, no matter how impersonal the application page looks, your application will eventually be read by another human being. Yes, your online cover letter needs to be professional and formal, but you shouldn’t lose your own personal voice.

Don’t read that as an excuse to insert smileys and emoticons into the text, but do try to avoid clichéd expressions and formulaic business speak. Think of different ways to structure and formulate your sentences to really show off your writing style.

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Cover Letter Templates

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Cover Letters All levels of experience

16+ Convincing Cover Letter Templates [Pick & Download]

Looking to create a cover letter that stands out? Try one of our 12 cover letter templates (and land that job)!

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Expert Reviews

Oana Vintila

Career Counselor

Cover Letters are usually synonymous with formal and bland rambling that you write down hoping for an invite to a job interview. I just love it how Novorésumé has enhanced that and is offering you a tool to build proper arguments and structured discourse about who YOU ARE and what YOU CAN DO.

A real confidence booster, I tell you, seeing your motivation eloquently written!

Gabriela Tardea

Career Strategist, Coach & Trainer

The best thing about this platform when creating a Cover Letter as an addition to your resume is that the documents will match each other's design and font, creating eye-catching documents that recruiters/hiring managers will love.

You will be initially judged based on your papers, so why not make a first great impression?

Why Novorésumé?

Matching Cover Letters

To keep your job application consistent and professional, our Cover Letter templates perfectly match the resume templates.

Creative & Standard Templates

Whether you apply for a conservative industry like banking or a hype start-up, you can tailor our cover letter templates to fit your exact needs.

Get Inspired with Our Cover Letter Examples

Cover letters resources, what is a cover letter.

A cover letter is a one-page document you submit alongside your resume or CV for your job application.

The main purpose of your cover letter is to:

Show your motivation for working at the company

Bring special attention to the most important parts of your work history

Explain how your work experience fits whatever the company is looking for

What your cover letter is NOT about, is rehashing whatever you already mentioned in your resume. Sure, you should mention the most important bits, but it should NOT be a literal copy-paste.

Keep in mind that the cover letter is usually read after the recruiter scans your resume and decides that you’re qualified for the position.

Why Use a Cover Letter Template?

Your cover letter is just as (if not more) important as your resume.

After all, your resume is what gets your foot through the door, but a cover letter is what opens that door.

So, if you put so much effort into your resume, why not do the same for your cover letter?

A good cover letter template can show the recruiter that you’re serious about the job (especially if it matches your resume design).

What to Include in Your Cover Letter?

Every good cover letter has the following sections:

Header - On top of the cover letter, you write down your own contact information, as well as the recruiter’s (recruiter name, company name, company address, etc…).

Greeting - A formal greeting for the recruiter. E.g. “Dear Sir or Madam,” To learn how to address your cover letter better, check out our article.

Opening paragraph - The introduction of your resume. Here, you summarize your background info (“financial analyst with X+ years of experience”), state your intent (“looking for X position at Company Y”), and summarize your 1-2 achievements to get the recruiter hooked.

Second paragraph - In the second paragraph, you explain how you’re qualified for the position and why the recruiter should pick YOU.

Third paragraph - You talk about why you’re a good match for the company. Do you share common values? Is the company working on projects you’re interested in? Etc…

Formal closing - Finally, you end the cover letter with a quick summary and a call to action (“I’m super excited to work with Company X. Looking forward to hearing from you!”).

How to Write a Great Cover Letter?

There’s a lot that goes into writing a great cover letter. If you want to get the full picture, you can check out our guide on how to write a cover letter .

Here are, however, some of the key takeaways:

Avoid Fluff - You want to be as specific as possible with your cover letter. Avoid vague statements like “I’m a good fit for the company because I’m a good critical thinker!”

Do Your Research - Most companies don’t like people who “spray and pray” - applying for dozens of jobs without giving any much thought. What they ARE looking for is someone that’s passionate about their company, and wants to contribute. So, do your research about the companies you apply for, and show off your knowledge and passion in your cover letter.

Back Up Your Achievements with Data - When possible, back up your experience with data. Instead of saying, “I improved company revenue”, say “I managed to hit and exceed sales KPIs for 5+ months in a row.”

How Long Should a Cover Letter Be?

Most recruiters agree that a cover letter should be brief and concise. It should be around 1-page max, within a 250 to 400 word range.

How Can I Write a Student Cover Letter?

Pretty much the same way you’d write a regular cover letter, with one difference.

Instead of focusing on your work experience, you should talk about:

Why you want to work for the company you’re applying for

How your educational background prepared you for the job

How your skill-set can help you stand out and excel at the job

See what our customers think

Cover Letter Templates FAQ?

How to make a simple cover letter for your resume.

Simply pick one of our 12 cover letter templates above to get started.

We’d recommend matching your cover letter template to the resume template you picked.

What is the Best Cover Letter Template?

There’s no such thing as the “best cover letter template.” After all, every single recruiter has their own personal taste. Some might like a shiny & flashy cover letter template, while others might think it’s tacky.

As a rule of thumb, though, we usually recommend customizing each cover letter for the company you’re sending it to.

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The 5 Best Cover Letter Generators to Land Your Next Job

Table of contents

Job seekers HATE writing cover letters. 

58% consider it unnecessary and dreadful. Whereas, 45% refuse to submit it along with their job application. 

Some believe hiring managers barely glance at them. Whereas, some find it incredibly hard to tailor each cover letter to specific job positions and companies. 

Another widely common reason is that a lot of job seekers are too lazy to write one.

However, recruiters have a very different opinion. 

45% of recruiters believe that not attaching a cover letter along with your job application could instantly get you rejected. In fact, 26% read cover letters thoroughly and think they play an important role in the hiring decision.

According to recruiters/hiring managers, cover letters help them understand a candidate’s motivation, get a sense of their communication skills, and know their personality - these are things that a resume can’t convey effectively. 

A cover letter is an extension of a candidate’s resume. Even though not all recruiters read cover letters, the ones that do take them seriously. 

This means, if you don’t submit a cover letter along with your application, you’re likely to miss out on opportunities where it’s deemed crucial.

But Writing Cover Letters is So Time-Consuming, Right?

Yes, writing cover-letters is time-consuming. 

You need to modify your cover letter such that it aligns with each specific job role and the company's values and culture. To show hiring managers that you took the much-required effort to study the company and position. And list qualities or experiences that weren't explicitly mentioned in your resume.

Due to the excessive time required, many candidates prefer not to attach a cover letter along with their resume. 

Some even attach the same cover letter to every job application they submit. But my two cents - hiring managers can recognize a generic cover letter from a mile away. So don’t make this mistake.

Lastly, to increase the chances of landing a job, make sure your cover letter is well-formatted, free of grammatical or spelling errors, and concise.

Here’s an example of a cover letter a recruiter shared with us filled with so many grammatical errors (we highlighted a few of them). 

For the sake of confidentiality, we replaced the company name with “XYZ” and other related information as well.

So, we added this draft to Wordtune, our AI-powered cover letter generator and editor. 

Wordtune improved this cover letter by:

• Fixing all the grammatical errors
• Improving its structure by offering rewrite suggestions in different tones.

Get Wordtune for free > Get Wordtune for free >

But Wordtune isn’t the only cover letter generator in the market. There are several others like Zety, ResumeLab, Resume.io and CVShaper.

In this guide, we’ll share results from a test we conducted recently. We tested five cover-letter generators to determine which one stands out in terms of quality, user-friendliness, and customization capabilities.

Sharing our experience with the top five cover letter generators 

Last month, we stress-tested the following cover-letter generators:

• Zety (Paid)
• Wordtune (Free & Paid)
• ResumeLab (Paid)
• Resume.io (Paid)
• CVShaper (Free)

Let’s dive into each one-by-one:

1. Zety (Paid)

Zety is a popular choice among job seekers for creating cover letters due to several reasons. Some of them are:

• Zety offers a user-friendly interface to make the entire process smooth and straightforward.
• The cover letter generator provides a wide range of templates to choose from. 
• They also have a vast library of resources, including examples and actionable tips, on their website to provide inspiration to job seekers.
• Zety’s Cover Letter Builder asks a variety of questions to help job seekers build relevant and impactful cover letters. 

Let’s give you a step-by-step breakdown of creating a cover letter using Zety:

First, launch Zety’s Cover Letter Builder .

Click “Create My Cover Letter.”

Enter your First and Last Name. And choose a template from the list.

Next, you’ll be given two options: 

• Create a New Cover Letter - start from scratch.
• Upload From Resume - Zety will take information from your resume. 

In this case, we’ll go with the first option “Create a New Cover Letter.”  

Feel free to go with the other option for yourself.

Once selected, click “Continue.”

 Zety’s Cover Letter Builder questionnaire is categorized into four groups:

• Target Jobs - in this category, I was asked if I had any specific job in mind and what the desired position was. Also, I was asked what my top three strengths are. 

Question I:

Question II:

Question III:

• Background - in this section, I was asked how many years of experience I have, my most recent/past company job title, and if I have a gap in my work history. 

• Workstyle  - in this group, I was asked about my working style to match that style in my cover letter. This was my final input.

• Finalize: taking all inputs into consideration, Zety’s Cover Letter Generator took some time to generate a personalized cover letter for me. I was asked to sign up to Zety to download my Cover Letter. 

Here’s my Cover Letter generated by one of the most popular Cover Letter Generators on the internet today:

Observations:

Here are my observations of generating a cover letter with Zety:

• Zety asked some relevant questions; however I personally felt that these questions were very basic. The cover letter generator could have asked better questions to personalize the cover letter even further.
• The Cover letter generated by Zety felt very generic. It didn’t show that the candidate had performed any research about the role or the company to create this letter.
• I wouldn’t use this cover letter just as-is. To increase my chances of landing the role, I would heavily edit it.
• Building my first cover letter with Zety took me five minutes. As I become more familiar with the interface and features, this time would decrease. However, even if it takes me three minutes, on average, to generate cover letters, I would still need to spend time editing it, as I personally didn’t like the text provided by Zety. 
• After signing up, you can customize your cover letter even further. However, when you choose the option to download it, you’ll be asked to subscribe to either their 14-Day Paid Trial or Monthly Access.

Overall, Zety is a decent cover letter generator that streamlines the cover letter generation process. It asks some relevant questions, is easy to use, has a great interface and offers a wide range of templates and customization options. 

From the design-front, I found Zety’s platform visually-appealing. 

The only reason why I’d not use the platform is because the letter wasn’t good enough to stand out in a competitive job market. 

Only if Zety gave me the option to list down some of my achievements (in the form of numbers) and share my research about the job title or company, then it would have truly personalized the letter for me.

2. Wordtune (Free & Paid)

Wordtune is an AI-powered cover letter generator that lets you build highly personalized cover letters for free. You can also use it to fine-tune and edit your existing drafts by suggesting improvements in tone, style, and grammar.

A few reasons why Wordtune is popular among job seekers are:

• It offers a user-friendly interface, making it super-easy to create and/or edit cover letters.
• Although Wordtune offers its own online text editor, you can still access its features within Google Docs, email, and other third-party platforms through its Chrome extension.
• Wordtune is free to use. This includes ten rewrites and spices, three summaries, and three AI prompts a day, and unlimited text corrections . To increase these numbers, you can consider upgrading to one of their premium plans.

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of using Wordtune to create a cover letter:

First, log in to Wordtune. If you don’t have an account, sign up to get started. 

Click “New Document” inside Wordtune’s Editor. We’ll name it “Zapier Content Marketing Manager Cover Letter.”

Click “Generate with AI” as shown in the screenshot below.

You can either write a detailed prompt with the specifics about the role and company or you can select the “Cover Letter” template from Personal -> Cover Letter.

However, my personal preference is using prompts. So, I fed the following prompt to Wordtune:

And here’s the output:

Not to seem biased, but in my opinion, this is a very good cover letter text. I personally love how I was able to mention results I achieved for my past company and my experience leading a content team. 

You can use the “Refresh” button to generate another draft, in case you don’t like what you see in front of you.

Click “Done” if you’re satisfied with the draft. This will paste it inside Wordtune’s Editor. 

Now, you can fine-tune inside the Editor. Or if it’s ready to go, use a graphic design tool like Canva to design and customize the layout of your cover letter. 

One of the downsides of using Wordtune to generate cover letters is that the platform gives you the ability to design and customize your cover letter. 

Here’s the end-result (Wordtune + Canva):

Considering that Wordtune's primary focus is on the content, this isn't a surprise. Our tool’s strength lies in generating tailor-made content using AI, ensuring that the narrative of your cover letter is persuasive, relevant, and aligned with the job requirements.

Here are my observations of generating a cover letter with Wordtune:

• I loved Wordtune’s user-friendly and intuitive interface. I was able to generate cover letter text in a matter of minutes. This is a big benefit for job seekers applying to multiple roles. 
• The cover letter generated by Wordtune felt highly personalized to me. By adding more specifics to my prompts, I could have generated an even better cover letter than this one. This cover letter highlighted my past achievements (a big plus point) and was tailored well to the role at Zapier.
• The ability to generate multiple drafts was a deal-breaker for me as I can use it to explore different variations and choose what suits me the best. 
• Even though Wordtune’s Editor is user-friendly, I love using Google Docs more. Wordtune lets you access its feature inside Google Docs using its Chrome Extension - which is another big plus point for me. Also, it eliminates the need to constantly switch between tabs or copy-paste content.
• One downside of using Wordtune to create a cover letter is that it doesn’t offer design tools or templates for visual customization. Users need to rely on tools like Canva for this aspect. 
• Alongside creation, Wordtune also lets you fine-tune and edit the AI-generated cover letter using its wide range of editing features - which is another plus point.

3. ResumeLab (Paid)

ResumeLab has dominated the market for years due to several reasons:

• The platform has an extremely user-friendly interface. In a few clicks, you can build yourself a powerful cover letter.
• ResumeLab offers a wide range of templates to choose from - whether it’s for CV, resume or cover letter.
• The platform offers multiple customization options available.

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of generating a cover letter using ResumeLab:

First step: launch ResumeLab’s Cover Letter builder. Click “Make a Cover Letter Now.”

Next, you’ll see the three steps you need to follow to generate a cover letter.

Click “Get Started.”

The next step is to choose the template and color of your Cover Letter.

Here are the available color options:

You’ll also find three templates listed below. 

Click “Show all templates” to see all available template options.

Hover over the template you like and click “Choose a template.”

Now, ResumeLab will ask you to fill in your personal details like First Name, Last Name, Job Title, Email and Phone Number. As you fill these details, you’ll see them automatically being filled in the Preview on the right-hand side.

Click “Next” when done.

Now, add your City, date of birth and how you want to address your recipient. ResumeLab will provide you with the format for the same.

We filled in some dummy information for your reference.

Now, this is the step where you need to write your cover letter. This tool doesn’t have an AI feature that writes the cover letter for you. Nor does it ask you a series of questions to generate a personalized cover letter.

However, they have three cover letter text templates readily available:

• Entry-level: for entry level roles.
• Middle-level: for mid-tier roles.
• Senior-level: for senior-level roles.

You can choose from one of these templates based on your current career stage and the role you’re applying for. In our case, let’s select “Middle-level.”

Click “Auto-fill” under “Middle-level.”

As soon as you do, you’ll see the template below - in the “Letter content” section.

Even though these templates are good enough, they require heavy editing, so it’s a good idea to generate the cover letter text using Wordtune and use this text to generate your cover letter using ResumeLab.

You can also change the Application and Document languages by clicking “Change Language” on the right-hand side, just above preview. ResumeLab also lets you make several structural and visual customizations. Just click “Customize design.” 

Click “Finalize” once you’re done. This will take you to the final stage, i.e., Download the cover letter.

Click “Download cover letter.” If you’re not signed in, you need to log in/create a new account, as you can’t download the cover letter without signing in.

Even after signing up, you’ll have to opt for a paid subscription (14-Day Full Access or Annual Access) to download the cover letter.

Here’s my Cover Letter generated by ResumeLab:

Here are my observations of generating a cover letter using ResumeLab:

• ResumeLab offers a wide range of templates and customization options. And considering the extremely low price point, I think it’s a steal-deal.
• The platform is so easy to use and I just fell in love with its user-friendly interface.
• The only downside is that you can’t really generate ready-to-go cover letter text using ResumeLab. Even though the platform offers a few templates, they don’t cut to the chase. If I were to use ResumeLab, I’d generate text using Wordtune and use ResumeLab for the design part.

4. Resume.io (Paid)

Resume.io is another popular choice among job seekers for cover letter generation because:

• The platform offers a wide range of customizable cover letter templates, including ones approved by HRs at top-tier companies.
• Resume.io is extremely easy to use and has a user-friendly interface. 
• It fetches basic details directly from your social media profiles - which is a bonus point.
• Resume.io also offers its Resume Builder and several other tools you can use to level up your career.

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of generating a cover letter using Resume.io:

Head over to Resume.io’s Cover Letter Builder. Click “Create Cover Letter” to get started.

Choose a template for your cover letter. Here, both free and Paid templates are available to choose from. The paid ones are marked with a Premium icon. But here, in our case, we’ll select a free one.

Once picked, select “Use This Template.”   

Next, Resume.io will ask you to connect your social media profile (Facebook, Google or LinkedIn.)  

Once connected, Resume.io will automatically fetch basic details like Name, Email and more from your social media profile. You can skip this step needed, in that case, Resume.io will manually ask you basic details like Name, email, etc.

You need to fill in other details like Job Title, Address, Phone Number, Employer Details. You’ll also be asked to write the cover letter all by yourself. 

Unlike Zety, Wordtune and other cover letter generators in this list, Resume.io just helps you format and structure your cover letter, rather than writing cover letters. 

Pro-tip:  You can add the cover letter text generated by Wordtune to Resume.io for a polished, well-structured output.

Once you have filled out all the necessary fields, you can preview your cover letter to make sure everything looks perfect. Make any required adjustments if needed. 

To download it, just click “Download PDF” as visible in the screenshot below.

Doing so will take you to their payments page where you’ll be asked to choose from one of the paid plans. Just subscribe to one of the plans and you can download your cover letter and also create more in no time.

Here’s my cover letter generated using Resume.io (I used cover letter text from Wordtune):

Here are my observations using Resume.io to create a cover letter:

• The platform offers a user-friendly interface and is straightforward to use.
• The fact that I have to write my own cover letter and Resume.io only helps format and structure my cover letter is a bit disappointing.
• From the design-front, Resume.io is a great cover letter generator; however due to its lack of text-generation, it falls short of my expectations.
• If you’re looking for a cover letter generator that writes and also designs a cover letter for you, Resume.io may not be the right fit. 

5. CVShaper (Free)

CVShaper is another popular platform that lets job seekers build cover letters. You can start using this tool without even registering. A few reasons why it’s popular among job seekers is:

• It’s extremely easy to get started.
• CVShaper lets you build cover letters for free.
• Even though the user-interface is cluttered, generating cover letters using CVShaper is simple and straightforward.

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of creating a cover letter using CVShaper:

First, CVShaper asked me to submit basic details like Full Name, Email, Address and Phone Number. Once added, click “Next.”

Next, you’ll be asked to add employer details and how you’d like to address the recruiter:

Again, click “Next” once filled.

Next, you’ll be asked to add the desired job title and years of experience you have.

Add this information and click “Next.”

Now, you’ll be asked to add your five major skills. 

After adding your skills, select “Submit.”

CV Shaper will take all your inputs into consideration and instantly generate a personalized cover letter. You can download this cover letter in the form of a PDF. 

Here’s my Cover Letter generated by CVShaper:

Here are my observations and an honest review of generating a cover letter with Zety:

• CVShaper's questionnaire did touch upon some relevant areas; yet, in my personal opinion, the depth was somewhat lacking. There's potential for the platform to delve deeper, asking questions that would ensure a more bespoke and tailored cover letter.
• The output from CVShaper had a distinct templated feel. While it managed to hit the standard points, it lacked the nuances that show a candidate's specific insight into a company or the particular role they're applying for.
• As it stands, I wouldn't forward the generated cover letter without revisions. To bolster my chances of catching a recruiter's attention, substantial edits would be necessary.
• CVShaper doesn’t provide a wide range of cover letter templates to choose from. The output’s design is pretty generic, which may not really be appealing to those looking for a more unique and personalized touch.

Which Cover Letter Generator is the Best?

Every cover letter generator on this list are great. 

The one you choose depends on your personal preference. 

If you’re looking for a paid cover letter generator that helps you design visually-appealing cover letters, Zety, ResumeLab or Resume.io may be great fits. 

However, if you’re not looking to invest yet, consider CVShaper.

Lastly, if you’re looking for free AI-powered cover letter generator, we highly recommend you to use Wordtune.

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Create your Europass Cover Letter

Europass helps you to develop a structured, consistent and professional cover letter guiding you through each step. You can create new cover letters or edit existing ones using the Europass tool to create and edit cover letters.

How does Europass help?

Europass will guide you step by step through the process to help you create a good cover letter with all the essential information. You can create, store and share cover letters in 31 languages , choose from different templates to customise your application and share them easily from your Europass Library . 

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How to write a good cover letter

A cover letter should highlight your motivation to apply for a specific job or opportunity, and demonstrate why you consider yourself to be the best candidate. Your cover letter should refer to particular examples in your CV and describe why these are relevant for the job vacancy you are applying for.

Read carefully

Read the vacancy notice carefully and highlight the skills that relate to the requirements of the position in your cover letter.

Use keywords

Use the keywords when you list your soft skills as mentioned on the vacancy notice (punctual, organised, team-player and so on).

Have short and clear paragraphs that show different aspects clearly.

Get to know the employer

Take time to research the employer to gain valuable insights into the culture of their organisation and make references in your cover letter to one or two key points.

Keep it short

You cover letter should not be longer than one page.

• First paragraph - why you are motivated to apply for the position,
• Second paragraph - how you are the most suitable candidate for the position, and
• Third Paragraph - why the company is a good match for you.

Use formal tone

Use a formal, polite tone and make sure there are no spelling mistakes.

Use simple fonts

Use simple non-decorative font styles, normal font-sizes (11-12) and optimal spacing (1 or 1.5).

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