how to write cover letter pdf

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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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Cover Letters

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Introduction

These resources will help you understand and write successful cover letters. To use these pages, you may select links in the navigation bar on the left, you may select links from the list below, or you may advance through the pages using the links at the bottom of each page. Click here to download the PDF file containing sample résumés and employment letters. The cover letter pages are organized into the following sections:

• What is a cover letter?
• Why do I need to do a cover letter?
• What should I do if I'm a veteran transitioning into civilian life?
• What should I do if I'm a transitioning automotive industry worker?
• What should I do about any times I was not working?
• What should I do if I have been incarcerated?
• What should my cover letter look like?
• What should my cover letter accomplish?
• What should I do before I start writing?
• What are the sections I should include in my letter?
• Introductions
• Addressing your letter
• Body paragraphs
• How should I follow up on my cover letter and résumé?

Should I create a cover letter PDF or Word doc?

Discover the advantages of formatting your cover letter as a PDF. Learn how PDF tools can make creating your cover letters more seamless.

Should I send a cover letter as a PDF or Microsoft Word document? While there’s no hard and fast rule, there are huge benefits to using a cover letter PDF. If you’ve ever wondered what format a cover letter should be in, then this article is for you. With the help of a few answers here and some cutting-edge tools (especially a cover letter template), you’ll be on your way to creating a cover letter PDF that can help you stand out to prospective employers.

Can a cover letter be a PDF?

Absolutely. When it comes to choosing between a PDF or Word document for your cover letter, there are no hard and fast rules. Much like figuring out if you should make your resume one page or two, there are recommendations and common practices, but it can come down to personal preference. While a PDF can maintain consistent formatting and preserve document integrity, it’s important to consider any requirements or preferences stated by the recipient. Ultimately, the content and quality of your cover letter matter more than the file format you choose to use.

Why send a cover letter as a PDF instead of a Word file?

As with any professional tool, there are advantages and disadvantages to your options for formatting and sending your cover letters. Notably, sending your cover letter as a PDF has some widely accepted pros over using the Word document format:

• PDFs are thought to look more professional
• PDFs won’t present font or formatting issues
• PDFs can work with any operating system (unlike Word documents)

Still wondering if you should send your cover letter as a PDF or Word file? Try checking in with your potential employer to see if they have a preference.

How to write a cover letter PDF with ease.

Ready to craft a standout cover letter in PDF format? Follow these simple steps to create a professional and polished document that will impress potential employers. Whether you’re starting from scratch or modifying a trusted template, we’ve got you covered.

• Choose the right template . Start by selecting a suitable cover letter template designed for use in PDF format. You can find a variety of templates online, such as those provided in our cover letter guide . These templates offer a structured format that you can customize to fit your needs.
• Gather your information . Before you begin writing, gather all the necessary information to include in your cover letter. This typically includes contact details, the recipient’s information, a professional salutation, an engaging opening paragraph, a concise overview of your qualifications, relevant accomplishments, and a closing paragraph expressing your interest in the position.
• Format and structure . Pay attention to the formatting and structure of your cover letter. Use a clear and professional font, such as Arial or Times New Roman, and maintain consistent font sizes throughout. Organize your content into paragraphs, ensuring each paragraph has a clear purpose and is easy to read. No matter how you choose to craft your ideal cover letter, remember that — above all — you’ll need to take note and abide by your potential employer’s instructions and format your files to their preferences.
• Tailor the content . Customize your cover letter for each job application. Highlight relevant skills and experiences that align with the job requirements. Use specific examples to demonstrate your qualifications and achievements, showcasing how you can contribute to the organization’s success.
• Proofread and edit . Thoroughly proofread your cover letter to ensure it’s free from errors, such as typos, grammatical mistakes, and formatting inconsistencies. It’s helpful to read it aloud or ask someone else to review it for a fresh perspective. Make any necessary revisions before finalizing the document.
• Save as PDF . Once you are satisfied with your cover letter, save it as a PDF file. If you’ve already created the perfect cover letter using Word, you can convert it to a PDF . Choose the PDF format from the dropdown menu and save the file to your desired location.
• Review the final PDF . Open the saved PDF file to verify that the formatting, layout, and content appear as intended. Ensure the document retains its professional appearance across different devices and operating systems.

Tips on formatting a cover letter PDF professionally.

Want your cover letter to make a strong visual impact? Follow these essential tips to ensure your cover letter PDF stands out as a clean, well-organized, and professional document. From choosing the right fonts to utilizing PDF-compatible tools, we’ve got you covered with simple yet effective strategies that will elevate your cover letter to the next level.

• Keep it clean and organized . Use a clean and professional font, such as Arial or Calibri, and maintain consistent font sizes throughout the document. Utilize white space effectively to improve readability and make the cover letter visually appealing.
• Stick to standard margins . Set your margins to around one inch on all sides. This helps maintain a balanced layout and prevents the text from appearing cramped or squeezed.
• Be mindful of length . Ideally, a cover letter should be one page long. Keep it concise and focused on the most important details. Avoid excessive paragraphs or unnecessary information that could dilute the impact of your message.
• Use PDF-compatible tools . When creating or editing your cover letter, use PDF-compatible tools or software. These tools can help you maintain the formatting and ensure the document appears as intended across different devices and operating systems.

Explore your PDF possibilities.

Ready to land the job of your dreams? Your cover letter is the perfect place to start. Discover what more you can do with Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Acrobat online services to convert, share, and send PDFs.

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Everything about a cover letter

What is a cover letter for a job.

A cover letter is part of a resume that concisely presents more information about you as an applicant. A good cover letter has several short paragraphs, shows your interest in the job and any relevant experience you have. As you discover how to write a cover letter, we have some answers to commonly asked questions.

The type of cover letter you use depends on the job description, the company at which you are applying and your personal goals. As you revise your cover letter, highlight your knowledge about the company’s mission, values and culture, and show how you fit into their long-term vision.

An application letter is not always required for job applications. However, looks more professional and shows effort on the applicant’s part. There are four types of cover letters:

• Value proposition letter: this gives a summary of why you are unique and is similar to the “tell me about yourself” interview question.
• Letter of interest: this type of letter shows that you are interested in working for a company even if they don’t have current open positions, and shows why you are qualified and an asset.
• Referral: this format is ideal when you know someone at the company who referred you to the position.
• Application: the most common cover letter, this provides details about relevant experience and education, and allows you to delve into things that aren’t appropriate in a resume .

Why is a cover letter important for a job application?

A cover letter is important for a job application because it gives more insight into your personality and qualifications than are listed on your resume. It’s an important tool to present yourself as an asset to the company. A great cover letter helps you stand out from the competition when a hiring manager may go through hundreds of applications for each job.

Your cover letter is the initial introduction a company has of you. If it’s well-written and covers your most important strengths, it may propel you to the top of the applicant pool. It emphasizes your core competencies to catch the hiring manager’s attention.

A good job letter also shows personality. Because of space constraints, resumes can often be blunt and to the point with no room for the reader to get a sense of your personality. Therefore, your cover letter highlights the personality traits that make you a good candidate. These traits include things like being self-motivated, a good leader or organized. In your cover letter, elaborate on why you want to make an employment change and why this opportunity is for you.

You can also show your passion for the industry or job. A well-written cover letter emphasizes your understanding of the company’s vision and how you fit into it. A powerful letter shows how the company benefits from your impact.

Finally, a cover letter highlights your writing ability. Employers value those who can articulate their thoughts in writing, and this shows excellent communication skills.

How should a cover letter look in 2024?

A good cover letter is both formatted and flexible. Using cover letter templates can help ensure that you get the right information across to the hiring manager, but it’s still important to adjust and tailor each letter to the specific job application.

Heading: This section should include your name, physical address, phone number and email address. Furthermore, you can use a professional email and include links to an online portfolio, your professional website or relevant social media sites.

Salutation: If you know the name of the hiring manager, use it for a personalized touch. If not, a generic "Dear Hiring Manager" can suffice.

Opening Statement: The first paragraph is an strong opening statement about who you are, what job you want and when you are available. You can skip specific details like the company name in this section.

Company Alignment: Here, dive into why you're drawn to the particular company and the role. Emphasize your passion for the industry and how you see yourself contributing to the organization's goals.

Motivation: The third paragraph is for motivating why you believe you are the best candidate for the job. Here, mention any relevant experience you’ve had, and why you will excel in this job. While your past employment and education are included in your resume or CV , this is the place to add one or two experiences that stand out and make you a good candidate. 

Conclusion: The final paragraph is an outro, and should stay simple and concise. Mention your attached resume, specify where and when you can be reached, and mention that you’d love the chance to discuss the opportunity more.

Should I customize my cover letter for every job application?

Using cover letter and resume templates is a great way to get a basic outline to start and takes save a lot of time as all the formatting is taken care for you. However, it is highly recommended that your cover letter should be customized and tailored for each specific job and role that you're applying for.

A personal cover letter shows you’ve done your research on the company and the position and it provides you with a great opportunity to stand-out from the rest of the competition.

There are several ways to make a cover letter more personal. One way is to connect your personal value to the company’s values. This requires time and research on your part. Read the website and browse their social media profiles to get an idea of what is important to them. Some companies value the bottom line while others focus on their long-term effects on the world, and if you understand that, you can tie your personal values and work ethic into their goals. 

When possible, use the hiring manager or recruiter’s name. Not only does this personalize your letter, it also ensures that your application goes to the right person. 

Share your professional goals. Discuss how the job directly impacts your career path and what you’ve done to create a solid foundation. Pinpoint how the job you’re applying for matches your long-term goals and how you will be an asset to the company.

As you do research to personalize your cover letter, you learn more about every company. This can also give you insight into companies that you don’t want to work for, whose values don’t align with yours.

How do I use Jobseeker’s cover letter generator?

Jobseeker offers CV and resume examples , as well as templates for resumes, CVs and cover letters. Our tool is easy to use and has several free options. Simply click Get Started on our website and click on create a new cover letter to begin.

You can choose from a formal letter, or email and digital text. Input a photo if you choose, your personal information, email address and phone number. There is a spot to fill in the recipient, the date and subject, the introduction, your current job situation, what your motivation is for the job and a closing paragraph. These spots include drop downs that help guide you through the creating process.

Simply fill in these spots and our tool will populate the cover letter. Choose from 12 different styles including Elegant, Professional, Modern and Simple. Adjust the font, size and color to create a cover letter that reflects your goals and personality. 

Jobseeker also allows you to digitally attach a signature, upload your resume and create a custom paragraph for any other information you want to add. This tool is available in a variety of languages and can be downloaded (in PDF format) or printed. You can use the same template to personalize a cover letter each time you apply for a new job.

Can I format my cover letter with Jobseeker’s cover letter generator?

Our convenient tool allows you to not only choose your format, spacing and font, but you can also move each section to where you feel is appropriate. To change the order, simply hover over the section and click the six dots to the left of the text. Use the mouse to move the section where you want it. 

While our examples and templates are a good guideline, we recognize that ultimately it’s your opinion that matters most. We recommend that your personal details, date and subject, recipient and introduction remain in the order we’ve provided, but ultimately you can change the order to fit the job.

Our system mimics that of other word processing programs (such as Google Docs and Microsoft Word) to make it easy to use. Within the Introduction section, our system guides you to choose between four types of applications: open application, response to ad in newspaper or magazine, response to online ad, and other. 

Once you’ve chosen from the dropdowns in each section, the text automatically populates on the cover letter. Our text gives you a starting point, but you can edit any information to match your purposes. As each paragraph is added and you make edits, read through the information and check that your tone and writing style match.

How can I send the cover letter after it is created?

Once your cover letter is done and all applicable fields are filled in, you can download the document as a PDF and send it along with your resume or CV to the recruiter or hiring manager. We also offer an option to receive the cover letter as a plain email if that option works for you.

When writing your cover letter, don’t forget to attach your resume before you send it to the hiring manager or recruiter. Proofread your cover letter every time you change it, and browse our samples to find a professional tone with appropriate language.

What makes Jobseeker’s cover letter builder the best?

When it comes to cover letter, resume and CV templates and resume templates , we have many great options to choose from. However, ease-of-use is where our builder shines above the rest. We strive to keep Jobseeker’s tools updated and customized to match your needs. The benefits of using Jobseeker include the following:

• Our user-friendly interface makes the creation process simple for those with basic technology experience.
• Our tool allows you to build a cover letter, CV or resume in more than 20 languages.
• We provide diverse options when it comes to templates, with more than ten styles to choose from.
• We allow you to adjust your text, font and spacing to be more exciting, which helps you create an eye-catching cover letter.
• With our easy formatting tool it is simple to add, remove or move various sections.
• When you use Jobseeker, you can match your cover letter template to your CV or resume template.

As you browse resume, cover letter and CV examples on our website, you can run through our cover letter maker to see for yourself how easy it is to use, and how quickly we can help you create an eye-catching, attention-grabbing cover letter. Present your best professional image with a well-written, personalized cover letter created with the the Jobseeker tool.

How many words should a cover letter be?

The appropriate length of a cover letter can vary depending on the position and industry, but as a general guideline, it is recommended to keep it concise and focused. A well-crafted cover letter typically ranges from 250 to 400 words. It is important to remember that hiring managers often have limited time to review applications, so it is best to convey your qualifications and enthusiasm in a clear and succinct manner. Instead of writing lengthy paragraphs, aim to highlight your most relevant strengths and accomplishments, using bullet points or short sentences. By keeping your cover letter within this word count range, you can ensure that it remains engaging and impactful without overwhelming the reader with excessive information.

Do you have unanswered questions? Take a look at our FAQ

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 . 

Create your Europass

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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How to Write a Cover Letter That Will Get You a Job

I ’ve read thousands, maybe tens of thousands, of cover letters in my career. If you’re thinking that sounds like really boring reading, you’re right. What I can tell you from enduring that experience is that most cover letters are terrible — and not only that, but squandered opportunities. When a cover letter is done well, it can significantly increase your chances of getting an interview, but the vast majority fail that test.

So let’s talk about how to do cover letters right.

First, understand the point of a cover letter.

The whole idea of a cover letter is that it can help the employer see you as more than just your résumé. Managers generally aren’t hiring based solely on your work history; your experience is crucial, yes, but they’re also looking for someone who will be easy to work with, shows good judgment, communicates well, possesses strong critical thinking skills and a drive to get things done, complements their current team, and all the other things you yourself probably want from your co-workers. It’s tough to learn much about those things from job history alone, and that’s where your cover letter comes in.

Because of that …

Whatever you do, don’t just summarize your résumé.

The No. 1 mistake people make with cover letters is that they simply use them to summarize their résumé. This makes no sense — hiring managers don’t need a summary of your résumé! It’s on the very next page! They’re about to see it as soon as they scroll down. And if you think about it, your entire application is only a few pages (in most cases, a one- or two-page résumé and a one-page cover letter) — why would you squander one of those pages by repeating the content of the others? And yet, probably 95 percent of the cover letters I see don’t add anything new beyond the résumé itself (and that’s a conservative estimate).

Instead, your cover letter should go beyond your work history to talk about things that make you especially well-suited for the job. For example, if you’re applying for an assistant job that requires being highly organized and you neurotically track your household finances in a detailed, color-coded spreadsheet, most hiring managers would love to know that because it says something about the kind of attention to detail you’d bring to the job. That’s not something you could put on your résumé, but it can go in your cover letter.

Or maybe your last boss told you that you were the most accurate data processor she’d ever seen, or came to rely on you as her go-to person whenever a lightning-fast rewrite was needed. Maybe your co-workers called you “the client whisperer” because of your skill in calming upset clients. Maybe you’re regularly sought out by more senior staff to help problem-solve, or you find immense satisfaction in bringing order to chaos. Those sorts of details illustrate what you bring to the job in a different way than your résumé does, and they belong in your cover letter.

If you’re still stumped, pretend you’re writing an email to a friend about why you’d be great at the job. You probably wouldn’t do that by stiffly reciting your work history, right? You’d talk about what you’re good at and how you’d approach the work. That’s what you want here.

You don’t need a creative opening line.

If you think you need to open the letter with something creative or catchy, I am here to tell you that you don’t. Just be simple and straightforward:

• “I’m writing to apply for your X position.”

• “I’d love to be considered for your X position.”

• “I’m interested in your X position because …”

• “I’m excited to apply for your X position.”

That’s it! Straightforward is fine — better, even, if the alternative is sounding like an aggressive salesperson.

Show, don’t tell.

A lot of cover letters assert that the person who wrote it would excel at the job or announce that the applicant is a skillful engineer or a great communicator or all sorts of other subjective superlatives. That’s wasted space — the hiring manager has no reason to believe it, and so many candidates claim those things about themselves that most managers ignore that sort of self-assessment entirely. So instead of simply declaring that you’re great at X (whatever X is), your letter should demonstrate that. And the way you do that is by describing accomplishments and experiences that illustrate it.

Here’s a concrete example taken from one extraordinarily effective cover-letter makeover that I saw. The candidate had originally written, “I offer exceptional attention to detail, highly developed communication skills, and a talent for managing complex projects with a demonstrated ability to prioritize and multitask.” That’s pretty boring and not especially convincing, right? (This is also exactly how most people’s cover letters read.)

In her revised version, she wrote this instead:

“In addition to being flexible and responsive, I’m also a fanatic for details — particularly when it comes to presentation. One of my recent projects involved coordinating a 200-page grant proposal: I proofed and edited the narratives provided by the division head, formatted spreadsheets, and generally made sure that every line was letter-perfect and that the entire finished product conformed to the specific guidelines of the RFP. (The result? A five-year, $1.5 million grant award.) I believe in applying this same level of attention to detail to tasks as visible as prepping the materials for a top-level meeting and as mundane as making sure the copier never runs out of paper.”

That second version is so much more compelling and interesting — and makes me believe that she really is great with details.

If there’s anything unusual or confusing about your candidacy, address it in the letter.

Your cover letter is your chance to provide context for things that otherwise might seem confusing or less than ideal to a hiring manager. For example, if you’re overqualified for the position but are excited about it anyway, or if you’re a bit underqualified but have reason to think you could excel at the job, address that up front. Or if your background is in a different field but you’re actively working to move into this one, say so, talk about why, and explain how your experience will translate. Or if you’re applying for a job across the country from where you live because you’re hoping to relocate to be closer to your family, let them know that.

If you don’t provide that kind of context, it’s too easy for a hiring manager to decide you’re the wrong fit or applying to everything you see or don’t understand the job description and put you in the “no” pile. A cover letter gives you a chance to say, “No, wait — here’s why this could be a good match.”

Keep the tone warm and conversational.

While there are some industries that prize formal-sounding cover letters — like law — in most fields, yours will stand out if it’s warm and conversational. Aim for the tone you’d use if you were writing to a co-worker whom you liked a lot but didn’t know especially well. It’s okay to show some personality or even use humor; as long as you don’t go overboard, your letter will be stronger for it.

Don’t use a form letter.

You don’t need to write every cover letter completely from scratch, but if you’re not customizing it to each job, you’re doing it wrong. Form letters tend to read like form letters, and they waste the chance to speak to the specifics of what this employer is looking for and what it will take to thrive in this particular job.

If you’re applying for a lot of similar jobs, of course you’ll end up reusing language from one letter to the next. But you shouldn’t have a single cover letter that you wrote once and then use every time you apply; whatever you send should sound like you wrote it with the nuances of this one job in mind.

A good litmus test is this: Could you imagine other applicants for this job sending in the same letter? If so, that’s a sign that you haven’t made it individualized enough to you and are probably leaning too heavily on reciting your work history.

No, you don’t need to hunt down the hiring manager’s name.

If you read much job-search advice, at some point you’ll come across the idea that you need to do Woodward and Bernstein–level research to hunt down the hiring manager’s name in order to open your letter with “Dear Matilda Jones.” You don’t need to do this; no reasonable hiring manager will care. If the name is easily available, by all means, feel free to use it, but otherwise “Dear Hiring Manager” is absolutely fine. Take the hour you just freed up and do something more enjoyable with it.

Keep it under one page.

If your cover letters are longer than a page, you’re writing too much, and you risk annoying hiring managers who are likely sifting through hundreds of applications and don’t have time to read lengthy tomes. On the other hand, if you only write one paragraph, it’s unlikely that you’re making a compelling case for yourself as a candidate — not impossible, but unlikely. For most people, something close to a page is about right.

Don’t agonize over the small details.

What matters most about your cover letter is its content. You should of course ensure that it’s well-written and thoroughly proofread, but many job seekers agonize over elements of the letter that really don’t matter. I get tons of  questions from job seekers  about whether they should attach their cover letter or put it in the body of the email (answer: No one cares, but attaching it makes it easier to share and will preserve your formatting), or what to name the file (again, no one really cares as long as it’s reasonably professional, but when people are dealing with hundreds of files named “resume,” it’s courteous to name it with your full name).

Approaching your cover letter like this can make a huge difference in your job search. It can be the thing that moves your application from the “maybe” pile (or even the “no” pile) to the “yes” pile. Of course, writing cover letters like this will take more time than sending out the same templated letter summarizing your résumé — but 10 personalized, compelling cover letters are likely to get you more  interview invitations  than 50 generic ones will.

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