asking for cover letter after interview

#1 Thing You MUST Say In Your Cover Letter

Is there one thing you can say in a cover letter that will guarantee it accomplishes its purpose? Absolutely!

A cover letter serves as an introduction to your resume and to yourself as a candidate for employment. It's the place to show your interest in the position and make a personal connection between who you are and why you're a great fit for the opportunity.

Showing your interest and passion for the company is important in the cover letter. However, saying this one thing is almost an ultimate guarantee you'll get the interview...

You know that old saying, "Ask and you shall receive"? It's true. It may sound like common sense and obvious advice, but how many times have you sent a cover letter with your resume and not asked for the interview? It's easy to do!

Should You Ask For An Interview In A Cover Letter?

You may be hesitant to ask for an interview in your cover letter (or might just forget to do so) but you absolutely should. It shows confidence and enthusiasm for the opportunity.

How Do You Ask For An Interview In A Cover Letter?

In the closing paragraph of your cover letter, all you need to do is ask the employer for an interview. Statistics have indicated job seekers who ask for the interview in their cover letters are twice as likely to get the interview.

Below, we give you several examples that you can modify and use in your own cover letter.

Examples Of How To Ask For A Job Interview In Your Cover Letter

I'm excited about the Director of Sales position with XYZ Widgets and would love the opportunity to meet in person to further discuss my experience and the value I can offer you as your next Director of Sales. Please call me at 555.555.5555 to schedule an interview at your earliest convenience.

I would love a personal interview at your earliest convenience to further discuss my credentials with you. I can be reached at 555.555.5555 and will follow up as well to make sure you've received my information.

Thank you for your time reviewing my resume. I welcome the opportunity to discuss in a personal interview my qualifications and fit for the position. Feel free to reach me at 555.555.5555 at your earliest convenience.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I'd love the opportunity to further discuss the position and my experience with you. Please reach out to me at 555.555.5555 to schedule an interview.

Remember: You can ask for the interview with any wording you're comfortable with, whether that's with more direct language or not. The key thing is to close your cover letter by asking for the interview.

A cover letter is your chance to connect with an employer and explain your passion for what they do and how you believe you can help them achieve their goals as a company. If you do all that and ask for the job interview at the end of your cover letter, you'll be much more likely to get a call from the hiring manager.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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Spring Cleaning: 4 Ways To Fix Your Job Search

Is your job search turning into a grind with no end in sight? It may be time to take a step back and reevaluate your entire approach.

In cold weather climates, the beginning of spring is a time to clean the house and get organized—a practice known as spring cleaning. Through the years, spring cleaning has taken on a larger meaning with people using the time to organize and declutter things in their lives.

For professionals on the job hunt, a little spring cleaning (metaphorically speaking) could be a great way to reinvigorate your job search. Here are a few strategies your job search spring cleaning should include.

Reevaluate Your Job Search Approach

Make a list of the last handful of jobs you applied for and see if you can identify any positive or negative trends. Consider things like:

• How did I learn about this job?
• How did I apply for the job?
• Did I earn an interview?
• What was the ultimate result?

A lot can be learned about your job search approach just by answering these questions and identifying patterns. For example:

Negative Trends

You discovered five jobs through job boards, applied to all of them via the job boards, and never heard back from any of them.

The common pattern here is applying through job boards. This isn't to say that job boards don't serve a purpose in the job search process, but they have their limitations , and you can't run your job search entirely off of them. When you apply through a job board, there's a good chance that your materials will never get past the applicant tracking system (ATS) and never be seen by an actual person.

One simple fix is to research who the hiring manager or recruiter is that posted the position and email your materials to them directly.

The more efficient fix would be to take a proactive approach by putting together a bucket list of companies that you want to work for and start making connections on LinkedIn with people who work at those companies. You may already know some people who work there or have connections that can refer you to some individuals.

This is a great way to network your way onto a company's radar.

Positive Trends

You applied to three jobs via referral, were invited to two job interviews, and made it through multiple rounds of interviews for one of the jobs before being passed over for someone with a little more experience.

The pattern here is that getting referred to a job by a professional acquaintance is a great way to land a job interview . This indicates that you're leveraging your network well and you should continue to focus on your networking efforts.

The next step is to review the interview process and determine what went well and what needs to be improved. Sometimes the interviewer will provide feedback , and that feedback can be valuable. However, not everyone is comfortable with giving feedback.

Chances are you probably have a good idea about areas of improvement and the skills you need to gain. Put together a plan for addressing those shortfalls.

The good news in making it deep into any interview process is that it indicates that the company likes you as a potential employee (even if the timing just wasn't right) and the experience could be a roadmap to a job with that company at a later date, or another similar opportunity elsewhere.

Give Your Resume & Cover Letter Some Much-Needed Attention

Are you continuously sending similar resumes and cover letters to each job opening with only minor adjustments? If so, your strategy needs some serious spring cleaning.

Let's start with resumes!

Every resume should be tailored to the position in order for it to stand out to recruiters and hiring managers . It may seem like a lot of work, but it's actually less work than submitting the same resume over and over again and never hearing back.

The reason why it's so important to tailor your resume is that throughout your career, you acquire numerous skills, but the job you're applying for may only be focusing on 6-8 of those skills. In that case, those skills must rise to the top of the resume with quantifiable examples of how you successfully used those skills at previous jobs.

Remember, recruiters go through hundreds of resumes. They need to be able to tell from a quick glance whether or not you're a potential candidate for the position.

While updating your resume, you could also spruce up your LinkedIn profile by highlighting the skill sets that you want to be noticed for by recruiters.

As for writing a good cover letter , the key to success is writing a disruptive cover letter . When you write a disruptive cover letter , you're basically telling a story. The story should focus on how you connect with the particular company and job position. The story could also focus on your personal journey, and how you got to where you currently are in your career.

If your resumes and cover letters aren't unique, now is the time to clean things up and get on track.

Build Your Personal Brand

Just because you're looking for work doesn't mean that you don't have anything to offer. Use previous career experiences and passions to build your personal brand .

Ask yourself, "How do I want other professionals to view me?"

Pick an area of expertise and start sharing your knowledge and experience with your professional network by pushing out content on your LinkedIn and social media accounts. Good content can include blogs, social media posts, and videos.

By sharing content about your experiences and passions, you slowly build your personal brand, and others will start to notice. The content could lead to good discussions with others in your network. It could also lead to reconnecting with connections that you haven't spoken to in years, or making new connections.

You never know when one of these connections could turn into a job lead or referral. The trick is to get on people's radars. So, when you're cleaning up your job search, be sure to build a plan for personal branding.

Maintain Healthy Habits During Your Job Search

Your job search is important, but it's even more important to know when to pull back and focus on personal health and spending time with family and friends.

There are actually things that you can do for your own enjoyment that could help your job search in the long run, such as:

• Grab coffee with a friend - It's good to engage in light conversation with friends during challenging times. And if your job search does come up, remember that most people have been through it themselves and you never know when a friend may provide you with a good idea or lead on a job.
• Volunteer - Volunteering is a great way to get involved in the community and help others. In addition, if you develop a little bit of a career gap while looking for a job, you can always talk about how you filled that time volunteering, if you're asked about it during a job interview.
• Continue to focus on other passions - Are you a fitness nut? Blogger? Crafter? Continue to do the things that bring you happiness. And if you're in a position to profit from your passion through a freelance job or side hustle , even better!

Spring is the perfect time to clean up and improve your job search so you can land the job you want. If you're struggling to find a job, follow the tips above to reinvigorate your job search—and watch your career blossom!

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How To Follow Up On Your Resume

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How to Write a Follow-Up Email After an Interview [Templates + Tips]

Updated: January 31, 2022

Published: October 14, 2020

Standing out from hundreds — sometimes thousands — of candidates, competitors, others conducting business in your industry can be tough.

If you want to get a job, close a deal, or foster a valuable business relationship, though, you have to find a way.

The question is, how?

Besides polishing your resume, doing well during an interview, and impressing potential customers in pitch meetings, there’s another factor you can work to perfect: follow-up emails .

Follow-up emails should be sent after interviews, application and resume submissions, business meetings, sales pitches, and more.

Now, you may be thinking, but I already send follow-up emails .

However, it's all about how your email is crafted — from your subject line to your signature. Your follow-up email needs to be professional and flawless. This message could be the final push your recipient needs to hire you, become a paying customer, or agree to another meeting.

To start, let's take a look at possible subject lines you can include to grab the attention of your recipients.

Follow-Up Email Subject Lines

Subject lines are the first thing your recipient sees — meaning, they impact your open rate.

To help you craft a subject line for your follow-up email that will make your recipients want to open and read your message, we've compiled a list of some of the most effective options for different scenarios.

1. Follow-Up Email Subject Lines After an Application

• Appreciate your time and consideration
• Excited about [ ___ ] opportunity
• Following up on my application for [Position Title]

2. Follow-Up Email Subject Lines After an Meeting With Recruiter

• Pleasure to learn more about [Company Name]
• Can't wait to explore [Position Title] further
• Some extra information about [Topic of Conversation]

2. Follow-Up Email Subject Lines for After a Phone Interview

• Thank you for your time today, [Name]!
• Update on [____]?
• Next steps?

3. Follow-Up Email Subject Lines After an In-Person Interview

• Any other information you need?
• Have time for another chat, [Name]?
• Thank you for your consideration

Next, we'll cover some tips regarding your post-interview follow-up email.

How to Write a Follow-Up Email After an Interview

Let's review how to write a follow-up email after you wrap up an interview — the email doesn't have to be long, but it should include the following items.

• Strong subject line
• Introduction using the recipient's name (e.g. "Hi [Name],")
• Specific discussion points and details from the interview or meeting
• Reasons why you're qualified and the right fit for the position
• Expression of even deeper interest in the opportunity now that you had the interview/ meeting
• Gratitude for the interviewers time and consideration
• A question to ask if the recipient needs anything else from you in the meantime
• Signature (e.g. Best, [Name])

Let's review some follow-up email templates applicable to a number of common scenarios that you can use.

10 Follow-Up Email Templates

Here are ten follow-up email templates for different use cases you can customize for your recipients.

1. Follow-Up Email To Recruiter

If you’ve ever been to a job fair, you’ve seen the swarms of people working towards the same thing: leaving a lasting, positive impression on recruiters.

However, with so many people, names, and resumes being shared with recruiters every day , it can be difficult to ensure they remember you.To help with this, send a follow-up email that conveys your interest and the value you'd bring to the team.

My name is Your Name , I am details about yourself or your current position , and we met today at the recruiting event. I just wanted to thank you again for sharing your experience at Company Name with me and for providing me with information about Job Title . Hearing about your success with ______ and learning more about the fast-paced unique characteristic culture made me very excited to further explore opportunities with the team at Company Name . I really appreciate your time and advice. I've attached my resume for reference and a few of the projects I mentioned to you as well. Please let me know if there’s anything else you need on my end. I look forward to talking again soon!

2. Follow-Up Email After Social Media Outreach

Contacting a potential employer via social media has become a popular and effective way to connect with businesses you're interested in working with and for.

Whether it's on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, or another social platform, this can be great strategy for establishing first contact and general familiarity before or after submitting your job application.

My name is Your Name , I reached out to you earlier today on Twitter. I found the job listing for Company Name and had to get in touch with you. I also went through Piece of Company’s Content and recently read Hiring Manager’s Name content about topic . It's great. I believe I would be a great addition to your team for the following reasons: 1. I'm always learning, whether it be through books or articles (currently reading [Book Title] by [Author]) . 2. I focus on unique value . 3. The thought of helping Company Name accomplish its goals makes me excited. Attached is my resume and cover letter explaining why I would be a great addition to your team. I've also included relevant work sample(s) for your review. Looking forward to hearing from you, First Name ! Best,

3. Follow-Up Email After Application

To demonstrate how much you care about the position you applied for — as well what the company you're applying to does and stands for — send a thoughtful follow-up email after submitting your application.

It looks like things are going well for you guys at Company Name right now.

I saw the blog post from last month about the upcoming new features, and I can’t wait to try them out myself! I hold my breath a little every time I log into my account, hoping they’ve rolled out early. I also liked the article Publication wrote about the news. I think some of the ideas they came up with for using some of the new features were unique. It definitely had me thinking about different ways I could set up my account. I’m coming up on Graduation or End of Current Role in a few months, and would love the opportunity to be on a team that creates such great work.

Do you know what the Relevant Department’s hiring situation may look like around Month ? I just submitted the application on the site, but wanted to reach out as well.

4. Follow-Up Email After Phone Interview

Phone interviews are just as important as in-person interviews.

Since they often handle multiple phone screens a day, following up with the recruiter or hiring manager you spoke with will help you stand out and keep you top of mind. So, in your post-phone interview follow-up email, mention some of the main talking points and specific details you covered.

Thank you again for talking with me today, I really appreciated learning more about your work as Job Title and your experience at Company Name .

Working with such an autonomous quality team within a company that I truly admire would be an incredible learning experience, and I would love the opportunity to prove that I'm a great fit for the role. Attached is Project Title I created while working for previous company. I've also attached my resume as well as a cover letter to demonstrate why I want to work for Company Name and how I align with the culture.

Finally, here is a link to my website where you can see more of my publications and projects. Let me know if you have any questions about anything or if you'd like me to send something else. I look forward to hearing back from you!

5. Follow-Up Email After Interview

Back to one of the most critical follow-up email instances we mentioned earlier: after an interview.

Your message should emphasize (again) why you believe you're the right candidate for the specific role at this company. Reinforce points you discussed and/or learned about during your interview that resonated with you.

Thank you so much for taking the time to talk yesterday.

It was a pleasure to learn even more about Company Name and how you approach industry with innovative strategy . I’m very excited about the opportunity to explore a potential career with the Department . I couldn’t agree more with your philosophy on specific detail discussed during interview .

For me, Company Name , is about developing meaningful relationships company value. I think it’s rare to find a company whose asset truly reflect its values and mission so closely. Again, I appreciate the opportunity to have shared my background and interest in position with you. I think my experience with skill, type of work, or product aligns perfectly with what your team is looking for, and I hope to prove that.

I thought I would share a few links to projects that I mentioned during our conversation, as well: insert hyperlinks or attachments .

Thank you, and I hope we’ll be in touch soon! Best,

6. Follow-Up Email After Second Interview

Let's not forget how critical it is to continue the process of sending follow-up emails after your second interview as well. This email should be just as personal and thoughtful as the follow-up email you sent after your first interview.

Thank you for the opportunity to come and chat a second time. I didn’t think I could be any more enthusiastic about working with your team after the first interview - but I was wrong.

The whole package sounds incredible, from detail about position that excited you to the endless opportunities for growth. In fact, we discussed Project Name and I had a quick idea about making it successful. Attached is a quick explanation of what I was thinking. Whether this is on-point or completely off-base, I hope to get the chance to discuss it. Please let me know if there’s anything else you need moving forward, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks again.

7. Follow-Up Email After No Response

*Crickets.*

That's what you hear after sending a follow-up email and receiving no response. So, what should you in this case?

Try sending another follow-up email explaining your interest in the position, partnership, or deal all while gently expressing you can't and won't wait forever.

It has been two weeks since we last spoke about Job Title . At the time, you mentioned you were looking for a hard-working, organized salesperson and someone who can qualities required .

I’m still very interested in working with your team at Company Name , and I would love to prove to you that I not only meet those qualifications, but exceed them. My specific characteristics are just a few of the qualities that define me. Perhaps we could meet again to chat more about how I can help Company Name or Team reach objective . I understand if the position has already been filled, but I wanted to reiterate my enthusiasm about working with such an incredible group of people at Company Name .

If the role is no longer available, would you mind providing feedback on what I can improve upon in the future? And if you’re ever looking for help with opportunity , please don’t hesitate to reach out.

8. Follow-Up Email to Ask For More Time On An Offer

You did it ... you got the job offer!

But wait a minute. You're also still interviewing with another company of great interest.

Now you must follow up in a way that expresses your gratitude and excitement while also asking for an extension on when you'll share your final decision.

Thank you so much for your time yesterday and for the opportunity to work for the team this summer!

I'm very excited about the position. It’s exactly what I’ve been looking for: fast-paced web development for role details and the chance to make a real impact on the team's success. I hate to delay my response to your offer, but I still need some time to respond to competitive offers. I want to reiterate, though, that I am honored to be qualified for the position, and I really appreciate the opportunity to learn from such an inspiring group of individuals. I just feel it would be imprudent of me to commit before considering all of my options. With that said, I do recognize that you have time constraints as well, so I completely understand if you need a more immediate response. Can I touch base with you early next week? Thank you again for your time and the consideration you put into reviewing my qualifications. Again, I am honored to have been extended this opportunity! Thank you,

9. Follow-Up Email After Declining An Offer

You may receive an offer that you need to decline.

Whether you've been offered another position you'd rather accept, you don't feel as passionate about the opportunity as you once did, or a different role has piqued your interest, you should still send a follow-up email.

This will ensure you leave things on a good note and you maintain the positive impression you made on the people you've been communication with — after all, your paths may cross again down the road.

I was ecstatic when I heard back from you yesterday about Job Title ; it's an incredible opportunity and I'm honored to have been extended an offer. However, I have decided to accept a competing offer. It was a very tough decision for me because I've had such a great experience talking with you and everyone else on the team. One of the main reasons I chose to accept the other offer is explain reason . I greatly appreciate your time and I so enjoyed learning more about the team and culture at Company Name . I would still love to keep in touch and I hope you and the team understand my decision. Thank you again for your time and consideration. I wish you all the best, and I hope to talk again soon. Take care,

10. Follow-Up Email After Accepting An Offer

Lastly, what about a follow up for an offer you received and accepted?

Send a message expressing your gratitude and excitement. If applicable, include any questions you have about immediate actions you need to take.

I would love to accept the offer as Job Title for Company Name !

This is an amazing opportunity and I'm honored to have received the offer. Please let me know about next steps. I'll be awaiting my start date in anticipation in the meantime. I look forward to working with you and the rest of team!

Next, let's review some tools to help you with your follow-up emails.

Follow-Up Email Tools

In addition to subject lines and templates, there are follow-up email tools with capabilities and features sure to keep your communication as efficient and professional as possible, no matter what type of follow up you're sending.

1. HubSpot Email Tracking

HubSpot's email tracking tool notifies you when any email you sent has been opened or clicked. Email tracking software places an invisible image pixel in your emails that can detect the exact time and date an email has been opened by a recipient. This tool helps inform your business decisions.

2. HubSpot Email Templates

You can also use HubSpot's other available email templates to help optimize your approach to follow-up emails. Then, you can track the performance of different templates, save the best options, and automate your future follow ups.

3. HubSpot Meeting and Appointment Software

Another way to efficiently manage follow ups is to allow your potential customers, interviewers, or interviewees to schedule a meeting on your calendar, on their time.

This free tool reduces the unnecessary back-and-forth that tends to occur when arranging meetings, appointments, and interviews.

4. LinkedIn

Check out LinkedIn for recent updates on specific companies and individuals. The platform is a great way to keep up with industry news, marketing campaigns, events, blog posts, and new products or services. You can then reference your findings in your follow-up email communication.

Use Templates to Write Remarkable Follow-Up Emails

Remarkable follow-up emails help you distinguish yourself among the rest, such as competitors or candidates you're up against.

By writing a strong, attention-grabbing subject line, articulating your message clearly, and conveying your value, your follow-up email will stand out and pique the interest of any recipient. Use the templates we reviewed above and incorporate tools as needed to streamline your processes.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in April 2020 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

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Use these templates to follow up with colleagues, sales prospects, recruiters, and networking connections.

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How to Request an Interview in Your Cover Letter

The purpose of any cover letter is not just to present your credentials, but also to show your earnest interest in the job. Often, it’s your first chance to make the employer eager to meet you. One way to achieve this is by skillfully requesting an interview in your cover letter. Today we will learn about 'requesting an interview in cover letter' and essential tips on 'guide on interview request'.

Craft Your Cover Letter with Confidence

Start off your cover letter confidently. Don't simply request for an interview outright. First, you have to build a case for why you're a great fit for the job. Mention how your qualifications align with the job requirement. Compliment the company on their achievements or values to show you have a good understanding about them.

Transition to Requesting an Interview

After you've sold yourself as a solid candidate, you are now in a position to request an interview. Do this subtly by saying you'd be grateful for the opportunity to further discuss your qualifications and how you could contribute positively to the company.

Give Them a Reason to Meet You

Speak enthusiastically about your potential meeting. Share any upcoming plans to be in the area if you're applying to jobs out of your city or state. This could incentivize the company to want to meet with you, as there would be less scheduling conflicts.

Provide Your Contact Information

At the end of the cover letter, ensure to leave your contact information. Though this is typically provided in your resume as well, it doesn't hurt to make it easier for the hiring manager to contact you. You should provide your email address and phone number.

Close the Letter Professionally

Wrap things up on a professional note. End your letter with a statement of appreciation for the recipient's time and consideration. Make sure to sign off professionally.

Proofread the Letter

Lastly, proofread your letter. Make sure there are no spelling or grammatical errors. Remember, this could be your first impression to your potential employer, so make it count!

In conclusion, a cover letter is an opportunity to showcase your interest and request an interview tactfully. By following these instructions, you can craft the eye-catching cover letter that promotes your potential. Do it right, and you'll experience the power of the 'guide on interview request'.

Get your personalized cover letter, instantly.

12 Great Cover Letter Examples

Mike Simpson 0 Comments

By Mike Simpson

There comes a time in nearly every job seekers life when you plop yourself down in front of the computer and say to yourself…

“Okay, it’s time to find a couple good cover letter examples I can use to help me start writing my cover letter…” 

So you do a quick Google search, grab the first three cover letter samples you can find, copy a paragraph from each one, and then you’re off to the races feeling like now all you have to do is “click send” a few times and the interviews will simply start rolling in.

Consider this a gentle wake-up call.

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Why Your Cover Letter Is So Important?

In this ultra-competitive job market, it’s just not good enough to “Frankenstein” together a cover letter from the various bits and pieces you find online.

Because hiring managers have “been there, done that.” In other words, they’ve seen it all before.

Not only that, but they want to find candidates that are unique, interesting, and take the time and make the effort to present the best version of themselves.

Your cover letter is your first impression, and therefore, you want to craft the best darn cover letter your hiring manager has ever seen.

So you want to take the time and select the cover letter example that is “tailored” to your situation… in other words, the example cover letter that fits your personality, skills and abilities the best.

Example cover letters are kind of like shoes.

Sure, you might absolutely love that pair of Air Jordan IV’s that are still fresh in the box in your closet from 1989, but you might want to have a second thought before you consider wearing them to a wedding with a tuxedo.

Or perhaps you’ve got a pair of high heels that make you feel like you could walk into a business lunch at the Four Seasons and walk out having sold your company for a billion dollars?

Would you feel the same way if you showed up at the start line for the half marathon you signed up for with those same heels on?

Okay, ridiculous examples aside, I hope you can begin to see my point.

There is not one example cover letter for every situation … no “one-cover-letter-fits-all” solution in 2022.

You have to carefully evaluate your situation and decide which cover letter example is going to suit you the most.

What kind of work are you looking for?

Full-time?  Or part-time?  There’s a cover letter for that.

Are you sending a cover letter in the mail or by email?  There’s a cover letter for that too.

There are all kinds of situations that warrant a slightly different cover letter, and it’s imperative that you figure out which one fits you best.

But don’t worry.  To help, we’ve compiled a list of 12 of the most common cover letter examples and provided you with an example of a cover letter for each one that should give you a leg up on the competition for 2022.

So take a look at the examples and carefully decide which one fits your situation the most.

Before you dive in, a word to the wise…

Don’t just grab the one that fits you best, change the contact information and then start sending it out. As I said before, hiring managers are pretty smart and will be able to tell that you haven’t taken any time to make it your own.

If you want to get job interviews from your cover letter (and at some point, job offers as well!), you need to “tailor” the cover letter to demonstrate your skills , abilities and relevant experience .

12 Common Cover Letter Examples

Without further ado, here are 12 of the best cover letter examples for nearly every situation you could find yourself in along with a brief description of what makes the style of cover letter unique.

1. Cover Letter Sample For Part-Time Work

If you have no intention of applying for a full-time position, it is very important that you let the hiring manager know this in your cover letter.  After all, if you don’t mention this right up front, anything that comes after this will be a total waste of time, and hiring managers value their time more than anything.

On a side note, you should never really be applying for a full-time position when you are only available as a part-time worker.  The company has very specific needs, so don’t think they are going to change the entire nature of the position to accommodate your availability.

2. For A New Graduate

Cover letters for new graduates can often be tricky, because generally speaking, new graduates don’t usually have much experience.

So how can you still put yourself forward as a good candidate without experience?  You want to focus the cover letter around your skills and abilities, the extra-curricular work you’ve accomplished and your knowledge of the company (and passion for the industry) you’re applying to.

3. When You Have Been Referred

There isn’t anything overly difficult about writing a cover letter when you have been referred by someone else, but the most important thing to know is where you should bring up the referral.

Generally speaking, it is always best to mention your referral in the opening paragraph, because it acts as an attention grabber for the hiring manager.

You’re hoping they’ll think to themselves something along the lines of, “Oh, this person was referred by Jim.  I like Jim…he’s a straight shooter. If this person is good enough for Jim, he’s good enough for me. I’m going to bring him in for an interview…”

4. Cold Call Cover Letter Example

The cold call cover letter is appropriate when you are applying to a position that is not necessarily listed on a job board or advertised anywhere.  And for that reason, it can be a little tricky.

You really need to blow the hiring manager away in order for them to grant an unsolicited interview request, so there a re a few key things to remember.  Most importantly, you really have to do your research and demonstrate that you know the company and position inside out.

After that, it really pays to address the letter to a specific person.  Simply writing “To Whom It May Concern” is a great way to have the letter filed under G (for those keeping track that’s the Garbage).

Finally, this letter needs to be all about “pizazz”. Since the reader wasn’t expecting to receive this, you really need to catch their attention and sell yourself, but most importantly, quickly demonstrate how you will add value to their company.

5. For An Email Submission

Please please PLEASE be careful with this one.

Just because a job posting says “submit your cover letter and resume via email” , doesn’t necessarily mean that you can just put these documents in the body of an email.

More often than not, the posting will give further instructions that include attaching your cover letter and resume to an email.  Anyone who doesn’t follow this step has a ZERO chance of being brought in for an interview.

Why?  Because you can’t follow simple directions.

Now, if there is no stipulation and you determine that using the email body to send your cover letter is okay, then general cover letter writing rules apply.

Where you want to focus your energy is on the subject line.  Don’t just write whatever comes to mind as a throwaway and whatever you do, don’t leave it empty!  Be clear and concise about what is included in the email and identify the position you are applying for.

6.  For A Recruiter

Recruiters are no different than hiring managers, in that they are essentially looking for the same things from your cover letters.  What impresses a recruiter the most is when you take the time to tailor your cover letter to a specific posting rather than simply sending them a general letter inquiring about “miscellaneous opportunities”.

7. Someone Changing Careers

Generally speaking, if you are changing careers, you’ll be short on experience.  So similarly to the “New Graduate” cover letter, you’ll want to put the focus on your reasons for making the career change along with your relevant skills and abilities and how your experience in your past career will translate to your new career.

And remember, enthusiasm goes a long way. Hiring managers get excited about applicants that really show a desire to succeed in the role and industry they are applying to.

So make sure you do your research and know the position and industry inside out so that you are easily able to show how enthusiastic you are about the opportunity and how determined you are to get started on your new career path.

8. A Great Example of a Cover Letter For An Academic

The trick with an academic cover letter is to avoid rambling on and on and on about everything you’ve accomplished.  The reality is, you still need to fall within the “one-page rule” (although some institutions will allow for a second page, you better make darn sure that this is the case!), so t he trick is to be clear and concise and highlight your accomplishments without coming across as an encyclopedia.

One other thing to consider is the nature of any research you have done and how you want to convey that in your cover letter.

Quite often people spend too much time talking about what it is they study or plan on studying without ever getting into the “why” of it all.

Be specific about your intentions and don’t assume that the person on the other end of your cover letter is an expert in your field.

9. For An Internship

There really isn’t a huge difference between writing a cover letter for an internship and writing a cover letter for a job opening.  You still need to list your qualifications, skills and abilities.  You still need to explain how you add value to the company.  You still want to sell yourself.

But one thing you want to keep in mind, is even though this internship might be a springboard to YOUR career or education, you don’t want this to be the focus of your cover letter.

The name of the game is still to put the company’s needs ahead of your own.

You’re not their first intern and you won’t be their last, so don’t write your cover letter thinking that their concern is how the internship will help with your placement in your next opportunity.

Add value. Period.  This is what they really want to hear from you in your cover letter.

10. Direct Mail

A direct mail cover letter is similar to a cold call cover letter, the main difference being you are not applying to a single company with a single position in mind.  Instead, you are “blanketing” as many companies you can at once and therefore trying to send out a general cover letter that can work for them all.

Because of this, we don’t recommend this strategy to our students.  It is generally pretty ineffective and a waste of your time or resources.

There is rarely a time when “tailoring” your resume to a specific company and position is not the most effective strategy.  However, if you are really short on time (and possibly ambition), here is an example of a direct mail cover letter you can reference.

11. Responding To an Advertisement

The only really distinguishing feature of this type of cover letter is that the opening paragraph generally includes a statement such as “I’m responding to your advertisement I saw in the…”

The rest of the cover letter generally follows the principles of other successful cover letters.  However, if you find yourself going through the classifieds in your local newspaper and simply sending off cover letters to whomever has an ad posted, do make sure that you do some research on the company before you send out your cover letter.

Sending one cover letter out for multiple advertisements is a good way to ensure that you won’t be getting too many interviews in the coming days or weeks.

12. When You’re Unemployed

The worst thing you can do when writing an cover letter after you’ve been unemployed for some time is to lie.

Why?  Because eventually, the lies you tell in the cover letter will come home to roost at some point in the interview process, meaning you’ll just end up having wasted everyone’s time.

Having said that, if there are some less-than-attractive reasons for your unemployment, don’t make those reasons the focus of your cover letter. You want to keep it positive.

It’s okay to admit fault in certain situations if you can show that you’ve have learned from the tough times and have changed for the better as a result of these struggles.

Transition to focusing on your skills and abilities, and more importantly, your passion and desire for re-entering the workforce. If you have experience from your past that will clearly add value to this new position, than don’t be afraid to clearly demonstrate the connection.

And if you spent your time being unemployed trying to better yourself (for example, taking a class or volunteering), then shift the focus to that.

Putting It All Together

So there you have 12 good cover letter examples for 2022 that will help you get started on crafting a winning cover letter.

Remember that the most important thing for you to accomplish with your cover letter is to demonstrate how you add value to the company you are applying to, and you want to make sure this never gets lost when you get caught up in trying to sell yourself.

And remember, you’re not on your own! Once you’ve chosen your cover letter example you can head over to How to Write a Cover Letter 101 and get great tips on how to right all parts of your cover letter.

Best of luck to you!

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In it you'll get a step-by-step process that will let you craft the perfect cover letter.

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Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com.

His advice and insights have been shared and featured by publications such as Forbes , Entrepreneur , CNBC and more as well as educational institutions such as the University of Michigan , Penn State , Northeastern and others.

Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page .

About The Author

Mike simpson.

Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com. His advice and insights have been shared and featured by publications such as Forbes , Entrepreneur , CNBC and more as well as educational institutions such as the University of Michigan , Penn State , Northeastern and others. Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page .

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How to Write a Thank You Email After an Interview

• Christopher Littlefield

Advice on what to say — and what not to — along with sample email templates.

You’ve updated your resume, written your cover letter, and prepared for your interview. Now it’s time for your thank you note to seal the deal. In this piece, the author outlines what to say — and not to say — in your thank you email to interviewers and answers common questions like: How much detail should you include? When should you send it? And why is it important to do? He also includes three sample emails to use as a guide.

You’ve just finished an interview for a job opportunity you’re really excited about. You know you should send a thank you note to your interviewers, but you’re not sure what to write. How much detail should you include? Should you send an email to every person you interviewed with? And what’s really the best way to follow up ?

• Christopher Littlefield is an International/TEDx speaker specializing in employee appreciation and the founder of  Beyond Thank You . He has trained thousands of leaders across six continents to create cultures where people feel valued every day. He is the author of 75+ Team Building Activities for Remote Teams—Simple Ways to Build Trust, Strengthen Communication, and Laugh Together from Afar . You can follow his work through his weekly mailing  The Nudge .

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Justice Department rejects GOP demands for audio of Joe Biden, Robert Hur interview after bombshell report

WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice rejected requests from House Republicans for the audio recordings of special counsel Robert Hur’s interviews with President Joe Biden , with department officials balking at GOP lawmakers' threat to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress if they don't comply.

The Justice Department contended in a letter obtained by USA TODAY that it has already given House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio and House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., all the information the GOP needs and that the department has fully cooperated.

Their threat to hold Garland in contempt, Assistant Attorney General Carlos Felipe Uriarte wrote to Jordan and Comer on Monday, “is difficult to explain in terms of any lack of information" based "the Department’s actual conduct.”

“We are therefore concerned that the Committees are disappointed not because you didn’t receive information, but because you did,” the letter continues. “We urge the Committees to avoid conflict rather than seek it.”

Republicans have been pushing to obtain the audio of the interviews after Hur released a bombshell report earlier this year detailing Biden’s treatment of classified information. Hur ultimately concluded that Biden shouldn’t face criminal charges in part because of insufficient evidence and what his office called the president’s “poor memory.”

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

Biden sat for a two-day interview with Hur last year on his handling of the documents following his tenure as vice president.

Hur testified to the House Judiciary Committee in a marathon hearing in March and stood by his report’s findings. The Justice Department noted on Monday that, along with Hur’s testimony, “the Committees have received an extraordinary amount of information—and quickly.”

Jordan and Comer sent a letter to Garland in March saying that the DOJ’s provided redacted transcripts were “insufficient” and requesting the full, unredacted transcripts and audio files of Hur’s interviews with Biden and his ghostwriter, Mark Zwonitzer. The committee chairs gave the department until Monday to abide by their requests.

“If you fail to do so, the Committees will consider taking further action, such as the invocation of contempt of Congress proceedings,” the two wrote. 

Along with the letter, the DOJ sent lawmakers the transcripts of Zwonitzer’s interviews with Hur “as a further accommodation” even though “it is not clear to the Department that the Committee has established an additional need for these transcripts.”

Republicans’ interests, the department accused in the letter, "may not be in receiving information in service of legitimate oversight or investigatory functions, but to serve political purposes that should have no role in the treatment of law enforcement files.”

Comer responded in a statement that "The Biden administration does not get to determine what Congress needs and does not need for it's oversight of the executive branch."

"The American people demand transparency from their leaders, not obstruction," Comer continued. "We will respond to the Justice Department soon."

If you've been laid off or fired, here's what you should tell employers in your next job interview

• It can be a tough conversation: What do you say in a job interview after being laid off or fired?
• If laid off, you can say it was part of larger job cuts, and most employers will understand.
• If you were fired, that's a different conversation. Here's what career coaches advise.

Losing your job is never easy. Whether you were laid off or fired, it's tough to deal with a job loss , financially and emotionally.

Getting back out there and interviewing for your next position can be just as difficult. Inevitably, talent acquisition asks what happened with your last job. What should you say?

We spoke with two career coaches to get their takes. Here's what they advised:

If you were laid off

Generally speaking, prospective employers are more understanding of layoffs than firings. It is, after all, easier to explain away a job loss when many of your colleagues were also cut.

Marie G. McIntyre , a career coach, said that in many cases, "layoffs aren't about getting rid of you, but the position."

If you're asked about your layoff in an interview, the career coach Dorianne St Fleur suggests saying something like, "My team was impacted by the mass layoffs and unfortunately had to make some decisions as far as hiring and resources, and so my role was eliminated."

If you were a more recent hire or in a more junior position, you may also mention that, as those factors can help explain your layoff as well without painting you in a negative light.

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You may also mention if you survived prior rounds of layoffs before you were ultimately cut. You could say, "The company was going through multiple rounds of layoffs, and my boss really tried to figure out how to keep me as long as possible, but in the end, I was part of one of the later rounds of layoffs our company had to do."

St Fleur said this would show that "you had a good relationship with your boss, and you must be some sort of top performer because they were trying to not make you be one of the first people."

If you were fired

McIntyre says one of the first things you should do when you're fired is try to negotiate how your departure will be portrayed to prospective employers.

She advises asking human resources exactly what information they'll provide when asked to verify your employment. In some cases, she says, you may be able to convince your employer to let you resign instead of firing you or to agree to discuss your dismissal with future prospective employers as "a mutual decision." In those instances, aim to get a reference letter that lays out the agreed-upon reason that you can use in your application process, McIntyre says.

It can also be helpful to describe a firing in an interview as "a mutual decision to part ways" or to say it "wasn't a good fit" or "wasn't the right match," St Fleur says.

Less is more

When speaking about a job loss, remember that "less is more," St Fleur says.

Address your departure, and then steer the conversation back to the role at hand quickly.

"It's kind of a politician's answer in that I'm not directly saying I left because I was fired because so-and-so happened, but instead, I'm gearing the conversation towards what I'm actually looking for in the future," St Fleur said.

You may follow a structure like this when answering: "I'm no longer at the company. I left in October, and I'm currently looking for a role where I'll have opportunities to use my strengths in X, Y, and Z, which is why your company and this position are so attractive to me."

Focus on what's next

Just as you'd do in the interview, you should keep your eyes on the road ahead when you've lost a job.

St Fleur tells her clients to "shift their mindsets and understand they're not damaged goods."

"Being fired or laid off doesn't mean you're not a good performer or that you're not worthy of getting another job," she said. The way you think about your dismissal "impacts your whole job search process," she added.

"It's about you figuring out what the right next step is for you," St Fleur said. "Try to find the next best fit for you based on what you want to be doing, what level you are, what skills you're trying to pick up, and what lessons you've learned from the previous role, no matter how you exited."

Watch: Nearly 50,000 tech workers have been laid off — but there's a hack to avoid layoffs

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