// 37X Award Winning Resume Samples
Cover Letter Examples & Template
Taking Cover Letters to the Next Level
Have a look at our fantastic cover letter samples that have helped our clients land their dream jobs. We’ve got a whole range for different sectors and different employment levels too.
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Cover letter template (free Word download)
A cover letter has one job: give the reader a reason to open your résumé. This template is the structure our reverse recruiters use when they write to hiring managers on a client’s behalf. Page one is the fill-in version with guidance notes. Page two is a finished example for a Vice President of Operations, so you can see what each paragraph looks like when it is done.
Download the cover letter template (.docx)Cover letter template you can copy
[Your Name]
[City, State] | [Phone] | [Email] | [LinkedIn URL]
[Date]
[Hiring Manager’s Name]
[Title], [Company]
Re: [Job Title]
Dear [Mr./Ms. Last Name],
[Opening. Name the role and lead with one result at the scale you achieved it. Two to three sentences.]
[Proof. Take the two or three requirements the posting stresses. Match each with what you did and what changed. Three short bullets work well.]
[Fit. Why this company, now. Point to something specific, and say what you would do about it in your first 90 days.]
[Close. Ask for the conversation and say when you will follow up.]
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
What is a cover letter? (with an example)
A cover letter is a one-page letter sent with your résumé that tells the hiring manager which job you want, why your record fits it, and why you want to do it at their company. The résumé lists what you have done; the cover letter argues what it means for this employer.
Here is a short cover letter example that does all three in under 200 words:
Dear Ms. Whitfield,
In four years as Director of Operations at Northwind Logistics, I took on-time delivery from 84% to 97% across 11 sites while cutting cost per order 12%. I am writing about your Vice President of Operations opening because the brief, integrating two acquired networks without losing service levels, is work I have done twice.
Three parts of your posting match my record directly. Multi-site integration: I consolidated three acquired warehouses onto one operating model in 14 months with zero attrition among site leaders. Margin: I lifted EBITDA margin six points in three years. Safety: I cut the recordable injury rate 41%.
Halcyon’s plan to add four regional hubs by 2028 will stretch the playbook that works at your current scale. In my first 90 days I would agree one set of daily metrics with your general managers and bring you a sequenced integration plan.
I would welcome 20 minutes to walk you through how I would approach the first two quarters.
Sincerely,
Jordan Ellis
Cover letter format
| Part | What goes in it | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Header | Same name and contact block as your résumé, then date and the employer’s details. | 4 to 6 lines |
| Greeting | “Dear Ms. Whitfield,” or “Dear Operations Hiring Team,” when no name can be found. | 1 line |
| Opening | The role, and the one result that earns the next paragraph. | 2 to 3 sentences |
| Proof | Two or three of the posting’s requirements, each matched with a result. | 3 to 4 sentences or 3 bullets |
| Fit | Why this company, and what you would do first. | 2 to 3 sentences |
| Close | Ask for the conversation. State your follow-up. | 2 sentences |
Keep it to one page, 250 to 400 words, in the same font and margins as your résumé. Send it as a PDF unless the posting asks for Word. The examples below show the format at manager, director, vice president and C-level.
What is a cover letter?
A cover letter is a one-page letter sent with a résumé. It names the job you want, shows how your record matches what the employer asked for, and explains why you want the role at that company.
What should a cover letter include?
A header that matches your résumé, a greeting to a named person, an opening with one strong result, a proof paragraph matching two or three of the posting's requirements, a paragraph on why this company, and a close that asks for a conversation.
How long should a cover letter be?
One page: three to four short paragraphs, 250 to 400 words. Hiring managers read the first paragraph and scan the rest.
Is there a free cover letter template in Word?
Yes. The download on this page is a Word file with a fill-in template on page one and a finished executive example on page two.
How do I address a cover letter without a name?
Use the department and the word team, for example Dear Operations Hiring Team. Avoid To Whom It May Concern, which reads as a letter sent to everyone.
Do I still need a cover letter in 2026?
Yes when the posting asks for one or when you are writing directly to a hiring manager or recruiter. A short, specific letter is often the only part of an application a person reads before deciding to open the résumé.
