Cover Letter Examples That Will Help Get You Hired

Newsflash: A cover letter is not a repeat of a resume. These examples show you how it's done.

Monster staff
Cover Letter Examples That Will Help Get You Hired

A great cover letter will show that you're the right candidate.

If you're wondering how to write a cover letter, you're in the right place! Monster's library of cover letter examples can help you do exactly that.

It doesn't matter what industry you're in or level you're at in your career—to get noticed by potential employers, your professional cover letter needs to knock their socks off. Writing a good cover letter is about much more than friendly greeting; it's a tool that lets hiring managers know that you're the candidate they've been hoping for.

Because recruiters and hiring managers have seen every type of cover letter format imaginable, for maximum wow-factor, you must build a cover letter that highlights your industry-specific experience, accomplishments, and credentials.

Is a cover letter necessary?

If the job ad calls for a cover letter, yes, it is necessary to include one. Failure to have a cover letter for a job can immediately disqualified you from consideration if it’s explicitly stated that one is required. As a job seeker, you need to demonstrate that you’re able to follow directions. An employer might interpret your missing cover letter to mean that you didn’t pay attention to what was asked of you. Not a good look.

If a job ad doesn’t say a cover letter is required, then you do not need to include one with your application. That said, if the job application has a section for any additional information you would like to share with an employer, it’s highly recommended that you copy and paste the text of your cover letter into this area. The same is true if you’re required to email your application; copy and paste your cover letter into the body of the email.

As good a source of candidate information as a resume is, it doesn’t really give you the same kind of opportunity to share your personality with an employer. Culture fit is very high on the list of determining factors that can cause you to be hired, and a good cover letter can mean the difference between you getting called in for an interview or not.

Cover letter length

A cover letter shouldn't be longer than one page; three or four paragraphs will suffice. Aim for about 250 to 400 words. Any longer, and your efforts risk being wasted.

First of all, hiring managers and recruiters are busy people who don’t have time to read through pages and pages of copy. Second, you should be able to succinctly hit your selling points. This may take a few rounds to perfect, but it’ll be worth it. Nobody wants you to spend time and energy writing scrolls of copy that a hiring manager won’t even both reading on account of you being long-winded.

Tips for using cover letter templates

1. Customize your cover letter for each job. In the examples below, you’ll see the advantage of having a dedicated space to engage with an employer, but don't rely on a generic cover letter to get noticed. Create a different cover letter for each job to which you're applying. Companies want to feel special, like you're applying to their job, not just any old job. Tell a brief story or two that demonstrates how your skills and experience can benefit the company’s particular needs.

2. Don't simply reiterate your resume. In a cover letter, you don’t just list facts about your work history—you use emotion and storytelling to add some life to the page. For example, if you see on a company’s website that they’re in the process of rolling out new products to the international market, you can talk about how you’ve been involved in a number of successful global product launches and really loved developing marketing campaigns for different countries and customs, which strengthened your dedication to connecting with customers all over the world.

3. Put your personality into it. Whatever you do, do not simply copy and paste these cover letter examples and pass them off as your own. The whole point of a cover letter is to convince an employer of your one-of-a-kind value.

Steps to write a cover letter

Start with the proper greeting: Address your cover letter to the person who will be reading it. If you do not know the person's gender, write out their full name.

  • Dear Ms. Smith / Dear Mr. Jones / Dear Lee Caroll

Introduce yourself with an opening: Write a personable, inviting opening paragraph that highlights how your skills are a perfect fit to the company and position.

  • I was so excited to see your product photographer job posting on Monster, and I am confident I can support your creative department in producing high-quality product shots for marketing and social media—especially for your highly anticipated upcoming summer catalog.

Get them interested with a compelling hook: Highlight your past achievements as they relate to the job you're applying for.

  • Skilled at creating images that capture attention on social media, I've had thousands of my images appear on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, Twitter, and Tumblr. I play a key role in the visual storytelling and branding of leading consumer product companies and contribute to successful marketing campaigns.

Promote your skills: Highlight your additional relevant skills, such as computer languages or certifications.

  • I have expert knowledge of Photoshop, InDesign, Lightroom, Bridge, Illustrator, and Capture One Pro; studio and lighting setups; and equipment including ZZY cameras (I currently shoot with an EOS 5D Mark IV). I love learning about and applying the latest advances in photography tools, services, and equipment to enhance photo quality and streamline workflows.

Thank them in the close: Briefly recap your strengths as a candidate, thank the reader for their time, and include your contact information.

  • I would love the opportunity to discuss with you how I can create images that bring your brand's strategic vision to life. I can be reached at (555) 555-5555 or me@photographer.edu. Thank you so much for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.

A professional cover letter is worth all the effort. If you need writing help, check out these cover letter templates for various careers and career levels in the following industries:

Administrative/Support Cover Letter Examples

Art/Design/Media Cover Letter Examples

Business Cover Letter Examples

Child Care Cover Letter Examples

Education Cover Letter Examples

Engineering Cover Letter Examples

Finance/Accounting Cover Letter Examples

Health Care Cover Letter Examples

Human Resources Cover Letter Examples

Job Search Cover Letter Examples

Law Enforcement and Legal Cover Letter Examples

Marketing and PR Cover Letter Examples

Military Cover Letter Examples

Nurse Cover Letter Examples

Real Estate Cover Letter Examples

Restaurant and Hospitality Cover Letter Examples

Retail Cover Letter Examples

Sales Cover Letter Examples

Science Cover Letter Examples

Student Cover Letter Examples

Technology Cover Letter Examples

Trades Cover Letter Examples

Transportation and Warehousing Cover Letter Examples

Finished writing a cover letter? Now get your resume in shape

Once you've used Monster's cover letter examples to complete your own, it's time to focus on that other important piece of paper: your resume. Could you use a little help with that? Get a free resume evaluation today from Monster, and you'll get detailed feedback in two business days. It's a quick and easy way to make sure your candidacy for the job is as strong as possible.