Cover Letter Templates to Stand Out From the Crowd
If you want to get that all-important interview, then a strong cover letter is key. It needs to look good - and it also needs to be well structured, making a compelling case for recruiters to call you in for an interview.
Our cover letter templates below make it quick and easy to build a cover letter that will make your application stand out for all the right reasons.
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Common Questions from UK Jobseekers
What should you include in your cover letter?
A cover letter should include:
- A professional greeting with the hiring manager’s name and a subject relevant for the job.
- How you found them and why you're applying.
- A succinct summary of your relevant experience.
- Personalised content about your interest in them specifically.
- Clear guidance on your notice period and interview availability.
- Current contact information.
What is the format of a cover letter?
The format of a cover letter is:
- A universal document type, like Word or PDF.
- A maximum of one page long, ideally less.
- A maximum of 3-5 paragraphs of text.
- Easy to read, with good line spacing (1.5 recommended).
- Professional and neat, with a font at least 12 points in size.
30 of the UK’s Most Popular Cover Letter Templates
Whatever job you’re applying for, we have a cover letter template that will help you.
Retail cover letter template
Whether you’re taking your first step into retail or applying for a managerial position, our cover letter template will help you include a customer-focused spin that will get recruiters' attention.
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Customer service cover letter template
Our template will help you impress an employer with a well-written, personable cover letter that highlights your relevant work experience.
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Graduate cover letter template
Fresh out of university you need to stand out from the competition. Our graduate cover letter template will help showcase your talent and make a good impression.
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Sales assistant cover letter template
Highlight your passion for sales and ability to work under pressure. Our sales assistant cover letter template will guide you in the right direction, demonstrating you’re the ideal candidate.
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Creative cover letter template
Along with your creative talents, personality is important in the creative industry. Our template will encourage you to add a personal touch and highlight specific, relevant projects.
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Sales cover letter template
Recruiters are seeking candidates who are confident and able to work to targets. Our sales cover letter templates make it easy for you to demonstrate these capabilities.
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Admin cover letter template
Accuracy and professionalism are imperative in an admin cover letter. Our template will help you create an impressive cover letter that instantly wins recruiters over.
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Teacher cover letter template
This template will help you achieve the right balance between being personable and authoritative. These qualities will demonstrate that you're the perfect fit for the job.
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Legal cover letter template
Our template will help you highlight both your legal credentials, and also your expertise in the specific industry you're applying to work in.
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Finance cover letter template
Finance teams are under pressure to meet deadlines, but also need to be vigilant about accuracy. We'll help you highlight this ability in your finance cover letter.
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Law cover letter template
Law involves dealing with significant paperwork, and a strong cover letter will make all the difference. This template dials up the professionalism and helps you share your passion for the law.
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IT cover letter template
We have a range of IT templates that will help you focus on the specific area of IT that you specialise in. Showcase your strengths, whether they're Java, PHP, C++ or C#.
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Fashion cover letter template
Fashion sense is important, but you also need to prove you can take direction and use your initiative. Our template will help you build a cover letter that will win you an interview.
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Receptionist cover letter template
Being good with people is important, but you also need to be able to multitask. We’ll help you go beyond the obvious, including relevant work experience and skills to give you the edge.
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Engineering cover letter template
Our engineering cover letter template gives you insight into what makes a great cover letter, from achievements to skills that will help you stand out.
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Private equity cover letter template
Private equity firms are tough recruiters: one employee said they applied for over 2000 roles before getting their job. Our template will help you get tan interview much more quickly.
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Marketing cover letter template
There are many marketing career pathways, and our template offers you a guide that can be applied to many of them. Customise it to work for the specific position you've applied for.
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Graphic design cover letter template
Even if you have amazing design skills, potential employers also want personality fit. Our design cover letter templates help you to balance showcasing both kinds of strengths.
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Operations manager cover letter template
Potential employers want an operations manager with relevant work experience and the confidence to manage the team. Our template demonstrates how you achieve this balance.
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Construction cover letter template
The construction industry has its own unique culture and recruitment approach. Whatever role you’re applying for, our template will help engage the interest of construction recruiters.
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Chef cover letter template
You may be great at cooking, but you also need to demonstrate other skills. Our chef cover letter template helps you to balance creativity and managerial skills.
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Mechanical engineering cover letter template
Mechanical engineers have a defined skill-set. Our cover letter template lets you customise the letter to weave in your specific strengths and achievements.
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Administration cover letter template
Keeping things organised and well-presented is an important part of any administration job. Our professional administration cover letter template helps you to convey this clearly.
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Civil engineering cover letter template
Our civil engineering template covers all the bases. Customise it to match your skill set or experience, and add in some personal touches to wrap it up.
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Recruitment consultant cover letter template
Recruiters have high expectations of each other. Start off on the right foot with our cover letter template, carefully customising it to match the role you've applied for.
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Management cover letter template
Demonstrating your ability to manage staff and cope under pressure is paramount in a management cover letter. Our professional template helps you to do this quickly and easily.
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Science cover letter template
Whether you’re looking for an entry level research position or planning to head up a lab, our science cover letter template will help you to put your best professional foot forward.
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Banking cover letter template
Banking may be a corporate career pathway, but your application still needs to show some personality. We'll help you to achieve the right balance.
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Business analyst cover letter template
It’s important to demonstrate your grasp of technology and the ability to link top level thinking with bottom line objectives. Our business analyst cover letter template helps you to do this.
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Manager cover letter template
Your manager cover letter needs to demonstrate your managerial experience, and also convey confidence. Our template will help you achieve this quickly and easily.
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Even with a cover letter template, writing a cover letter can still be tricky. To help break it down, here are our 10 cover letter writing tips:
1. Do: Use a professional cover letter template
This will help you make a good impression and keep it succinct.
2. Don’t: Copy and paste the same content for every application
Recruiters will recognise a copy and paste job a mile off, and discard the application.
3. Do: Highlight relevant experience and achievements
Select and summarise success stories from your experience that are relevant to the advertised position.
4. Don’t: Oversell yourself
List too many achievements and you run the risk of diluting the impact of your successes. You also risk seeming too experienced for the role.
5. Do: Look to successful people for inspiration
Whether that’s getting input from friends who have jobs at your chosen company or looking to inspirational people like Richard Branson or Karren Brady.
6. Don’t: Pick up bad habits from people doing it wrong
Not everyone is right. Well-intentioned advice from friends and family isn’t always good advice. Listen to the experts.
7. Do: Format your cover letter professionally
Beyond the words you write, your cover letter needs to be professionally presented without any typos or spelling mistakes.
8. Don’t: Send a messy cover letter
Pause and check everything a couple of times before you send it.
9. Do: Follow the application process properly
One of the quickest ways to ruin your chances of getting an interview is ignoring instructions. Read the job description carefully, then follow the recruitment process and application requirements properly.
10. Don’t: Scroll, click, and apply mindlessly
Take the time to customise your application and only apply for the roles you actually want.
Why Use a Cover Letter Template?
Recruiters deal with hundreds of applications for every role - there can be as many as 600 applicants for every job in the media industry. Standing out in such a crowded market is tough, which is why your cover letter is so critical.
A cover letter template plays a vital role in making sure that you stand out for all the right reasons.
Look professional
Many applicants don't even bother to write a cover letter, so including one in your application already gives you an edge. Using a letter template gives you a well structured and appropriate-looking document that creates a professional impression. Want to really make an impression with your job application? Choose the same template for your CV and create a visual link between the two.
Show you've done your research
It's quick and easy for employers to identify candidates who are applying for jobs at high volumes, using a single cover letter for multiple jobs. And these applications are the ones that end up discarded.
A letter template helps you to get the basics of the cover letter right, so you can focus on customising the letter to match the specific role you've applied for.
Still not convinced about the power of a good cover letter? Here's what a people and culture manager has to say:
“We love to see covering letters where applicants have made a real effort to connect with us, show that they understand a bit about us and therefore why we would be a particularly good match for each other.”
5 Top Tips for Choosing the Right Cover Letter Template
With so many cover letter templates to choose from, it can be difficult to pick the right one. Here are our top tips on how to choose the right template for you:
Choose popular templates for the job
If your peers are getting results, chances are that a template will work for you too. Take a look at our top 30 popular cover letter templates to find one that works for you.
Match the formality of the cover letter with the company
At an interview you need to mirror the level of formality of your prospective employer. The same rule applies when you're choosing a cover letter template. If you’re applying for a job in a global corporate, pick a more formal template. For a role at a startup, use a less formal cover letter template.
Find an appropriate, skimmable layout
Recruiters are really busy, dealing with hundreds of cover letters. Increase your chances of getting shortlisted by using a cover letter template that appeals to readers with a clean and easy-to-skim layout.
Use the job description as a guide
The job ad and description give you great insight into which cover letter template to choose. Take note of:
- The tone and language - is it professional and logical, or creative?
- The length of the paragraphs and sentences - is it short and to the point, or wordy?
- The job application instructions - what have they specifically asked for?
Research the hiring manager
When you know who the specific hiring managers are, it's a great opportunity to learn a bit more about what might appeal to them in a cover letter. Get to know them and you're more likely to write something that will resonate with them - and avoid their pet peeves.
Ready to get noticed?
It's time to take the next step in your career. Head over to our cover letter builder now to get started, or take a look at our CV templates to choose a template that matches your cover letter.
Top Professional Cover Letter Templates
With over a decade of experience helping candidates, here are our top cover letter templates:
Word cover letter template
A Word cover letter template is a great starting point for any job application. Our cover letter builder means you're just one click away from great Word cover letter templates.
Professional cover letter template
Organisations get so many cover letters that just don’t hit the mark. Our professional cover letter template helps you to attract their attention with a letter that meets their expectations.
Best cover letter template
The best cover letter template will help you to make the right impression by presenting your application in the strongest possible way. It provides a clear structure and clean layout that appeals to recruiters.
Good cover letter template
A good cover letter template gives your application a solid starting point. It helps you to provide key information in a layout that is easy for readers to skim.
Basic cover letter template
If the recruiter hasn’t asked for a cover letter, our basic cover letter template will more than do the job. It's a fuss-free option that still meets all the recruiters' expectations.
Simple cover letter template
Life is hectic and recruiters are busy people. A simple cover letter can help you get noticed without the fuss and get the invite to the next assessment centre or interview round.
Online cover letter template
Our online cover letter templates make it quick and easy to build a strong cover letter. Contained in our cover letter builder, they also offer extra tips and help to customise your letter.
UK cover letter template
Our UK cover letter templates are specifically designed with the UK market in mind, so your application will always be appropriate.
Short cover letter template
Our short cover letter templates help you to get to the point quickly. Recruiters will appreciate the direct, fuss-free approach that helps them identify key information quickly.
General cover letter template
You might feel a little overwhelmed by the options available. Not to worry – our general cover letter template works for most jobs and industries. No matter your experience, this template will help you do exactly what it says on the tin - create a cover letter.
Why Professional Cover Letter Templates Give You a Competitive Edge
Have the experience and talent to do the job you are applying for, need help with cover letter writing? A professional cover letter template will give you a competitive edge. Here’s how:
1. Providing inspiration
Job hunting can be frustrating and overwhelming, and it's easy to feel burned out by the process. A cover letter template gives you a strong structure and help to inspire you to customise your letter for the specific role you’re applying for.
2. Doing the heavy lifting
With key decisions like the structure and layout already made for you, all that's left to do is fill in the blanks. And our cover letter builder makes that easy as well, by providing sample text and tips that you can customise.
3. Focusing on the positives
Everyone has weaknesses, but cover letters are all about the positives. A great cover letter template gives you the structure you need to highlight key achievements and your enthusiasm for the position.
What is a Typical UK Cover Letter Template?
Before you start writing your cover letter, it's helpful to understand more about the structure of a standard UK cover letter template.
1. First paragraph: Which job you're applying for and where you found it
This is about context. Helping the recruiter immediately understand where you've come from and which job you’re are applying for.
2. Second paragraph: Overview of relevant experience
Quickly sum up why you are right for the job. Talk about your overall relevant experience and passion for the company or role specifically. For example, if you’re applying for an admin job with a publishing company you could say:
“I have over five years’ experience in administration within the publishing industry, so have first-hand insight into the publishing process.”
3. Third paragraph: Specific achievement
It can be tempting to list every single achievement, but instead you need to choose one relevant achievement to highlight. Ask yourself what you've done that would impress the recruiter. For example:
“In my current role I was responsible for a team of five and increased productivity by 15% within a year.”
4. Fourth paragraph: Reiterate why you'd be a great fit
Demonstrate your passion, and come across as keen to be hired for the role at hand.
5. Fifth paragraph: Express enthusiasm about an interview
It's professional to be up-front and express enthusiasm about your desire to proceed to an interview. Recruiters will appreciate that you're a serious candidate, not a time-waster.
6. Closing
If you know the name of the recruiter, it's 'yours sincerely'. If you don't, it's 'yours faithfully'.
The Advantages of Using Cover Letter Templates
Cover letter templates make it quick and easy to build a higher quality cover letter. Using one helps you to organise your thoughts and share relevant achievements in a professional and engaging way.
Our cover letter templates help you better emphasise your key strengths and convince recruiters that you’re the right candidate for the job. Key benefits include:
- Time saving: helping you to choose the right words, quickly.
- Professional edge: giving you a structure that you know works.
- Standing out: a well-crafted cover letter puts you ahead of the competition.
- Confidence building: discover key strengths that are relevant for the position.
- Getting more interviews: increasie your chances of getting more interviews.
Tap Into the Power of a Great Cover Letter
A strong cover letter makes a strong impression on recruiters. And in an increasingly crowded employment market, you need to take every opportunity to stand out.
Our free cover letter templates help you to create a professional cover letter that helps you stand out and get the interview.
Don't wait - visit our cover letter builder now and choose a professional cover letter template.
Asking for help isn’t always easy but if you’ve been applying for jobs for a while and struggled to get interviews you probably need help writing your cover letter. Whatever your ambitions, our cover letter templates can help you get your foot in the door and get noticed, so you can focus on looking smart for the interviews about to come your way.
To get started all you need to do is go to our cover letter builder and start browsing. You might also want to check out our cover letter examples or boost your chances of getting the job with our guide on how to write a CV.