Free Cover
Letter Templates

Four cover letter templates as plain text. Select, copy, and paste into Word or Google Docs. No download. No sign-up.

Below are four cover letter templates as plain text. Select, copy, and paste into Word or Google Docs. There’s no download, no signup, and no paywall — these aren’t designed to drive you into a builder, because BravoResume doesn’t have a cover letter builder yet. What we have are templates that work.

Each template uses [Bracketed Variables] like [Hiring Manager Name] and [Company]. After pasting into your document, use Find and Replace (Ctrl/Cmd + H) to swap in your details in two minutes. Under each template is a short “How to customize” note that explains which parts to rewrite.

How to use these templates

Pick the template that matches your situation, not the template that looks the most impressive. A career changer using the classic professional template will sound like they’re hiding something; an entry-level applicant using the modern conversational template will sound like they have more experience than they do. The four templates below cover the four most common situations: established professional in a stable career, professional with strong personality writing for a less formal industry, mid-career pivot, and first job.

Replace every bracketed variable. Then read the letter out loud once. If a sentence sounds like a template, rewrite it in your own words. For full written-out examples (no brackets), see the cover letter examples page.

Template 01

Classic professional

The default. Use this for finance, legal, healthcare administration, government, and most corporate roles where the convention runs formal.

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, ZIP]
[Phone] | [Email]

[Date]

[Hiring Manager Name]
[Title]
[Company]
[Company Address]

Dear [Mr./Ms./Mx. Last Name],

I am writing to apply for the [Job Title] position at [Company], which I learned about through [source — LinkedIn, referral, company site]. With [X] years of experience in [field/function], I am confident that my background in [specific specialty] aligns well with the responsibilities outlined in the posting.

In my current role as [Current Title] at [Current Company], I have [one specific accomplishment with a number — e.g., "led the implementation of a $1.4M ERP migration that came in two weeks ahead of schedule and 8% under budget"]. Prior to that, [second specific accomplishment with a number]. My work has consistently focused on [the broader skill or domain the new role requires], and I am eager to bring that focus to [Company]'s [specific team, product, or initiative].

What draws me to [Company] specifically is [one sentence about the company that proves you read more than the job posting — recent product launch, leadership change, published case study, mission, market position]. I believe my experience in [transferable skill] would contribute meaningfully to that work.

I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my background can support [Company]'s goals. I am available [your availability] and can be reached at [phone] or [email]. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

How to customize

  • Replace every bracketed variable. The [source] line in paragraph one is a small detail that signals you didn't mass-apply.
  • The two numbered accomplishments are the most important part. If you don't have a number, find one. “Trained 12 people” beats “trained team members.”
  • Delete the [Y] years of experience framing if you have less than three years. It draws attention to what you don't have.
Template 02

Modern conversational

For tech, design, media, marketing, startups, and anywhere the company website uses contractions. Reads less like a form letter, more like a thoughtful email.

[Your Name]
[Phone] · [Email] · [City, State] · [LinkedIn or Portfolio URL]

[Date]

Hi [First Name],

I came across the [Job Title] role at [Company] [where you found it — through Jane Doe, on your jobs page, on Hacker News, etc.], and I wanted to write because [one-sentence reason you're specifically interested — not the role in general, this role at this company].

For context: I currently [current title + what you actually do, one sentence]. Over the last [timeframe], I have [specific accomplishment with a number, told in one sentence — e.g., "rebuilt our checkout funnel and lifted conversion from 2.1% to 3.4% on mobile"]. Before that, [one more relevant accomplishment].

The reason I'm writing about this role specifically is [a real reason — the product, the team, the company's approach to something you care about, the size, the stack]. I have spent enough time in [field] to know what good work looks like, and [Company]'s [specific output] is the kind of work I want to be doing.

A couple of practical notes: I'm based in [location] and [open to relocation / remote-only / in-office X days]. I can start [timeline]. My portfolio / recent work lives at [URL].

Happy to share more in a conversation. Thanks for reading.

[Your Name]

How to customize

  • The greeting uses first name only. Confirm the company's culture allows for it — check LinkedIn for how the hiring manager signs their own posts. If unclear, use “Dear [First Last]”.
  • “For context:” is a real phrase in this template, not a placeholder. Keep it.
  • The “practical notes” paragraph at the end is the part most templates skip and most hiring managers actually want. Keep it short.
Template 03

Career change

Use this if you're moving between industries or functions and your job titles don't tell the story.

[Your Name]
[Phone] | [Email] | [City, State] | [LinkedIn]

[Date]

Dear [Hiring Manager Name],

I am applying for the [Job Title] position at [Company]. My background is in [your current/recent field], and over the last [X months or years] I have been deliberately preparing for a move into [target field] — the [Job Title] role is precisely the kind of position I have been working toward.

In my [X] years in [current field], I have built strong skills in [2–3 transferable skills that the new role requires — be specific]. For example, [one specific accomplishment from your current field that demonstrates one of those skills, with a number]. The work taught me [the lesson that translates directly to the new field, in one sentence].

Over the last [timeframe], I have moved beyond reading and into doing: [list the concrete steps — certifications completed, portfolio projects, freelance work, formal coursework, conferences. Be specific about what and when]. The shift is intentional and the foundation is built.

What draws me to [Company] specifically is [one sentence about the company — be specific]. I would bring [X years] of perspective from [current field] into a team building for [target field], and I am ready to start at the level the role requires rather than asking for credit for unrelated seniority.

Thank you for considering my application. I would welcome the chance to talk about how my background can support the work your team is doing.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

How to customize

  • The first paragraph names the pivot explicitly. Don't bury it.
  • “Ready to start at the level the role requires rather than asking for credit for unrelated seniority” is the most important sentence in this template. It pre-empts the hiring manager's biggest concern.
  • The “moved beyond reading and into doing” paragraph is what separates a thoughtful career changer from a curious one.
Template 04

Entry-level / first job

For your first full-time role or your first internship. Built to work without years of experience or a fat list of accomplishments.

[Your Name]
[Phone] | [Email] | [LinkedIn] | [Portfolio if relevant]

[Date]

Dear [Hiring Manager Name],

I am applying for the [Job Title] role at [Company]. I graduated from [University] in [Month Year] with a [Degree] in [Major], and the [Job Title] role is the position I have been preparing for over the last [X] years of school and [X] internship(s).

During my internship at [Company] in [Year], I [one specific accomplishment — what you actually did, with a number if at all possible]. The experience confirmed [a small, honest insight about the work that you would bring to this role]. In school, I [one relevant project or coursework moment, named specifically — not "took relevant courses"].

The reason I am writing about this role specifically is [a real, specific reason — the company's product, a person on the team, a recent project they published, a value the company has demonstrated]. I want a first job where [one sentence on what you want from the role — growth, mentorship, contribution to a specific kind of work].

I am available to start [timeline], comfortable working [in-office / hybrid / remote — match the posting], and reachable at [phone] or [email]. My portfolio / GitHub / writing samples are at [URL] if helpful.

Thank you for your time. I would welcome a conversation.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

How to customize

  • If you don't have an internship, replace that paragraph with the strongest project or volunteer work you have done. Treat the project the way an experienced candidate would treat a job: name it, name the outcome, name the lesson.
  • The “I want a first job where…” line is unusual and works. Hiring managers reading entry-level cover letters expect generic enthusiasm. A real preference signals self-awareness.

Anatomy of a cover letter

If you understand what each part of a cover letter is doing, you can rewrite any template above to fit your situation. Every cover letter, regardless of style, has seven components.

1. Header

Your name, phone, email, city/state, and optionally LinkedIn or portfolio URL. Format it the same way it appears on your resume — same font, same name spelling, same email. If your resume header reads “Maya R. Okonkwo” and your cover letter reads “Maya Okonkwo”, you have created a parsing problem.

2. Date and recipient

Below your header, leave one blank line, then add the date in long format (May 14, 2026). One blank line, then the recipient's name, title, company, and address. If you're submitting through a portal or by email, the recipient block can be omitted — the date is enough.

3. Salutation

“Dear [First Last]” if you don't know the person. “Dear Mr./Ms./Mx. [Last]” if you want to default to formal. “Hi [First]” for casual cultures. Never “To Whom It May Concern” — it reads as a mass mailing. “Dear Hiring Manager” is acceptable when you have genuinely tried to find a name and failed.

4. Opening hook

The first sentence is the only sentence the hiring manager is guaranteed to read. Three patterns that work: name the specific company work that drew you in, name a specific person on the team who told you about the role, or name your specific situation in one direct line. Three patterns that don't work: “I am writing to apply for…”, “I came across your job posting…”, and any sentence about how passionate you are.

5. Body paragraphs

Two paragraphs, sometimes three. Paragraph one: who you are and one concrete accomplishment that proves it, with a number. Paragraph two: connect that accomplishment to this company's actual work — show that you read more than the job posting. Optional paragraph three: practical context — availability, location, references, salary expectations if requested.

6. Closing

One sentence asking for the next step, one sentence thanking the reader. Don't repeat what you said earlier. Don't add new accomplishments here. The close is short on purpose — it's the page break before your signature.

7. Signature

“Sincerely,” “Best regards,” “Best,” or “Thank you,” followed by your full name on the next line. For a printed letter, leave four lines of space and sign by hand above your typed name. For digital, the typed name is enough.

For a deeper breakdown of every formatting decision — fonts, margins, file format — see cover letter format. For the full step-by-step writing process, see how to write a cover letter.

Choosing the right template

A quick guide:

  • You work in finance, law, healthcare, government, or any role that lists “professionalism” in the posting → Template 1: Classic professional.
  • You work in tech, design, marketing, media, or a startup → Template 2: Modern conversational.
  • Your last job title doesn’t match the job you’re applying for → Template 3: Career change.
  • You graduated within the last 18 months and have one or two internships at most → Template 4: Entry-level.

If you’re between two, default to the more formal one. Hiring managers rarely complain about a letter being too professional. They often complain about the opposite.

Pair your cover letter with a polished resume

Pick a resume template with a header that’s easy to mirror in a cover letter. Export both as PDFs and submit together.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I use these cover letter templates for free?

Yes. The templates on this page are free to copy and use. There is no sign-up, no download, no paywall — copy directly from the page into your document.

Should I use the same template for every job?

No. Use the template that matches the company and the situation. A career changer applying for a finance role should use the career-change template, not the classic professional one — the pivot needs to be addressed up front.

How much of the template should I change?

Replace every bracketed variable. Then read the letter end to end and rewrite at least 30–40% of it in your own voice. Hiring managers can spot a template by the third paragraph. The structure can stay; the words have to be yours.

What file format should I save the cover letter in?

PDF, unless the application asks for a Word document. PDF preserves formatting across email and HR systems. Name the file “FirstName-LastName-Cover-Letter-Company.pdf”.

Should my cover letter match my resume design?

The header should match — same name, same font, same contact info. The body of the cover letter is plain prose, so design choices like sidebars and accent colors don't carry over.

Can I send the cover letter in the body of an email?

Yes. For email submissions, paste the cover letter body into the email itself (skip the header block — your email signature handles that) and attach the resume. If the posting says “attach a cover letter,” send it as a PDF attachment instead.

Do you offer a cover letter builder like the resume builder?

Not yet. BravoResume currently builds resumes, not cover letters. The templates on this page are the alternative — copy, paste, customize. If a cover letter builder ships, it will be announced on the blog.