Basic Cover Letter Format – Template & Sample
The basic cover letter can be used for almost every purpose. It is straight forward in content and tone. It could be described as direct to the point without any need to embellish content with emotion or sense urgency.
In the first paragraph, you must immediately state why you decided to send an application to the organization. The objective is not to win over the company with praise but to make it known that you are familiar with their reputation in the industry. If you have a referral who you know carries a measure of influence or perhaps will potentially elicit recall or attention from the recipient, you should indicate his or her name right away.
If the response is warranted, it will heighten the recipient’s attention span or focus on your cover letter. It also creates an impression on the recipient of how serious or desirous you are of landing a position in their organization. Word of caution: just be sure your referral is a person of good standing with the company!
For the body of your cover letter, emphasize immediately your strengths. These should capture the attention of the recipient and make him or her take note of factors that make you a valuable asset to the company. Most Human Resource managers and even those from other departments take notes of key points. They would encircle key areas in your cover letter that made them take immediate notice. Some would even note down their immediate thoughts after coming across these sections.
Make a general summary of your experience without putting out too many details. Remember the purpose of the cover letter is to make the recipient want to evaluate or prioritize your application. Even if your experience is punctuated with different employers, a diverse scope of work, various trainings and seminars, always touch on the key points. Perhaps, focus on no more than three significant milestones in your career. These should be related to the job position you are applying for.
Keep in mind that you are competing with hundreds even thousands of applicants. You have to stand out from the rest of the pack. Evaluate your accomplishments carefully.
For the conclusion of the cover letter, never appear presumptuous. It gives the impression that you know better than the recipient. Write the conclusion with the mindset that you are respectful of whatever becomes the result of your application.
Basic cover letter template
Matthew Smith
Address
City, State, Zip Code
Contact Number
E-mail Address
September 1, 2015
Mr. Louis Jordan
Human Resources Manager
ABC Management Consultants
Address
City, State, Zip Code
Dear Mr. Jordan,
ABC Management Consultants is widely regarded as the best property development firm in the country. Your reputation in providing top notch services in property evaluation and research remains unparalleled in the industry. When I learned through a close friend, Mr. Thomas Valentine who represents one of your clients, TGH Finance, that there was an opening for Market Researcher, I knew had to seize the opportunity to apply for the position.
Research has always been one of my strengths. I believe it is because of my unquenchable thirst for knowledge and my unrelenting drive to find answers to questions that most people would leave unattended to. My experiences have charted the course for a career in research. In the last two years, I was involved in projects which spearheaded research work funded by government agencies and by private international banks. In the interim, I was fortunate to be one of the few selected to the prestigious apprenticeship program of YYZ University in Boston, Massachusetts.
I am confident that my research experience in combination with my passion, dedication and commitment to this highly specialized field will greatly contribute to the on-going success of ABC Management Consultants.
Thank you very much for this opportunity and I remain hopeful that my application shall merit your consideration.
Yours sincerely,
Matthew Smith
