A cover letter template gives you the order of the letter and the sentences that hold it together, with gaps for your own details. Here you choose two things: the type (general, experienced, entry level, career change or internship) and the tone (formal, friendly or concise). That gives fifteen free templates. Each one opens in the cover letter generator, where the gaps become form fields and the finished letter downloads as a PDF with no watermark and no sign-up.

Below you will find what each template looks like, which one to pick, and how to move the result into Word or Google Docs if an employer asks for those formats.

Which template should I pick?

  • General: most advertised jobs where you meet the requirements.
  • Experienced: mid-career and senior roles; leads with scope and results.
  • Entry level: first full-time job; uses studies, projects and part-time work.
  • Career change: moving into a new field; translates your past skills.
  • Internship: students applying for a placement or summer role.

All 15 cover letter templates at a glance

Every combination below is a separate starting point in the generator. Pick a row for your situation and a column for the tone the company expects.

TypeFormalFriendlyConcise
GeneralOpenOpenOpen
Experienced professionalOpenOpenOpen
Entry levelOpenOpenOpen
Career changeOpenOpenOpen
InternshipOpenOpenOpen

How to choose the tone

Formal suits banks, law firms, public bodies, hospitals and most large employers. Friendly reads naturally at startups, agencies, shops and creative studios, and for referrals. Concise is for email applications, short message boxes in online forms and recruiters who receive many letters a day. If you are unsure, start with formal; it is rarely wrong.

General cover letter template

The general template follows the four-part structure most career services recommend: why you are writing, the experience that matches the ad, why this employer, and a request for an interview. The words in square brackets become fields in the generator.

General template, formal tone

Fields: role, company, years of experience, two skills, one achievement, reason for interest.

  • General
  • Formal

[Full Name]
[Your City] | [Email] | [Phone]

[Date]

[Hiring Manager Name]
[Company Name]

Dear [Hiring Manager Name],

I would like to apply for the [Job Title] role at [Company Name]. I bring [Years of Experience] years of experience in [Main Skill] and solid [Second Skill] skills.

In my current role as [Current Job Title] at [Current Company], I [Key Achievement].

What draws me to [Company Name] is [Reason for Interest].

My resume is attached. I would be glad to discuss in an interview how I can support your team. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
[Full Name]

The skeleton above is shortened to show the slots. In the generator each paragraph is fuller, and your details replace the brackets as you type. Fill the achievement slot with something measurable: a time saved, a target met, a number of customers served.

Experienced professional cover letter template

For senior candidates, the template moves scope and results to the top: how many people you led, what you were responsible for, and what changed because of you. It then names the next step you want, so the reader sees why this role and not just any role.

Experienced template, concise tone

Fields: role, company, years in the field, team or budget scope, two results, the next challenge you want.

  • Experienced
  • Concise

Dear [Hiring Manager Name],

I am applying for the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. In brief:

- [Years of Experience] years in [Main Skill], most recently as [Current Job Title] at [Current Company]
- [Key Achievement]
- [Second Achievement]

I am looking for [Next Challenge], which is why this role stands out. I would welcome a conversation.

Best regards,
[Full Name]

Entry-level cover letter template

When you are applying for a first job, the template swaps job history for evidence: a degree or course, a project, volunteering, or part-time work. The friendly tone works well here because it lets your motivation show without sounding stiff.

Entry-level template, friendly tone

Fields: role, company, your studies, a project or job that proves a key skill, what you want to learn.

  • Entry level
  • Friendly

Hello [Hiring Manager Name],

I was excited to see the [Job Title] opening at [Company Name]. I recently finished [Your Studies], and I would love to start my career on your team.

During my studies I [Project or Experience], which gave me hands-on practice in [Main Skill].

I am especially keen to learn [What You Want to Learn] at [Company Name].

My resume is attached. Thanks for reading, and I hope to talk soon.

Best regards,
[Full Name]

Pair this letter with a resume that puts education first. The resume for a first job and student resume examples show how.

Career change cover letter template

The career change template has one extra job: it names the skills that carry over from your old field and shows that you have already started building the new ones. A short sentence on why you are making the move removes the reader's first question.

Career change template, formal tone

Fields: old field, new role, two transferable skills with proof, new training, reason for the move.

  • Career change
  • Formal

Dear [Hiring Manager Name],

I am applying for the [Job Title] role at [Company Name]. After [Years of Experience] years in [Previous Field], I am moving into [New Field], and this role matches the skills I have used throughout my career.

In my work as [Current Job Title], I [Transferable Achievement]. To prepare for this move, I have [Training or Project].

I am making this change because [Reason for Change], and [Company Name] is where I would like to do that work.

Thank you for considering my application. I would welcome the chance to talk.

Sincerely,
[Full Name]

Internship cover letter template

Internship templates stay short. Name your course and year, one relevant module or society role, and why you chose this company. For worked examples, see the internship cover letter page.

Internship template, concise tone

Fields: course and year, internship name, one relevant module or activity, reason for this company.

  • Internship
  • Concise

Dear [Hiring Manager Name],

I am a [Year of Study] [Your Course] student applying for the [Internship Name] at [Company Name].

- Relevant study: [Relevant Module]
- Experience: [Society, Project or Part-Time Job]
- Why [Company Name]: [Reason for Interest]

My CV is attached. Thank you for your time.

Kind regards,
[Full Name]

Cover letter template for Word or Google Docs

Many people search for a free cover letter template in Word or Google Docs because they expect to edit the letter there. You can still do that. The generator gives you three ways out:

  • PDF download: the layout is fixed and the text stays selectable, which suits most online applications.
  • Copy text: paste the finished letter into a blank Word or Google Docs file and apply your own font.
  • Plain text (.txt): useful for application forms with a single text box.

If a portal insists on a Word file, paste the copied text into Word and save it as .docx. Keep the font and size the same as your resume; Harvard's career office recommends that your resume and cover letter use "the same font type and size."

Tips for filling in any cover letter template

  1. Read the job ad twice. Underline two requirements. Your achievement slot should answer one of them.
  2. Find a name for the greeting. Prospects advises a general greeting only once you "have exhausted all other methods of finding a named contact."
  3. Use a number if you have one. Hours saved, customers served, budget managed or grades achieved all work.
  4. Delete any slot that does not apply. A template is a guide. If a sentence does not fit you, remove it rather than forcing it.
  5. Keep it to one page. Prospects recommends three to five concise paragraphs on a single A4 page.
  6. Proofread the company name. A wrong company name left over from a previous application is one of the easiest mistakes to make and to avoid.

Want to see the templates filled in with realistic details first? Read the cover letter examples. New to cover letters? Start with what a cover letter is or the step-by-step writing guide.