Writing A Letter Of Introduction For Yourself

The best way to start writing a cover letter in 2021 is to check out examples of good cover letters.

Our extensive list of cover letter samples is perfect for all job seekers, whether you need to write one for a specific life situation (like a career change) or you're looking for the best cover letter format to use in your industry.

Table of Contents

What Should a Cover Letter Say?
Example 1: General Cover Letter
Example 2: Professional Cover Letter
Example 3: Creative Cover Letter
Example 4: Entry-Level Cover Letter
Example 5: Career Change Cover Letter
Cover Letter Examples by Type
Cover Letter Examples by Industry

1. What Should a Great Cover Letter Say?

The perfect cover letter for your resume is made of the following four parts:

Salutation: A professional greeting that addresses the hiring manager by name
Introduction: An attention-grabbing opening paragraph that introduces yourself and your intention to apply for the open role
Body paragraph(s): One or two paragraphs describing your relevant professional experience, achievements, skills, and education
Closing paragraph: A cover letter ending that contains a call to action (CTA), asking the hiring manager to invite you in for an interview

The cover letter example below describes how to write each of these key sections:

2. General Cover Letter Example

This general cover letter was written by a candidate with two years of work experience.

In the example, the candidate is applying for a mid-level digital marketing position. In the first paragraph, the applicant:

used the hiring manager's name (showing that effort was put into locating it)
mentioned where she found the job posting (HR managers love this)
highlighted relevant experience, establishing her ability to do the job

The cover letter example

An example of a general cover letter

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Why this is a great example of a cover letter

In the example above, the candidate is concise and straightforward. She conveys much of what a cover letter should say in the opening paragraph, like her amount and type of experience plus where she found the job.

Then the candidate lists specific responsibilities from the job description, and mentions her experience handling such work. She even gives an example of how her efforts have benefited her current employer.

At this point, her cover letter has already gone beyond her resume and helped the hiring manager quickly understand her value as a hire.

Finally, the candidate signs off by mentioning how she'll reach out if she doesn't hear back from the hiring manager. This call to action is a valuable part of a general cover letter.

3. Professional Cover Letter Example

Are you a senior-level professional or experienced manager trying to highlight your professionalism in a cover letter?

The restaurant manager cover letter example below will show you how to come off as a qualified pro:

The cover letter example

An example of a professional cover letter

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Why this is a great cover letter

First, this applicant showcases the managerial skills they developed while working in the service industry. They then highlight how they'll use those skills to make an immediate impact on the company.

Additionally, the applicant mentions the company by name three times. It's clear that they're familiar with the business, have a specific interest in joining this team, and understand where they'd fit.

One final note: our applicant's cover letter template includes their address to highlight how close they live to the restaurant. However, listing your address on a cover letter is optional in 2021 because most applications are submitted online.

4. Creative Cover Letter Example

A creative cover letter makes your job application stand out by adding a bit of personality and flair.

In our creative cover letter example, the candidate is applying for a senior-level social media manager position. By the second paragraph, she has the reader's attention. Then, she establishes her qualifications:

The cover letter example

An example of a creative cover letter

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Why this is a great example of a cover letter

First, the candidate doesn't waste any time. She immediately states her interest in the position, relevant qualifications, and specific skills. Hiring managers are busy, so it's crucial to be direct in both your cover letter and resume.

Next, she presents her information in a casual, fun tone. A personal touch in your cover letter helps you present yourself as a creative, enthusiastic job seeker. It also makes your application more memorable.

Finally, the candidate lists specific accomplishments from her previous job, and explains how these accomplishments are relevant to the position.

Elaborating on your professional achievements is essential to writing a great cover letter. Your achievements show the hiring manager what they will gain by hiring you, and emphasize your worth as a potential employee.

5. Entry-Level Cover Letter Example

This entry-level cover letter was written by a recent graduate, who only has a little part-time work experience.

In our example, the candidate is applying for an entry-level IT technician position. She quickly establishes her enthusiasm about the opportunity, and then highlights her relevant skills to show she can do the job:

The cover letter example

An example of an entry level cover letter

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What makes this a great cover letter

This entry-level cover letter sample stands out because the applicant emphasizes her enthusiasm about the opportunity from the very first sentence.

And she's not only excited for the job either. The candidate also quickly (and convincingly) markets her professional strengths, including relevant hard skills (Linux, backend coding) and soft skills (precision, attention to detail).

By the end of her cover letter, the candidate has demonstrated that she's even researched the position, and is passionate about the work the company is doing. Overall, this is an effective way to make a positive impression as an entry-level job seeker.

6. Career Change Cover Letter Example

Writing a cover letter for a job in your current industry is pretty straightforward. But writing a career change cover letter requires some finesse.

The sample cover letter below includes the three elements you need to persuade a hiring manager you're ready to transfer industries, such as:

1. One reason (or more) for the career change
2. An example of a transferable skill in action
3. Proof of commitment to the new field

The cover letter example

An example of a cover letter for career change

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Why this is a great example of a cover letter

The first reason this is a great example is because it's sincere. It's immediately clear that the author is passionate about her target industry. She even provides a relatable story to emphasize this sincerity.

This cover letter is also great because it's transparent. Letting the hiring manager know why you're looking for employment in a different industry is important if you're changing careers, because they'll want to know your reason(s).

Finally, it's clear the writer of this cover letter is committed to the new job, and has worked on her skill-set to prepare her for the career change.

7. Cover Letter Examples by Application Type

The following guides will show you how to write a variety of different cover letter formats and types:

Short Cover Letter
Cover Letter for Internal Position
Relocation Cover Letter
Email Cover Letter
Letter of Interest
Letter of Interest vs Cover Letter
Best Cover Letters of 2021

8. Cover Letter Examples by Industry

Our robust collection of industry-specific cover letter examples is sure to have a cover letter for your unique situation. You can download all of these sample cover letters for free and customize them to fit your needs. We also have a sample cover letter template that you can use to quickly write the content of your letter.

Click your industry below to find examples for different jobs:

Accounting & Finance
Administration & Office Support
Business & Management
Construction & Maintenance
Creative & Cultural Fields
Customer Service & Retail
Education & Human Services
Emergency Services
Engineering
Food Service
Healthcare & Wellbeing
Information Technology (IT)
Law & Legal
Student
Marketing & Sales
Personal & Child Care
Spa & Salon
Transportation & Logistics

Accounting & Finance Cover Letter Examples

Account Manager
Accounts Payable
Accountant
Bank Teller
Bookkeeper
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Finance
Financial Advisor
Financial Analyst
Investment Banking

Administration & Office Support Cover Letter Samples

Administrative Assistant
Clerical
Executive Assistant
Front Desk
Human Resources (HR)
Office Assistant
Office Manager
Personal Assistant
Receptionist
Recruiter
Secretary
Supervisor

Management & Business Cover Letter Examples

Assistant Manager
Business Analyst
Consulting
Executive (CEO, CIO, CTO)
Operations Manager
Program Manager
Property Manager
Real Estate Agent
Project Coordinator

Construction & Maintenance Cover Letter Samples

Architecture
Construction Worker
Construction Project Manager
Custodian
Electrician
Janitor
Mechanic
Project Manager
Welder

Creative & Cultural Fields Cover Letter Examples

Acting
Artist
Designer
Event Planner
Graphic Designer
Interior Design
Model
Music
Photographer
Production Assistant
Video Editor
Event Coordinator

Customer Service & Retail Cover Letter Samples

Call Center Representative
Cashier
Customer Service Representative
Flight Attendant
Grocery Store Cashier
Housekeeping
Retail Manager
Retail Sales Associate
Hospitality (Hotel Front Desk)

Education & Human Services Cover Letter Examples

Academic
Academic Advisor
Art Teacher
Elementary Teacher
Librarian
Library Page
Preschool Teacher
Research Assistant
School Counselor
Social Work
Special Education Teacher
Substitute Teacher
Teacher
Teacher Assistant
Tutor
Coaching

Emergency Services Cover Letter Samples

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
FBI Agent
Firefighter
Police Officer
Security Guard
Security Officer

Engineering Cover Letter Examples

Civil Engineer
Electrical Engineer
Engineering
Mechanical Engineer

Food Service Cover Letter Samples

Bartender
Chef
Entry-Level Waiter/Waitress
Fast Food
Food Service
Hostess
Restaurant Manager
Server
Waiter / Waitress
Line Cook

Healthcare & Wellbeing Cover Letter Examples

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Dental Assistant
Dental Hygienist
Dentist
Entry-Level Nurse
New Grad Nurse
Medical Assistant
Medical Receptionist
Medical Scribe
Nurse Practitioner
Nursing
Personal Trainer
Pharmacist
Pharmacy Technician
Phlebotomist
Physician Assistant
Physical Therapy

Information Technology (IT) Cover Letter Samples

Computer Science
Cyber Security
Data Analyst
Data Scientist
Front End Developer
Full Stack Developer
Information Technology (IT)
IT Project Manager
Network Engineer
Product Manager
Software Engineer
Scrum Master
System Administrator
Web Developer
Java Developer
UX Designer
Programmer
Help Desk

Law & Legal Cover Letter Examples

Legal Assistant
Paralegal

Student Cover Letter Samples

College Student
Cover Letter for Internship
High School Student
Recent Graduate

Marketing & Sales Cover Letter Examples

Copywriter
Digital Marketing
Marketing
Marketing Assistant
Marketing Coordinator
Marketing Manager
Sales
Sales Manager
Social Media

Personal & Child Care Cover Letter Samples

Babysitter
Camp Counselor
Caregiver
Child Care
Nanny
Stay at Home Mom

Spa & Salon Cover Letter Examples

Cosmetologist
Esthetician
Hair Stylist
Makeup Artist
Massage Therapist

Transportation & Logistics Cover Letter Samples

Truck Driver
Delivery Driver

Once you've found a cover letter example for your target position, use a matching resume sample to help you write a resume and complete your job application.

Start Writing Your Best Cover Letter

The examples provided above should be enough to get you started writing the perfect cover letter for a new job. Whether you start fresh, copy and edit one of our examples as a template, or use our cover letter builder, take your time and make sure you give the employer the best showing of yourself.

Cover Letter FAQs

Is the cover letter dead?
Should you introduce yourself in a cover letter?
What do employers look for in a cover letter?
What are the three types of cover letters?
What is the best greeting for a cover letter?