Cover Letter Guide with a Copy-Ready Template

When a cover letter matters

Some recruiters skip cover letters entirely, but you rarely know which kind you are dealing with. Write one when:

• The posting asks for it. Skipping a requested letter tells the employer you didn't read the instructions.
• You are changing careers, returning after a gap, or moving to a new city, and your resume alone doesn't explain the fit.
• The company is small or a startup, where the founder or team lead often reads every application.
• You are applying to NGOs, development organizations, universities, or research roles, where motivation letters are standard.
• You are emailing a hiring manager directly. The email body is your cover letter, so keep it shorter.

You can usually skip it for high-volume roles where the application form has no place to attach one.

The four-part structure

1. Hook

Open with something specific about the company and your link to it. Weak: "I am writing to apply for the position of Marketing Executive." Stronger: "Your launch of same-day delivery in Chattogram is the kind of growth campaign I've spent two years running, and I'd like to help you take it to Sylhet next."

2. Proof

Choose one or two achievements that match their top requirement, with numbers. Tell each briefly: the problem, what you did, and the result.

3. Fit

Show that you've read the job description. Name two of their priorities and connect each to your experience. This is also the place to address a gap, a career change, or a move in one honest sentence.

4. Close

Be confident and specific. Say what you'd like to discuss, mention your availability or notice period, and thank them. Instead of "I hope you will consider me", write "I'd welcome the chance to discuss how I can help your team reach [goal]."

Copy-ready cover letter template

Replace everything in square brackets and delete any line that doesn't apply.

[Your Full Name]

[City] · [Phone] · [Email] · [LinkedIn URL]

[Date]

Dear [Hiring Manager's Name, or Hiring Team at Company Name],

I'm applying for the [Job Title] role at [Company]. [One specific sentence about the company: a product, project, market move, or value that connects to your work.] With [X years of experience in, or a degree in] [field], I'd like to help [Company] [goal taken from the job description].

In my [current or recent] role at [Organization], I [achievement with a number] by [how you did it]. [Optional second achievement, or one line of context that proves a skill the posting lists as required.]

Your posting emphasizes [requirement 1] and [requirement 2]. [One or two sentences showing how your experience matches each.] [Optional: one honest line addressing a gap, relocation, or career change.]

I'd welcome the chance to discuss how I can contribute to [team or goal]. I'm available to start [date or notice period], and my resume is attached for your review. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

[Your Full Name]

Example for a fresher

Dear Ms. Rahman,

I'm applying for the Junior Data Analyst role at [Company]. Your team's work on demand forecasting for rural retailers is the problem I studied in my final-year thesis, and I'd like to apply that work in practice.

During my three-month internship at a Dhaka FMCG distributor, I combined sales data from 14 separate Excel files into one Power BI dashboard. Area managers now use it in their weekly meetings, and it cut reporting time from a full day to about two hours.

Your posting asks for SQL and clear communication with non-technical teams. I've completed Kaggle's SQL courses, used SQL to analyze 50,000 transactions for my thesis, and presented the findings to a panel that included an industry guest.

I'd welcome the chance to discuss how I can support your analytics team. I'm available to start immediately, and my resume is attached.

Sincerely,

Tahmid Hasan

Example for an experienced professional

Dear Mr. Chowdhury,

I'm applying for the Head of Customer Success role at [Company]. As you expand your SaaS product into the Gulf, I can bring eight years of building support and onboarding teams for B2B software customers in that region.

At my current company, I took over a team of 12 facing rising churn. I rebuilt onboarding around a 30-day success plan and introduced quarterly business reviews for our top accounts. Within a year, net revenue retention moved above 100% for the first time.

Your posting highlights team leadership and a data-driven approach. I hire and coach team leads, and I run our customer health scoring in HubSpot, which the sales team now uses to time renewal conversations.

I'd welcome the chance to discuss your plans for the Gulf market. My notice period is 60 days.

Sincerely,

Nadia Karim

Mistakes to avoid

• Leaving the previous company's name in the letter. Check it twice before you send.
• Repeating your resume line by line.
• Writing about what you want ("this role will help me grow") instead of what you will contribute.
• Going over one page.
• Sending AI-generated text without editing it. Generic phrasing is easy to spot, and an invented detail can cost you the interview.

The free cover letter generator is useful for a first draft, but the final version should sound like you. Check that your resume tells the same story, using our ATS-friendly resume guide. For applications where the letter carries real weight, such as scholarships or senior roles, our cover letter and SOP writing service can help.