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What is a Cover Letter?

So, your CV looks perfect, but it will fall short if it doesn’t come with an attractive, well-crafted cover letter. Cover letters introduce you, the candidate, to the hiring firm. They pinpoint why you are the best match for the job by highlighting and expanding on the best and most relevant parts of your CV.

Find out our best tips for how to write a cover letter, including cover letter examples for the UK job market, to help inspire you on your next job hunt.

What you’ll learn.

What to include in your cover letter., what is the purpose of a cover letter, in detail: different formats of the cover letter., benefits of using a cover letter., examples of cover letters..

Every job opportunity is different, so your cover letter should be too. Follow these steps to create an eye-catching cover letter for every job application.

• A proper greeting . What’s the best way to start a cover letter? With a greeting, of course. If a name isn’t supplied in the job advert, try doing a little digging. Hiring managers will be more impressed if you use their name and it could make your cover letter stand out from the rest. ‘Dear Mrs Jones’ sounds much better than ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ - and a lot better than ‘To Whom It May Concern’.
• Your reason for writing . You might think it’s obvious why you’re sending a cover letter, but CVs and cover letters can often become separated. Specify the role you’re applying for here. The hiring company may also be looking for more than one staff member, so it’s a good idea to clarify this.
• Your most relevant experience . Your CV should prioritise your most relevant experience for the role and your cover letter is no different. Your cover letter gives you a chance to lead with the best reasons for hiring you. Tell your story while showing how it matches the firm’s.
• Why you are the right candidate for this position . Use your cover letter to match your particular attributes or achievements to those the company is looking for in a candidate. Think of the cover letter as an opportunity to sell yourself as a brand, showing why you would be the perfect fit. Pay attention to what the employer is seeking. If the role requires leadership skills, describe an experience where you demonstrated them - and so on throughout the list.
• Why you want to work at this company . Research will pay off here. Has the firm won any awards recently or do you know any former employees who have given it a glowing recommendation? Remember, you are giving reasons why you want to work for this particular company, not why you want a job, so be specific.
• Wrapping up . Thank the hiring manager for their time and mention that you look forward to discussing your application. If you’ve carefully built a detailed case for you working with the firm, this will come off as confident and ambitious.
• Contact details . Don’t write a killer cover letter and then forget to give all your details. Supply a phone number and email address.

You should never submit a CV without a cover letter. If a CV lays out the basic facts about your career so far, a cover letter moulds it into a convincing picture of you working for that company.

Employers and hiring managers are bombarded with CVs - sometimes hundreds. A short, well-written and targeted cover letter can help to put your application at the top of the pile. Therefore, you should write a new cover letter for every job application as you’ll need to emphasise different strengths for different roles.

You can send your cover letter in many different formats, including word processing application documents such as Word or Google Docs, but a clean and unalterable PDF looks more professional. You can edit your cover letter in a word processing application and then export it as a PDF.

Editing tools in Adobe Acrobat

In Adobe Acrobat, you can create a cover letter template and use editing tools to tailor it to each new job application. There are also many templates to which you can add photos, logos and other eye-catching design elements.

Start creating your Cover Letter with Adobe templates

• The Adobe Cover Letter template shows you exactly what to write.
• Adobe tools allow you to edit and modify the document to suit you.

So why is it important to craft a cover letter?

• You will stand out. One CV may look much like another, but your cover letter is your shot at standing out from the crowd and persuading a potential employer to take a chance on you.
• It shows you are organised and a good communicator. Whatever the job or the sector, communication skills are a must-have. But, of course, poor spelling or grammar will harm your chances, so make sure someone looks over your letter before sending it. Adobe Acrobat makes it easy to share and add comments to PDFs online.
• It boosts your CV. Cover letters give you the freedom to express yourself, tell stories and show enthusiasm. Hiring managers may overlook gaps in your CV if you can spin a winning cover letter.

So, we’ve shown you how to write a cover letter, but looking over a few good cover letter examples will help further. Note that they’re all short, to the point and well-structured. They also grab attention by being clear and introducing important information swiftly.

Download our Cover Lettter template above

Then use Adobe tools to edit in details specific to your job.

Edit PDF Online for Free

How long should my cover letter be?

Hiring managers are busy people, so keep it short and sweet. It shouldn’t take up more than one side of A4 paper. Your CV can furnish the detail, so don’t give a breakdown of your entire career - just the most important points. We recommend including the following points, spending a paragraph on each:

• Your reason for writing.
• Your most relevant experience.
• Why you are the best person for the job.
• Why you want to work at that company.

How do you end a cover letter?

You may submit your application by email, but that’s no reason to lose the formality. If you know the hiring manager's name, write ‘Yours faithfully’ and then sign your name. If you don’t, write ‘Yours sincerely’. Avoid phrases that are too familiar or unprofessional.

Are cover letters necessary?

You may have an excellent CV, but without a great cover letter, it’s likely it will languish in a pile of unread CVs. Even worse, it could see your application dismissed out of hand. A good cover letter can also elevate a less experienced CV. Employers can see you’ve taken time and effort - and how many of your competitors haven’t bothered.

Related Content.

Need more expert guides on getting the most from Adobe Acrobat? Check out these other handy pages:

• How to format a Cover Letter
• How to email CV and Cover Letter

Cover Letter Format (w/ Examples & Free Templates)

Give someone who knows nothing about cooking the ingredients to a perfect meal and you’ll end up with a disorganized, very possibly inedible, meal. 

The same disorganized, quite possibly tasteless, fate awaits your cover letter if you don’t know how to properly format it. 

Getting the cover letter format right is the same as having those coveted cooking skills that can turn the right ingredients into a meal that leaves you wanting more.

Now, if you’re wondering whether your formatting skills are enough to impress recruiters, there’s no need to worry. 

This article is going to show you exactly how to format a cover letter the right way. 

Here’s what we’re going to cover: 

• What Should Go On a Cover Letter?
• How to Format Your Cover Letter
• (Free) Cover Letter Templates You Can Use
• How to Format Your Cover Letter When Sending It Via Email

The Best Cover Letter Format - What Goes on a Cover Letter

Your cover letter’s format is both how your cover letter looks and how it’s structured. 

So, cover letter formatting includes everything from page margins, spacing, and font size to how long your cover letter should be, how many paragraphs it should have, and what each paragraph should contain. 

Pretty substantial, if you ask us - which is exactly why we’ll go over these elements one by one. Before we do, however, let’s first get the essentials out of the way. 

What exactly goes into a cover letter? The short answer is as follows:  

• A header , which contains your contact information and the employer’s or recruiter’s contact information.
• A greeting to the recruiter and the opening paragraph , which you want to use to grab the reader’s attention.
• The body of your cover letter , which is between 1-3 paragraphs.
• A closing paragraph , which usually contains a call to action.
• A formal salutation .

And here’s what that looks like in practice: 

A Look into Your Cover Letter Format, by Section

In theory, all these rules are pretty straightforward...

But if you’ve ever written a cover letter before, you’ll probably agree with us that actually writing one ain’t all that simple.

In this section, we’ll take you through the entire process of creating a cover letter, section by section!

Starting with:

#1. Header 

Your cover letter’s header should contain your contact info, the date, and the hiring manager’s or employer’s contact info. 

If you’re wondering which contact information you should include and which you should leave out, here are the essentials: 

• Full name and professional title (where applicable) 
• Phone number
• Name and professional title of the hiring manager
• Name of the company you’re applying to 
• Company address 

Here’s a visual representation of this: 

If you want to know more about header formatting, such as what you can optionally include and what you should definitely leave out, head over to our guide on how to start a cover letter . 

#2. Greeting 

After listing your contact information, it’s time to address the cover letter . 

First things first: the impersonal and overly popular “To Whom It May Concern” and “Dear Sir/Madam” are yesterday’s news. They’re impersonal and just about every other applicant uses them. 

And you want your cover letter to stand out, right?

So, greet the hiring manager directly, instead. For example: 

Dear Mr. Brown, Dear Mrs. Waldorf,

If, however, you are unsure about their title, gender, marital status, or pronouns, use their entire name to avoid any mistakes, such as: 

Dear Alex Brown, Dear Blair Waldorf,

Alternatively, the recruiter may hold a title, such as Doctor, Professor, or sergeant, or you might be addressing a letter without a contact person. 

In such cases, here are some do-s and don’t-s to keep in mind: 

Dear John Doe, Dear Mr./Mrs. Doe, Dear Dr. Leonard, Dear Rev. Owen, Dear Marketing Hiring Team, Dear Director of Marketing,

To Whom It May Concern, What’s Up Hiring Team, Dear Sir/Madam, Hey John, Hi there Hiring Team,

#3. Opening Paragraph 

The opening paragraph of your cover letter is where the recruiter first gets to really hear your voice. As such, you’ve got to make it count and grab their attention before they move on to the next applicant.  

And how exactly do you do that? Well, for starters, avoid being generic. You don’t want your opening paragraph to sound as if you’re applying to dozens of jobs with the same letter.

Instead, you want your opening paragraph to mention:

• Your name, profession, and years of experience.
• 1-2 of your top achievements (to help you stand out).
• The name of the firm and position you’re applying for.

Here’s what this would look like in a cover letter:

My name is Ellen and I’d like to join Company X as a marketing expert. I believe that my 5+ years of experience as a marketing specialist, as well as my skills in PPC management and copywriting, will help me drive new users to your platform Additionally, I believe that my past experience in the financial industry will help me excel at the role.

Struggling with writing your own cover letter introduction? Check out our guide on how to start a cover letter effectively! 

#4. Cover Letter Body 

The body of your cover letter usually consists of 1-3 paragraphs and is where you convince the recruiter that you're the right person for the job.

We have a few pointers to help you do that:

• Don’t just rehash your CV. The recruiter already read it. Instead, use your cover letter to elaborate on your achievements and back them up with even more evidence. 
• Understand the job requirements. Check the requirements for the position in the job listing, see how you can match them with your strengths and qualifications, and use the body of your cover letter to show you’re a good fit for the job. 
• Research the company. Also important is to show that you match the company’s culture. Read up about the company you’re applying for and learn what’s their product/service, what are they known for, what kind of culture they have, and so on. Then, in your cover letter, mention a bit about the company’s culture and talk about how you’re a good fit.

And here’s hows the body of your cover letter would look like in practice: 

In my previous role as a Marketing Expert, I also handled the company’s Digital Marketing. During the course of one year, I managed the company’s monthly Facebook ad budget, which amounted to $20,000+ and the process of ad creation and management end-to-end. The process involved creating ad copies, images, picking out the targeting, running optimization trials, and so on. 

In addition to Facebook advertising, I am also knowledgeable in other Pay Per Click channels, such as: 

I actually learned a lot about PPC management basics from your company YouTube channel, and really admire how you guys manage your ad accounts. Since I’m already familiar with how Company X handles ads, I believe that I’d be able to really excel at the role.

#5. Closing Paragraph (And a Call to Action) 

Now, how you end a cover letter is just as important as how you start it. 

As you wrap up your cover letter, it’s important to do the following:

• Mention anything that you couldn’t in the previous paragraphs . If you have anything left to say, mention it here. 
• Thank the hiring manager for their time . Good manners go a long way. 
• Finish the cover letter with a call to action . Your cover letter’s last sentence should be a call to action, such as asking the hiring manager to take some sort of action. 

Here’s an example of that: 

In conclusion, thank you for considering my application. I hope I have the chance to help your company take its marketing initiatives to the next level. It would be great to discuss how my experience so far can make that a reality. 

As for your formal salutation, you can use any of the following “tried and tested” greetings: 

• Best Regards,
• Kind Regards,

Cover Letter Format Guide 

We went over what goes in your cover letter section by section. However, how your cover letter looks on the outside is just as important. 

Following some standard formatting tips will show the hiring manager that you took the time and put in the effort to hand in the best version of a cover letter, which is sure to help your case. 

Here are the rules that you need to follow: 

• Keep your cover letter between half and one page in length to make sure the recruiter actually reads the whole thing (if you had to read 100+ cover letters, you’d want applicants to stick to one page too). That’s between 250-400 words long . 
• Use 1 or 1.5 line spacing throughout your text , and double spacing between paragraphs. 
• Go for a simple and readable font and set your font size to 11 or 12 pts . Using custom fonts may seem like a good idea, but there’s no guarantee the hiring manager’s computer will have that specific font installed.
• Save your cover letter in PDF format to make sure the layout stays the same despite the type of software or Operating System (OS) that opens it. 

Or Choose One of Our Cover Letter Templates 

The cover letter is an inseparable part of any application package. As such, you want your cover letter format to be as impeccable as possible. 

And while the formatting rules we’ve listed above aren’t complicated to follow, you’d rather not take any risks with your cover letter format.  

Want to make sure that your cover letter format is impeccable?

Just use a cover letter template!

The format is done for you - all you have to do is fill in the contents. 

Our cover letter templates are well-designed and guaranteed to leave a good impression on the recruiter!

On top of that, all of our templates come with a matching resume template , ensuring that your job application stands out from the rest.

Sending Your Cover Letter Via Email? Here’s How To Do It! 

It’s safe to assume that nowadays, most cover letters are sent via email. That means that you’re probably submitting your email in one of two ways: 

• Sending it as an email attachment.
• Uploading it to the company’s webpage.

If that’s the case, you’re good with the formatting rules listed above. 

If, however, you’re sending your cover letter in the body of the email, here’s what you need to do differently: 

• Write a professional subject line. The best and safest formula is “Name - Position you’re applying to” (e.g. “Helen Simms - Application for Marketing Expert Position”).
• Remove the header. As the hiring manager’s contact details and the date are no longer necessary, remove the header altogether and place your contact information underneath the formal salutation. 
• Look out for typos. Check your cover letter and then double-check it. Typing on a keyboard can be tricky; sometimes, a typo might just be a matter of fast typing. Avoid that by being extra careful. 

And you’re about ready to press “Send.”

Key Takeaways

Your cover letter format is a big part of the impression your job application can make. As such, it’s important to get the formatting right. 

Here are the main points this article covers to achieve that: 

• Make sure to structure your cover letter the right way. 
• Address your cover letter the right way and write an attention-grabbing opening paragraph.
• Wrap up your cover letter with a call to action. 
• Pay attention to the margins, space lining, font size, and cover letter length.
• If you’re sending your cover letter as the body of your email, make sure to tweak the formatting accordingly.  

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Elevate your PDFs: Add covers or backgrounds

Adding covers or backgrounds to PDF files serves several purposes that can enhance the overall presentation and user experience. In this article, we will explore how you can set up PDFCreator to easily add cover pages and backgrounds to your PDF files. This is one of the many PDF automation features included in our PDF converter.

Why add covers or backgrounds to your PDFs?

Here are just a few of the advantages of adding covers or backgrounds to your PDF files: 

• Branding and professionalism: Including a cover or background that incorporates your company logo, colors and/or branding elements can reinforce your brand identity and establish a professional image. It adds a cohesive and consistent visual representation of your organization. 
• Document identification: Covers help distinguish and identify different PDF files, especially when organizing and managing a large collection of documents. It becomes easier to locate and recognize specific files based on their unique cover designs. 
• Information display: Covers can convey important information, such as the document title, author, publication date or a brief description. 
• Marketing and promotion: For e-books, reports or marketing materials, an attractive cover or background can serve as a promotional tool and generate interest. 

Add a cover page or a background to your PDF files

Follow the instructions below to add a cover page or background to your PDF files:

• Download PDFCreator
• Go to the "Profiles" tab and select the "Automatic saving mode"
• Click on “Add action” and select “Cover” or “Background”
• Afterwards click on “Add file”

For the background file, you have the option to select the opacity of the background document.

FAQs: Adding covers and backgrounds to PDF documents

Can i use multiple background pages for my pdf files.

Yes, you can use a background file with one or several of your PDF pages. If the background file has fewer pages than the actual PDF document, you can select a repetition. This will determine whether there will be no repetition of pages, a repetition of all pages or a repetition of the last background page until the end of the document.

How can I determine if the background is placed on the cover or attachment pages?

In the “Action” feature of PDFCreator, you can determine whether your background should be placed on the cover or on attachment pages by placing the background action after the cover or attachment action. If you prefer not to use a background on certain pages, you can move the background action to the front pages.

How do I add a cover page to my PDF file?

To add a cover to your PDF, you can upload your cover page to PDFCreator. Please follow the steps described above to easily add a cover to your PDFs. The same applies for adding backgrounds to PDF documents.

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How do I upload a cover letter and resume as one document?

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You can save your résumé in PDF format (Word offers a PDF option in the Save As dialog) and then use a split/merge application to combine your various PDFs. (An example of PDF split/merge applications is Gios PDF Splitter and Merger; see  http://www.paologios.com/products/?type=bin .)

Text documents, in this context, is probably referring to  plain text documents, the ones that NotePad can open.

Stefan Blom Microsoft Word MVP

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Open the 2 doc files

<CTL A> to select all text in one document, the <CTL C> to copy it

go to second document

<CTL END> to jump to the end of the doc

<CTL V> to paste the copied document

you now have 2 of the documents in one.

save as the combined document to a new name as a "DOC" format file

move the cursor to the place you want to put the PDF file

Insert tab / Text group / Object ddl / select Object to display Object dialog / Create from File tab / browse to locate your PDF file (do NOT click on Link to File)

it will take a little time, but a PDF icon will eventually display in your document. The pdf is now embedded in the doc file.  If the file name is not readable, type the file name in beside the icon and maybe include instruction something like this "Double click the icon to open this file"

You now have all three files in one, saved as a DOC format file.

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How to Create a Compelling Cover Letter in Microsoft Word

E very time you apply for a job, it's a good idea to include a cover letter. Deciding how to write each one is hard, but at least you don’t have to start from scratch with their design.

Microsoft Word offers templates and welcomes third-party designs to help you create compelling cover letters. Here’s how to use such options in Word and make the best first impression possible to potential employers.

Use Microsoft Word’s Cover Letter Templates

Formal letters don’t have to be bland. Go to File > More templates on Word, and type “cover letter” in the search box. You’ll find several stylish designs that add structure and color to your document.

What reflects you better, a subtle or sharp color scheme? If you’re considering a bold header for your professional details, learn how to design letterheads on Word , too. You can even add your portrait to your cover letter.

Microsoft Word’s built-in templates also include fields for you to fill in with your information and that of your potential employer. They guide you in these small ways, some even providing a sample for your letter’s main body. It’s a good idea to rephrase that, though, to fit each job application.

If you don’t like any of the options on Word’s desktop app, explore more Microsoft cover letter templates online and download your favorites from there.

Use Third-Party Templates in Microsoft Word

You can create cover letters for your dream job on platforms besides Microsoft. If you’d rather stick with it, you’ll even come across third-party templates specifically designed for you to download and customize on Word. Here are some examples.

1. ResumeLab

Explore over 50 cover letter templates, ranging from minimalist to eye-catching designs. Keep in mind that a few of them are meant to be created on ResumeLab. The rest you can bring onto Word by clicking their Download it free here link.

You’ll be redirected to websites like Good Resume and Resume Genius , which help you quickly download your documents. Then, all you have to do is open them in Microsoft Word.

You’ll also notice that some cover letters on ResumeLab are edited versions of Word’s built-in templates, but this just adds to your selection and gives you more ideas.

2. Template.net

This is a popular site for templates of all kinds, including cover letters. For some designs, you pay a small fee, but Template.net has an impressive range of free options, too. What’s more, the download process is very easy.

Just browse its collection, click on a design you like, and select the Word button under Download Free Template . In the next window, hit Free Download . If you’re not signed in already, you’ll be asked to as the final step.

Follow Best Practices for Cover Letters

Familiarize yourself with the dos and don’ts of writing a cover letter . Remember these guidelines when selecting and customizing a template or crafting a cover letter from scratch. They boil down to the following rules.

1. Research Potential Employers

Do your research before writing or designing your cover letter. Get to know each company and even the recruiter you’re addressing. It’s the same strategy as tailoring your resume for different job types .

2. Tailor Your Cover Letter

When showcasing your skills and interest in a position, use your research to tailor your letter so that it grabs the recruiter’s attention and impresses them. Be smart, enthusiastic, and concise with your words.

3. Use Your Blank Space Wisely

Aim to limit your cover letter to one page. Any more than that, and you risk losing the recruiter’s interest. Think about what you need to say, including important and relevant details not covered in your resume. Express these things as succinctly as possible.

4. Your Visuals Should Complement and Not Overwhelm the Letter

Add a bit of color and texture, going for a subtle effect. You could even use some small icons, as long as they’re tasteful and discreet. Whatever you choose, keep these visuals on the letter’s edges, and don’t let them dominate the text.

5. Master Word’s Features That Benefit Cover Letters

For example, you can create your cover letter more efficiently by setting the text’s boundaries from the get-go. To do this, go to Layout > Margins . From the same toolbar, you can adjust paragraph spacing and indentation.

Through Insert > Pictures , you can import an image of your signature and place it at the end of the letter. Your header and footer can be customized from here, too.

Even the Mailing toolbar might be of interest. It can help streamline the process of writing and sending letters, as well as keeping track of recipients.

Good Planning and Wording Make the Best Cover Letters

Between Microsoft and other providers, you have access to a wide selection of templates for simple but attractive cover letters that you can personalize on Word. The app itself is full of useful writing and editing tools.

With this leg up, designing a cover letter for every occasion is easier. Sound research and planning in terms of how to approach each application can help polish the letter even more.