Millennial-driven website the Muse published a great article about cover letters which provides examples and which is one of the better articles of this type on the web, but some of the examples are overdone. What I look for in articles regarding cover letters is an admission by the author that a cover letter cannot be copied and reworded slightly to fit your needs. It’s a completely different animal than your resume, and it’s important to treat it as such. So when you read the ten killer cover letter examples below, read them only for inspiration. The most important part of a cover letter is making sure it’s YOUR voice which shines through.
Here are 10 cover letter examples and why they work:
“After about three years of trying out different roles at early-stage startups around San Francisco, watching more ‘find your passion’ keynotes than I’d like to admit, and assuring my parents that, yes, I really do have a real job, I’m starting to come to terms with the fact that I’m only really good at two things: writing great content and getting it out into the world. ” – The Muse
Why it works: making fun of yourself shows the hiring manager you are laid-back, a jovial person, and probably really easy to get along with.
“Although a recent graduate, I am not a typical new graduate.”- Quint Careers
Why it works: This simple sentence grabs the hiring manager’s sentence. Make sure to deliver what makes you atypical in the following sentence.
“The other day, I took a career assessment, which told me I should be a maritime merchant. I’m not quite sure what that is, but it did get me thinking: A role that combines my skills in business development with my lifelong passion for the ocean would be my absolute dream. Which is how I found this role at Royal Caribbean.” – The Muse
Why it works: This paragraph interjects wit without sacrificing professionalism. It’s an industry-specific remark which would get a chuckle out of a hiring manager for a cruise company.
“When I was seven, I wanted to be the GEICO gecko when I grew up. I eventually realized that wasn’t an option, but you can imagine my excitement when I came across the events manager position, which would have me working side by side with my favorite company mascot.” – The Muse
Why it works: Integrating a love for the company which dates back to childhood is a sure-fire way to get your cover letter to catch a hiring manager’s attention.
“My deep-rooted passion for travel abroad would enable me to serve your company well as an international consultant based in Japan. I must confess that I have always had a passion for international travel and a curiosity for investigating other cultures.”- Quint Careers
Why it works: The opening of this cover letter sets up an anecdote based on the applicant’s personal interests which perfectly illustrates his or her passion for the position.
“I pretty much spent my childhood in the cheap seats at Cubs games, snacking on popcorn and cheering on the team with my grandfather. It’s that passion that’s shaped my career—from helping to establish the sports marketing major at my university to leading a college baseball team to an undefeated season as assistant coach—and what led me to apply for this position at the Chicago Cubs.”- The Muse
Why it works: This cover letter example is similar to the one above it, but takes the strategy one step further by linking his childhood passion for the industry (baseball) to the company (the Cubs).
“Specifically I can offer the following to your bottom line:”- Quint Careers
Why it works: This statement introduces a list of qualities the candidate possesses and frames it through how it will make the company more money. That’s going to certainly help an applicant getting an interview.
“Last December, I ousted our company’s top salesperson from his spot—and he hasn’t seen it since. Which means, I’m ready for my next big challenge, and the sales manager role at LivingSocial just might be it.” – The Muse
Why it works: As a general rule, if you’ve ever been number one anything at a job, then make sure to highlight that fact in your cover letter.
“Thank you so much for offering me the marketing manager position at Airbnb! I wholeheartedly accept. OK, I know we’re not quite there yet. But if we were, here are just a few ideas of what I would do once in the role.”- The Muse
Why it works: This brilliant mix of humor and confidence will grab any hiring manager’s attention.
“The project results below represent just a small sampling of what I can achieve for your firm:”- Quint Careers
Why it works: It’s always great when you can specifically link past job experience to your prospective job’s duties.
Now that you’ve seen ten killer cover letter examples, remember not to copy a single one of them. Read them for inspiration, but always keep in mind that the purpose of a cover letter is to sell YOU, and you can’t do that effectively by using the words of someone else.
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