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Free online cover letter generator

Create the best cover letter now.

Our online cover letter instruments allow you to generate a detailed, passionate and informative appeal within minutes. No more agonizing over creative sentences, doubting your writing style or worrying about emotional perceptions. Powerful web tools and recruiter expertise are here to help!

Use our tech tools to write truly next-level cover letters and resumes . In a digital world, it’s important to stay competitive. Old-school methods have their place and charm, but if you want to land that dream job – it makes sense to get an edge over the other candidates.

Want to test out more beautiful designs? Quickly adjust the formatting? Easily generate multiple cover letters for several employers? This is now possible with our builder in record time and no technical knowledge required.

Our cover letter template designs and samples have been carefully crafted to maximize their visual and textual impact. You want recruiters to fall in love with your professional story before they even meet you. That’s what we aim to help you with.

Proven cover letter templates

Why our cover letter builder helps you getting the ideal job.

Finally, you don’t have to build anything from scratch. That’s always the most difficult part. And now it’s the part you can just skip. Our free cover letter templates are ready to use and fill in with minimal effort. The attention-grabbing beautiful designs and organized structure have been tested and vetted. All our cover letter templates have been approved by recruitment experts.

Recruiters and hiring managers still emphasize poor grammar and typos as a dominant reason for rejecting applications. Don’t be a part of that statistic. We’ve taken care of combining all the tools you need in one place - including a spell-checker. No need to use multiple software or online tools - the perfect cover letter build unites them all!

Go beyond just files and documents. Actually control and analyze your application process in one powerful dashboard. Our job tracker helps you monitor every stage of the job hunt. It provides a bird’s eye view of your successful tactics, as well as possible improvements. Add jobs to your shortlist to pursue later. Keep tabs on your offers. Stay on top of scheduled interviews, follow up on completed ones and more.

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How to build a cover letter.

It used to be the case that you needed creative writing skills to build an amazing cover letter. And time. Lots of time. Now, all you need is the perfect online builder - and you’re good to go!

Go to our varied collection of beautifully designed cover letter templates and pick one that suits you! We have created templates and samples that align with jobs, industries and professional image goals. All you need to do is consider which one strikes your fancy and is appropriate for your potential employer.

Add your contact information, as well as any needed (and appropriate) personal data the employer requires. Our well-designed templates make sure your info won’t get overlooked and your documents don’t get lost due to boring visuals. After all, your cover letter is your ambassador.

Save tons of time, condensing the long journey of a convincing professional appeal to several minutes and keystrokes. You can use our free guiding samples that show mock-up cover letters, written by hiring professionals based on years of experience. With all the technical and guiding support - this won’t take long!

Tailor the design, structure and formatting of your cover letter in a couple of clicks. The template and other aspects of your document can be adjusted as you see fit. And what’s more, you can experiment as long as you want - our online and offline sync features mean you won’t lose any of your changes even if you lose your internet connection.

Whether your employer uses an Applicant Tracking System or prefers email, whether they use Mac or PC - we’ve got you covered. Make use of PDF files to perfectly preserve your beautiful cover letter formatting.

Land that dream job now!

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Make your professional cover letter for free, in minutes.

A cover letter is never optional, but writing makes you feel queasy. Create a custom cover letter in minutes with a free cover letter generator.

no signup, no credit card, 100% free!

100% Free Cover Letter Builder

Make a standout cover letter for every job application without paying a cent.

No account registration or credit card required.

Select a Professional Cover Letter Template

Build a cover letter online with a pro-level template, designed by our creative team.

Each layout is optimized for best readability and information presentation.

Start with this template

Free Cover Letter Maker with Premium-Like Features

Our online cover letter builder boasts has the same features as paid apps, but with no price tag attached.

Because it shouldn’t cost a fortune to find a job.

Instant Generation

Create a cover letter in 4 easy steps. Follow contextual instructions and tips for every section to make a compelling cover letter in moments.

Appealing Templates

Make a memorable first impression with a skillfully made cover letter. Don’t sweat over the formatting deets like fonts, margins, or spacing — focus on selling yourself instead!

Crisp Quality

Download your cover letter in PDF format to easily upload to online job posts, share via email, or hand it in personally.

Not Sure What to Write in a Cover Letter?

Get ideas from our database of cover letter examples. browse by industry, profession, or experience level., need a resume to boot.

We actually have both a resume and cover letter builder 😉

Once you’re done here, give our free resume builder a spin.

Our Cover Letter Creator is Privacy-Friendly

No unsavory surprises with us.

This cover letter creator doesn’t save or store any of your data.

Once you’re done writing and close the tab, all records are gone, poof!

Still Got Questions? We Have Answers!

What is the free app to create a cover letter.

Freesumes offers a popular free cover letter generator with premium-like features and without any account registration requirements. Use an intuitive online interface to write, design, and download a cover letter in PDF format.

Are there any 100% free cover letter templates?

Yes, Freesumes cover letter builder comes with a choice of 6 free professionally-designed cover letter templates. We also offer several more styles as direct downloads . Each template is optimized for optimal visibility and empowers you to make a strong first impression with a potential employer.

Do companies still like cover letters?

Absolutely. Every company expects to receive at least a short cover letter alongside other requested job application documents. In fact, a cover letter is your best marketing tool. Use it to give a preview of your skills and articulate your motivation for pursuing the advertised role. 

How can I create my own cover letter?

You can effortlessly create your own cover letter with Freesumes cover letter maker. The app guides you through each cover letter section, suggesting which information to put first. Once you’re happy with the result, you can instantly download a cover letter version, packed in a selected template in PDF format.

Should you sell yourself in a cover letter?

A hundred times YES. An effective cover letter will convince a potential employer that you’re the best fit for the job by selling your skills, qualifications, and personality. Using words, you should paint a picture of the future impact you could have in the company and articulate how your past experience could help the company hit its goals.

Which template is best for a cover letter?

The choice of a cover letter template depends on your industry. If you’re applying to a more traditional company, opt for a minimalistic cover letter template in black and white or gray scale. If you’re after a job in a more hyp, startup-like company, consider a more creative template, perhaps one featuring a photo or a professional tagline on top.

What does a modern cover letter look like?

A modern cover letter is a one-page, web-friendly document, most times in PDF format. Use an appropriate professional greeting (hello, hi) and the person’s or company name, instead of the old-fashioned “dear Sir/Madam” or the trite “To whom it may concern”. Modern cover letters are also more permissive in terms of design. You can use color (as long as it doesn’t affect readability) and include a headshot and professional tagline in the header area for  personal branding purposes.

Online Cover Letter Builder

Enhancv is the cover letter builder that helps you tell your story. Beat the writer’s block with our cover letter generator. Just answer a few simple questions, customize the design, and save as PDF.

3,908 happy customers shared their experience.

Our cover letters get people hired at top companies:

Build your cover letter now. First, choose a design.

No need to go through the torturing process of writing a cover letter. Let the Enhancv cover letter generator do the heavy lifting – simply follow the instructions on the screen and you’ll have a generated draft in less than a minute.

Furthermore, you can easily make edits and tailor your cover letter to the different jobs you apply for. Pair them with a resume to match and keep track of your applications through the Enhancv dashboard.

Get a cover letter to be proud of!

Fill in your details.

Tailor to your needs.

Customize your design.

Check for errors and download.

A feature-packed, yet streamlined cover letter builder

Easy to implement design.

Enhancv’s design team has worked hard on creating beautiful looking, attention-grabbing designs that will help your cover letter stand out. Easily switch between background and color variations depending on the level of formality.

Real-time spell check

Never send a cover letter with a typo ever again! Take advantage of our real-time spell checker and get a cover letter that makes your personality stand out.

State-of-the-art cover letter generator

Beat the writer’s block with our cover letter generator. Follow our directions, let us know a bit more about your experience, skills, and greatest accomplishments, and get your cover letter made for you thanks to our industry-leading creative technology.

Download your cover letter in PDF

The PDF format is preferred by applicant tracking systems and recruiters alike. Keep your cover letter design and content intact. Ensure that nothing is out of place and your cover letter looks exactly how you sent it.

Use industry examples to start your cover letter

Kickstart your cover letter writing by following a cover letter that proved successful for someone in your industry.

Industry Example

Pair with a resume to match

Use the same design on your cover letter and resume. Use our intuitive resume builder to create a matching resume and stand out to hiring managers.

Cover Letter Examples for Inspiration

Qa engineer.

Entry Level Engineer

Data Engineer

English Teacher

Product Marketing Manager

People from all over the world love our cover letter builder

Frequent questions we get asked about cover letters:, what is a cover letter builder.

A cover letter builder is an online tool that helps you make a cover letter. The Enhancv cover letter builder goes one step further and provides you with a cover letter generator tool as well – helping you beat the writer’s block and create high-quality cover letters with little to no writing.

Should I use a cover letter builder?

A definite yes! Gone are the days of spending days crafting an application for a company – just tell your story , use our cover letter builder and never worry about having a readable, presentable cover letter. Our tool handles that for you.

What is the best cover letter builder for 2024?

Enhancv is the best cover letter builder you can find out there. Not only do we develop software that helps you get your dream job, but we also have a team of highly skilled career coaching experts who’ve gone over every cover letter example on our platform that you can use to kickstart your cover letter.

Is your cover letter builder free?

You can create a fully customized cover letter for free using Enhancv. You can create a matching resume for free as well. We do have paid plans that you can see on our pricing page.

What cover letter format should I follow?

All successful cover letters follow pretty much the same structure. The best format you can follow is: Salutation

• Call to action

Read an in-depth guide on the topic: How to Format a Cover Letter

What should a cover letter include?

Your cover letter should focus on the most important career accomplishment you’ve had that’s relevant to the position you’re applying for. It should back this up by giving concrete examples. Your cover letter should also show your personality to the hiring manager, so don’t just rephrase your resume. Complement it!

Do I need a cover letter for every job I apply for?

Cover letters are meant to show how you see yourself in the future if you get the job. You don’t need a brand new cover letter for every job you apply for, but it’s a good practice to tailor your cover letter to match the position and the skills needed for the job.

What tone of voice should I use in my cover letter?

Stick to a professional tone for your cover letter. You can go with a more relaxed tone if the company you’re applying for is more of a creative one, but generally, you want to keep things professional. Explore our cover letter examples to see what fits best for your industry.

How long should a cover letter be?

Ideally, you’re looking at 300-450 words in length. There’s no need to write a full-page – just focus on the things that are most relevant to the position you’re applying for.

Read more about cover letter length here: How Long Should a Cover Letter Be?

Should my cover letter compliment my resume?

Yes! You don’t want to say the same things in your resume and cover letter. You want to use the cover letter as a continuation of your resume.

In other words, focus your cover letter on the future and how you want to grow as a professional. Keep your resume full of facts and accomplishments. It’s always a good idea to keep your resume and cover letter matching. You can use our resume builder for that.

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Free Cover Letter Generator: Build a Cover Letter Online Using Artificial Intelligence in Minutes

Build a better cover letter, cover letter builder faq.

Don’t let the ideal job pass you by. In three easy steps, complete your application in minutes with our artificial intelligence (AI)-powered cover letter generator.

Generate a streamlined, personalized, professional, and stylish cover letter in seconds. With our cover letter generator, you can stop agonizing over the right thing to say, skip the endless proofreading, and let the generator format everything for you.

Get hired 33% faster with our feature-packed, easy-to-use resume and cover letter apps.

Artificial intelligence-generated

Use AI to capture your qualifications in a professional, keyword-rich cover letter that targets the employer and job you’re seeking.

Professional formatting

Choose from modern and professional cover letter templates.

Customizable fonts and colors

Select custom fonts and colors that fit your personal brand.

Free cover letter examples

Use our 125+ cover letter examples and templates to learn how to best format a cover letter for your field.

Applicant tracking system-friendly templates

Break through the applicant tracking systems (ATS) with cover letter templates that appeal to machines and humans.

Expert tips and guidance

Get help every step of the way with expert tips and suggested phrases.

What makes Resume Builder’s cover letter generator the best cover letter tool? -

Using the Resume Builder app’s cover letter generator, you have a 33% higher chance of getting a job, and our users experience a 42% higher response rate from recruiters. You'll get expert guidance every step of the way, with professional cover letter templates and AI-enabled suggestions to write a resume that gets results.

How do I use the cover letter builder? -

With Resume Builder’s cover letter app, you’ll select and customize a template, then create your cover letter either with step-by-step guidance or by importing your LinkedIn profile. Add your experience, education, key skills, and more, aided by expert tips, suggested phrases, and an AI writer tool. Then, save your cover letter by creating a free account. You can download your cover letter by upgrading to a paid subscription.

Should I make a different cover letter for every job application? -

Yes. Tailoring your cover letter and resume is one of the best ways to get more interviews. Look at the job posting to identify what the employer is seeking. Specifically, find important words or phrases to use in your profile and key skills sections.

Does Resume Builder have cover letter examples I can look at? -

Yes. Resume Builder has 125+free cover letter examples and templates. Use these examples to get expert advice on what you should — and shouldn’t — include in your cover letter, such as common key skills and action verbs for your desired job.

Should I download my new cover letter as a PDF or text file? -

We recommend downloading your cover letter in both PDF and text format. A professionally designed PDF cover letter has a visual impact, and its appearance is consistent across computer screens and systems. But you may need a text format cover letter for some job applications, so it’s good to have both available.

How can I use the cover letter builder for free? -

With the Resume Builder app, it’s free to build your cover for free. With a paid subscription, you can download or print your cover letter. Learn more about how to use Resume Builder for free.

Build a Resume to Enhance Your Career

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Never underestimate the power of a free cover letter builder.

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Search 90 cover letter examples by real people who got hired with the help of Kickresume.

Amazon Systems Administrator

Disney Video Production Assistant

Google Account Executive

ROMEO Social Media Officer

Client Success Manager at Shopify

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Your frequently asked questions.

If you don’t find answers to your questions here, don’t hesitate to ask. Kick’s customer service team is always ready to help.

What is a cover letter?

Your cover letter is a one-page document that you attach to your resume as part of your job application. It can take many forms: the text inside the body of your job application email, a filled out website form, or a standalone document.

The purpose of a cover letter is to...

• introduce yourself to your future potential employer;
• illustrate your background;
• explain why the offered position would be a good fit for you;
• And explain why you would be a good fit for the company.

In a cover letter, you have a unique chance to present yourself, show your personality, and add details that one cannot fit into a structured resume. Finally, a well-written cover letter is an opportunity to distinguish yourself from other applicants and increase your chances of landing an interview.

If you dread having to spend time writing one, let our AI Cover Letter Builder make one for you.

What is in a cover letter?

If you’re looking for a general outline for your cover letter, you can divide most cover letters into five parts (excluding your and company’s contact information):

• Salutation/greeting;
• An attention grabbing introduction (click here to see examples);
• Reasons why you’re perfect for the company;
• Reasons why the company’s perfect for you;
• A strong finish where you thank the reader and include a confident call to action (click here to see examples);
• Yours sincerely, / Yours faithfully, and your name;
• A postscript if necessary

Of course, this is just a simple outline and it doesn’t have to apply to every possible situation or position. If you'd like to know more and see cover letter samples , head over to our Help Center .

And, if you dread having to spend time writing one, let our AI Cover Letter Builder make one for you.

How to start a cover letter?

Always start your cover letter in a way that grabs a recruiter’s attention. Of course, there’s no single correct way to do it, as it depends on a specific job opening.

But, try to follow at least one of these 7 main principles that can help you get going:

• Be direct. Highlight years of experience in your field and any relevant hard or soft skills you bring to the table.
• Respond to the company’s needs. Employers want to know how you can contribute to their company.
• Include company facts and news. Show you've done your research to make a great first impression.
• Highlight a mutual connection. Referrals can work like magic when it comes to getting invited to a job interview .
• Show passion for what you do. Employers love job candidates who are enthusiastic about what they do.
• Open with a relevant accomplishment. Hiring managers like achievers.
• Use humor and creativity. Recruiters are human beings, too (shocking).

For more information and examples of cover letter openings, read our guide: How to Start a Cover Letter .

How long should a cover letter be?

The quick answer is that a cover letter should never be longer than a page, 400 words, or six paragraphs. Recruiters are busy people who don’t have much time for reading novels (especially not during work hours).

For more information read our guide: How Long Should a Cover Letter Be in 2022? (+Examples)

How to address a cover letter?

Do you know the name of the person responsible for hiring?

• If not, address your cover letter to the entire team (e.g. “Dear Kickresume Team”).
• If you do know their name, use a regular formal greeting (e.g. “Dear Jane Doe”).

Try to avoid using “To Whom it May Concern” or “Dear Sir or Madam”. This form of address, while correct, has become overused and may induce yawning.

What to include in a cover letter?

Here's a quick outline of what to include in a cover letter:

• A postscript if necessary.

How to create a cover letter?

With Kickresume, there’s nothing easier. Simply log in to your account, click “ Create Cover Letter ” and choose from 3 options:

• You can pick from a large number of cover letter templates that match your resume design and customize your new cover letter in every possible way.

Alternatively, check our 1250+ job-specific cover letter samples , pick one you like, and tweak the details to make it more you.

And, if you dread having to spend time writing one, let our AI Cover Letter Writer make one for you.

If you'd like to know more and see cover letter samples , head over to our Help Center .

How to format a cover letter?

Pick a cover letter template and Kickresume will take care of most formatting decisions for you. But even then, there are several ways in which you can further improve the formatting of your cover letter.

Nevertheless, here's how to format your cover letter:

• Font. Use one of the classics: Calibri, or Arial, or match it to your resume font.
• Size. Keep the size between 10–12 points and match it to your resume.
• Spacing. Single-space your text, make sure there's a space between each paragraph, and leave a space between the concluding paragraph and your formal sign-off.
• Margins. The only rule here is that the margins on your cover letter should match those on your CV.
• Consistence with your CV. Kickresume lets you choose a matching template for your CV and your cover letter, so no need to worry about this.

Both Kickresume's cover letter templates and resume templates are designed by expert typographers to ensure optimal readability & formatting, a visually-appealing design, and an optimization for ATS software. Create your unique cover letter now!

How many words should a cover letter be?

The quick answer is that a cover letter should never be longer than 400 words, one page, or six paragraphs. Recruiters are busy people who don’t have much time for reading novellas (especially not during work hours).

For more detailed information read our guide: How Long Should a Cover Letter Be in 2022? (+Examples)

How to close a cover letter?

A great cover letter closing should highlight your strengths, call for action, and express gratitude. Ideally, all that without sounding repetitive, pushy, or bland.

The ending of your cover letter consists of several key components:

• A succinct summary of your strengths. Cherry-pick the parts that are most relevant to the role and best illustrate why you make a great fit. Avoid sounding repetitive by changing up the phrasing.
• A confident call to action. In a sentence or two you should suggest the next steps. You should be confident without sounding demanding.
• Express gratitude. You should always express gratitude for the recruiter's time and consideration.
• Use a professional sign-off. Opt for the tried and tested classics, such as Sincerely , Best wishes , and Respectfully .

For more detailed information and examples of cover letter endings, read our guide: How to End a Cover Letter .

How to begin a cover letter?

Begin your cover letter in a way that grabs a recruiter’s attention right from the get go. Of course, there’s no single correct way to do it, as it depends on a specific job opening.

What is an AI Cover Letter Builder?

Kickresume’s AI cover letter writer is powered by OpenAI’s GPT-3 natural language processing model. It can generate role-specific cover letters that look and feel a lot like cover letters written by real people.

On the other hand, it has its own limitations. The artificial intelligence doesn’t know you. It cannot tell your story the way you’d be able to.

That's why you should use this cover letter writer with caution. Nevertheless, it can produce a decent-enough cover letter that you can use as your first draft in case you’re struggling with writer’s block. However, remember to edit your AI-generated cover letter and make it more you.

Learn more about the AI cover letter writer or try it out for yourself and generate your cover letter .

How does an AI Cover Letter Builder work?

Simply enter your most recent job title, press the “Use AI Writer” button and the AI writer will generate a cover letter for you.

If you don’t like that cover letter, simply press the button again. It will generate another set of sentences or rewrite the cover letter from scratch.

What is the best AI Cover Letter Builder?

We firmly believe it's Kickresume's AI Cover Letter Builder . Here are the reasons why:

• Kickresume AI Cover Letter Builder is based on OpenAI’s GPT-3 neural network, which is the world's most powerful natural language processing model .
• It can generate role-specific cover letters that look and feel a lot like cover letters written by real people.
• Each cover letter that is produced by our AI Cover Letter Builder is unique and custom-built for you.

Is the AI Cover Letter Builder free?

Unfortunately, it is not. On the other hand, there’s a large number of uses (or credits) included with every Kickresume premium subscription plan.

Why is it not free? Kickresume has to pay the OpenAI corporation for every use of its GPT-3 model. Because of that, every use of the AI writer consumes a credit.

In case you run out of these credits, you can either wait for the next billing period or contact our customer support.

If you want to unlock the full power of Kickresume, you can upgrade to a Premium subscription at any time for as little as 5 EUR per month.

Also, Kickresume is free for students .

Build a cover letter in less than ten seconds.

Join 5,000,000 successful job seekers who already got hired with cover letters created with Kickresume.

60+ Cover Letter Examples in 2024 [For All Professions]

No matter where you are in your career, or what job you’re applying for, submitting a cover letter with your resume is a must . 

Done right, a cover letter will effectively complement your resume and explain to the hiring manager in more detail why you’re the right person for the job.

Writing a cover letter, however, is easier said than done. 

You have to effectively demonstrate that you’ll be able to perform the responsibilities listed in the job description and that you’d be a better fit for the company compared to other candidates. 

And unless you’re a professional writer, this can be a very hard task.

Fortunately, we created these cover letter examples to inspire you and help you get started with your own cover letter!

Let’s dive in!

21 Cover Letter Examples 

#1. career change cover letter example .

Here’s what this cover letter does right:

• Has an ideal length. This cover letter includes all the relevant information for the hiring manager without getting into too much detail.
• Relevant introduction. The candidate explains that they’re changing careers and why they want to work in this new field from the get-go.
• Explains their related experience. The candidate explains how their previous experience in retail sales can help them succeed in PR.

Check out our guide video guide to learn how to write a Cover Letter that gets you HIRED!

#2. Recent Graduate Cover Letter Example 

• Personally greets the hiring manager. The candidate has taken the time to find the hiring manager’s name and address them by it, which makes the opening of the cover letter much more personal.
• Wraps up with a call to action. The candidate wraps up the cover letter by suggesting a meeting with the hiring manager, which makes them more memorable.
• Explains why the candidate is the right person for the internship. In this cover letter for an internship , the candidate explains how they’ve previously interned in a different firm, which gives them the experience to succeed in this role.

Have you just graduated from college? Make sure to check out our guide on writing an entry-level cover letter from start to finish! 

#3. Middle Management Cover Letter Example

• Use of bullet points. The candidate presents the information in a concise and reader-friendly way, making it easy for the hiring manager to find their key achievements. 
• Formal closing. The candidate has used a formal and polite tone to conclude their cover letter, which combined with a call to action makes them look professional and passionate about getting the job. 
• Explains how the company would benefit from hiring them. The candidate outlines exactly what they could do for the company, which not only highlights their skills but also shows they’ve done their research on the company’s needs. 

#4. Business Manager Cover Letter Example

• Detailed header. In addition to the must-have contact details, this candidate has also included their professional Twitter and LinkedIn profiles, making it easy for the hiring manager to look more closely into their career. 
• Concise and to the point. This candidate has used short paragraphs and bullet points to make the cover letter easy to skim through. 
• Wraps up with a call to action. By letting the hiring manager know they’ll be contacting them soon, they’re more likely to make an impression.

Check out this article for a complete writing guide and an inspiring business manager resume sample. 

#5. Ph.D. Cover Letter Example

Here’s what this cover letter does right: 

• Attention-grabbing introduction. In the opening paragraph, this candidate explains why they’re passionate about pursuing a Ph.D. in great detail. 
• Explains the candidate’s qualifications in detail. The candidate builds on their passion by explaining how they’re also qualified for the degree because of their education history and academic achievements. 

#6. Senior Executive Cover Letter Example

• Professional and minimalistic template. This senior executive has used a professional but minimalistic template that lets their work experience do the talking. 
• Achievement-oriented opening paragraph. Right from the get-go, this candidate explains what makes them so good at their job, effectively grabbing the hiring manager’s attention.  
• Wraps up with a call to action. By suggesting to have a meeting and discussing how they can help the company meet its goals, the candidate stands more chance to make a positive lasting impression. 

#7. Architect Cover Letter Example 

• Modern resume template. This architect has picked a template that perfectly matches his industry, as it is professional and modern at the same time. 
• A personal greeting to the HR. They address the hiring manager by their first name, which helps make a better first impression. 
• Measurable achievements. By quantifying their achievements, the candidate proves their achievements instead of just claiming them.

Struggling with your architect resume ? Check out our full guide!

#8. Business Analyst Cover Letter Example 

• Detailed contact information. The candidate has listed both their LinkedIn and Twitter profiles, providing the HR manager an opportunity to learn more about the candidate.  
• Mentions what the candidate can do for the company. This cover letter doesn’t just explain why the job would be great for the candidate, but also how the candidate would benefit the company. Win-win, right? 
• Error-free and reader-friendly. It’s super important for the cover letter to have no spelling or grammatical errors and be reader-friendly. This candidate made sure they did both.

Need a resume alongside your cover letter? Check out our guide on how to write a business analyst resume . 

#9. Consultant Cover Letter Example 

• Professional cover letter template. Being an experienced consultant, this candidate has picked a professional template that doesn’t steal the spotlight from their achievements. 
• Experience and achievement-oriented. The candidate has effectively elaborated on their top achievements relevant to the job. 
• Highlights the candidate’s passion. To show they want the job, this candidate has also explained how passionate they are about their profession.

For more advice on landing a job as a consultant, check out our guide to writing a consultant resume .

#10. Digital Marketing Cover Letter Example

• Creative cover letter template. This digital marketer highlights their originality by picking a creative cover letter template. 
• Lists the candidate’s awards. The candidate has taken advantage of the cover letter to list their most noteworthy awards in the industry. 
• Concludes with a call to action. As they used a call to action to conclude their cover letter, the HR manager will be more likely to remember them.

Want to take your digital marketing resume to the next level? Check out our guide!

#11. Graphic Designer Cover Letter Example 

• Detailed contact information. The candidate has included additional contact information such as their website link, as well as their LinkedIn and Twitter profiles.  
• Ideal length. This cover letter is concise, which means that the HR manager is more likely to read it from start to finish.  
• Draws attention to the candidate’s strong points. Although this candidate is a recent college graduate, they’ve managed to effectively show that they have enough knowledge and experience to do the job right.

Read this guide to write a graphic designer resume that’s just as good as your cover letter!

#12. Administrative Assistant Cover Letter Example

• Minimalistic cover letter template. The candidate picked a well-designed but minimalistic template for their cover letter. 
• Focused on skills and achievements. This cover letter is packed with the candidate’s skills and achievements, proving he can be an excellent employee. 
• Formal closing. Politeness can go a long way and the candidate has used this to their advantage to make an impression. 

Our article on how to write an administrative assistant resume can help you take your job application to the next level.

#13. Front Desk Cover Letter Example

• Modern cover letter template. This template incorporates memorable colors and clear lines, which make the cover letter very visually appealing. 
• Attention-grabbing introduction. Using an attention-grabbing intro, the candidate is more likely to make an impression. 
• Calls the HR to action. By including a call to action, the candidate is reminding the HR of their immediate availability. 

#14. Human Resources Cover Letter Example

• It is concise and to the point. The candidate doesn’t dwell on unimportant details the HR won’t be interested in. 
• Uses a traditional cover letter template. The cover letter design is more on the conventional side, which fits the industry better. 
• Highlights the candidate’s strong points. The candidate has rich work experience and they use the cover letter to elaborate on it. 

This HR resume guide can help you get your resume just right.

#15. Sales Agent Cover Letter Example 

• Attention-grabbing cover letter template. As a salesperson, this candidate knows how important first impressions are, so they’ve picked a catchy cover letter template. 
• Has an ideal length. At the same time, they’ve also made sure to keep their cover letter at just the right length. 
• Lists the candidate’s career highlights. The candidate has made perfect use of the space by mentioning their most impressive professional achievements. 

Check out this sales agent resume guide to create an attention-grabbing sales resume .

#16. Receptionist Cover Letter Example

• Modern but minimalistic cover letter template. The template’s design hints the candidate is creative but professional at the same time. 
• Uses a catchy introduction. The candidate has used an attention-grabbing opening paragraph to catch HR’s attention. 
• Concludes the cover letter formally. The candidate proves that they’re polite and well-spoken, a quality very much important for the role they’re applying for. 

Take your receptionist resume to the next level with this receptionist resume guide .

#17. Information Technology Cover Letter Example

• Mentions measurable achievements. Numbers make an impact, which is why this candidate has included measurable achievements. 
• Lists both soft and hard skills. The candidate has mentioned a great mix of soft and hard skills, showing how well-rounded they are. 
• Contains relevant contact information. The candidate’s GitHub, website name, LinkedIn, and Twitter profiles are all great additions to the resume. 

Looking for tips to help you write a great IT resume ? Check out our guide!

#18. Real Estate Cover Letter Example

• Ideal length. Short and to the point, this cover letter is bound to get noticed by the HR manager. 
• Wraps up with a call to action. This candidate reinforces the HR to call them back through a final call to action. 
• Mentions the right skills. On top of their sales accomplishments, the candidate touch upon important soft skills such as customer service and communication . 

This real estate resume guide will help you take your resume from good to great.

#19. Teacher Cover Letter Example

• Mentions relevant contact information details. This candidate has included optional (but relevant) contact information details, such as their LinkedIn, Quora, and Medium profiles. 
• Achievement-oriented. The candidate has elaborated on their achievements in more detail throughout their cover letter. 
• Highlights the candidate’s passion. For some jobs, being passionate is much more important than for others. Teaching is one of these jobs, which is why this candidate explains their passion for the job. 

Our guide on how to write a teacher resume has all the tips you need to land the job.

#20. Project Manager Cover Letter Example

• Leverages a catchy introduction. Through a catchy introductory paragraph, this candidate is sure to grab the HR’s attention and get them to read the rest of their cover letter.
• Lists measurable accomplishments. This candidate explains exactly what they’ve achieved using numbers and hard data. 
• Personally greets the HR. A personal greeting sounds much better than “Dear Sir/Madam,” and the candidate knows this. 

This guide on how to write a project manager resume can help you perfect your appication.

#21. Paralegal Cover Letter Example

• Minimalistic cover letter template. This cover letter design looks good but doesn’t steal the show from the candidate’s abilities.
• Mentions the candidate’s academic achievements and extracurricular activities. Although the candidate is a recent graduate, they’ve used the cover letter to explain they have enough skills and achievements to do the job.
• Lists measurable achievements. The candidate proves they did well in their internship by mentioning quantifiable achievements.

Check out this paralegal resume guide to perfect yours.

40+ More Cover Letter Examples and Guides 

Couldn’t find a cover letter example for your field? Do not worry.

Below you can find a number of other cover letter examples for different fields and industries:

• Acting Cover Letter Examples
• Accounting Cover Letter Examples
• Administrative Assistant Cover Letter Examples
• Architecture Cover Letter Examples
• Attorney Cover Letter Examples
• Barista Cover Letter Examples
• Bartender Cover Letter Examples
• Business Cover Letter Examples
• Business Analyst Cover Letter Examples
• College Student Cover Letter Examples
• Computer Science Cover Letter Examples
• Construction Cover Letter Examples
• Consultant Cover Letter Examples
• Customer Service Cover Letter Examples
• Data Analyst Cover Letter Examples
• Data Entry Cover Letter Examples
• Dental Assistant Cover Letter Examples
• Digital Marketing Cover Letter Examples
• Elementary Teacher Cover Letter Examples
• Engineering Cover Letter Examples
• Executive Assistant Cover Letter Examples
• Finance Cover Letter Examples
• Graphic Design Cover Letter Examples
• Healthcare Cover Letter Examples
• Human Resources Cover Letter Examples
• IT Cover Letter Examples
• Law Cover Letter Examples
• Management Cover Letter Examples
• Marketing Cover Letter Examples
• Mechanical Engineering Cover Letter Examples
• Medical Assistant Cover Letter Examples
• Nurse Practitioner Cover Letter Examples
• Physician Cover Letter Examples
• Project Manager Cover Letter Examples
• Receptionist Cover Letter Examples
• Retail Cover Letter Examples
• Sales Cover Letter Examples
• Social Work Cover Letter Examples
• Software Engineer Cover Letter Examples
• Substitute Teacher Cover Letter Examples
• Teacher Assistant Cover Letter Examples
• Team Leader Cover Letter Example

What is a Cover Letter? 

A cover letter is a one-page document that you submit as part of your job application, alongside your resume . 

Its purpose is to introduce you and briefly summarize your professional background. On average, your cover letter should be from 250 to 400 words long .

A good cover letter can give the hiring manager more insight into what makes you a good candidate and help them make up their mind about whether they should invite you for an interview. A bad cover letter, though, will get ignored (at best) and lose you the job (at worst).

So, to make sure this doesn’t happen, it’s essential to know how to write a convincing cover letter.

The first thing to remember is that a cover letter is a supplement to your resume, not a replacement. Meaning, you shouldn’t just repeat whatever is mentioned in your resume and call it a day. 

Optimally, you should use your cover letter to shed more light on your skills and qualifications, as well as explain anything you didn’t have space for in your resume (e.g. a career gap or why you’re changing careers).

If you’re writing a cover letter for the first time, though, putting all this together might seem pretty tough. 

Fortunately, you can follow our tried-and-tested format to make the experience much easier:

• Header - Input your contact information.
• Greeting the hiring manager - Open the cover letter with a “Dear Sir or Madam,” or use the hiring manager’s name if you know what that is.
• Opening paragraph - Grab the hiring manager’s attention by getting straight to the point. Mention what your professional experiences are, and what role you’re applying for.
• The second paragraph - Explain why you’re the perfect candidate for the job. Mention your top 2-3 achievements, your top skills, why you want to work in that specific industry, and whatever else is relevant.
• The third paragraph - End your cover letter with a call to action. E.g. “I would love to meet personally and discuss how I can help Company X.”
• Formal closing - Something like this: “Thank you for your consideration. Best, John Doe.”

Here’s what this looks like in practice:

9 Tips to Write a Cover Letter (the Right Way)

Now that we've covered the basics, let's talk about cover letter tips . Below, we'll give you all the knowledge you need to take your cover letter from "OK" to "great."

#1. Pick the right template

A good cover letter is all about leaving the right first impression.

And what’s a better way to leave a good impression than through a professional, well-formatted, and visual template?

You can simply pick one of our tried-and-tested cover letter templates and you’ll be all set!

#2. Add your contact details on the header

The best way to start your cover letter is through a header. 

Here’s what you want to include there:

• Phone Number
• Name of the hiring manager / their professional title
• Name of the company you’re applying to

Optionally, you can also include the following:

• Social Media Profiles - Any type of profile that’s relevant to your field. Social Profiles on websites like LinkedIn, GitHub (for developers), Medium (for writers), etc.
• Personal Website - If you have a personal website that somehow adds value to your application, you can mention it. Let’s say you’re a professional writer. In that case, you’d want to link to your content portfolio site or blog.

#3. Greet the hiring manager the right way

Once you’ve listed all your relevant contact information, it’s time to address the hiring manager reading your cover letter. 

A good practice here is to find the hiring manager’s name and address them directly instead of using the traditional “dear sir or madam.” This shows that you’re really invested in the company and that you took your time to do some research about the job.

So, how can you find out the hiring manager’s name?

One way to do this is by looking up the head of the company’s relevant department on LinkedIn. Let’s say you’re applying for the position of Communication Specialist at Novoresume. The hiring manager is probably the Head of Communications or the Chief Communications Office.

Or let’s say you’re applying for the position of server at a restaurant. In that case, you’d be looking to find out who the restaurant manager is.

If this doesn’t work, you can also check out the “Team” page on the company website; there’s a good chance you’ll at least find the right person there.

If you still can’t find out the hiring manager’s name, here are several other greetings you can use:

• Dear [Department] Hiring Manager
• Dear Hiring Manager
• To whom it may concern
• Dear [Department] Team

#4. Create an attention-grabbing introduction

Recruiters get hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of applications. Chances are, they’re not going to be reading every single cover letter end-to-end.

So, it’s essential to catch their attention from the very first paragraph.

The problem with most cover letter opening paragraphs, though, is that they’re usually extremely generic, often looking something like this: 

Hey, my name is Jonathan and I’d like to work as a Sales Manager at XYZ Inc. I’ve worked as a sales manager at MadeUpCompany Inc. for 5+ years, so I believe that I’d be a good fit for the position.

As you can probably tell, this opening paragraph doesn’t tell the hiring manager anything other than that you’ve worked the job before - and that’s not really helpful in setting you apart from other candidates. 

What you want to do, instead, is start off with 2-3 of your top achievements to really grab the reader’s attention. Preferably, the achievements should be as relevant as possible to the position. 

For example:

My name’s Michael and I’d like to help XYZ Inc. hit and exceed its sales goals as a Sales Manager. I’ve worked with Company X, a fin-tech company, for 3+ years. As a Sales Representative, I generated an average of $30,000+ in sales per month (beating the KPIs by around 40%). I believe that my previous industry experience, as well as my excellence in sales, makes me the right candidate for the role of X at Company Y.

The second example shows how the candidate is a top performer. The first just shows that they’ve worked a sales job before.

Which one are YOU more likely to invite for an interview?

#5. Show you’re the perfect person for the job

One great thing about cover letters is that they allow you to expand more on the top achievements from your resume and really show the hiring manager that you’re the right person for the job. 

A good way to do that is to first read the job ad and really understand what skills/experiences are required, and then to ensure that your cover letter touches upon the said skills or experiences.

In my previous role as a Facebook Marketing Expert at XYZ Inc. I handled customer acquisition through ads, managing a monthly Facebook ad budget of $20,000+. As the sole digital marketer at the company, I managed the ad creation and management process end-to-end. This means I created the ad copy and images, as well as picked the targeting, ran optimization trials, and so on.

Other than Facebook advertising, I’ve also delved into other online PPC channels, including:

• Google Search

#6. Explain why you’re a great company fit

The HR manager doesn’t only look at whether you’ll be good at the job or not. They’re looking for someone that’s also a good fit for the company culture.

After all, employees that don’t fit in are bound to quit, sooner or later. This ends up costing the company a ton of money, up to 50% of the employee’s annual salary . 

To convince the hiring manager that you’re a great company fit, do some research on the company and find out what it is you like about them, or about working there. You want to know things like:

• What’s the company’s business model?
• What’s the company's product or service? Have you used it?
• What’s the culture like? Will someone micro-manage your work, or will you have autonomy on how you get things done?

Then, turn your top reasons for liking to work there into text and add them to your cover letter! 

#7. Wrap up with a call to action

To make the end of your cover letter as memorable as possible, you want to:

• Wrap up any points you couldn't in the previous paragraphs. Mention anything you’ve left out that you think could help the hiring manager make up your mind.
• Thank the hiring manager for their time. After all, it never hurts to be polite. 
• Finish the cover letter with a call to action. A call to action is a great way to make your cover letter ending as memorable as possible. 

#8. Write a formal closing

Once you’re done with the final paragraph, all you have to do is write down a formal “goodbye” and you’re good to go.

Feel free to use one of the most popular conclusions in a cover letter:

• Best Regards,
• Kind Regards,

#9. Proofread your cover letter

Last but not least, make sure to always proofread each and every document that you’ll be including in your job application - cover letter included. 

The last thing you want is to be claiming you’re a great candidate for the job with a cover letter full of typos! 

For an even more comprehensive guide on how to write an impactful cover letter , check out our article ! 

Cover Letter Writing Checklist 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you still have some questions about cover letters? Check out the answers below:

1. How do I write a simple cover letter? 

To write a cover letter that’s simple but also professional, make sure to include a header with your personal information, a formal greeting to the hiring manager, an attention-grabbing opening paragraph, a second paragraph explaining why you’re a good candidate for the job, and a formal closing (preferably with a call to action). 

2. What are the 3 parts of a cover letter? 

The three parts of a cover letter are: 

• The introduction , namely the header, the greeting to the hiring manager, and the opening paragraph. 
• The sales pitch is usually the body of the cover letter. 
• The conclusion involves a formal closing and a signature line.

3. What makes a great cover letter?

A great cover letter should be personalized for each job you’re applying for, instead of being overly generic. It’s also preferable to address the hiring manager by their name and not use the overly-used “Dear Sir/Madam.”

To make a great first impression, you should mention 1-2 of your top achievements in your opening paragraph - the more job-specific they are, the better. Also, don’t stop at showing the hiring manager why you’re a great candidate for the job. Make sure to also talk about how you’re a good culture fit for the company.

Last but not least, wrap up your closing paragraph with a call to action to give the hiring manager a little extra something to remember you by. 

4. When is a cover letter necessary?

Unless the job ad specifically states otherwise, you should always include a cover letter with your job application .

Even if the hiring manager doesn’t read it, you will look more professional simply by including one.

And that’s a wrap! We hope our cover letter examples and writing tips will inspire you to write a cover letter that will land you your next job.

If you’re looking for more invaluable career advice and articles, make sure to check out our career blog , or any of these related articles: 

• How to Write a Resume
• Cover Letter Mistakes to Avoid at All Costs
• Cover Letter Format (w/ Examples & Free Templates)

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Cover Letter Examples for Job Application

• Career Advice

• Posted On: 2024-09-20
• Posted By: Shacara

30 Cover Letter Examples for Different Job Applications

1. entry-level job cover letter, 2. career change cover letter, 3. administrative assistant cover letter, 4. customer service cover letter, 5. marketing manager cover letter, 6. sales associate cover letter, 7. teacher cover letter, 8. software developer cover letter, 9. project manager cover letter, 10. nursing cover letter, 11. graphic designer cover letter, 12. data analyst cover letter, 13. accountant cover letter, 14. human resources cover letter, 15. event planner cover letter, 16. retail manager cover letter, 17. construction project manager cover letter, 18. content writer cover letter, 19. it support specialist cover letter, 20. executive assistant cover letter, 21. hr manager cover letter, 22. business analyst cover letter, 23. financial analyst cover letter, 24. digital marketing specialist cover letter, 25. product manager cover letter, 26. public relations specialist cover letter, 27. social media manager cover letter, 28. operations manager cover letter, 29. hospitality manager cover letter, 30. legal assistant cover letter, get ahead of the competition.

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Career Center

Cover letters.

Cover letters are a way to create a personalized statement that explains how you as the applicant meet the needs of the employer. This is about marketing yourself and telling your story. It goes with your resume, which is a summary of your experiences, skills and accomplishments. Each cover letter should be tailored to match the specific position and employer.

View videos about cover letters on our Youtube.

Cover Letter Samples

View sample Cover Letters .

Sections of a Cover Letter 

Personal contact info.

Required: Name, Address, Phone, Email Optional: LinkedIn, Online portfolio

Employer's Contact Info

Name, Department, Company, Address. If no specific person's name use position title or department name. If there is no known address, use an email address with city/state.

Try to address your cover letter to a person. If there is no specific name, use "Dear Search Committee,", "Dear Hiring Manager," or "To Whom it May Concern:"

Beginning Paragraph

Introduce yourself and express your interest in the position. Possible subjects include:

• Who you are - year in school, university, major.
• The specific job title.
• How you heard about the job and, if appropriate, the person who told you about it.
• Why you're interested in the position (be specific!).
• Why you're qualified. This should be a brief one sentence summary of why you are a good fit for the position (similar to a thesis statement).

Middle Paragraph(s)

Describe 1-3 of your experiences/projects that show your job-specific skills and qualifications. Make sure to:

• Show how you make a good fit with the position/organization.
• Focus on what you will bring to the organization and why they should hire you. Go into more detail then your resume - don’t just restate your bullets.
• Break up the paragraph into smaller sections if it is too big. Smaller paragraphs are more readable.

Ending/Summarizing Paragraph

Final interest and fit statement in which you:

• Include your availability, and how you will follow through with the application. Tell the reader what is the best way to reach you and how to reach you.
• Thank the employer for their consideration.
• Add any other practical remarks - e.g. if you have not completed a certification yet but are scheduled to take the exam, or if you will be relocating or will be visiting the area soon

Closing Signature

"Sincerely", "Best Regards", "Yours", Hand-written signature AND Typed name. Best to hand-write signature but if you are unable to scan document you can use script-like font instead

A cover letter is an important tool to use when applying for a job because it:

• Introduces you to the prospective employer
• Highlights your enthusiasm for the position
• Describes your specific skills and qualifications for the job or internship, and clearly explains why you are a good fit

You should always include a cover letter when applying for a job unless you are specifically told not to by the employer. We recommend that you write a cover letter after you have created your tailored  resume or  curriculum vitae (CV) for a particular position. When applying online and limited to uploading one document, you can create a single PDF document that includes both your resume and cover letter.

For advanced degree positions, see Developing Application Materials for Academic Jobs or Developing Application Materials for Non-Academic Jobs . 

Tips on Using AI for Cover Letters You can use AI to assist you, but you always want to create a specific, unique prompt and edit the results so that what you submit to the employer is in your authentic voice. AI is a helpful tool to use, but not meant to replace your own writing in job applications. See our recommendations for  incorporating AI for cover letters here.

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You'll find several kinds of fields in your grant application forms - check boxes, dates, data entry fields, and attachments. This page provides guidance on attachments: documents that are prepared outside the grant application using whatever editing software you desire (e.g., Microsoft Word), converted to PDF format,  and then added or uploaded to your application. We require PDF format to preserve document formatting and a consistent reading experience for reviewers and staff.

We have very specific attachment formatting requirements. Failure to follow these requirements may lead to application errors upon submission or withdrawal of your application from funding consideration.

• We do not require a specific citation format.
• The use of "et al." in place of listing all authors of a publication is acceptable practice.
• Most style guides include format guidance for citations and all formats are acceptable.
• SciENcv , a tool to prepare biosketches for NIH and other agencies, uses a standard format used by the National Library of Medicine (see Citing Medicine ). If your organization does not already have a standard, you may want to consider this one.
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• Electronic signatures on PDF attachments within your application are not allowed.
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• Save all document attachments with descriptive filenames of 50 characters or less (including spaces).
• Use unique filenames for all attachments in an application (or within a component of a multi-project application).
• Use any of the following characters: A-Z, a-z, 0-9, underscore, hyphen, space, period, parenthesis, curly braces, square brackets, tilde, exclamation point, comma, apostrophe, at sign, number sign, dollar sign, percent sign, plus sign, and equal sign.
• If including spaces, use one space (not two or more) between words or characters. Do not begin the filename with a space or include a space immediately before the .pdf extension.
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• Ensure file size is greater than 0 bytes - we cannot accept a 0 byte attachment.
• Keep attachment file size to 100 MB or less.

Flattened PDFs

A PDF that has fillable fields, electronic signatures, text boxes or images inserted, becomes layered with each of these elements representing a layer. The existence of these layers interferes with the handling of the documents in eRA systems. Consequently, PDF documents included in applications, progress reports, and other information collected in eRA Commons must be flattened. A flattened PDF is simply one in which all the layers are merged together into a single flat layer. Many simple PDFs are already flattened - all the information is contained in a single layer. Uploading a PDF that isn’t flattened may result in an eRA Commons error message. You will need to replace your PDF with a flattened version to complete the submission process.

Font (Size, Color, Type density) and Line Spacing

Adherence to font size, type density, line spacing, and text color requirements is necessary to ensure readability and fairness. Although font requirements apply to all attachments, they are most important and most heavily scrutinized in attachments with page limits.

Text in your attachments must follow these minimum requirements:

• Some PDF conversion software reduces font size. It is important to confirm that the final PDF document complies with the font requirements.
• Type density: Must be no more than 15 characters per linear inch (including characters and spaces).
• Line spacing: Must be no more than six lines per vertical inch.
• Text color: No restriction. Though not required, black or other high-contrast text colors are recommended since they print well and are legible to the largest audience.
• Palatino Linotype

Legibility is of paramount importance. Applications that include PDF attachments that do not conform to the minimum requirements listed above may be withdrawn from consideration.

Format Pages

• Some attachment instructions refer to required format pages (e.g., biosketch, other support, training data tables).

Headers and Footers

• Do not include headers or footers in your attachments. We add headers, footers, page numbers, bookmarks, and a table of contents when we assemble your grant application upon submission.
• Some funding opportunities and form instructions provide guidance on organizing the content of attachments including specific headings that must be included.

Hypertext, Hyperlinks, and URLs

• Refer to NOT-OD-20-174: Reminder: NIH Policy on Use of Hypertext in NIH Grant Applications .
• Hyperlinks and URLs are only allowed when specifically noted in funding opportunities and/or form field instructions. It is highly unusual for a funding opportunity to allow links in Specific Aims, Research Strategy, and other page-limited attachments.
• Hyperlinks and URLs may not be used to provide information necessary to application review. Applications must be self-contained and reflect the information available at time of review.
• Reviewers are not obligated to view linked sites and are cautioned that they should not directly access a website (unless the link to the site was specifically requested in application instructions) as it could compromise their anonymity.
• NIH ( http://www.nih.gov/ )
• http://www.nih.gov/

Figures (e.g., Images, Graphics, Charts, Graphs, and Tables)

• Images and other figures must be readable as printed on an 8.5” x 11” page at normal (100%) scale.
• Figures should be included in the Research Strategy, Program Plan, or equivalent attachment and count towards page limits.
• Figures should not be included in the Specific Aims attachment. Figures can interfere with the NIH post-award process to categorize awards in RePORT .
• Unless otherwise stated in the funding opportunity, the Project Summary/Abstract and Project Narrative attachments should only include text (no figures). Figures can interfere with NIH post-award process to categorize awards in RePORT .
• Applicants should use image compression such as JPEG or PNG to reduce overall application file size.
• For advice on creating effective figures, refer to Tips for Tables, Charts, and Figures .
• Consider including Accessibility elements like structural headers and meaningful Alt Text in your figures to maximize visual and descriptive clarity for all readers.

Language and Style

• Use English. (See 2 CFR 200.111, English language .)
• Avoid jargon.
• Spell out acronyms the first time they are used in each application section or attachment. Note the appropriate abbreviation in parentheses. The abbreviation may be used in the section or attachment thereafter. Find a list of Abbreviations used in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Marking Up Attachments

• Do not markup your PDF documents with comments, sticky notes, or other features that are added on top of your PDF document content. This information may not be retained in your final application image.
• Do not use bracketing, indenting, highlighting, bolding, italicizing, underlining, margin lines, change in typography, font, or font color, or any other type of markup to identify changes in Resubmission Applications .

Orientation

• Both portrait and landscape attachments are accepted. However, keep in mind that landscape can be difficult to read online and may require reviewers and staff to scroll to see all available text.

Page Limits and Lines of Text Limits

• ​Page limits defined in a funding opportunity should be followed when different than those found in the Table of Page Limits . Page limits defined in a related NIH Guide notice should be followed if different than either the Table of Page Limits or the funding opportunity.
• ​If no page limit for an attachment is listed in either the Table of Page Limits, Section IV of the funding opportunity under Page Limitations, or in a related NIH Guide notice, you can assume the attachment does not have a limit.
• Some page limits apply to multiple attachments that when combined must stay within a designated limit. You may want to prepare your information in a single document to ensure you are within the page limit, then later break the information up into the various separate attachments. Our systems will accommodate a certain amount of white space resulting from splitting the information into the separate attachments when verifying compliance with a limit.
• We systematically check many page limit requirements and provide error or warning messages to minimize incomplete or non-compliant applications. These systematic checks may not address all page limit requirements for a specific opportunity and do not replace the checks done by staff after submission. You must comply with all documented page limits and should not rely solely on system validations.
• Page limits are strictly enforced to include all text included on the page including any headers. Limits measured in lines of text are not systematically enforced. In the case of the Project Summary/Abstract and Narrative attachments on the R&R Other Project Information form, we only systematically enforce egregious issues (text exceeds one page). Our manual checks would not remove an application from consideration if only the header information put the content over the specified line limit.
• When preparing an administrative supplement application, follow the Table of Page Limits using the activity code of the parent award and any additional limits specified in the funding opportunity or a related notice.
• Do not use the appendix or other sections of your application to circumvent page limits ( NOT-OD-11-080 ) .

Paper Size and Margins

• Use paper (page) size no larger than standard letter paper size (8 ½" x 11”) .
• Provide at least one-half inch margins ( ½" ) — top, bottom, left, and right — for all pages. No applicant-supplied information can appear in the margins.
• Avoid scanning text documents to produce the required PDFs. It is best to produce documents using your word processing software and then convert the documents to PDF. Scanning paper documents may hamper automated processing of your application for agency analysis and reporting.
• We recognize that sometimes scanning is necessary, especially when including letters of support or other signed documents on business letterhead.

Security Features

• Our systems must be able to open and edit your attached documents in order to generate your assembled application image for agency processing and funding consideration.
• Disable all security features in your PDF documents. Do not encrypt or password protect your documents. Using these features to protect your documents also prevents us from opening and processing them.

Single versus Multi-Column Page Format

• A single-column page format easily adapts to various screen sizes and is highly encouraged.
• Multi-column formats, especially for information spanning multiple pages, can be problematic for online review.
• Videos cannot be embedded in an application, but videos are accepted under limited circumstances as post-submission material. For additional guidance, check NOT-OD-24-067 .
• The cover letter submitted with the application must include information about the intent to submit a video. If this is not done, a video will not be accepted.
• Key images, “stills,” and a brief description of each video must be included within the page limits of the Research Strategy. Sufficient descriptive information must be provided within the Research Strategy to understand the information presented in the video, as not all reviewers may be able to access the video, depending on technological constraints.