If you’re applying to numerous jobs, writing unique cover letters for every position can be time-consuming. After all, it’s exhausting having to reiterate your qualifications continually.
A general or generic cover letter is a letter that focuses broadly on your work experience and can be easily modified for any job you apply for.
However, when writing a generic cover letter, you don’t want to appear boring, bland, or unspecific.
We’re going to teach you how to craft the perfect general cover letter for no specific job, and provide you with a sample and template to ensure that you save time and impress the hiring manager.
In this article, you’ll find:
- A professional general cover letter template
- A completed general cover letter sample
- Expert tips on how to write a general cover letter
1. General cover letter sample & template
Here’s a professional generic cover letter template you can use to apply to any job:
General cover letter template
[Today’s Date] [Hiring Manager’s Name] [Company Address] [City, State ZIP] [Phone Number] [Email Address] Dear [Mr./Ms./Mrs.] [Hiring Manager’s Surname], I was excited to see your listing for the [Position Name] position at [Company Name] on [Website Name] recently. As a dynamic [Your Occupation] with [# Years] of professional experience doing [Primary Work Task] in order to drive results, I’m confident that I would be a valuable asset to your team. Your job listing mentions a need for someone knowledgeable in [Area of Expertise], which is an area I have extensive experience in. I’m currently employed at [Current Company Name], where I’ve honed my skills doing [Relevant Tasks Performed]. While employed here, I have successfully raised our [Achievement] by [%] over the course of [Time Period], contributing substantially to the department’s annual goals. I’m confident that my proven track record of excellent work ethic, unparalleled attention to detail, and knack for [Relevant Skill] will make me an immediate asset at [Company Name], and allow me to contribute to the team’s success. I look forward to discussing the [Position Name] position and my qualifications with you in more detail. I’m available to talk at your soonest convenience. I’ll be in touch next week to follow up, just to make sure you’ve received my application. Thank you so much for your time and consideration. Sincerely, [Your Name]
General Cover Letter Template (Text Version)
Completed general cover letter sample
Here’s a completed general cover letter example from a candidate applying to a digital marketing position:
11/03/2021 William Taylor 81 Federal Ave. New York, NY 10001 (908) 771-1094 William.Taylor@gmail.com Dear Mr. Taylor, I was excited to see your listing for the Lead Digital Marketing position at Westward Strategies on Indeed.com recently. As a dynamic email marketing specialist with over two years of professional experience executing market research, analyzing consumer data, and running A/B testing in order to drive successful marketing campaigns, I’m confident that I would be a valuable asset to the team at Westward. Your job listing mentions a need for someone experienced in email segmentation and campaign development, both of which happen to be areas I have extensive experience in. I’m currently employed at Formosa Inc., where I’ve honed my skills by running numerous highly successful email marketing campaigns. While employed here, I spearheaded a digital promotion campaign for the company’s new line of sandals that successfully raised our total online engagement by an impressive 13% over the course of six months, contributing substantially to the department’s annual goals. I’m confident that my proven track record of excellent work ethic, unparalleled attention to detail, and knack for executing high-performing email marketing campaigns will make me an immediate asset at Westward Strategies, and allow me to contribute to the team’s success. I look forward to discussing the Lead Digital Marketing position and my qualifications with you in more detail. I’m available to talk at your soonest convenience. I’ll be in touch next week to follow up, just to make sure you’ve received my application. Thank you so much for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Aadhira Goswami
General Cover Letter Sample (Text Version)
How to write a general cover letter
Now that you’ve seen what a proper generic cover letter looks like, if you’re still unsure what to include in yours, don’t worry.
Below, we provide five writing tips that’ll show you how to write a professional general cover letter for no specific job that’ll be sure to impress the hiring manager.
Step 1. Address your cover letter properly
You only get one chance to make a great first impression with the hiring manager, so it’s critical that you address your cover letter properly.
Although you’re using a general cover letter, a generic and impersonal greeting could damage your chances of getting a response from the hiring manager.
Properly formatting the hiring manager’s contact details and using the correct salutation will show that you did your research and are excited about the job opportunity.
Here are four steps on how to address a cover letter:
- List your contact details (address, phone number, personal and company’s email, and current date)
- Address the hiring manager by their name
- If you don’t know the hiring manager’s name, search on LinkedIn, check the company website, or try calling the office manager or receptionist and ask
- If all else fails, there’s nothing wrong with starting your cover letter with “Dear Hiring Manager,” but it should be your last choice
Step 2. Match your general cover letter to your resume
All jobs — even those within the same industry — will likely have different required qualifications, skills, and experience.
You should adjust your cover letter according to the position by weaving skills or qualifications from the job posting into the body paragraphs to increase your chances of success.
Additionally, it’s essential when writing your generic cover letter to use a matching cover letter and resume style. Otherwise, your application will look unprofessional and can be jarring for the hiring manager to read.
Double checking that your cover letter and resume style match before sending them out will make all the difference in your application, ensuring that it looks put-together, clean, and professional.
Step 3. Lead with a strong opening paragraph
Hiring managers at large companies typically read hundreds of cover letters daily, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that they may skim through yours. However, if they thoroughly read any part of your cover letter, it’ll be the first paragraph.
That’s why writing a convincing introduction on your general cover letter is key to getting invited for an interview.
Your cover letter’s introduction doesn’t need to be elaborate. However, you should provide a little personal background, explain how you found the position, and indicate that you’re excited about the opportunity.
Here’s an example of a great introduction on a generic cover letter:
I was excited to see your listing for the Lead Digital Marketing position at Westward Strategies on Indeed.com recently. As a dynamic email marketing specialist with over two years of professional experience executing market research, analyzing consumer data, and running A/B testing in order to drive successful marketing campaigns, I’m confident that I would be a valuable asset to the team at Westward.
Step 4. Highlight your soft skills
No matter which industry you work in, employers are always looking for candidates who have great interpersonal skills, communication skills, adaptability, creativity, and leadership skills.
Regardless of the position, soft skills are sure to impress hiring managers and are excellent additions to your general cover letter.
Here’s an example of how to show off your soft skills in your general cover letter:
Note how the candidate mentioned that they “spearheaded a digital promotion campaign” for a new product. Spearheading any company project tells the hiring manager that the candidate has great leadership skills.
The candidate also mentions that they “contributed substantially” to the department’s annual goals, which conveys that they’re a team player and work hard to help achieve company objectives.
Finally, the applicant wrote that they’re “confident in their proven track record of excellent work ethic, and unparalleled attention to detail.” This sentence is excellent because it displays two separate soft skills, work ethic and attention to detail, and one great personality trait, confidence, which all great sales managers need to succeed in their job.
Step 5. Tailor your generic cover letter
Though it might sound like it defeats the purpose of using a general cover letter, you should still customize the content of your cover letter every time you send out an application.
Employers can easily see through a nonspecific, bland cover letter, and if you want to make a good impression with the hiring manager, you’ll need to do more than just swap out company names and positions.
The best way to customize your general cover letter is to section out parts so that you can easily swap in information relevant to the job you’re applying to.
Hiring managers are on the lookout for information that demonstrates why you think you’re the best fit for their company, so scan the job listing and add information that demonstrates you’re a good fit for that job specifically.
Each company has specific needs, so it’s crucial that you identify what experience you have that they’re seeking.
