CV Cover Letter Templates

Why pair these cover letter templates with your CV

The right cover letter template will give your job application structure and polish.

Our cover letter templates use clean formats and elegant yet professional design to give your letter the right impact on employers and academic hiring committees.

Here’s why our CV cover letter templates will make a difference.

Formatted to meet current hiring standards

Each cover letter follows current cover letter writing standards, helping you state your case clearly and concisely.

Simply follow the instructions on each template to organize your skills, strengths, and achievements into a convincing job application letter for academic or professional roles.

Smart polished design

All designs have smart, businesslike headers, giving your letter character while remaining clear and appropriate for the job market.

Each template comes in a muted selection of color variations: blacks, burgundys, blues, oranges, and greens that will accent your application while keeping the focus on your qualifications.

Suitable for academic and professional roles

The font size and simple page layout of our cover letter templates is ideal for writing both short and longer form cover letters.

Letters of 200–500 words sit perfectly on a single page. The templates also look good across two or three pages if the position you’re applying for has specifically asked for a longer cover letter (as is often the case for academic cover letters).

How to use our CV cover letter templates

Using our cover letter templates is easy:

• Choose a template you like from the selection above
• Click the white “Free Download” button at the bottom of the thumbnail
• Select “Download for Word” or “Open in Google Docs” to choose your desired file format
• A copy of the template will automatically save to your desktop or Google Drive account

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Here are answers to some common questions about writing a cover letter for your CV.

Do I need to include a cover letter with my CV?

Yes, you should include a cover letter with your CV, even if one wasn’t explicitly requested in the job description.

Although many employers don’t require cover letters, most do want to read them. 83% of the hiring managers we asked said they would want to read applicant cover letters, even if they hadn’t specifically asked for one.

Writing a cover letter allows you to explain how your skill set is relevant and why you should be considered for the role. It gives you space to explain your fit for the role in a way your resume can’t, which is why it’s worth the extra effort even when optional.

How long should an academic cover letter be?

Academic cover letters for faculty positions run longer than standard cover letters. Many academic institutions often expect cover letters to be 2–3 pages long, particularly if you’re applying for a role in humanities or social sciences.

If you’re applying for a professional role outside of academia, keep your cover letter to one page. Most employers expect a length of 200–500 words.

Can I write my cover letter with AI?

You can write your cover letter with AI, but make sure the final content is relevant, clear, and logical.

AI often produces cover letters that are wordy, vague, or imprecise. The best way to use AI in your cover letter writing is to write a rough draft of your cover letter first, and then use AI to clean up the structure.

Getting clear on what you want to say first makes it much easier to check your letter’s accuracy and clarity.

Relevant cover letter resources

Use these extra resources to complete your application, whether you’re applying for an academic position or a corporate role:

• How to write a cover letter
• Academic advisor cover letter
• Research assistant cover letter
• Additional cover letter examples by role and specialty