Are you looking to create a cover letter that will help your job application stand out? You’ve come to the right place.
Cover letters matter because they’re like your chance to say, “Hold up, there’s more to me than what’s on my resume!” They’re your first opportunity to show why you’re the ideal fit for the job and let your personality shine.
Ready to stand out from the job-hunting crowd? Browse and pick from Venngage’s dozens of cover letter templates that you can customize and have ready in no time!
Click to jump ahead:
- What is a cover letter?
- Cover letter design tips with examples & templates
- What should a cover letter design include?
- How to design a cover letter
- How to customize cover letter templates in Venngage
- 9 tips for writing your cover letter
- Frequently asked questions about cover letter
What is a cover letter?
A cover letter is a document sent with your resume to provide additional information about your skills and experience. It’s your opportunity to explain why you’re a good fit for the job you’re applying for and to highlight relevant qualifications. A cover letter should be concise, typically no longer than one page and should be tailored to the specific job and company you are applying to.
Cover letter design tips with examples & templates
Crafting an effective cover letter involves not only strong content but also a professional design. In this section provides, I’ll be sharing some of my favorite tips, examples and templates to help you create a standout cover letter.
Click to jump ahead:
- Professional cover letter templates
- Simple cover letter templates
- Free cover letter templates
- Internship cover letter templates
- Creative cover letter templates
Professional cover letter templates
Use a column layout to divide your cover letter into sections
Typically, when you write a cover letter, you will include your contact information in the header or footer. But a visual cover letter offers you the opportunity to use a different page layout.
For example, you could put your contact information in a spinal column at the side of the page. To do this, simply divide your page into columns:
Take a look at how columns are used in the page layout for this cover letter template:
Include a personal logo to make your cover letter more memorable
For example, this cover letter template uses a logo created by putting the applicant’s initial inside a triangle. Simple and sleek:
Creating your own logo might seem like a big task. But it doesn’t have to be complicated. Your logo design could be as simple as a writing your name in a specific brand font, or combining your initial with an icon or shape.
Take some time to draft a few mock ups of your logo. What shapes and font style reflect your personality? Which designs are the most eye-catching and easy to use in other places?
You could use a logo in place of the headshot in this template. Or simply, include your photo:
Design Pro Tip: Use our photo replace feature to quickly add your own headshot to your cover letter. The Venngage online drag and drop editor lets you quickly upload your photo and drag it over the existing headshot. The tool will replace and resize for you.
Simple cover letter templates
Give your cover letter template a decorative border
This cover letter template uses an image of a map for the border. This could represent the applicant’s career path, their sense of adventure, or the places their experiences have taken them:
Design Pro Tip: Create a border using an image in Venngage’s online editor by placing a rectangle over the background image. If you would like your border to be see-through, simply adjust the opacity of the rectangle.
A border is a simple way to add some creativity to your cover letter, while still maintaining a more traditional design.
An easy and eye-catching approach is to use a background image for your border. Look for an image that reflects your skills, your hobbies or passions, or the industry you’re in or applying for. The meaning of the image can be literal or symbolic — that’s up to you!
Or instead of a border, try adding a footer or sidebar with an image, or in a solid color like this template:
Use up to three different font styles (but no more than that!)
This cover letter template uses an elegant font for the headers and a sans serif font for the body copy (for readability):
Here’s a design rule of thumb: use no more than three different font types in one design. If you use too many different fonts, your design can look cluttered.
Generally, it’s best to stick to:
- One font for headers
- One font for sub-headers
- One font for body text
For example, this cover letter template uses only two fonts: Poppins for the header and sub-headers, and Merriweather for the body text. By bolding certain headers and using a different brand color for other, the design has variation while still being cohesive:
Free cover letter templates
Highlight your contact information using a bold footer
While a bright, bold header will help grab the attention of readers, a footer will help make sure your cover letter ends on an impressive note. A bold footer can also help highlight key information–like your contact information and availability.
Take a look at how the footer in this cover letter template mirrors the color in the header, while also emphasizing the applicant’s contact information:
Round out your cover letter design with an image
Look at how seamlessly the image at the bottom of this cover letter is incorporated into the design:
An image can add that final touch to your cover letter design. You can use an image to fill up empty space and to reinforce themes in your cover letter.
If you want to show off your creative chops, you could include a photo you’ve taken yourself, or a custom illustration. But when in doubt, you could incorporate a stock photo–as long as it isn’t too cheesy.
No matter what the image is, it’s important that you integrate it cohesively into your page design. That could mean using an image frame to give your image a unique border shape, or using an image with a transparent background.
Add your signature to your cover letter template
Take a look at how this cover letter template incorporates a signature in the footer:
At this point, you may have noticed something that a lot of these cover letters have in common: they include a signature.
While including a signature isn’t a requirement, it can add another personal touch to your cover letter. Personal design touches will help your cover letter be more memorable.
Internship cover letter templates
Here’s a perfect example of a cover letter template you can use when applying for an internship or a co-op position:
If you’re applying for your first job as a student, chances are you won’t have much hands-on work experience. In this case, you can talk about your educational qualifications as well as different skills relevant to the job that you’ve obtained from your course work.
In your cover letter, you can also explain what you bring to the table — what you think is important to the job and will make you stand out from other candidates. Take this template as an example:
If you don’t have concrete numbers to back up your work experience, you can talk about what you value and learn from previous experience — as well as what your soft skills are and how they’ll help you in the job you’re applying for.
Creative cover letter templates
Add a custom header that illustrates your personal brand
What impression do you want to make on readers of your cover letter? Do you want them to think you’re inventive and take risks? Do you want them to think you’re competent and reliable?
This header uses bright colors and icons to make Sophie seem creative and personable:
Design Pro Tip: Use our icon replace tool to quickly replace any icon in our templates. Click any template here to sign up for free and enter the editor. Then, click an icon to replace it with one of the thousands of icons in our library.
Similar to how you can use an image as a border, you can also create an image header.
When picking an image for your header, look for an image that isn’t too busy. Too much going on will distract from your header text — and the text is the most important part!
For example, this cover letter template uses a tranquil lake scene in the header to show off the applicant’s photography skills:
Or skip the image and separate your header text with a simple line:
Using a bold header is one way to make your job application stand out, so you don’t hear those dreaded words: “we’ll just keep your resume on file.”
You can also use our customizable letterhead templates to create unique headers.
Use icons to illustrate information like your experience, skills, or passions
Icons are simplified vector graphics used to represent concepts. They’re perfect for adding a bit of creativity to your cover letter design.
You can use icons in a number of ways to enhance your design, including:
- Drawing attention to section headers
- Creating your own custom logo or illustrations
- Emphasizing key points like your contact information
- Replacing bullet points in lists
“Using bullets points where applicable also help to make it a smooth read.”
– Brandon Thompson, Recruitment and Hiring Manager at 1-800-Got-Junk?
In this cover letter template, icons are used in the header to add a bit of color and illustrate the applicant’s experience:
Add an atypical border for a modern cover letter design
Generally speaking, it’s good to play it safe with your cover letter design. That being said, there are small design choices you can make that will have a big impact on your cover letter’s personality.
For example, you can use borders in unusual ways. A simple border used in a surprising way can make your cover letter design more interesting.
For example, instead of using a border around the edges of your page, you could use a border around one section, like the header. Take a look at how this cover letter template uses a strip of purple along the spinal column and crosses it with a border around the header:
What should a cover letter design include?
A cover letter design should include the following elements:
- Contact Information: Include your name, address, phone number, and email address at the top of the letter.
- Employer’s Contact Information: Include the employer’s name, title, company and address, if known.
- Salutation: Address the letter to a specific person if possible (e.g., “Dear Mr. Smith”).
- Body:
- Introduction: State the position you are applying for and where you found the job listing.
- Middle paragraphs: Highlight your relevant skills, experiences, and qualifications.
- Closing paragraph: Reiterate your interest in the position, thank the employer for considering your application, and express your desire for an interview.
- Closing: A formal closing phrase (e.g., “Sincerely”) followed by your signature (if submitting a hard copy) and typed name.
- Font and formatting: Use a professional and readable font (e.g., Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri) in a size between 10 and 12 points. Maintain consistent margins and spacing, typically 1-inch margins and single-spaced text with a double space between paragraphs.
- Visual elements: Use minimalistic and clean design elements, such as a subtle color scheme or a simple border, to make the letter visually appealing without overwhelming the content.
How to design a cover letter
- Header and contact information: At the top of your cover letter, include your name, address, phone number and email, as well as the date of your application.
- Salutation: Begin the letter by addressing the hiring manager by their name if it’s available or use a generic “Dear Hiring Manager” if you don’t know their name.
- Content: Start with an engaging opening paragraph that clearly mentions the job you’re applying for and how you found out about it. In the following paragraphs, concisely explain why you are a strong candidate for the position, focusing on your skills, qualifications and specific achievements that align with the job requirements. Express your enthusiasm for the role and the company throughout the content.
- Closing: In the closing paragraph, express your eagerness for an interview and thank the recipient for considering your application. Use a professional closing, such as “Sincerely” or “Best regards.”
- Proofreading and formatting: Before finalizing, carefully proofread your cover letter to ensure there are no grammar, spelling or punctuation errors. Maintain a clean, professional font and consistent formatting throughout the letter while keeping it to one page in length.
WATCH: Resume design tips
How to customize cover letter templates in Venngage
- Select a cover letter template from this post or from our templates library. You’ll be prompted to create a free account. Some of our templates are free, some require a small fee to use.
- You’ll enter Venngage’s drag and drop online editor. No design knowledge needed!
- Add your own text, including a header, description, body text and your contact information.
- Customize the color scheme, fonts, icons and images to fit your personal brand.
- Save your customized cover letter as a template for future job applications.
- Email or share a link to your cover letter within the editor.
- Upgrade to download your cover letter as a PDF.
Make sure your job application stands out. Keep reading for essential cover letter design tips…
9 tips for writing your cover letter
While good design will help grab the attention of readers, your text is what will actually sell them on your qualifications.
If you met the recruiter in person, use the cover letter to get back in touch and show your interest in the position. Mention something memorable from your previous conversation to make your application stand out.
Now, onto the tips from the career experts. Here’s what they had to say on cover letter writing:
Keep your text concise
“Keep your cover letter concise, easy to skim and be sure to connect the dots as to why you meet the important qualifications.”
– Hannah Morgan, Job Search Strategist at CareerSherpa
Customize your cover letter for each company you apply to
“CUSTOMIZE YOUR LETTER TO THE COMPANY YOU’RE SENDING IT TO. Don’t just provide a list of your skills, or a few flattering paragraphs about your background. Tie your story to what the company cares about! If you’re not sure what the company cares about, go to their website. Read their About Us page.
Try to figure out what they value (this is not hard – a lot of companies share their core values somewhere on their site). Pick which of those core values resonate most with you. Then, tailor your letter to those values. That is: how have you demonstrated that value in your career so far? How would your experience / skill set contribute to that value if you were to work at this company?”
– Claire Suellentrop, Co-Founder and Head of Marketing at Userlist
“Always personalize your cover letter. Explain what you have to offer and how exactly that connects with the vision/goals of the company.”
P.S: Not customizing your cover letter for each job application is probably the biggest cover letter mistake you can make as an applicant!
– Brandon Thompson, Recruitment and Hiring Manager at 1-800-Got-Junk?
Focus on communicating your career goals
“Spend more time explaining your goals/direction and your plan rather than listing off things like ‘good at multitasking and team work’. What is your focus and why do you want the role?”
– Emily Brown, Hiring Manager at Ledcor
Use creative copywriting techniques
“When hiring marketers, I look for creativity and powerful copywriting. Empathy…understand the role your prospective employer is hiring for and what good and bad (very important to have why you might not fit) ways you fit in.”
– Derric Haynie, CEO of Vulpine Interactive
Show you know a lot about the company you’re applying for
“Find a way to stand out and find a way to speak to the first person who will be reading your resume, either that’s a recruiter, HR manager or hiring manager. If you know who you’re writing the cover letter for, talk about why you are actually excited to work for that company.
Talk more about the company than you do about yourself, and tie in a few reasons why you’e the right fit for the role. Reference recent news articles about the company, show that you’ve done your research, whatever you need to do to stand out beyond the copy and paste approach that everyone else is using. The information is available.”
– Martin Hauck, Head of Talent at Coinsquare
Optimize your cover letter design for print
You probably already have a few ideas for creative cover letters buzzing around in your head. But before you race off to start your design, here are a few best practices to keep in mind.
If you’re planning on bringing your cover letter to an interview, make sure that your design will look as impressive in print as it does on screen.
Design your cover letter for standard letter paper
Make sure that the size dimensions of your cover letter template fit standard printer paper. Standard letter paper is 8.5 x 11 inches.
Export your cover letter in a high resolution
You don’t want your cover letter to print out blurry. In general, it’s a good idea to export your cover letter in 300 dpi resolution.
Venngage allows you to download your design in HD PNG or PDF formats. You can also check out this guide to learn how to edit PDFs.
Set bleed marks for your printer
If you want to get your cover letter printed professional, you may want to set bleed marks in your design. “Bleed” is the area around the outside of your cover letter that will be chopped off after printing.
If your cover letter design has a solid background color, or colors and images that touch the edge of the page, you should set bleed marks to indicate where the edge of the page is.
Frequently asked questions about cover letter
Why should you use a cover letter template?
In most cases, your cover letter is an employer’s first introduction to who you are — your personality, your qualifications, and your goals. A cover letter is a way to develop your own personal brand:
A professional cover letter helps you seem more legitimate to employers. And it is a great document to bring with you to an interview and to publish on your portfolio site.
Why do you need a cover letter template? Well, you should be writing a different cover letter for each job application.
So, a cover letter template will give you a framework that you can adapt for different positions, and save you time doing so.
Now, let’s take a look at different types of cover letter templates you can customize using Venngage.
Before that, if your resume design could use a little makeover, take a peek at these easy-to-use infographic resumes or creative resume templates. They’re sure to add that extra flair and make your application stand out!
How long should a cover letter be?
A cover letter should be concise, typically no longer than one page. Ideally, it should be between 250 to 400 words, encompassing three to four paragraphs. This length ensures you provide enough detail about your qualifications and interest in the position without overwhelming the reader.
Do I need a unique cover letter for every job?
Yes, you should create a unique cover letter for every job you apply to. Tailoring your cover letter allows you to highlight specific skills and experiences relevant to the job, show your knowledge about the company and explain why you are a perfect fit for the position.
This personalized approach can significantly increase your chances of standing out to potential employers.
Now that you’re equipped with these cover letter design tips, it’s time to make your own!
More design guides to power your career growth: 20+ Infographic Resume Templates and Design Tips to Help You Land That Job
