Cover Letter template

Canonical template for the Cover Letter format.

[Header: Applicant name, contact info, date]
[Employer name, title, company, address - optional for email submissions]

Dear [Hiring Manager Name, or Hiring Team if name unknown],

[Opening: name the specific role and establish the applicant's direct claim to it. One to two sentences.]

[Body 1: connect the applicant's single strongest relevant experience to the posting's primary stated need.
Name the experience specifically - a result, a project, a problem solved.]

[Body 2 (optional): address a second stated need or preempt an obvious gap. Two to three sentences.]

[Closing: ask for the interview directly. One sentence. Do not hedge.]

Sincerely,
[Name]