The Cover Letter Template…Not Such a Bad Idea After All

You’ve probably read countless times that each cover letter you write must be personalized or else it won’t be effective. The reality is, however, that if you are using the Internet to post your cover letter and resume, you will need a generic cover letter in order to post it online.

Generic doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take great care in formulating your cover letter by only including information with zero substance. A generic cover letter should include relevant information regarding your job history and it should also provide highlights in your career.

Sample Generic Cover Letter

Please accept my resume in consideration for the open position with your organization. With extensive management experience and consistent success in the achievement of objectives, I am confident I will contribute the same level of performance as a member of your team.

My experience in management extends over 20 years as I have progressed from smaller-scale companies to my current role as Director of Financial Services for an $80 million commercial printing firm. Although my achievements span this entire period, I would like to mention a few representative contributions with my current employer to illustrate the skills and abilities I offer:

· TECHNOLOGY/DATA SOLUTIONS – Continually seeking techniques and strategies for improvement, I have created spreadsheets and databases to strengthen analysis and processing tasks; in turn, our company has realized dramatic reductions in turnaround times for work completion.
· TEAM MANAGEMENT – I have trained, mentored, and evaluated teams across multiple departments and functions, including my current responsibility for 17 personnel with diverse backgrounds.
· BOTTOM-LINE ORIENTATION – Profit building and sustained growth have been the basis and result from our business decisions; we have achieved over $300,000 in savings from our partnership arrangements and secured cost reductions in other areas that have added to bottom-line success.

These achievements span various functions; thus, I have demonstrated the ability to meet and exceed expectations in a variety of environments. And I am certain that I will contribute the same level of performance with your organization.

To provide you with details concerning my qualifications and accomplishments, my resume is enclosed. I would welcome a meeting to discuss our mutual interests and the results you can expect from me.

Why this Cover Letter Template Works
Notice that the cover letter is still strong despite the fact that it doesn’t mention specific information about the hiring organization. Instead, the letter uses generic phrases such as, “…accept my resume in consideration for the open position with your organization” and “I am confident I will contribute the same level of performance as a member of your team.” These generic statements don’t take away from the focus of the cover letter – the applicant’s achievements and qualifications.

Recycling the Cover Letter Template

In closing, a solid generic cover letter can be recycled for a job-specific letter. You can personalize it by making statements about the hiring organization. For example, “I recently read an article in Forbes magazine regarding your expansion into the international market” or “Brentwood Union School District was chosen as High School of the Year and I am confident that my years of teaching experience will be a welcome addition to your district” are both statements that will work well in a cover letter.