Different Types of Cover Letters – Write for the Job You Want

When on the job hunt, it’s vital that you equip yourself with the right weapon – like a solid cover letter. After all, you want to make a great first impression.

Believe it or not, there is more than just one type of cover letter. You may come across academic cover letters, referral cover letters, or even prospecting cover letters, amongst many others.

The cover letter you choose to go ahead with will be determined by its purpose. For instance, whether you’re applying directly for a job, mentioning a referral, or enquiring about openings that may not have been advertised.

Below, you’re going to learn about the different types of cover letters, how to write a general cover letter, how to write a short cover letter, how to write an academic cover letter, and we’ll even answer the question: “can I use the same cover letter for multiple jobs?”.

Let’s get started.

A Deeper Dive Into the World of Cover Letters

Application Cover Letter

An application cover letter is often submitted with a resume or job application. In most cases, it’s custom curated to the job you’re applying for.

Prospecting Cover Letter

When you inquire about openings at certain companies you aspire to work for, you can send them a prospecting cover letter.

Networking Cover Letter

If you have an extensive network, you can use a networking cover letter to reach out for help. You may find that some will assist you on your job search. A networking cover letter’s primary use is to ask for help, advice, and to inquire about open positions within your current network.

Email Cover Letter

If you decide to deliver any cover letters by email, it may be best to put them in an email-friendly format. This is more considerate to the person reading on the other end and reduces clutter by using up white space.

Academic Cover Letter

When applying for an educational role, online advice on academic cover letters can be conflicting. There is so much expectation involved when it comes to discipline and countries. For instance, the length and what it should include are two very common questions.

To clear up some doubts, let’s dive a little deeper into academic cover letters.

How to Write an Academic Cover Letter

Setting things straight – an academic cover letter should cover two pages. It generally follows an extremely strict genre convention. So, it should be no more than two pages, but definitely should exceed at least one and a half.

You don’t want too much white space, because it can tell your future employer that you don’t have enough qualifications to discuss. All in all, you want just enough to impress.

Your tone is crucial throughout, so make sure you nail it and get your message across confidently and professionally.

3 tips to keep in mind:

• Connect your fitness and focus on potential contributions to the institution – not why you require or desire the job.
• Show passion for the position.
• Picture yourself on the hunt committee – what would you be looking for?

How to Write a General Cover Letter

As a powerful marketing document, a cover letter’s primary purpose is to persuade a hiring manager to closely examine your CV, rather than the standard swift scan.

The Body of the Letter – Start with the body of your letter, and with pertinent information about how you were referred to the opportunity. Then, lead with your interest in the position.

The Bulk of the Letter – When the first step is out of the way, focus on the bulk of the letter. This should revolve around your qualifications for the job, any relevant training, and why you would make an outstanding candidate.

The Closing of the Letter – In closing, don’t be afraid to request a date to follow up with the recruiter. And, don’t forget to thank them for their time politely.

How to Write a Short Cover Letter

To write a short cover letter is easy; you just have to be unique in the way you do it. Try to avoid the usual overused opening lines like: “I’m writing to apply for the role of…”. Everyone uses it, and businesses have probably seen it thousands of times by now.

In addition to this, go ahead and cut out meaningless buzzwords. Don’t mention all of your work experience, and stick to snappy, short words rather than long phrases.

Can I Use the Same Cover Letter for Multiple Jobs?

While you definitely shouldn’t just reuse the same cover letter when applying for different positions, you can use parts of it. Ensure you update the company information for each letter, as if you don’t, it’s looked at as an unforgivable offense. Overall, if you are going to use the same cover letter for multiple roles, try to make it as unique as you can, as the recruiter may realize that you’re using a generic template letter.

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Karen Maristani

Karen invented writing, the airplane, and the internet. She was also the first person to reach the North Pole. She has flown to Mars and back in one day, and was enthusiastically greeted by Aliens. She has also worked as a copywriter and journalist for many years and has helped hundreds of people writing the perfect job application.