How to Write a Generic Cover Letter
- 1). Format your letter in standard business letter format. For this format, you should have no more than 1- to 1 ½-inch margins along all sides. Align all your text from the left with no indentations. Your letter should be single-spaced, with one full space between each paragraph. Start with your return address, the date and the name and contact information of the person you are writing to.
- 2). Choose a formal greeting for your letter. Typically, cover letters are addressed to someone specific, but for a generic letter you can use a greeting, such as "To whom it may concern" or "To the director of the hiring department."
- 3). Introduce yourself and why you are writing the letter. For a generic letter that might get sent to many different people, keep this information versatile to appeal to many different readers. For example, your first paragraph could read, "My name is Paula Jones, and I am an experienced copyeditor from Des Moines, Iowa. I am writing to introduce myself to your hiring department in hopes of having my portfolio reviewed by your company."
- 4). Explain why you would be the best fit for a position in your chosen field. Because this cover letter might be sent to many different people, keep this information field-specific as opposed to company- or institution-specific.
- 5). Detail your background, credentials, special skills and awards that qualify you in your chosen field. Highlight some of your best features in this cover letter to keep your reader's attention. If you don't grab your reader's interest by the first few sentences, it is doubtful he will continue reading. Put yourself in the position of your reader and tailor your cover letter to his needs.
- 6). Keep your cover letter brief. Remove any redundancies or typographical errors that will clutter the impact of your letter. Again, you want to keep your letter concise and interesting, not riddled with clumsy words that will damage the credibility of your claims.
- 7). Close by thanking the reader for his time and consideration. Because this is a generic cover letter, you might not have a "call to action" urging your reader to act in a certain way. Instead, thank the reader for his time and encourage him to contact you should he have any questions or concerns. Sign your letter in ink above your printed name and title.
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