Resume cover letter examples can be a great way to learn about writing a cover letter & to get ideas on how to write your own job cover letter. But you still need to customize your cover letter.
I know everyone likes using examples and templates to write resumes and cover letters, because hundreds of searches using keywords like "resume cover letter samples" and "resume templates", etc. land people here on this site every single day.
And I agree... templates and examples are a great way to learn and get ideas on how to do something, whether it's a college essay, a resume or a cover letter.
But there can be danger in using resume cover letter examples too... especially if you find them on a site like this that thousands of other people visit every day. If you just copy a cover letter example word for word, you may find that you're sending off the same cover letter as many other candidates for the very same position.
And what kind of impression is that going to leave with the recruiter?
Writing a cover letter should be done with the same amount of effort and time that you put into writing a resume. Here's why...
Your resume cover page is basically your only chance to provide personal information that will convince a recruiter that you're worthy of calling in for a job interview.
Your resume can't do that for you. And if you're using pretty much untouched resume cover letter examples, then your job cover letter isn't going to do it for you either. Most sample cover letters you find on the Web or even in books are just too generic. And generic won't sell you personally.
When writing a cover letter, it IS OK to mine the various cover letter examples you find for idea. But here are the ways in which you need to customize the job cover letters you find to make them uniquely your own:
Address them to a specific person at the company
Show that you know what the company is about & what their goals/mission are
Reference the specific position you're applying for & say what about the job interests you
Sell yourself as the solution to their goals, emphasizing what you bring to the table, in terms of skills & strengths
Close the letter with a call to action that pushes the recruiter towards an interview with you
Remember... No matter how strong a candidate you are for the job you want, if your resume cover letter doesn't make your value to the company crystal clear, then you are not going to get that interview... or the job.
Also, don't forget that you are not the only one looking at whatever resume cover letter examples you happen to find here at this site, on the Web or in a book.
So, dare to be different! When you're writing a cover letter, pretend you are having an enthusiastic conversation with a friend. Companies want to hire people who are excited about working for them. So... show them your excitement and let your competition try to impress them with letters modeled on boring cover letter examples!