Good Generic Cover Letter

Sample generic cover letter. It is always advisable to personalize your general cover letter for the target job opportunity. However, there are situations when it is appropriate to use a general cover letter. These are usually instances where you are not submitting your resume in response to a job posting or to a specific employer.

You can use a general cover letter when you go to a job fair and you are giving your resume and cover letter to a number of potential employers for different jobs.

Illustration of computer and letter with text How to write a generic cover letter

You can also make use of the generic cover letter when you upload your resume and cover letter to a general job board or submit your resume to an employment agency to help you find a job.

If you are respond to an online job posting or networking with a specific potential employer it is important to customize your cover letter to each employer and each job opportunity to show how you fit the job and company requirements.

What is the best generic cover letter greeting?

When you have to use a generic greeting there a number of suitable options.

Dear Employer

Dear Sir or Madam

To Whom it May Concern

Some people use the salutation Dear Hiring Manager. This can be an issue if the person who reads the letter does not have that title.

In an all purpose cover letter the first section of your cover letter should include all the information on how the employer can contact you.

The body of your generic cover letter should include:

the special skills and knowledge you have that result in successful job performance
the education and qualifications that have prepared you to successfully carry out work-related tasks
the strengths you have that make you an asset to any employer
your work-related achievements

Good example of a generic cover letter

Date

Dear Sir or Madam

I am a hard-working and determined professional seeking an opportunity to succeed in a dynamic company such as yours. I am confident that my knowledge, ability and experience allow me to deliver successful results for any company in a range of administrative positions

Please allow me to highlight my key skills:

able to effectively manage my time through careful planning and organization of work activities
an aptitude for identifying and resolving problems efficiently
excellent communication skills that result in positive interpersonal relationships
a track record of meeting deadlines and producing accurate work of a high standard
proven ability to make sound decisions based on valid information
the capacity to learn and and apply new information quickly and accurately
strong computer skills with proficiency in MS Office

I am convinced that I can be an asset in any position requiring hard work, enthusiasm and reliability and I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

The enclosed resume expands on my qualifications and experience.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Janet Smith

Enclosure

What to focus on in your general cover letter

When writing a general cover letter for your job application it is best to focus on transferable skills and core competencies that ensure success in a range of jobs and companies.

12 Core Competencies

List of Strengths

What are your Strengths?

Job Skills List

70 Job Descriptions

Good generic application letter phrases

You can use phrases like these to describe general skills and competencies in your generic cover letter.

Motivation - I am an enthusiastic and self-directed worker looking to join a reputable company who would benefit from an employee who is ready to give his/her all to succeed

Problem solving - able to collect and analyze information to find workable solutions to problems

Planning and Organizing - My focus on efficiently planning and organizing my work has proven successful in prioritizing and handling multiple tasks

Communication - Proven ability to effectively communicate with a diverse range of people

Teamwork - I enjoy working as part of a team and positively contributing to group achievement

Reliability - I approach all my work with focus and commitment to complete the task on time and to standard

Stress Tolerance - I am accustomed to a fast-paced environment and work well under pressure

Generic Cover Letter Sample 2

Illustration of a laptop with an email and text "General Cover Letter" and list of 5 core competencies

All sample cover letters

We provide over 50 job-winning cover letters. Use these sample cover letters for different jobs.

Writing an entry level cover letter can be a real challenge. Use this entry level cover letter sample to get the results you want.

How to start and close your cover letter

Your cover letter introduction should compel the reader to continue to read your cover letter with interest and your closing should compel the reader to continue on to read your resume with serious attention.

Your cover letter intro - good examples

Cover letter closing paragraph - good examples