It’s not only acceptable to use a cover letter template, it’s smart.
You may have heard some “experts” claim that using a cover letter template can be detrimental to your job search. We’re here to debunk all these myths once and for all.
Myth 1: Hiring managers disapprove of candidates who use a cover letter template
Hiring managers love cover letters that look professional, are well-written, well-formatted, comprehensive, and follows a standard cover letter format. We know, because that’s exactly what the HR professionals who helped design every resume cover letter template requested.
So why would they ever look down on someone using a template that is perfectly formulated to fulfill those requirements? They wouldn’t.
Myth 2: You won’t stand out if you use a cover letter template for Word
Put yourself in the hiring manager’s position. Would you rather read:
a) A poorly formatted cover letter made from scratch or,
b) A well-structure and professional looking cover letter?
Hint: the answer is b. A cover letter written using a well formatted, professional cover letter template, will always stand out more than a messy cover letter made from scratch.
A cover letter template is simply a framework that allows you to easily write the best cover letter possible. Once you’ve added your own skills, professional experiences, and unique wording, it’ll already stand out from any other cover letter as uniquely yours – and the hiring manager will see that too.
Myth 3: For such an important document, it feels lazy not to make a cover letter from scratch
Using a cover letter template is not lazy. It’s efficient and resourceful (two traits often looked for in job seekers).
Not to mention, using a template is proven to increase your chances of landing a job. Of course, you could delve into the mysteries of formatting your own cover letter, and after hours of frustration and headaches, develop a somewhat decent looking cover letter.
Or, you could download and use one of our free Google Docs cover letter templates or templates for Microsoft Word. It’s up to you.
