Microsoft Word cover letter templates are specially designed documents that allow job candidates to create their letters more easily and quickly than they’d do from scratch. The structure, formatting, and layout are already set—all a candidate should do is add specific information about their professional history and skills.
In this article, we’re going to explore why you should use cover letter templates in Word and what types of templates you can find there. We’re also going to give you expert tips on how you can craft truly outstanding documents using Word as your tool of choice.
Without further ado, let’s jump right in!
Key Takeaways
Using cover letter templates in Word speeds up and simplifies the document-creation process.
Microsoft Word offers free, premium, job-specific, and design-driven cover letter templates.
You can find templates, edit them, and download finished cover letters in the Microsoft Word app and on their web app.
To create an effective cover letter in Word, you should choose a template that reflects your industry, make it match your resume, tailor it to the job, and proofread it carefully.
Why Use a Cover Letter Template in Word?
You should use a cover letter template in Word to simplify and streamline the crafting process.
First, templates are carefully constructed by field experts to have a professional structure and design. Since they are preformatted, you can simply input your writing without changing anything, and you’ll know your cover letter adheres to industry norms.
All that saves time and effort you’d otherwise spend formatting your cover letter or creating it from scratch. Instead of facing a blank page at the beginning of the writing process, you can start with a ready-made document and only perform minimal adjustments before downloading a finished product.
Another reason for using a cover letter template in Word for your job application is cohesion. Word templates typically come in sets, allowing you to easily create a resume that matches your cover letter. The two documents will have the same design language, including font, colors, formatting, and more.
This leads to consistency in your approach and a level of polish that fits an adept professional. Prebuilt resumes and cover letters do most of the heavy lifting for you, so you don’t have to worry about whether every facet of their design is optimal or if you’ve included all the necessary sections.
Finally, you don’t even have to pay to use many cover letter templates in Word for your job application. While there are enticing premium options, there are also numerous free templates that you can use as you see fit.
4 Main Types of Cover Letter Templates
Let’s check out the main types of Word cover letter templates:
1. Free Cover Letter Templates
Many cover letter templates in Word are free, so you can modify and use them without a subscription. These templates significantly vary in design, so you are likely to find the one that best suits your needs.
Free cover letter templates are available to every job seeker and are a great option for various general purposes. You can find minimalist and simple cover letter templates in Word that emphasize your writing, or opt for more creative ones that feature colors and graphics.
These templates are great if you want to craft your cover letter quickly and with little effort. Furthermore, they are great regardless of the role or position you’re applying for—both entry-level candidates and senior corporate professionals can all benefit from them.
2. Premium Cover Letter Templates
Premium cover letter templates in Word offer exceptional variety and allow you to do much more than with free ones. They are available through the Microsoft 365 subscription, which includes thousands of premium fonts, icons, and stickers in addition to templates.
With a premium subscription, you also get to use Microsoft’s state-of-the-art AI solution, Copilot Pro, which can help with writing, spelling, and grammar.
Still, while Microsoft Word's multipurpose nature makes its templates great for general situations, tailored solutions always offer more benefits. That’s why we recommend you use Resume.co’s cover letter builder for all your job-hunting needs.
With our software solution, you can create an entire cover letter from scratch with the assistance of our powerful AI helper. And that’s not all; you can even import your resume and effortlessly craft a cover letter that matches it perfectly!
3. Job-Specific Cover Letter Templates
Job-specific Word cover letter templates work best in specific industries or roles within them.
For instance, a cover letter for a UI/UX designer features a sleek and contemporary design conceptualized to highlight a candidate’s UX skills. On the other hand, a registered nurse cover letter template features a soft color palette to emphasize the job seeker’s friendliness and approachability.
Ultimately, each letter is designed to grab the attention of the hiring manager in that industry. That’s because a role-specific cover letter subtly indicates your in-depth knowledge of the field and a clear understanding of the job that you’re applying for.
4. Design-Driven Cover Letter Templates
Design-drive cover letter templates in Word combine visual and written language to create a compelling document that hiring managers will want to read. They are perfect for design-focused professionals and those who want to leverage artistic aspects of their cover letters, like layout and typography.
The styles of these cover letter templates range from contemporary to minimalist, catering to a wide range of creative professionals. You can find everything from subtle and elegant cover letters to bold and vivid compositions.
Moreover, if you’re in fields like fashion, marketing, graphic design, and similar, you can use design-driven cover letter templates to accentuate your artistic tendencies. Not only that, but with a professionally made template, you can rest assured knowing you won’t make mistakes when incorporating design into such a formal document.
Cover letter templates
Create a cover letter by filling in a free template and sharing it for freeWhere to Find Cover Letter Templates in Word
You can find cover letter templates in Word in two places: in the Microsoft Word app and on the web. Let’s examine both of these methods:
In the Microsoft Word App
The Microsoft Word app is downloadable software that you can use on your computer even without an internet connection.
Once you have the app installed on your device—be it a Windows or MacOS computer, smartphone, or tablet—you can find the templates in the menu bar. Select “File” and then “New,” and you’ll find an endless assortment of templates to choose from, including those for cover letters.
After picking your favorite, you can use the countless customization tools Microsoft Word offers to fine-tune the document and align it to your needs. Finally, once you’ve finished writing and formatting your cover letter, you can save it or export it into the file type of your choice.
Keep in mind that you need a premium Microsoft 365 subscription to download and install Word on your PC. The upside is that you gain access to all the premium features and design elements we discussed previously, such as fonts, graphics, and AI, this way.
On the Web App
You can access cover letter templates in Word directly via the Microsoft website. Simply head to their “Create” section and use the search bar to look up samples of cover letters.
Once you find a design you like, you can either download it and use it with your Microsoft Word app or customize it on the web. To use the web option, you’ll first need to create a free account using your email address.
After that, your cover letter template of choice will open in an environment similar to the one in the Microsoft Word app. Online Word has the same functionality and can be used in your browser.
You can use it to customize your cover letter, insert necessary graphical elements, add writing, and then export the document as different file types, including PDF and DOC.
5 Tips for Creating an Effective Cover Letter in Word
Before we conclude this thorough guide, here are a few expert tips on how you can create an outstanding cover letter in Word:
Tips for Creating an Effective Cover Letter in Word
You should maintain consistency between your cover letter and resume. The two documents should match one another in layouts, fonts, colors, and contents. This way, you highlight your professionalism, attention to detail, and organizational skills.
When you save your cover letter, you should use a professional file name, such as “FirstName_LastName_CoverLetter.pdf.” This makes it clear what the document is about and helps recruiters and hiring managers identify, sort, and find it.
To maximize your chances of impressing hiring managers, you should choose a cover letter template in Word that matches your profession. For instance, if you’re after a corporate role, you’ll likely benefit from a traditional layout, while creative jobs generally call for design-driven templates.
Customize the content and format of your cover letter template in Word until it’s tailored to the job that you’re applying for. This includes highlighting the most relevant skills and qualifications you know recruiters are looking for in the right manner.
Be sure to proofread and polish your cover letter before submitting it so that it doesn’t contain any spelling or grammatical errors.
Final Thoughts
Using cover letter templates is one of the best ways to create a spotless document and increase your chances of landing a job. Templates make it so you don’t have to worry about the layout, format, and sections of your letter. Instead, you should only focus on adding your details and writing an exceptional body.
Ultimately, while there are many job-winning cover letter examples created using Word templates, it’s often better to use software designed by industry experts. That’s why we recommend checking out the ready-made templates our cover letter builder offers at Resume.co to maximize your chances of success.
