Why You Should Never Copy a Sample Cover Letter

Why You Should Never Copy a Sample Cover LetterWhy You Should Never Copy a Sample Cover LetterWhy You Should Never Copy a Sample Cover LetterIf youve never written a cover letter, or struggled when youve tried to write one, I wouldnt be surprised if youve searched for cover letter samples to copy and use as your own.This is a common approach, but NEWS FLASH Youre not the only one who thought itd be a good idea. In other words, you risk handing in a cover letter the employer has seen before.Im not saying you should never borrow from someone elses cover letter Im saying you shouldnt copy a sample letter verbatim. Heres an example of an introduction that I took out of a book, word-for-wordDear _________It was with great interest that I read about your opening for a _________, as my background and abilities appear to meet your requirements for this position. Please allow me to explain my skills and how they can benefit your organization.It seems pretty generic and easy to copy, right? Th ats because it is. Its an introduction that every hiring manager has likely read dozens of times. So how do you customize it?Easy. You change the order of elements and play around with the wording. Heres the same introduction with a customized twistDear Mr. SmithI found your opening for a Security Guard on jobfindersite.com and am very excited to see how well my background fits your requirements for the job. I am especially skilled at firearm safety and non-confrontational negotiation techniques, which I know your company places a great deal of value on. Allow me to further explain my qualifications.See what I did there? After rearranging things and replacing certain words, I added a line that wasnt in the original copy (I am especially skilled at...), which further sets this cover letter apart.Theres nothing wrong with drawing your inspiration from someone elses well-written cover letter. (Heck, we provide sample text ins Cover Letter Builder too) Just be sure you use it only as a guide for writing a personalized cover letter that shows a little of your style and addresses the specific job and employer.