cover letter applying for multiple positions

How to Write a Generic Cover Letter for Multiple Purposes

Writing a generic cover letter can be an efficient and effective way to quickly apply for multiple jobs without having to create every application or resume package from scratch. The trick to doing this effectively is to write a generic cover letter that doesn't sound blase, and that can be appropriate for a variety of purposes.

Writing a Solid Cover Letter

A persuasive cover letter contains a number of key elements that both catch the hiring manager's eye and establish you as a capable professional in your field. Even if you're crafting a boiler plate generic template, you can use this approach by employing the following openers:

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Enthusiasm: Get a good start right out of the gate with the language you use to convey interest in the position. For example:

• I was very excited to learn
• I'd be delighted with the opportunity to
• It would be aprofessional pleasure

Company kudos: While you don't want to come across as cloying, demonstrate your respect for the company you're applying with.

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• As a well-respected industry leader, it would be
• I understand your organization is known for its dynamic approach
• My objective is to join a respected company, known for its professionalism,

Somewhat vague job description: To be useful as a cover letter for multiple job purposes, a generic cover letter should allude to the type of work you're seeking without being too specific.

• Seeking a challengingrole
• Looking for to join
• Looking for the chance

Focus on Your Key Skills

While a job-specific cover letter would focus on your skills as they apply to the job description you're referencing, a generic cover letter should provide a broad overview of your abilities and achievements. This might include:

• Summary of experience: I have more than 20 years'
• Professional career highlights: I have been the top-earning
• Personal skills: I am a strong communicator
• Unique skill sets: I speak fluent Spanish, French and German,
• What you're looking for: I want an opportunity to

Highlight Personality Traits

Spotlight your personal and professional traits in your generic application letter that make you a good overall employee. For example:

• I'm detail-oriented, have exceptional time management skills,
• I enjoy working as part of a team, and I believe that
• I have a unique management approach that hs served me well,
• The management approach that has served me well,
• I have a good sense of humor, a personable nature, and appreciate

It's also wise to include a summary of programs or equipment you're familiar with.

For example: Proficient in Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Workfront and OneNote.

Cast a Wide Net

If you're applying for jobs across a wide geographic range and want to use the same cover letter for multiple jobs, your generic cover letter should indicate as much so employers aren't concerned about the current address on your resume. For example:

• While I currently reside in Chicago,

If you're looking for an opportunity move to a specific location, make it clear.

• While I have called New York home for the past 10 years,

Reference Outside Sources

You can make a generic application letter more personal by including links to outside sources that will give potential employers more detail about your professional background. This might include a link to an online portfolio or resume, a personal website or a professional networking site. Use caution in linking to personal social media pages. If you include them, make sure they are free or embarrassing, polarizing or controversial information that could paint you in a bad light - even by association with your friend's posts.

Customize Generic Cover Letters

If you're looking for work across a variety of fields, consider creating different versions of your generic application letter that can be used for multiple purposes. This allows you to use the same cover letter for different jobs and focus in on different key areas without investing too much addition time. For example, if you're a marketing professional who would also be interested in sales, customer service, communications, social media, branding or a related field, create individual generic versions, with each focusing on its own particular area.

Consider Best Practices

While it's true that an all-purpose generic cover letter allows you to apply for more jobs at a faster pace, there's still no escaping the fact that the letter is not specifically tailored to the job being sought. Here's why:

• You won't be addressing
• You won't get the opportunityI have always wanted the opportunity to be part of the 100-year legacy of Waterworks in providing high-quality plumbing services to the greater Nashville areaI'm interested in a plumbing-related occupation

In short, using the same cover letter for different jobs is better than not using a cover letter at all, but it also doesn't allow you to position yourself as someone who is pinpoint focused on and serious about a specific opportunity. Hiring managers will appreciate it if you take the time to prepare correspondence specifically tailored just for their job posting. Consider the benefits of a hybrid approach - creating a generic application letter that you can tweak and tailor to the specific roles you're applying for.

• Fast Company: 5 Methods To Make Your Cover Letter Irresistible To Hiring Managers
• Entrepreneur: 6 of the Most Captivating Cover Letter Openers -- and Why They Work
• Business Insider: The Three Cover Letter Mistakes to Avoid if you Want to Get an Interview
• Robert Half: How to Write a Cover Letter
• Format your letter using basic rules for formatting business correspondence. Use one-inch margins and divide your letter into several paragraphs. Virginia Tech Division of Student Affairs suggests using a clear, commonplace font such as Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman for easier readability.
• Avoid discussing personal information unless it specifically relates to your career. While you may be proud of your softball league trophy or your hobby tying fishing flies, don't include this kind of information in a cover letter. It won't help you get the job and may distract the employer from reading about your accomplishments.

Lisa McQuerrey has been a business writer since 1987. In 1994, she launched a full-service marketing and communications firm. McQuerrey's work has garnered awards from the U.S. Small Business Administration, the International Association of Business Communicators and the Associated Press. She is also the author of several nonfiction trade publications, and, in 2012, had her first young-adult novel published by Glass Page Books.