Here are lots of different types of cover letters you can use to help you. Not all of them will be helpful to everyone so make sure you find the one that is right for you. Make sure you read the “5 things to avoid when writing a covering letter” before you use these to give you the best advice and guidance.

Sample cover letter – Used to highlight your skills and experience and to express your suitability and passion for the job, cover letters are used to encourage recruiters to look at your CV. Attention to detail is crucial and spelling, grammar and formatting needs to be spot on. Take a look at our sample cover letter for inspiration on how to craft the perfect document.

Speculative cover letter – These can sometimes be an effective method of creating an opportunity. To ensure that speculative cover letters are successful you’ll need to do your research on the company you’re applying to. Using our cover letter template, discover what to include in speculative applications.

Cover letter by a Masters graduate – You probably embarked on a Masters to expand your subject knowledge, gain industry contacts and improve your job prospects but to really make it work you need to know how to sell your postgraduate qualification to employers.

Cover letter for a jobseeker with no experience – It can be tough applying for a job with no experience but our example cover letter shows you how to promote yourself to an employer if you haven’t got any directly related work experience.

Explaining a gap in your CV – Knowing how to navigate around large gaps in your CV can be tricky but it’s a mistake to try and gloss over them. Your cover letter is the perfect place to explain these gaps in your employment history to potential employers. Take a look at our sample cover letter to find out how to go about it.

Cover letter for changing career – Find out how to explain a change of direction in our example cover letter for career changers. You’ll need to cover why you want to change career (briefly – save the nitty-gritty for your interview) and relate your past experience and wealth of skills to the industry/job you’re applying to.

Cover letter by an international graduate – If you’d like to expand your horizons by working abroad, take a look at our cover letter of an international student applying for a job in the UK and apply these principles to the country of your choice.

Disclosing a disability – Just like your gender, marital status and dependants your disability doesn’t affect your ability to do a job and you’re not legally required to disclose it on your CV or in your cover letter. However, if you would like to disclose a disability to outline any adjustments you may need, this sample cover letter will show you how.

Internship cover letter – To set yourself above the competition you need to successfully sell your relevant skills and experience while conveying your passion for the role. As well as explaining to employers what the opportunity could do for you you’ll need to communicate what you could do for the company. Discover how to craft the perfect application for a formal internship with our internship cover letter template.

Apprenticeship cover letter – Apprenticeships are an increasingly popular route into work, as well as a great alternative to university. Find out how to apply for these roles with our apprenticeship cover letter example.