How to Write a Generic Cover Letter

• Job fairs and networking events
• Uploading to job boards that require a default cover letter
• When you need a starting template to customize quickly
• Speculative applications to companies without open positions

• Highlight transferable skills applicable across roles
• Focus on your most impressive, broadly relevant achievements
• Use industry-general language
• Leave placeholders for easy customization
• Write a flexible opening that works for various contexts

To convert your generic letter for a specific application in 5 minutes:

1. Replace placeholders with the company and role name
2. Add one sentence about why this specific company interests you
3. Adjust the top achievement to match the primary requirement
4. Update the closing to reference the specific position