Seven letter formats, one design
A cover letter’s shape changes with the country it is going to, even when the language does not. FreeCV keeps the design and swaps the conventions: International and UK & Commonwealth (day-first date, “Yours sincerely” when you name the person and “Yours faithfully” when you cannot), United States (Letter paper, month-first date, “Sincerely”), India and Gulf business-letter forms, DIN 5008 for Germany and AFNOR for France. Choose the format from the toolbar; the date grammar, the sign-off and the paper size follow.
How to go from a job ad to a finished PDF
- Paste the job ad, or its link. Add the company name and, if you have one, import your FreeCV CV so the letter draws on your real history.
- Let the AI write it, then refine. Pick a tone, generate, and use the refine box for anything you want changed: shorter, warmer, plainer, or a specific point you want made. Refinements are free.
- Pick a design and a format, then download. Choose a stationery, set the format for the market you are applying to, adjust the typography if you like, and download a text-based PDF. Copy and .txt are always available too.
Decoding the ATS: what makes a template robot-proof
Before your cover letter impresses a human, it has to get past the bouncer. That bouncer is an Applicant Tracking System, software used by most large employers to parse and rank applications before a person reads them. A design that looks beautiful and parses badly is worse than plain text.
The most important factor is the file format and layout. Submit a text-based PDF or, if specified, a .docx. Keep a single column, keep the text as text, and keep anything decorative out of the header and footer bands that scanners drop. Every FreeCV stationery is built this way: the colour bands, rules and monograms are decoration around real text, so the scanner reads the letter and the human sees the design.
Fonts matter less than people think, as long as they are real fonts and not outlines. Stick to a clean serif or sans-serif at 10.5 to 12 points; the typography panel keeps you inside that range.
The mistakes that get a cover letter trashed
You can have the perfect design and still lose the reader in the first line. The generic letter is the cardinal sin: one text sent to twenty companies with only the name swapped. Recruiters recognise it in a sentence. Write to the job ad — name a responsibility from it and answer it with something you actually did.
Next is the greeting. “To Whom It May Concern” tells the reader you did not look. A name is better; a title (“Dear Hiring Manager,”) is acceptable when the ad gives you nothing. FreeCV lets you click the greeting and name the person, and the sign-off follows the rule for your format.
Finally, typos. A CareerBuilder survey found that 77% of hiring managers would disqualify a candidate for them. Proofread once on screen, once on paper, and once out loud.
Frequently asked questions
What should a cover letter template include?
A standard, professional cover letter template should include several key sections in a logical order. At the top, your contact information (name, phone, email, and optionally a LinkedIn URL or portfolio), then the date, then the hiring manager's name and the company. A greeting, three or four short paragraphs, a closing line, and your name. Every FreeCV stationery lays these out for you; the formats (International, UK, US, India, Gulf, DIN 5008, AFNOR) set the date grammar and the sign-off rule for the market you are writing to.
What is the best format for a cover letter?
The best format for a cover letter is one that prioritizes readability for both humans and Applicant Tracking Systems: a single column, left-aligned text, a clean professional font, and no text hidden in images, tables or headers. Submit it as a text-based PDF unless the employer asks for .docx. All sixteen FreeCV stationeries export as a text-based PDF.
Can I download a free cover letter template?
Yes. Four cover letter stationeries — Clerk, Masthead, Monogram and Chancery — are free to use and download as a PDF with a free account and no card. FreeCV's AI writes your first letter free; twelve more designs and unlimited letters come with FreeCV PRO. The CV builder itself is free, forever.
What font should I use for a cover letter?
Use a font that is professional, clean and easy to read. Classic serifs like Georgia and Times New Roman read as traditional; modern sans-serifs like Calibri, Arial and Helvetica read as contemporary. Keep it between 10.5 and 12 points. The stationeries pair the face with the design for you, and the typography panel lets you change size, spacing and margins.
Are these cover letter templates ATS-optimized?
Yes. Every stationery is built on a single-column layout with real text — no text in images, no tables for layout, no headers or footers that scanners drop. The design lives in colour, rules and typography, all of which an ATS ignores while a human notices.
How long should a cover letter be?
A cover letter should be concise and impactful. The ideal length is between 250 and 400 words, which typically fits into three or four paragraphs on a single page. Recruiters spend seconds on a first pass; a letter that gets to the point respects that and still leaves room for one concrete story they will remember in an interview.
Do I need to sign up?
To browse the designs, no. To have the AI write a letter you need a free account, no card. Your first letter is free and you can refine it as often as you like. FreeCV PRO removes the one-letter limit and unlocks all sixteen designs.
Write the letter, pick the design
Paste the job ad, get a tailored letter, and download it in any of the designs above. Your first letter is free with a free account, no card.
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