So you're ready to go after that job but writing a cover letter terrifies you? You've done a great job at writing your resume and yet a simple cover letter gets you stuck in writer's limbo. How so? Almost every part of the job application process has some degree of difficulty, but many job hunters find that writing the cover letter is the most challenging, which is probably why they often turn to free cover letter examples to help them out.

Why free isn’t always good

When people tell you that all the best things in life are free, they probably didn’t have cover letter examples in mind. It's a good thing it's free and accessible to anyone but if you looked closely, those are the very reasons why you shouldn’t even think of using free cover letter examples.

When it's free, it's often written without care. Imagine this: if you had a valuable thing in your hands, would you give it away for people to use for free when you know that it can be mutually rewarding? The same is true with the free cover letter example. It's written as a general reference for the rest of us, regardless of what we really need. A free cover letter example can be used by just about anyone – an intern, an accountant, a secretary, a doctor, a computer technician, a waitress – because there was really no definite purpose as to its design.

So what is the significance of using a free cover letter example? A lot rides on your cover letter's ability to attract the attention of your potential employer. If it's too weak, you will be perceived as such, which will probably convince the company you're applying to that you are the wrong person to talk to. Conversely, you can project a stronger, more professional persona by simply presenting a cover letter that speaks of your confidence and ability.

Another reason why you should stay away from free cover letter examples is that these letters contain such familiar, commonly used words and phrases that hiring officers must have seen a hundred times before. When yours comes along, it will probably be viewed as another clone and treated as pure rubbish. When than happens, you lose the opportunity of ever getting a shot at the job of your dreams.

What you can do

Don’t leave your future to chance because statistically, you're bound to lose. Instead, create your own opportunity and stay away from free cover letter examples that could spell disaster to your efforts. Imagine working that hard for so long only to receive rejection due to an ill-conceived cover letter.

If you must use a cover letter example, make sure you choose one that was written with your needs in mind. A targeted cover letter has so much more appeal than a loose cannon. It shows your professionalism and pride in your education and work background, a sign that you're not the kind of person who will settle for less.

Let's face it: job hunting is stressful enough so why bother putting more anxiety upon yourself when you have a chance of using and creating a cover letter from a professionally planned and written piece, giving you a better chance at improving your professional life. That job you're applying for could be your one chance at a truly rewarding career. Don’t let it go to waste when there's a factor you can control.