MS Word Cover Letter Template: Download and Customize

A Microsoft Word cover-letter template should save formatting time while leaving the content specific to your application. You can use Word's built-in template search or start with the original Word-compatible RTF starter provided here. This download is our own layout, not a Microsoft-authored or Harvard-endorsed template.

Choose a simple structure

Use a contact line, date, recipient details where appropriate, greeting, short body, and sign-off. A letter pasted into a portal may need only the greeting, body, and name. Follow that portal's instructions rather than pasting an address block into a field that does not need it.

In Word, open the starter and save a working copy as DOCX if you need that format. RTF is editable in Word, but an employer may accept only PDF or DOCX. Use the accepted format for the submitted file; keep the editable original for later changes.

Replace the prompts

The opening prompt asks for a role, company, and relevant connection. For example: “I am applying for the Billing Support Specialist role at Cedar Systems. My support work includes reviewing disputed invoices with finance.” That is fictional wording; adapt it only to experience you actually have.

The evidence paragraph needs an action and context. “I documented the escalation path and trained new shift staff to use it” communicates more than “I am a strong communicator.” If the evidence is in your resume, ensure the titles and scope agree across both documents.

The closing asks for a conversation and thanks the reader. Use the closing examples if you need an alternative to a generic final line.

Inspect the saved version

Delete bracketed prompts and any sample employer names. Confirm your name and email remain readable text. Check that the last paragraph and sign-off fit together and that the letter is not spilling onto a second page because of an extra blank paragraph.

Open the exported attachment, not just the working file. Check spelling, page breaks, and filename. If a template uses text boxes or elaborate columns, replace them with ordinary paragraphs when they complicate reading. A polished template cannot verify your claims or guarantee an interview; the final factual review is still yours.

Sources and further reading

• Harvard career services: application documents
• Microsoft: create a template