best cover letter for upwork proposal

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Updated: November 19, 2023

4 Proven Upwork Cover Letters To Save You Time And Win More Jobs

This article is about writing effective Upwork cover letters / proposals , so you can spend less time looking for clients and more time doing paid work.

Readers have gotten results like this:

“Not a week later I have now secured not one but TWO long term contracts due to these templates getting me through the door and my work being up to par! Many many thanks!”

• 4 Proven Upwork Cover Letter Templates
• How To Avoid Upwork Scams And Find The Best Jobs
• What Ivan Did To Beat 50+ Freelancers On Upwork
• 8 Keys To A Killer Upwork Profile
• How To Compete With Cheap Freelancers On Upwork
• How Justin Went From $9 to $50/Hour On Upwork In 12 Months
• How Susan Earned $1,375 Her First Month On Upwork
• 81 Best Paying Freelance Jobs On Upwork

Upwork is the largest freelance marketplace online, with thousands of jobs posted every day.

Getting started as a freelancer on Upwork can be tough, because you’re often competing with dozens of other freelancers for a single job, and many of them are well established on the platform, with lots of great ratings and reviews.

So, how can you compete?

Well, it helps to submit A LOT of proposals.

In the words of Wayne Gretzky…

You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.

And it follows that the more shots you do take, the more likely you are to score.

But you should also ensure that you’re submitting QUALITY proposals, proposals that will help you stand out from the crowd and give you a solid chance of winning the job.

So, QUALITY and QUANTITY.

That’s what you should be aiming for.

And that’s where the following list of Upwork sample cover letters can help. They will enable you to apply for more jobs without resorting to obvious copy-and-paste tactics.

Each sample below is derived from a real cover letter that won a real job on Upwork.

I’ve included screenshots of the original job postings and cover letters so you can see exactly what the job was and how it was won.

Below each sample you’ll find a corresponding template you can use to quickly craft your own proposal for ANY job on Upwork.

There are 4 templates in total:

The Short And Sweet

The screencast standout, the honest newbie, the quick lister.

Note that each sample you’re about to see was submitted by a member of our private Freedom Business Builder community. Two of them were responses to job invites, and two were cold pitches.

Before we dive in...

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Alright, here are the cover letter templates…

This first proposal sample comes from Justin, a freelance web designer and digital marketer.

The Job Description

The cover letter.

Justin was hired for the job at $50/hour.

The Template

Justin explains:

I typically use the same model for Upwork proposals: I ask about 3-4 relevant questions about the job in the first paragraph, and I qualify myself in the second paragraph.

So the template is as follows:

Hello [Client Name] , [If applicable: Thanks for the job invite.] It’s a pleasure to meet you. [Ask 3-4 short but relevant questions about the job here. This shows that you’ve read the description and know your stuff, and also invites the client to begin a conversation with you.] [Qualify yourself briefly here. 1-2 lines that communicate why you’d be a good fit for this job.] Best regards, [Your Name]

• Justin addressed the client by name at the beginning of his cover letter, even though the client never mentioned their name in the job description. Often you can find the client’s name mentioned in the reviews section of their profile. Going to the effort of finding their name and including it in your proposal will help you stand out from the crowd.
• Keep in mind that Justin was invited to this job, which gave him a much better chance of being hired. I asked Justin about this and he believes the key to getting hired is his strong profile and track record on Upwork.
• Justin taught himself web design in a two-month period, then started on Upwork at $9/hour. A little more than a year later he’d also taught himself digital marketing and was earning $45-55/hour consistently. Read more about his journey to Upwork success here .

This next proposal sample comes from Natalia, a freelance copywriter.

See Natalia’s screencast here:

Natalia explained to me via email:

This was my very first proposal screencast. It saves time to make a screencast to review a client’s website rather than writing endlessly to explain what you mean. This proposal was an answer to an invite to apply, but he invited a few people so I wanted to stand out.

The client was impressed:

Natalia ended up getting paid $350 for this job, but that wasn’t the end of it:

I’m still working for this client, and he is constantly thinking up new jobs I can do for the campaign because he is always happy with my work.

First, a warning:

• You should be selective including screencasts as part of you cover letter. They are are not always appropriate. Use them if you find yourself trying to explain something to a client in writing that would be more easily explained on screen.

The template is as follows:

Hello [Client’s Name] , [If applicable: Thank you for your invitation.] [Share a link to your screencast and briefly explain what it contains. You want to give the client a compelling reason to click the link and watch. Tell them what benefit they will get from it and note that it will only take up a few minutes of their time.] [1 paragraph explaining why the job appeals to you. Bonus points if you can share why the goals of the client resonate with you personally.] [1 paragraph sharing an example of your work, ideally closely related to the job you’re applying for.] If you want to collaborate with me let’s discuss it in more detail over the chat. Kind regards, [Your Name]

• Pro Tip Use the free version of Loom to create and share screencasts effortlessly.

This next proposal sample comes from Gray, a freelance graphic designer.

Gray was hired to do the job at a 10% discount, but that was only the beginning. As he explained to me via email:

This also led to ongoing work and was for the guys who I am pricing up that $8,000 job for. Its looking like it is going to be a bit more than that btw. Its for a complete game, and Im currently going through the spec with them bit by bit.

Gray explains:

I came at it with an honest approach and said basically ‘look, I have a lot of experience, but none on upwork, help me out and Ill do it for a 10% discount. Win win.’

Hello [Client’s Name], I’d really like to work with you on this one if possible! I do have a couple of questions, but first I’d like to make you an offer and some background so you can check my work out. [Short paragraph explaining your work experience relevant to the job.] However, I am new to Upwork and looking to get a few clients that I can build upon. If you take a look at my work and feel that I could help you, I’ll do it for a 10% discount. You’ll get all the expected stuff like a great professional service and a fast turn around, at a bit less, and I get a bit more exposure. [If applicable, include a link to your portfolio website here, or invite the client to check out the work samples you’ve attached to your proposal.] [Ask 1-2 short but relevant questions about the job here. This shows that you’ve read the description and know your stuff, and also invites the client to begin a conversation with you.] If the above offer sounds like something you would be interested in, I’d love to hear from you. Regards, [Your Name]

Note that the template above doesn’t contain the word TOKYO, which was included at the top of Gray’s cover letter. Gray added that as a response to the client’s request at the bottom of the job description. Many clients use this trick to quickly determine if you’ve actually read the job description.

So… make sure you actually read the job description!

This next proposal sample comes from Susan, a freelance editor and proofreader.

Susan explained to me via email:

I bid $125, and it was accepted immediately. This job took me 90 minutes to complete and 30 minutes to double check. As this was a legal document, I was careful to edit in a way that did not change the meaning of any of the sentences. This Swiss lawyer had English that was near perfect. I delivered the files within 2 hours and the client added a $40 bonus to my payment and left me 5-star feedback. $165 for 2 hours is a pretty good rate.

Hi [Client’s Name], I would be happy to work on your [document/job/whatever] immediately. [Numbered list covering the most important requirements mentioned in the job description, and how you plan to meet them. This shows that you fully understand what’s needed and have a plan for making it happen.] [1-2 paragraphs detailing your background/expertise, as relevant to the job at hand.] What you’ll receive: [Short list that paints a clear picture of what you will deliver (and by when) should the client hire you to do the job.] Send me a quick message and we can figure out if we are a good fit to work together! [Your Name]

• Not included in the template: the “Code 833” at the top of Susan’s proposal. This was a response to the client’s request hidden within the job description. Many clients use this trick to quickly determine if you’ve read it thoroughly.
• Want to know how Susan earned €1,226 in just her second full month working online? Check out an interview with her here .

What To Do Now

Five things:

• Pick your favorite template above, jump on over to Upwork, find some jobs you like, and use that template to quickly craft and submit effective proposals. (Make sure each proposal counts by learning how to avoid scams and find the best jobs on Upwork .)
• Report back and share in the comments below what kind of response you receive.
• If you’re not getting any response at all, screenshot one of the jobs you’ve applied for, and your cover letter, upload both screenshots to imgur , and post the links in the comments below. We’ll take a look and suggest some changes to help you get more responses and win more jobs.
• Join 23,322 subscribers and sign up for our weekly newsletter below. You’ll receive an email every Friday packed with tips and insights to build your online business.
• If you’re looking to improve your skills so you can win more jobs on Upwork, check out this list of FREE top-rated courses on Udemy (updated daily).

Get more Upwork success tips

This article is part of an 8-part series:

About The Author

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38 thoughts on “4 Proven Upwork Cover Letters To Save You Time And Win More Jobs”

Hi, I have been an Upworker for the past several years. But of late, only very few clients are contacting me for jobs, and I could not figure out the reason. After going through community discussions, I figured out that rewriting proposals can help a bit. So I am trying to do that. This blog post is really interesting, and I could get some ideas from this. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Confirm that this approach to proposal writing works well. I get about 50% of the answers. Thanks Niall!

Hey, Thank you so much! I read your blog post the previous night and sent a proposal according to your first 1. The short and sweet. I applied it and tomorrow morning I saw a reply from that client. Thank you so much. It is crazy. I am going to subscribe you to get more and more beneficial posts.

Hi Nail, I read this writeup and some other posts (the profile remodeling and scam flags) and I have to say, I was really pumped and I put them to work. A few days later, I got my first gig. I finished in record time and got an excellent review. It’s just that after that, I’ve got nothing else. After a lot of proposals using the techniques above, I get a few responses but nothing serious. Any advice? Thanks for the tips and the first job, tho’ and thanks in advance for any tips. David

It could be a number of things, hard to know just from what you’ve written. But ultimately pitching for jobs on Upwork is a numbers game. You have to keep pitching as much as you can and perhaps even lower your rate to get the first few jobs and reviews. Once you have more reviews it becomes easier to get jobs.

Thanks a lot Niall Doherty,

Your Cover letters really helped me to win more jobs on Upwork.

Thank you again!

Thanks for the helpful tips. I’ve already had some successful contracts on upWork, and do use some of the ideas (such as addressing by name.) I’d like to increase my percentage of contracts won, and hope to do so by following some of your other tips. I’ll report back next week, after I’ve tried a few. Cheers!

Thanks for an excellent resource. For once, Google’s #1 search result truly deserved to be #1

Hi Sir Niall, Good day! I just sent my proposal today and hopefully, I’ll get a response soon. Here’s the link to my cover letter and the job posted. https://imgur.com/a/YOwNZdJ Thank you, Joshie

i won my first client in just 5 minutes thanks a lot

I cannot thank you enough for sharing this information! I used a mix of a The Honest Newbie & The Quick Lister for my very first proposal on UpWork. I got a contract back later that day!

Glad to hear that, Sam. Well done!

Hi Niall, I have been trying to freelance on Upwork for the last few months, but am getting little interest from potential clients. I am an architectural designer with 13 years experience, but have no college degree. I write cover letters offering to help with the problem the clients listed about design or construction, list the services I can give them, attach samples of my previous work, and tell that I am ready to start if they are interested. So far nobody is. It is discouraging to keep submitting offers for work that are ignored, when I try to be friendly, professional, and interested. What am I doing wrong do you think?

It’s hard to know what the issue is based only on what you’ve shared here. But first thing I’d say is that if you’ve submitted less than 20 proposals, you should keep trying. You can keep tweaking and experimenting with your proposals, but ultimately Upwork is a numbers game. Even the best freelancers on there probably win no more than 30% of the jobs they pitch for. And starting out it’s probably more like 5-10%.

Secondly, it might be worth lowering your rate for a while, if you haven’t already. Do that in combination with the Honest Newbie template above and see how you get on.

Thank you Nial.

I combined your two templates No.4 + No. 3 in order to write my proposal yesterday. And I got the first job out of 5 proposals.

I really appreciated it!!!.

Great job, Olivia!

Woow! Niall, this is an amazing content and excellent guides to upwork. Thank you and keep it up.

Thanks, Nicholas 🙂

Thanks a lot for your suggestion. Great work! I will definitely try in this process.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS! I was able to get my first job within my first round of sending out only 6 proposals because of these templates! As a student this was such a great feeling.

That’s great, Christine! Well done 🙂

Update, not a week later I have now secured not one but TWO long term contracts due to these templates getting me through the door and my work being up to par! Many many thanks!

You’re crushing it 🙂 Thanks for reporting back!

Hi Niall.. As i am new to upwork.com. I am so.much disturb due to not getting a perfect contract here on upwork. i quit my job as a teacher. But when i started sending proposals here it didn’t worked out. Will these templates of yours help me out in getting the desired job

You’ll do better with these templates than without them, Hussain. Give them a try!

wonderful, i have been much disturbed with this cover letter but now am ok.

Hi Niall Doherty. My name is Jay and Thank you for sharing your great experience Knowledge here. I has just start on upwork. and this will be big help for me. If i says honestly then i was completely tired because there is no activity acting on my profile. i have tried many things to get clients but i just got only one client in a month which is not good. and was looking for guidance and it’s my pleasure that i meet you here on your home(website). I have just read your most of articles and i would like to follow your steps. I am very exciting to leave a screenshot of my next success here on your site by following your words. do you like to give me any suggestions!! great regards, Jay R.

Thanks a lot! This information is so valuable. Hoping to get project soon.

This article really gave a boost to my aspirations. I believe you have just jump started my career on Upwork. Thank you.

Thanks for all the super helpful info!

This article is very helpful, thank you so much for this

Thank you very much!! Valuable info

So, Susan, in her linked interview, mentions a specific course she took with you, Niall (or perhaps it’s one you made?). She mentions that this course was what she believed helped her in her 30-day experiment with Upwork. I’ve clicked around and can find nothing but the Facebook group. What is the course she’s referring to, and are you still offering it?

Yes, I had a course (originally called “3 Months -> $1k” … later rebranded as “Freedom Business Builder”) that was available for almost 3 years but I closed it at the end of November 2018. The Facebook group for the course is still active and our Patreon supporters get access to it.

Are you looking to do similar work to Susan?

Thanks for replying, Niall! Yes I am looking to do the same line of work. I’ve landed a few jobs and would love some tips about how to really take off on Upwork.

Really Good. I strongly recommend this article

Thanks really find this article useful,will try follow the tempelates with my own works,appreciate.

Thank you so much for this, i find very helpful. I will definitely make use of these templates especially the 1st and 4th ones. Thanks once again

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How to Write a Winning Upwork Cover Letter (+Sample)

Crafting an Upwork cover letter that wins you the job is one of the two things that drive new Upworkers crazy (the other being how to get approved on Upwork ).

This drove me crazy too when I started out. In fact, I must have spent countless hours and sent so many proposals before I started getting replies.

I almost purchased a $300 course just to get access to their community’s Upwork proposal vault.

If you’re in a similar position, you have come to the right place.

In this article, let’s discuss how to write an effective Upwork proposal cover letter that will win you the job.

Let’s get this started!

From Zero to Hero

When I started using Upwork, it was a while until I was able to land a contract.

When I did manage to land my first contract, I thought I had cracked the code and all I had to do was submit the same cover letter again and again.

Here’s what that (cringy and embarrassing) cover letter looks like:

(Good thing it happened before Upwork started banning accounts who submit way too many proposals without getting an offer.)

Using that stinky cover letter above, I still receive a few replies. But that’s it — no new offers or whatsoever.

Two realizations hit me:

• I knew then that I didn’t crack the code.
• Canned, word for word cover letters don’t work.

After three years, here’s my marketing effectiveness:

Stick until the end and I will show you an example of an Upwork cover letter I used to land a premium deal with a client.

Now, here’s how to make your cover letters better:

Sign up for exclusive updates, tips, and strategies

Answer the Additional Questions First

Many job postings will require you to answer additional questions besides submitting a cover letter.

Here’s a good example:

As you can see, the cover letter comes first followed by the additional questions you have to answer.

Naturally, you may spend most of your energy trying to make that cover letter flawless and then, answer the additional questions with a one-line sentence only, like an afterthought.

What you may not know is that when the client reviews your proposal, he will see the additional questions first.

I discovered this when I posted a job on Upwork.

Here’s one of the answers I got:

As you can see, clients will see the answers to the questions first. The cover letter will be the last element. That’s why when you see questions in the job posts, focus your energy first on the questions.

In a way, additional questions are more important than the cover letter itself.

Address the Client by Name

Whether it’s an Upwork cover letter, a cold email, or a private message on Facebook, addressing the client by name has a great impact.

After all, names are the sweetest and most important sound in any language according to Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People book.

But does it really increase the effectiveness of your Upwork proposal?

Well, calling the client by name is just the first part of making your cover letter more personal.

It shows that you have done your research and most likely, the content of your cover letter isn’t canned.

As an example, let’s say that you’re the client and you need someone to write new articles on your website.

One of the proposals you received is this:

Would you hire him? Exactly!

The question is, where will you get the name of the client?

How to Find the Client’s Name

It’s easy enough when the job post has the client’s name.

Unfortunately, only around 1 of 10 posts has the client’s name.

If this is the case, scroll down to the client’s recent history and find reviews from past contractors that mentioned the client’s name.

For example, this job post doesn’t contain any clue about who the client is.

But on the client’s recent history, you will find two mentions of his name there.

Sometimes, you may find different names on the client’s history. Some may have addressed the client as Darren, Karen, or John.

To make matters easier, use the name mentioned in a review from a freelancer with similar services as you.

Let’s say that you’re a content writer. A past content writer left a review and addressed the client as John. In this case, use John in your cover letter.

There may also be instances when the client, together with his name, wrote the name of his company. There’s a lot of gold in here simply because you can make even more research.

One of my clients, when he posted the job, only displayed the company name. There was no clue about the recent history of his name. But since the company name was there, I was able to dig deeper.

Here’s a portion of the cover letter I sent that I’m quite sure caught his attention:

This has led to an active partnership. (I can also confirm that working with his particular client’s team is fun and exciting!)

Show Interest

By that, I don’t mean writing a line that says “I’m interested in your job post.”

There are usually two ways to do this:

• Make a suggestion
• Or ask a question

Let’s use this job post I found about a client looking for a content writer for his travel website:

Just because the job description was short, it doesn’t mean you have to put in the same effort and make your cover letter short.

This is often a mistake I see new freelancers do.

But how will you add value to a post as short as this?

If I were to submit a cover letter to do this job post, here’s what I would do:

• Explain to the client what an awesome about us page is and what it contains. (If you’re not aware, the about us page, in addition to telling your story, is an excellent waypoint to different pages or content on your website.)
• Include links to show him what I mean.
• Suggest how I can do the same.
• Ask him for a link to his website.

You can also show interest by mentioning something that only someone who dug deeper will be able to know. An example of this is the cover letter I showed in the earlier section where I mentioned something about the client’s team.

The Rate Matters

This part isn’t much about the cover letter itself but on what job post you submit your cover letter.

One of the things I have learned over the years is that there could be a mismatch between your rate and how much your client can afford or is willing to spend.

For example, no matter how good your cover letter is, it’s impossible for you to ask a high rate for this project.

How did I know this? Looking at the client’s recent history, he paid someone a measly $25 for an educational blog.

From the client’s recent history, you can be certain that he’s only looking for freelancers with (super) low rates.

One more thing: Avoid low-ballers .

These clients will not pay you for what you’re worth. You will only be wasting six connects which you could have used to submit a proposal to a premium project.

Further reading : There are a few job posts that have a high budget but will actually pay you peanuts — they lure freelancers by posting big budgets. This is one of the things I shared in my tips for Upworkers article . It’s perfect for those who are still starting out in Upwork.

Mention Your Experience

I have read numerous posts from “freelance gurus” that you don’t need experience to land premium contracts.

Although there’s truth to it, it’s not the whole truth.

As a client myself, I would like to make sure that the freelancer has the capability to do the tasks and that he’s willing to learn if he doesn’t have the skills yet.

However, freelancers who have previous similar experience and can prove it will most likely win the contract.

Why? Because it’s more certain that they will be able to do the job better and faster, which is a win for clients who go into hourly contracts with freelancers.

In addition to experience, include samples of related work or outcomes that you know the client will love.

For example, after including relevant samples of my work, this client has responded well to my cover letter and we ended up working together.

If you don’t have any relevant samples, just create one, and show it to the client.

Include a Call to Action

At the end of your cover letter, invite the client to do something. It’s proven that they will likely do something if you tell them exactly what to do.

It’s tempting to say “Hope to hear from you soon” or “Hoping for your kind consideration”. But it doesn’t really invite the client to do something.

Here are good examples of effective CTA (call to action):

• Hit that reply button over there to continue our conversation. (Favorite)
• How about we hop on a five-minute call to discuss your business needs?
• If you want to collaborate, let’s discuss it more over the chat.

I have been working with different combinations and so far, the first one has worked best for me. However, I don’t think there’s much difference as long as you keep your call to action, clear, specific, and easy to commit to.

Keep a Swipe File of Upwork Cover Letters

If you’re not familiar with what a swipe file is, it’s basically a folder where you keep all awesome ideas, copies, content, and ideas you have encountered.

In this case, keep a swipe file of Upwork cover letters that worked. Then, reverse engineer them and see why they work.

This is actually how I started improving my cover letter. I found and saved the winning cover letters I found online and try to understand why they worked.

I usually have three places where I store them:

• OneNote (favorite)
• Google drive
• Local drive

A piece of advice: save your cover letters that worked.

Here’s mine:

Since I have a record of what works and what doesn’t, I regularly update and optimize my cover letter to reflect what I recently learned.

That’s how I knew which call to action I thought worked best.

In addition, you may want to include links to your best work too. This makes it easier for you to swap out the samples you want to mention in the cover letter to make sure you only mention the most relevant work samples.

Example of a Winning Upwork Cover Letter

As promised, here is a cover letter I used to land a premium deal with a client.

Note that you can use the pattern I set but make sure you don’t use exact words. This cover letter was designed solely for the certain job post to this cover letter was submitted to.

In a gist, here’s how I did it:

Hey [name] , I’m sure you’ve got a lot of pitches to deal with so I’ll keep this short. I help [your target industry] [the outcome your client would like to get from your service] . In the past, I helped [a previous client you worked with] [the outcome you helped your previous client achieve – should be similar to the outcome the client would like to get] . Here are links to some of my work: – [link 1] – [link 2] – [link 3] [Ask a question or suggest something] Simply hit that “Reply” button over there so we could continue our conversation. Regards, [Your name]

Feel free to use this template.

Win Premium Clients With a Personalized Cover Letter

Writing a winning cover letter is easier than you think. But it will need a lot of practice and trial and error to finally get it right.

As I said, it took me so much time and proposals before I got a reply. From there, I continued optimizing it and seeing what works for my target clients and industry.

I’m definitely positive that as you practice and write more proposal cover letters, you will get better and win jobs.

And if you get lost, try the template I provided above.

Now it’s your turn. Here’s what to do now:

• Go back to Upwork and apply what you have learned from this article.
• Use the template and check my sample for inspiration.
• Get back here and let us know how it went.

And as always, let me know your thoughts by sharing your comment down below.

Alan is the founder of Work Pajama and other sites by Content Growers. When he's not writing here, he's busy helping clients generate more qualified leads and increase sales by educating readers with strategic content and writing blogs.

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25 comments.

I am new and wanted to have virtual work ASAP. Thank you for this blog, will surely help me with my application. Wish me luck!

Stay safe always.

Hey Genera! Glad you find this article helpful to you. I know you can do it! I was able to do it even without experience (or skills) at that time so there’s no way you can’t do it.

Keep it up!

Hi sir I just want to ask in upwork sometimes it offer milestone in specific job how can i break the budget into milestone and what will a put in the description of each milestone ? Thanks God bless

Thanks Alan. Let me go back and re-strategize

Thank you so much for sharing this very informative article. I’m about to start my GVA career… your blog post truly help me a lot. I hope I could make it in this industry.

Good luck on your journey!

I am inspired by your post and I made some notes out of it. I believe it will go a long way to help. Am a newbie in upwork; am good in data entry, typing and I can handle Microsoft Office. But I do not have any past experience in any company or works done before except personal. How do I start, my first cover letter was rejected. Please help out, I will appreciate it. Thanks

My most regards, Hilary

That is tricky since the skills you have are the same skills that 99% of Upworkers have. If I were you, better learn a better skill and try again. For every job post that needs basic stuff, the client probably gets 100+ proposals, so your chance of even being seen is super low. Hope this helps!

thanks so much for this awesome reply of you Alan. We’ve same issue with Hilary. I think your reply here will surely help. Better learn a better skill!

Good to know. Thanks for dropping by!

Thank you for this Allan. This is very useful specially for people like me, just starting careen on being a Virtual Assitant.

Happy to help!

Wow, great tips on writing an effective Upwork cover letter! I completely agree with you on the importance of mentioning your experience.

Including samples of related work or outcomes is also a fantastic idea. It provides concrete evidence of your skills and expertise, and it gives the client a glimpse of what they can expect from you. If you don’t have relevant samples, creating one specifically for the client is a brilliant approach to showcase your abilities.

I also appreciate the emphasis on including a clear call to action (CTA) in the cover letter. It’s true that clients are more likely to respond when you tell them exactly what to do. Your examples of effective CTAs are spot on, and it’s important to make them clear, specific, and easy to commit to.

Overall, these tips are insightful and practical. Thank you for sharing your expertise and experience in writing Upwork cover letters. I will definitely implement them in my future proposals and strive for better results. Keep up the great work!

Your style is so unique compared to other people I have read stuff from. Thank you for posting when you’ve got the opportunity, Guess I will just bookmark this site.

Thanks Eileen!

That’s quite an interesting read. Of late I figured out that it is very difficult to get new jobs in Upwork, though clients are viewing my proposal. So I feel the best way is to rewrite the proposals. Thanks a lot for your input.

Hi Alan, this was very very helpful and am looking forward to learn more from you. I would hope that a Q&A platform will be provided in place for people like us who would wanna feed from your brilliant experience. Thanks!

Thanks, Alin!

Just discovered your content through Google search. Awesome and unique content. Just about to start freelancing on Upwork and I can tell it is of a great help to me. I believe I’ve just find a good teacher here.☺️

Thank you Allan and God bless you.

Hey Patrick!

Appreciate the compliment. I wish you a good fortune on your journey.

Thank you Alan! hope it works. Good luck for everyone.

Hey Alan! Best inspiration tip, Thanks alot.

Excellent information. This article offers practical tips and a clear structure for crafting effective Upwork cover letters. It’s a valuable resource for freelancers looking to stand out and secure projects on the platform.

Thank you for this fantastic guide on writing a winning Upwork cover letter! The tips and sample you’ve shared are incredibly helpful for both beginners and experienced freelancers like myself.

The sample cover letter is a valuable resource. It not only demonstrates the principles you’ve outlined but also serves as an excellent template for crafting our own personalized letters.

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Last Updated on September 6, 2023 by Alan Anthony Catantan

Tips & Tricks For Making More Money Online

How To Write An Upwork Cover Letter: 5 Tips + Free Template

One of the reasons most freelancers struggle to land clients on Upwork is failing to write a convincing cover letter.

The cover letter is the main component of your job proposal and if you don’t write it well, you won’t be able to get the client’s attention.

Each client who posts a job on Upwork gets dozens and sometimes hundreds of proposals from freelancers. And the only way to grab their attention is to write a cover letter that addresses their needs and requirements.

So if you’re new to Upwork and trying to land a client, keep reading. This guide will help you write better, more focused, and well-optimized Upwork cover letters to get more responses from your clients.

What Is An Upwork Cover Letter?

The cover letter is an essential part of a resume or CV. Normally, when you’re applying for a job, you include a cover letter with your CV to let your potential employer know why you’re applying for the job, what kind of goals you have, and why they should hire you for the position.

Upwork cover letters use the same concept. Whenever you’re applying for a job on Upwork, you now have to fill out a section called Cover Letter.

Here, you can write a detailed yet concise message to clients explaining how you can help the client and why you’re the best person for the job.

As you can imagine, this is a crucial part of a job proposal that will determine whether you will get the job or not.

Before You Apply For Jobs..

Before you apply for jobs and start writing cover letters, make sure you complete the following steps. Because without these steps, clients will never hire you, even if you write the perfect cover letter.

1. Improve Your Communication Skills

Improving your communication skills is the first thing you should do before applying for jobs.

Learn to write better messages to clients and learn the proper etiquette for writing emails. You can follow this guide to learn more about it.

Also, I highly recommend that you take an online course on copywriting and business communication. Think of it as an investment in yourself.

And it will go a long way to help you write great proposals, cover letters, and communicate with clients like a professional.

If you’re interested, start with these Skillshare classes:

• Business Communication Skills: Write & Speak More Professionally
• Copywriting: Essential Skills For Writing Engaging Marketing Copy
• Professional English Emails: Write Clearly and Effectively

2. Optimize Your Upwork Profile

The next thing you need to do is optimize your Upwork profile.

When you apply for a job and send a proposal to a client, one of the first things they do is check your profile.

Now imagine doing all the work to find the perfect job and write a great cover letter while you have a terrible profile. It will only send those potential clients away. Don’t make that same mistake.

I wrote a complete guide on creating an effective Upwork profile. Give it a read and optimize your profile accordingly.

3. Gather Some Samples

Now, you can say all you want about your skills and abilities in your proposal but the client will never believe you if you don’t have hard evidence to back your claims.

So make sure you have some samples of your work to show the clients.

If you’re a writer, you can include links to your previously published articles.

If you’re a graphic designer, you can include a link to your portfolio.

If you don’t have any links to show, attach sample documents and files in the proposal.

4. Ask For The Right Price

When using Upwork to find jobs, asking for the ideal price is very important. Because it’s always going to be a bidding war between freelancers.

But the key to finding the right price is not to ask too low that clients think you’re desperate. Or ask too much that turns clients away.

To figure out the sweet spot between the two, you can check the Upwork services section.

Browse the category related to your work to see what other freelancers are charging for similar jobs.

Then come up with a price that fits your client’s budget and the regular rates at the same time.

5. Only Apply For The Right Jobs

There are some freelancers out there who apply to every job that comes up in their feed while copy-pasting the same cover letters and proposals.

This is a huge mistake that will get you nowhere.

Learn to pick the right jobs that fit your set of skills. Find jobs that have detailed descriptions that give you more information about the job. So that you can research the client and their industry to write better cover letters.

What To Include In Your Cover Letter

Once you complete all the initial steps to optimize your profile and writing skills, here are the most important points you need to cover in your cover letter.

• Address the client by their first name (eg: Hi John,)
• Mention that you’ve read the entire project description
• Do some research to understand what the client is asking for
• Provide solutions to the client’s pain points
• Mention why you’re the perfect person for the job with facts (eg: I have 5 years of experience in social media marketing and I worked for client X)
• Show examples of your previous work, portfolio, or client case studies
• In the end, mention that you have a strategy in mind for the client’s project and ask them to DM you for details
• Remember to keep it short, detailed, and concise

You’ll see how all these points come together in the example and the cover letter template below.

How To Write Cover Letter for UpWork

It’s best to write the cover letter on different software like Google Docs or MS Word and then copy it over to Upwork. You wouldn’t want to accidentally hit send while you’re writing the cover letter.

As I mentioned before, learning to write well is very important. Taking a copywriting class will not go to waste.

Take all the key points I mentioned in the previous section. Write in friendly and simple words to describe your proposal for the client.

Here’s a quick Upwork cover letter example to show you how it’s done:

Hi John, I read your entire job description and I think I’m the perfect person for the job. Here’s why: -I noticed that you’re looking to build an online store website. I think WordPress is the best platform to build your website and I have over 5 years of experience building WordPress sites -I’ve built WordPress websites for many clients including CocaCola and Pepsi -Here are just a few of the links to websites that I’ve recently built for other clients (include links here. Or attach your sample documents) -I have a really great concept idea for building your website that will make your brand look even better than your competitor (Do research to find the competitors and mention the name here). Send me a DM or respond to this proposal so we can discuss more details I’m really excited about this project and to work with you to build something amazing. Looking forward to your DM. -Your name

See how simple and concise that looks. And we covered all the key points in that 150-word cover letter. You can easily edit this message to include skills and experience related to your industry.

There are also great tools you can use for writing your cover letter online . They offer more professional-looking layouts that you can easily customize, which are ideal for applying for not just freelancing jobs but for any type of job application.

Free Upwork Cover Letter Template

I made a more beautifully formatted Upwork cover letter template that you can use when applying for jobs. You can download it below.

Make sure to edit and customize this template according to your needs.

10 Tips For Writing Professional Cover Letters

Follow these quick tips to make your cover letter look more professional.

1. Personalize Your Greeting

Avoid generic greetings like “Dear Sir/Madam” or “To Whom It May Concern.” Take the time to find out the client’s name and address them directly. A personalized greeting shows that you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in the job.

2. Start with a Strong Opening

Grab the client’s attention right from the start. Mention the job you’re applying for and briefly state why you’re excited about the opportunity. Highlight a key skill or experience that makes you a perfect fit.

3. Highlight Relevant Skills and Experience

Focus on the skills and experience that are most relevant to the job. Use bullet points to make this information easy to scan. Be specific about your accomplishments and how they align with the project’s requirements.

4. Show Enthusiasm and Interest

Clients appreciate freelancers who are genuinely interested in their projects. Express your enthusiasm and explain why you’re excited about the opportunity. A passionate approach can make you stand out from other candidates.

5. Address the Client’s Needs

Show that you understand the client’s needs by referencing details from the job posting. Explain how you plan to meet those needs and solve their problems. Tailoring your cover letter to the specific job demonstrates your attention to detail.

6. Include Samples or Links to Work

Provide links to your portfolio or attach samples that are relevant to the job. Seeing your work helps clients assess your skills and makes your application more compelling. Ensure the samples showcase your best work and are easy to access.

7. Keep It Concise and Focused

Clients are often busy and may not have time to read lengthy cover letters. Keep your letter concise and to the point, ideally no longer than one page. Focus on the most important information and avoid unnecessary details.

8. Proofread Carefully

Spelling and grammar mistakes can make a poor first impression. Proofread your cover letter carefully to ensure it’s error-free. Consider asking a friend or using a tool like Grammarly to help catch any mistakes.

9. End with a Call to Action

Conclude your cover letter by expressing your eagerness to discuss the project further. Invite the client to contact you for an interview or to ask any questions. A clear call to action can help move the process forward.

10. Follow Up if Necessary

If you haven’t heard back within a week or so, consider sending a polite follow-up message. Reiterate your interest in the project and ask if the client needs any additional information. Following up shows your persistence and commitment.

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The best cover letter for Upwork (data-backed experiment)

In the search for the best cover letter for Upwork, allow me to share an example where I got a 100% response rate on my own proposals.

The last few weeks I’ve been comparing different styles of Upwork proposals, sending them out in the wild so you and I can better understand which one performs the best.

I see amazing case studies like these everywhere… but often there is something left out. Something that would kill the “shock factor”. Like when Derren Brown flipped a coin on its head ten times in a row:

The only way to guarantee that the coin lands on its head ten times in a row is to continue flipping the coin enough times until it happens by chance. However long that takes.

The same principle applies to our proposals because we can’t control how the client reacts. In order to get a 100% hit rate, we have to try until it happens by chance and then only show off that small sample of the experiment.

My example earlier is no different. What you didn’t see is the other thirty seven proposals I sent and the many times it didn’t work out.

The point is that it is okay to try again if things didn’t work out the first time. They rarely do and when we have to work a little for it first, it’s more fun when we do win.

Now, let’s dive into the whole experiment. I’ve tested different proposal styles, so you can see which type of Upwork proposal was best in the test and got the most client responses.

The four Upwork proposal styles

The theory of this experiment is that customized proposals will land more Upwork clients than generic copy-paste proposals. They have worked well in other experiments and now it’s time to put it to a test so we can get a side by side comparison backed with data.

The experiment

To find the service I wanted to offer, I looked at which type of keywords would have the most jobs for them based on my skill set. That would give me an indication of which keywords are more popular and which type of clients are more common. For example, clients with online courses compared to ecommerce businesses.

Below are some of the keywords I looked for. Keep in mind that just looking at the number of projects doesn’t say anything about the quality of the clients or projects but all other things being equal, the more projects available the more chance of landing a good one.

I searched within the digital marketing field since that’s my background and I looked across different client types, projects, skills, specific tools or anything else I could think of clients wanted help with. 

For example, some clients will say that they need help with Facebook ads, while others say ads manager (the tool needed to run the ads). Some will say they need digital ads and I have to help them figure out if e.g. Facebook ads are the right fit.

Initially, I wanted to help online course creators with marketing automation since that seemed popular but after a few days with almost only shitty projects, I had to pivot to also bidding on projects related to Facebook ads or other similar looking projects.

The problem with Upwork and doing an experiment like this is that clients aren’t always good at explaining themselves. That means a project might appear good based on the description but when we speak with the client we might discover that it’s a waste of our time.

Anyway, I wanted to optimize my profile text before applying for jobs but ultimately I decided against it since there aren’t enough niche projects on Upwork that I could truly leverage the advantage of going niche.

I decided to keep it as is even though it isn’t entirely relevant and instead see how many people would actually look at my profile text. 

It turns out no one did!

Anyway, I’ve outlined four proposal styles specifically for Upwork and in the experiment, I sent ten proposals using each of them so we can see which one works the best.

At a high level, the four Upwork proposals styles are:

1) Generic copy-paste proposals that are meant to fit most projects (meaning that they don’t fit any particularly well)

2) those that are (almost) custom written for each project but only talks about the freelancers’ experience, background, or a project recommendation 

3) the one that focuses on the client’s challenges and what success looks like for each specific project along with why this freelancer is a good choice to solve the particular problem

4) the well-researched proposal. This one fits each project description well, focuses on client challenges, shares relevant background info as it relates to the project and is based on lots of research

I was debating what to do about pricing for this experiment since it’s a factor that can have a large impact. Especially, because most clients I’ve come across on freelance websites like Upwork need help with hobby projects and thus don’t have much money to pay us freelancers. 

With freelancing there are certain invisible pricing tiers where clients tend to expect something different for each one. 

For example, when you cross a certain rate clients expect you to be good at communication beyond just the hard skills. There are no set tiers because it depends on each individual client but over time you will notice the difference if you raise your rates.

Another thought that crossed my mind is that if you are new to freelancing, charging $100/h can feel overwhelming. So I decided to charge $60/h during this experiment.

From experience, I’ve noticed that getting clients on a phone from the proposal is a more effective approach than trying to land the job directly with the proposal right then and there.

Since the phone call is different from the proposal, let’s focus on the writebacks from the proposals — how many potential clients respond to each proposal style. That way, we first get more clients to respond and then practice what to talk with them about after.

There’s something to be said about the quality but we can’t do anything to even that out and each job description is a judgment call based on the client’s description.

Of course, there are exceptions such as small, quick, projects. Those can often be hired without much extra discussion as long as everything about the project is clear in advance.

The best cover letter for Upwork: the winner

I waited about two weeks after sending the proposals to give clients a chance to either close their job or hire someone. I learned through other experiments that clients on Upwork tend to hire quickly, so this is a decent, balanced, timeframe.

Even so, for more than half of the projects there still hasn’t been any move forward as I’m writing this. As I checked again, I’ve noticed that in several cases it’s been a week or more since anyone looked at the project and they haven’t begun a conversation (“interviewing”) with any freelancer.

I’ve defaulted to categorize those projects as “no hire”-projects since clients more often than not don’t close their projects and just let them get auto-closed by Upwork after a month or so.

This will most likely be incorrect in the end since a couple of the clients probably will hire someone. But it doesn’t make sense for us to wait around since those few won’t make a meaningful difference in the data, the results and thus our reaction.

Before we jump into the results of each of the proposal styles, let’s first look at the total number of proposals and how we stack up against other freelancers altogether.

Remember, that the goal here was to get a writeback from the client. We can’t see the same data for other freelancers but we can if they were hired, that’s why I’m using that metric for other freelancers in the sheet below.

As we can see, the big deal here is that for more than 60% of the projects no freelance was hired. I noticed that on many of the projects, there would be more than 15 proposals and zero interviewees with more than a week since the client had last looked at the project. 

That indicates the client might not be serious enough with the project, since they didn’t initiate contact with a single freelancer. We know that a similar proposal to what I sent gathers interest from other clients, meaning that the proposal can’t be that bad in all the cases.

While it might be tempting to get a competitive advantage against the other freelancers, it doesn’t make a meaningful difference. If you’ve been following the blog for a while, you’ll know that I focus on those few places where we can make a big impact because focusing on the minutiae won’t get us anywhere in life.

Instead, getting more clients to hire in the first place will be a bigger win for us, since that slice of the pie is 2x-3x bigger.

The results: the best cover letter for Upwork jobs

It’s time for the result of all the proposals! Here’s the data:

This category sucked.

This category was much better.

This category was not that good.

This category was even worse.

You probably don’t remember what each of the four proposal styles represents but you might have noticed that the results for three out of the four proposals are the same: 70%-80% of the projects never hired anyone as far as we can tell.

Pretty odd, right? 

Sure, if we looked at a larger sample size, it might be different but what’s even odder is that proposal style two is upside down compared to the rest. I was interviewed 60% of the time while only one in ten jobs ended with no hire.

This is a surprise because on the surface this should be one of the worst proposal styles since it takes less time to create than the rest. But other freelancers got hired more in that category as well and that might indicate something with the clients rather than the proposals.

The caveat here is that the quality of the clients in this group might be lower than in the others depending on if we base it on the project description they wrote, earnings possible, business size, tasks they need help with, etc. 

It’s hard to tell with the limited information we have access to on Upwork but I did have a few ideas as to what might have caused the difference:

• The client’s business size
• The proposal style
• The type of job description or job itself (e.g. automation vs Facebook ads)
• How my pricing was received

At first, I thought it was because all the job descriptions in that category had important details about the client and project even if they were short, meaning that the client might be more serious. For example, they shared what the product was and which industry it was in or what they needed help with specifically (you’d think that would be the minimum in all project descriptions… but not on Upwork).

As I compared them with the rest, I noticed that this was also the case for the other projects.

Next, I looked at the previous hiring rate to see if that might offer us a correlation. The average hiring rate was 51% for the clients that I pitched with the second proposal style and 52% for proposal style four, whereas the other two styles came out to 38% and 31% respectively. It brings us closer but doesn’t really give us a clear picture.

Another option is the type of clients. I tend to see two types on Upwork: the type who is looking for the best of the best and pay well (they usually choose the high-tier freelancers in the US as the clients tend to be from there as well).

And the type of client who is looking for more affordable help and is ok that they aren’t as skilled either in the hard skill and/or communication. I did see other freelancers being hired from both of those two categories.

The problem with evaluating the client quality is that unless we get specifics or speak with the clients it can be hard to tell how good of a fit they are for us.

A writeback itself doesn’t mean much since there can be more or less quality to it which is difficult to quantify and compare. There are even certain trigger words or sentences that can be used to get more writebacks but that doesn’t mean they will be worth much.

With the limited information we have from the clients, we might never know, so let’s move on to the winning proposal style and look at an example. If you have any theories or ideas, please leave a comment at the end of the article.

The winning proposal style is defined as those that are (almost) custom written for each project but only talks about the freelancers’ experience, background, or a project recommendation.

The project description:

The proposal:

The writeback:

Another example:

I expected the best cover letter for Upwork to be style three because it is a slightly upgraded version of style two without spending too much extra time and simply being better formatted and focused on the client rather than our experience.

But since, in this experiment, we can only look for the number of clients responding to our proposal, that is GREAT news! Proposal style two takes less time to create and it seems to work because it gives recommendations and an example right there in the initial proposal – something that helps build trust with the client.

When we use this style, we can use proposal templates to be more efficient but they take some time to create the first time. But it is worth it because we can reuse them.

A writeback example

I did get several writebacks showing interest but not being able to afford my rates. I was hesitant to bring this up since there are plenty of articles out there hating on Upwork .

Here’s a writeback example:

This is not always the case when we look for the best cover letter for Upwork. The challenge is sorting the right projects from the wrong ones because Upwork attracts smaller clients with a lack of resources.

This tends to be more important with marketing-related work than other services since marketing doesn’t have much effect if the product isn’t a good fit for the customers already. In comparison, any business at any stage might need help with things like admin work or graphic design.

That’s why I tend to recommend Upwork to professionals wanting to begin to earn money on the side. It’s a great way to get started if you have an approved account but we tend to get frustrated with the platform as we want to earn more beyond the first few thousand dollars.

I could have mentioned more about my pricing and how it’s a placeholder since some clients don’t want to engage because they know that they can’t afford it. That might have helped mitigate that concern.

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Hello Chris, I have been a good follower of yours for a while. You always drop golden nuggets. I am really excited about this test. It has given me more insights on proposal, and I am very sure others will see benefits too. Thank you very much.

Thank you for saying that King!

Thanks Chris for this. I am Matt! Can I get in touch so I can learn from you. Hope you don’t mind me having your email address.

Great work done with the clear description of your experience by having logical thinking. Thank You for sharing this article. Much appreciated!

Amazing ????

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Upwork Proposals: A Deep And Thorough Analysis Of A Real Cover Letter

• April 13, 2021

Ahh… Upwork proposals.

As a long-time Upwork client, I’ve personally read well over 1,000 proposals and hired my fair share of freelancers along the way.

If there’s one thing I can say without a doubt, it’s that the majority of proposals I’ve received over the years have been… well… awful .

The truth is, most freelancers are completely oblivious to what really makes a great Upwork proposals (even if they think they know).

So here’s the deal…

Today, I’m not just going to tell you what makes a winning Upwork proposal, I’m going to show you.

Making The Cut

I recently posted the below job ad on Upwork (twice), where I was looking to hire a content writer.

Within 24 hours, I’d already managed to attract a couple dozen applicants.

As usual, though, I ended up deleting 98% of the responses I received. (Out of 31 responses, I was left with 2 reasonably good candidates.)

Like I said…

…I’ve gone through this elimination process countless times already, and this kind of result isn’t too far from the norm.

If you’ve ever found yourself applying to endless jobs only to never hear back, it’s because you’re just not making the cut.

The good news?

It’s easily fixable once you learn and implement what I’m about to teach you. Today, I’ve picked out one cover letter I’d like to share with you.

Obviously, my goal isn’t to “out” anybody here, it’s to highlight common mistakes in the hope that I can help you better your proposals and land more clients.

Note: When I say “proposal”, in most cases, I’m actually talking about the cover letter in particular, which is the written part of an Upwork proposal.

The Cover Letter

Below is the cover letter we’ll be analyzing, and this is one I received only a few days ago in response to my job ad.

I’ve blurred out some personal information for anonymity, but have a quick read over it. Please. 🙂

I chose this one for the case study because if you read it, you’ll probably struggle to find anything inherently “wrong” here.

(In fact, it’s a lot better than most proposals I receive through Upwork.)

But, while I will admit this isn’t a terrible cover letter, there are still a few fundamental flaws I’d like to address.

Pay attention, because I bet your bottom teeth you’re doing at least one of these yourself.

The Bad Stuff

#1: THE SALUTATION

Before we even get into the meat of this cover letter, there’s already a slip up on the very first line.

If you look at my job advert again, you’ll notice I actually included my name at the very end.

Obviously, this freelancer didn’t bother to address me by name, despite the fact I gave it to them on a silver platter.

Maybe they didn’t read the entire job ad, or maybe they just didn’t think it was important to include it. Either way, these are not traits I would personally be looking for in a freelancer.

Lewis’s Pro TipMany clients – including myself – purposely include a name to quickly eliminate ~60% of applicants who miss it. It’s just another filter, so don’t get caught by it.

#2: THE ANGLE

This is the one most freelancers get caught up in – and likely the one you missed after reading the cover letter.

It’s not what they said, it’s HOW they said it. The entire letter is focused on the freelancer, not the client.

In fact, just look at how many “me” statements there are (yellow) compared to statements that are focused on me (green):

Look, I get it. It makes complete sense to mention your achievements, your experience, and your talents. There’s nothing wrong with that.

But unless you can directly relate those things back to the client and explain exactly how they will benefit, none of it matters. It’s just waffle.

Lewis’s Pro TipTry turning a “me” statement into a “you” statement wherever possible. And if you absolutely have to talk about yourself, be clear about why the client should even care.

#3: THE LENGTH

I always get asked about the “correct” length for a cover letter, and honestly, it’s hard to say exactly what that is.

What I can say is, the goal should be to include only the essential elements in as few words as possible. (It’s obvious, but you’d be surprised.)

From my experience, the sweet spot tends to be somewhere around 120-150 words. Considering this cover letter stands at 226 words, it’s already a bit too long in my opinion.

Remember, clients are busy people. The last thing they want to see is a wall of text. Keep it short, fluff-free and punchy.

Lewis’s Pro TipPsst.. I share my exact cover letter structure with email subscribers. Just click this box if you’re down.

#4: THE SAMPLE

This is another “hidden” filter I plant inside my job ads.

Some freelancers are very quick to just point you to their portfolio and have you wade through different samples until you find a relevant piece. (Please, please, pleeeeease don’t do that.)

Others will do one slightly better and attach half a dozen relevant pieces to the cover letter itself. But again, that’s hardly respecting the clients time.

That’s why, in my job ads, I make sure to slot this little gem in somewhere:

Even with that so bluntly thrown in, roughly HALF of applicants fail to include a single sample piece.

The proposal (or cover letter) above was no exception. No links. No attachments. Not even a portfolio on Upwork. Nothing.

The Good Stuff

#1: CREDIBILITY

If there’s one thing this cover letter is full to brim with, it’s credibility.

This particular freelancer is involved at high-level with several recognized online publications. And that says a LOT in terms of writing ability.

Not only that, but I can actually verify whether these claims are true, just by going to each website and looking for the name. (Some form of verification is crucial whenever you’re trying to establish credibility.)

Of course, the freelancer has gone a little overboard in this case, but the right ingredients are definitely buried in there. No doubt about that.

Lewis’s Pro TipIf you’re looking for other ways to establish credibility, I wrote a killer post on something I call “ The Mind Map Method “.

#2: SPELLING & GRAMMAR

What can I say… the spelling and grammar is flawless.

As someone who’s hired more writers than anything else on Upwork, it’s clearly important for me to see stellar writing ability within the cover letter itself.

Even if you’re not a writer, it still doesn’t hurt to run your cover letter through some free tools before you send it off. (Bad spelling and grammar is still a low quality indicator.)

• Hemingway App
• After the Deadline

Your proposal (and your cover letter in particular) is easily one of the biggest contributing factors when it comes to winning contracts.

Fortunately, as long as you follow the principles I’ve outlined in this case study, you’ll be able to take your own cover letters to the next level.

In fact, get yourself over to Upwork right now. Fire off some proposals while this stuff is still fresh in your head. Never know, you might surprise yourself.

12 Comments

Thank you so much!!!!!!

You are very welcome.

This is very helpful Lewis. Thank you for sharing!

My pleasure. Thanks for dropping a comment. 🙂

What a breath of fresh air it has been to read your article and to find your website. After toiling through umpteen BS pages on Google to find some good solid advice, I landed here.

Truly, I am so stoked that I did! I like your logic, real-time ACTUAL experience, and frankness. Following and looking forward to more of your content.

Forgive me, that meant to read…

Thank You Lewis!

Thank you for saving me today. Off to Upwork right away to get it done.

Thank you Lewis. This is very helpful. I have a question though, i am an university student and i want to use my translation skills there. But i believe most of the clients choose translators that are experienced. Shall i give up?

Hey Lewis! I was looking for an example of an Upwork cover letter for inspiration and found your blog. The example looked ideal, but after you’ve broken down each part, I realized that it needs tweaking. Perhaps looking at the perspective of the client would help. If I were the client, I too would be at a loss on how the candidate can help me with my business.

Hi, Quick question. Your tips are great for a newbie like myself. I don’t have a “company”. I am an accountant and take private clients but wouldn’t be able to attach anything to the cover letter. Would I just say I can provide references or how would you handle it?

Thanks so much, dsgrieco

Thanks Lewis. Extremely helpful.

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Best Upwork Proposal Sample & Cover Letter

Upwork is an excellent platform for helping freelance writers find jobs. In this article, let’s explore the best Upwork proposal samples and best Upwork cover letter samples. You may be at any stage of a freelancing career. You may be a budding freelancer or a veteran. Freelancers often update their profiles and budding gigs seek tips to build one from scratch. Irrespective of your stage in freelancing, the Upwork proposal creation tips can help you nail your profile like a pro.

Upwork freelancing community platform offers freelancing opportunities in several domains. Let us consider here the best Upwork proposal samples for graphic designers, bookkeeping, data entry, web development, and more. By reading this article, you will learn what it takes to win a job on Upwork. Make sure you send an Upwork proposal that highlights how your skills will help you excel at the job.

Best Upwork Proposal Samples

Use these tips to craft a proposal that will earn you more freelancing jobs.

1. For graphic designers

Graphic designers opt for several subcategories which are the graphic design areas in which they specialize. Highlighting specialized domain interests while developing or updating profiles helps create a focused and objective-driven resume with a high pitch and target focus. A graphic design project contractor looks out for expertise in several skill areas and subcategories. In your profile section, you may highlight your graphic design-specific expertise while creating a new resume or update upgraded skills in your existing resume. The following skills and expertise were featured among the top graphic designer profiles at Upwork in 2022:

• Apparel, fashion design Adobe Photoshop, Adobe in-design
• Brochure, infographics, vector works, logo design
• UX/UI, web design, Canva, Minimal, Branding, Procreate, templates
• Graphic design, 2D design, game design, poster design, print design, CG artworks
• CSS, HTML, lettering, typography, digital media, e mail design , presentations
• Microsoft excel, Corporate style design, layout design, web hosting
• Product design, design research, animated GIF, photo editing
• Video editing, sound editing, sound design, film editing, T shirt design, drawing
• E learning, data modeling, budget planning

Best Upwork cover letter samples for graphic designers

You can find some best Upwork cover letter samples for graphic designers at

• https://www.pinterest.com/pin/634796509964612804/
• https://www.topicsway.com/2021/03/25/graphic-designer-cover-letter/
• http://www.upworklogin.com/upwork-odesk-cover-letters/examples/graphic-designer-design.html
• https://websonjob.com/graphics-designer-cover-letter-sample-and-format/

2. Best Upwork proposal sample for bookkeeping

The below-mentioned bookkeeping subcategories and skills have been found to be in demand by Upwork clients:

• Xero, Accounting, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Intuit Quick Books
• Stripe, Financial Accounting, Budget Planning, Expensify
• Sassu, Filing, Data entry, Sage 50 accounting
• Tax preparation, payroll processing, cost accounting
• The corporate tax, business development, WordPress, SEO, GAAP
• Strategic Planning, Financial Analysis, Accounting basics
• Shopify, CPA, Financial reporting, Chart of accounts
• Tableu, VLOOKUP,
• Process design, scheduling, online research, project planning
• App Folio, PropertyWare, Excel VBA, Business planning, Data analysis
• Legal and paralegal, proofreading, WordPerfect

3. Best Upwork proposal sample for data entry

If you are a data entry gig you can save your profile on Upwork and win top data entry projects from Upwork clients by highlighting your data entry skills and expertise. A write-up presented on the undermentioned website presents the best Upwork cover letter sample for data entry profile:

• https://websonjob.com/data-entry-cover-letter-sample-for-upwork/

The skills and expertise areas that you may want to highlight in your Upwork data entry profile can relate to the following aspects:

• Data entry speed
• Proficiency in languages
• Languages in which you can type
• Translation abilities
• Operational knowledge of various data entry software

4. Best Upwork proposal sample for a web developer

If you are a web developer gig seeking to create a dapper profile on Upwork you may like to visit examples presented on websites:

• https://jobsson.com/web-developer-cover-letter/#:~:text=I%20am%20very%20much%20interested,potentiality%20to%20match%20your%20needs .
• https://www.pinterest.com/pin/113997434302454831/

In your Upwork profile, you may want to highlight specific skills you have in the web development domain, these can include:

• Web hosting and Web designing
• Knowledge of different web designing tools
• Knowledge of WordPress
• Knowledge of web design coding
• Ability to work with different types of text and graphics content
• Ability to work with different types of audio and video content
• Knowledge of web listening tools
• Know how to set different pages, zones, filters, and links
• Know how to integrate secure payment gateways
• Knowledge of developing web mobile app

5. Upwork Categories in demand

Apart from the above-mentioned categories, Upwork freelance community online site offers collaboration between clients and gigs for several other domains. Broadly the domain expertise sought at Upwork pertains to the following areas:

Information technology development

• Javascript, CSS, Android, API integration, MySQL
• WordPress, PHP, HTML.5, Node.js, Mobile app developer
• Web designing, Python, Shopify, Blockchain, HTML
• Landing page design, React.js, Web and Android applications

Creative designing

• Graphics, logo, animation, motion, print, Infographics
• AdobeIn design, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe illustrators, Adobe after effects, Adobe Premier
• 2 D animation, sound editing

Sales and Marketing

• Social media, Facebook, lead generation, SEO
• Instagram, Google Analytics, Cold Callers
• Marketing strategy, campaign management, telemarketing

Writing and translation

• Content, article, social media, editing, fact-checking, proofreading
• Creative writing, English specialists, German specialists, translation
• Business writing, fashion writing, ghost-writing, copy editing

Administration and customer support

• Internet researchers, customer service/support, chat support, Microsoft office specialists
• Virtual assistants, appointment setters, Email supporters, time managers
• Data entry and scrappers, Google doc experts, project management, interpersonal skills
• Admin assistants, Canva graphic designers, file managers, typists

Finance and accounting

• Basic accounting, financial accounting, bank reconciliation, fundraising
• Bookkeeping, business analysis, and planning, stock management, account reconciliation
• Xero, Quick Books, Certified public accountants, taxation, and legal matters
• General ledger, financial analysis, financial modeling, accounts receivables management, business intelligence development

HR and training

• Technology domain recruiters, LinkedIn recruiters, human resource management, course-based HR
• Storyline developers, recruiter, and recruitment consultants
• Learning management, e-learning, training, and development
• Boolean search, instructional design, curriculum development
• Interviewers, compensation consultants

Legal assistance and support

• IPR, Partnerships, Civil law, Contract law, Paralegals,
• Trademark, Immigration law, Copyrights, contract drafting, legal research
• Real estate and property, NDA, Corporate law, Business law, family law

Engineering and architecture

• 3D designing and rendering, 2 D, product design, drafting, floor plan, AutoDesk Maya
• SketchUp, mechanical engineering, CAD, AutoCAD, interior designing, architecture
• Mathematicians, solid works design, electrical engineers, residential engineers

Tips for building Upwork profile

The following tips are suggested for building a dapper Upwork profile:

• Provide basic personal information
• Segregate general and specific domain expertise information
• Define expertise in your own words if not listed
• Display accreditations from Upwork clients
• Upgrade and update skillset
• Clearly state expectations and terms of association
• Clearly, state support items required from clients
• Register on Upwork and upload a profile
• Set desired profile accessibility and visibility.

Creating a proposal that works is all about getting the client to know, like and trust you. This is why it’s important to start every conversation you have with a potential client by letting them know how much you understand their problems and how you can solve them.

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How To Write a Cover Letter: Basics and Examples for Upwork Success

Creating a compelling cover letter is crucial for securing jobs on Upwork, the popular freelancing platform. A well-crafted Upwork cover letter can set you apart from the competition and increase your chances of landing your desired projects. This guide will walk you through the basics of writing a cover letter for Upwork, provide examples, and offer tips to make your proposals shine.

Table of Contents

Understanding the Importance of an Upwork Cover Letter

Basics of writing a cover letter for upwork, key elements of an effective upwork cover letter, common mistakes to avoid in upwork cover letters, step-by-step guide to writing an upwork cover letter, upwork cover letter sample for web developers, upwork cover letter sample for graphic designers, upwork cover letter sample for content writers, personalizing your upwork cover letter, using keywords effectively in your upwork cover letter, showcasing your unique selling proposition in upwork cover letters, tips for writing a winning upwork proposal cover letter, how to format your upwork cover letter for maximum impact, follow-up strategies after submitting an upwork cover letter, faq about upwork cover letters.

An Upwork cover letter is your first opportunity to make a great impression on potential clients. It sets the tone for your professional relationship and demonstrates your enthusiasm and suitability for the project. A strong cover letter can significantly increase your chances of being hired.

Writing a cover letter for Upwork requires a clear structure, an appropriate tone, and a personalized approach. Here’s a breakdown:

• Structure: Your cover letter should include an introduction, body paragraphs highlighting your skills and experience, and a conclusion with a call to action.
• Tone: Maintain a professional yet friendly tone. Show enthusiasm for the project and confidence in your abilities.
• Personalization: Customize each cover letter to the specific job post and client. Mention the client's name and address their project requirements directly.

An effective Upwork cover letter should include the following key elements:

• Introduction: Briefly introduce yourself and mention the job you're applying for.
• Skills Highlight: Highlight the skills that are most relevant to the job. Use bullet points for clarity.
• Relevant Experience: Share examples of past work that demonstrate your expertise. Be specific and concise.
• Call to Action: End with a strong call to action, inviting the client to discuss the project further.

Avoid these common mistakes to increase your chances of success:

• Generic Openings: Personalize each cover letter. Avoid using generic openings like "To whom it may concern."
• Overly Long Letters: Keep your cover letter concise. Aim for 200-300 words.
• Lack of Proofreading: Typos and grammatical errors can make a poor impression. Proofread your cover letter carefully.

Follow these steps to write a compelling Upwork cover letter:

• Analyzing the Job Post: Carefully read the job description. Identify the key skills and requirements.
• Crafting the Introduction: Start with a friendly greeting and mention the job title. Introduce yourself briefly.
• Showcasing Your Skills: Highlight your relevant skills and experiences. Use bullet points for easy reading.
• Ending with a Strong CTA: Conclude with a call to action. Invite the client to schedule an interview or discuss the project further.

Example Breakdown:

Introduction:

"Hi [Client's Name],

I’m excited to apply for your web development project. With over five years of experience in web development, I have the skills and expertise to deliver high-quality results."

Skills Highlight:

• Proficient in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP
• Experience with responsive design and cross-browser compatibility
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail

Relevant Experience:

"I recently completed a project for a client where I developed a custom e-commerce site that increased their sales by 30%."

Call to Action:

"I would love to discuss your project in more detail. Please feel free to reach out to schedule a call."

I’m thrilled to submit my application for your graphic design project. With a background in graphic design and a passion for creativity, I’m confident I can bring your vision to life."

• Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite
• Experience with branding and logo design
• Strong visual communication skills

"I designed a new logo for a startup that significantly improved their brand recognition and customer engagement."

"I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how I can contribute to your project. Let’s schedule a time to chat."

I’m eager to apply for your content writing project. With a strong background in content creation and SEO, I can help you create engaging and optimized content."

• Proficient in SEO best practices
• Experience with blog writing and article creation
• Strong research and editing skills

"I’ve written numerous articles for a tech blog that have consistently ranked on the first page of Google."

"I’d love to discuss your content needs further. Please get in touch to arrange a meeting."

Addressing the Client: Always use the client's name if it's available. It shows attention to detail and genuine interest.

Tailoring Your Proposal: Customize your cover letter to reflect the specific job requirements. Mention details from the job post to demonstrate your understanding.

Keyword Integration: Use relevant keywords from the job post naturally within your cover letter to increase visibility.

SEO for Proposals: Just like SEO for web content, using the right keywords can make your proposal more discoverable and relevant.

Highlight what sets you apart from other freelancers. Whether it’s a unique skill, a specific experience, or a distinctive approach, make sure to emphasize your unique selling proposition.

Clarity: Be clear and concise in your writing. Avoid jargon and overly complex sentences.

Professionalism: Maintain a professional tone while being friendly and approachable.

Enthusiasm: Show genuine enthusiasm for the project and the opportunity to work with the client.

Layout: Use a clean and simple layout. Break your text into paragraphs and use bullet points where appropriate.

Readability: Choose a readable font and size. Avoid large blocks of text.

Professional Appearance: Ensure your cover letter looks professional and polished. Pay attention to spacing and alignment.

Timing: Follow up if you haven’t heard back within a week.

Politeness: Be polite and professional in your follow-up message.

Persistence: Show continued interest without being overly pushy. A gentle reminder can keep you top of mind.

What is the best length for an Upwork cover letter?

Aim for 200-300 words. Keep it concise and to the point.

How can I make my Upwork cover letter stand out?

Personalize your cover letter, highlight relevant skills and experience, and maintain a professional yet friendly tone.

Should I include a portfolio in my Upwork cover letter?

Mentioning your portfolio is a good idea. Provide links to relevant work samples.

How often should I follow up after submitting a cover letter?

Wait about a week before following up. Be polite and express continued interest in the project.

What are common mistakes to avoid in an Upwork cover letter?

Avoid generic openings, overly long letters, and typos. Make sure to customize each cover letter to the specific job post.

Can I use a template for my Upwork cover letter?

While templates can provide structure, always personalize each cover letter to the job and client.

Writing an effective Upwork cover letter is an essential skill for freelancers. By understanding the basics, avoiding common mistakes, and personalizing each proposal, you can increase your chances of success on the platform. Use the provided examples and tips to craft compelling cover letters that will help you stand out to potential clients and win more projects.

Letter Templates & Example

10 Impressive Cover Letter Examples for Upwork: Stand Out from the Crowd

Are you struggling with crafting the perfect cover letter for your Upwork proposals? Look no further! We’ve compiled a list of cover letter examples for Upwork that you can use to kickstart your writing process. These examples cover a range of industries and job types, so you’re sure to find something that resonates with you. And the best part? You can easily customize and edit these examples to fit your unique skills and experiences. No more staring at a blank screen, wondering where to even begin. With our cover letter examples, you’ll be well on your way to submitting winning proposals on Upwork. So what are you waiting for? Let’s get started!

The Best Structure for Cover Letter Examples for Upwork

When applying for freelance jobs on Upwork, your cover letter is often the first impression that potential clients will have of you. So, it’s important to make sure that you’re putting your best foot forward. One way to do this is by structuring your cover letter in a clear and concise way. Here’s a breakdown of the best structure for cover letter examples for Upwork:

1. Start with a personalized greeting: Begin your cover letter by addressing the client by name. This shows that you’ve taken the time to customize your application and are genuinely interested in the job.

2. Introduce yourself: Share a bit about yourself and your experience in the industry. Highlight any relevant skills or achievements that make you stand out from other candidates. Keep in mind that this should be brief and to the point.

3. Show your understanding of the client’s needs: Read the job description carefully and demonstrate that you understand the client’s needs. Explain how you can help them achieve their goals and solve any problems they may have.

4. Give specific examples: Provide examples of previous work or projects that are relevant to the job at hand. This helps to give the client a sense of your style and level of expertise.

5. Explain why you’re the best fit: Summarize why you’re the ideal candidate for the job. Highlight your strengths and explain how they align with the needs of the client.

6. End with a call to action: Conclude your cover letter by thanking the client for their time and consideration. Encourage them to take the next step by interviewing you or reviewing your portfolio.

In summary, a well-structured cover letter should be personalized, brief, and to the point. By following these guidelines, you can increase your chances of landing your dream freelance job on Upwork. Best of luck!

Cover Letter Sample for Data Entry Job

I am excited to apply for the Data Entry position you have posted on Upwork. I have been working in this field for years, and I know that my experience and skills are what you are looking for. I am confident that I can exceed your expectations and deliver outstanding results.

As a Data Entry professional, accuracy, efficiency, and speed are the core values that I possess. I understand that the data you handle is sensitive and critical to your business. Thus, I am willing to undergo additional training, if required, to ensure that I can meet your specific needs and requirements.

Thank you for your consideration. I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Best regards,

[Your Name]

Cover Letter Sample for Virtual Assistant Job

Hello there!

I am thrilled to submit my application for the Virtual Assistant position you have advertised on Upwork. With years of experience in administrative and customer service, I am confident that I can provide excellent support to your business.

I have a strong command of various administrative tools, including Google Suite, Trello, Basecamp, and Asana. I am also proficient in managing emails, appointments, and social media accounts. As a Virtual Assistant, I understand the importance of being proactive, organized, and detail-oriented, which are all essential skills that I have honed over the years.

I look forward to discussing how I can help you and your business. Thank you for considering my application.

Cover Letter Sample for Content Writing Job

Dear [Client Name],

I am excited to apply for your Content Writing job posting. As a skilled writer and editor, I believe that I can produce high-quality content that meets your needs and exceeds your expectations.

I have experience in various forms of content writing, such as blog posts, website copy, social media content, and product descriptions. I am proficient in research and can write on a broad range of topics. I can also adhere to your editorial guidelines and produce content that is both engaging and informative.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I would love to discuss how I can contribute to your content needs further.

Yours truly,

Cover Letter Sample for Graphic Design Job

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am excited to apply for your Graphic Design position and showcase my expertise in creating visually appealing designs that capture your audience’s attention.

I have extensive experience in various design software such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, etc. Additionally, I am well-versed in identifying the target audience and tailoring designs to meet the client’s needs. I can produce designs for a variety of mediums, including print, digital, and web.

Thank you for considering my application. I am looking forward to the possibility of contributing my skills to your team.

Cover Letter Sample for Translation Job

I am interested in your Translation job posting and am confident that I can deliver accurate and professional translations in a timely fashion. I am knowledgeable in both the source and target languages and proficient in using various translation tools.

I have an extensive background in translating various forms of content, including academic papers, legal documents, marketing materials, and web content. I can produce high-quality translations that are tailored to the client’s needs while maintaining their intended meaning and tone.

Thank you for reviewing my application. I am available at your convenience to discuss how I can help you with your translation needs further.

Cover Letter Sample for Social Media Marketing Job

I came across your Social Media Marketing job posting and believe that I can help you develop and implement a winning social media strategy. I have years of experience in social media marketing and can produce results-driven campaigns that engage your target audience and increase brand awareness.

I am proficient in using various social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. I have experience in creating social media content, developing social media calendars, and tracking social media analytics. Moreover, I can tailor my approach to meet your specific business objectives and goals.

I appreciate your consideration and would love to discuss how I can help you achieve your social media marketing goals.

Cover Letter Sample for Web Development Job

I am excited to apply for your Web Development job posting on Upwork. With years of experience in web development, I am confident that I can deliver the optimal website for your business.

I have a strong command of various programming languages, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP. Additionally, I am proficient in development frameworks such as React, Angular, and Laravel. I am well-versed in designing responsive websites that are optimized for search engines, fast, and user-friendly.

I appreciate your consideration and look forward to discussing your project further.

Kind regards,

Tips for Writing Cover Letters for Upwork Jobs

Upwork is one of the largest online marketplaces where businesses and freelancers connect for work. Whether you’re entirely new to Upwork or looking to improve your chances of landing more jobs, one of the most crucial parts of the application process is to write a killer cover letter. Here are some tips to help you create a cover letter that will get you hired:

Keep it concise and personalized

Avoid writing a long, rambling cover letter. Instead, make it short and to the point. Focus on the main points, and draw attention to your strengths and accomplishments. Also, make sure to personalize each cover letter for the job you are applying for. Research the company and the job description, and incorporate this knowledge into your letter. Doing so will demonstrate your interest and increase your chances of getting hired.

Showcase your experience

When applying for a job through Upwork, it is essential to highlight your experience and success. Mention any relevant projects or clients you have worked with before, and how your skills and knowledge have helped these businesses. Be specific about how you have contributed to projects in the past and emphasize how you can help the potential client solve their problem.

Highlight your skills and achievements

Understand the job requirements and include in your cover letter how you meet these requirements with your skills and accomplishments. You should highlight what you bring to the table by explaining how your skills make you the best candidate for this particular job. Provide examples of how you have utilized your skills to solve problems in past projects or roles. Show that you have what it takes to get the project done.

Add a call to action

Conclude your cover letter with a call to action, letting the client know what you can offer them and that you are excited to work with them. Let them know that you are looking forward to hearing back from them, and they can contact you for further questions or to discuss the project in more detail.

By following these tips, writing a compelling cover letter for Upwork will become easier and will help you land not only more jobs but also the right jobs for you. Remember that your cover letter is an extension of yourself on paper. It should be thoughtful, concise, and show your potential client just how qualified and passionate you are.

FAQs about Cover Letter Examples for Upwork

What is a cover letter and why do I need one for Upwork?

A cover letter is a written document that accompanies your Upwork job proposal. It is a way for you to introduce yourself, sell your skills, and show the client why you are the perfect candidate for the job.

How can I make my cover letter stand out?

To make your cover letter stand out, you should customize it for each job you apply for. Use specific examples to show how you can help the client achieve their goals, and demonstrate that you have read and understand the requirements of the job posting.

Can I use a cover letter template for my Upwork proposals?

Yes, you can use a cover letter template as a starting point for your Upwork proposals. However, you should customize the content to fit the job posting and to reflect your unique skills and experience.

How long should my Upwork cover letter be?

Your Upwork cover letter should be concise and to the point. Ideally, it should be no more than one page long, and should highlight your most important qualifications and skills.

What should I avoid including in my Upwork cover letter?

You should avoid including irrelevant information in your Upwork cover letter, such as personal details or unrelated work experience. Additionally, do not copy and paste your resume into your cover letter – the two documents should complement each other.

Do I need to include my hourly rate in my cover letter?

It is not necessary to include your hourly rate in your Upwork cover letter – you can discuss this with the client once they have expressed interest in working with you. However, if the job posting includes a budget range, you can mention that your proposed rate falls within that range.

Should I include a call to action in my cover letter?

Yes, you should include a call to action in your Upwork cover letter. This could be a request for an interview or for the client to review your portfolio. It shows that you are proactive and interested in the job.

Thanks for reading, and happy job hunting!

We hope these cover letter examples have been helpful in guiding you towards a successful proposal on Upwork. Remember that crafting a personalized and effective cover letter is crucial to standing out from the competition and ultimately landing your dream project. Keep practicing and refining your approach, and don’t forget to visit our site for more guidance and inspiration. Here’s to your next great opportunity!

5 Effective Cover Letter Samples for Upwork Proposal to Win Your Dream Project Top 10 Sample Cover Letter for Upwork Customer Service to Boost Your Chances of Getting Hired 10 Effective Cover Letter for Upwork Proposal Sample Templates You Can Use Today Guide to Writing an Effective Cover Letter for Upwork Template How to Write an Effective Proposal Letter for Upwork: A Step-by-Step Guide The Perfect Sample Cover Letter for Upwork Proposal: Ace your Freelance Applications

18 Ways to Write your Upwork cover letter effectively

By WriitingForu

Updated on: November 14, 2022

In This Article

Here are  the 18 ways to write your Upwork cover letter effectively helping you get your 1st order or your journey on the way.

  1. address your clients by their name.

You can find your client’s name in their Recent History. To do that, Visit the job you’d like to bid on, choose it, then scroll to the bottom. There you will see something relevant, such as this image below.; once you find the name, note it down and move to the next step.

In this Picture, the Client’s Name is  Rex ; check the one you are looking for.

2. Show them you’ve read their job description

Please read the job description from A to Z and understand what your clients want you to do for their business or Whatever the project is related to.To understand it the best way, let me show you an example. The Description is present in job in which the client requires writers for content who are focused on Science and Religion or whatever, so they can write the best content for their website and as well as for their Social media handles.

3. Share a surprising piece of knowledge

  While writing your proposal, share something catchy, attractive, and pleasant to your client so that you can grab their attention to your submissions. Try to catch them in your first two lines of the knowledge you are sharing; doing this will not only capture your client’s attention, but he will come to know that who powerfully you grab his attention, the same you will do for his content readers.

4. Ask a thoughtful question

  While writing your cover letter for Upwork, you must ask related questions from your client about the project to build their interest in your proposal rather than moving on to the next bid.

You can start questioning them with a statement, “Hi! I just read your job and it sparked a couple of Questions in my mind:

1. Ask Question Number 1

2. Ask Question Number 2

3. Ask Question Number 3

You can ask a minimum of 2 questions and a maximum of 3 to 4 Questions. It will make your client interested in you to get a quote from you and start discussing his project more.

5. Offer helpful Suggestions

  Who wouldn’t like to take helpful Suggestions? Of course, no one! You can make your Upwork Proposal more stunning if you offer your clients helpful suggestions that can boost their sales and bring value to their business, they would love to talk to you about their projects in detail, sometimes they become very, very happy, and they hire you after reading your Upwork Proposal regarding their Job Post.

6. Don’t open with “Dear sir or madam”

  Starting from your first line, don’t open up your Upwork Proposal like “Dear Sir/Madam, I have read your project details and it……”

Instead, open up like this “Rex, Hi! I just read that you are looking for a “Social Media Management” Expert. But before anything…….”

7. Break the ice with a compliment

  When you write your Upwork Proposal, you must be politely thanking them for starting your business. This will help break the ice between yourself and your customer.

Let Say, You add this complement in your Upwork Proposal letter  “Rex, Hi! Congratulations on starting your online blog. I can help you write content that can engage readers all over the world and can boost your audience and traffic by 10x by my proven strategies; here is the link to my past work directly related to your job details.”

8. Find common ground, then mention it

  While reading the job description in detail, you should find common ground to which the client is pointing your attention; you have to note that point and talk around that because your client will be comfortable and want more to hear from you in this circle. Grab that points and start talking to your client about his project, i.e., If he is talking about content writing, you should talk only about content writing rather than talking about how expert you are or talking out of yours’s client’s interest; they don’t care how much you are expert they need their work to done perfectly by the freelancer they hire for which they’ll pay you $$$.

9. Show them a relevant Piece of work you’ve done

In doing so, they will understand better that you are a great fit for this project.Also, they would be eager to ask you questions about the relevant work you have done for the past clients. This is a fantastic option to make your Upwork suggestions more appealing, much stunning, and much eye-catching .

The best way to share your Relevant work is to:

1. Upload all your work to Google Drive and share the link to your clients in your Upwork Proposal. 2. Directly attach your work in the Upwork sample Area where you use to attach the samples, i.e., you can upload up to 10 samples, and each has a size capacity of 25 Megabytes (MB).

10. Tell a Story About a similar client you helped

  If you have worked on similar projects, Interns, Jobs, or you might help someone with the same project, you can tell them about that. Also, you can attach the relevant work done in the story you are telling to your client.Tell them how you helped your client with your expertise and boosted their sales and audience, and you bring their business from having zero to top. For make them sure you can add up the screenshot of the results that you have driven for your client’s work you are talking about, this way they will be 100% sure that you are a great fit for them, and they will hire you as soon as possible and the submit their requirements to you about their project.

11. Say something that shows your expertise

  Now here comes the part you will talk about yourself, your expertise, and the work you have done so for past clients, also. You can mention your experience and the $$$ You earned from the past projects you have done, your current Ranking, i.e.,

For Upwork: Rising Star, Top Rated, Top-rated Plus, and Expert Vetted

For Fiverr: Level 1 Seller, Level 2 Seller, and Top Rated Seller

You can also add that you got 5 Star raving Feedback from your clients on the projects you have done from them, also their testimonials.

But these all must be very short and precise. Your whole Upwork Proposal Should not Exceed more than 6-7 Lines.

12. Don’t talk all about yourself

  You are writing the Upwork Proposal for the dream jobs you want. It would be best if you remembered that you have to talk less about ( I ) , i.e., About yourself and more and more about your client’s Job details and description to build their attention to your job proposal.

13. Research the client before writing a proposal

  What does this mean? Well, it means you have to research the client well and gather all the required information needed before you start writing the Upwork Proposal.

Well, you need all this info mentioned below:

1. Clients Recent History. 2. Client’s Feedbacks. 3. Client’s Ratings. 4. Client’s Hire Rate. 5. Client’s Payment Method Must be approved. 6. Average Hourly rate Paid to Freelancers.

14. Never spam them with copy/paste

  Never spam your clients with copy/paste templates; they would come to know that you have used the copy/paste template to get the job.

Make your own Upwork Proposal every time you apply for the job/project you want to work on.

Always remember one thing  “First Impression is the last impression.”

15. Tell them pitfalls they should avoid

  Help them out by telling what they should avoid while doing business, making their strategies correct, searching out for the mistakes they are doing, and telling them not to do; this is a great way to grab a long-term client.

16. Don’t Focus too Much on Your Education (No one cares)

  This is my personal experience no one cares how much educated you are, they only care if you have proven your skills and drive great results for the projects you have done for your clients, So this will be friendly advice don’t bother to write about your education too much, they already know how much educated you are, because it is mentioned on your profile as you can see here:

17. Keep items simple and to the point

While writing your Upwork proposal, you must keep all the stuff simple, easy, and related to the job description; in short, tell your clients what they expect to listen to. To understand this, consider yourself as you are a client and find the best freelancer to get your work done; this is a great way to think about how your client thinks and what type of expertise he is looking to hire and work with. Believe me, I practiced it, and it’s very cool you will get to know what type of work your client is looking For.

18. Don’t Write unnecessary and long paragraphs

Don’t write essays in your Upwork proposals, and clients wouldn’t consider looking at least at your Cover letters. Here’s what you need to be doing to ensure that your proposal on Upwork is stunning and rocking.

1. Don’t Talk out of the Ground (Talk only about your job description). 2. Again, talk less about yourself and more about your client’s work. 3. Only talk about the Client’s Problems solution, Suggest him in 3 to 4 ways to solve their problems. 4. Short, sweet, and precise proposal focusing on the pain point.

Remember Few Points:

• Your Profile Should be 100% Complete.
• The client’s reviews are very important. Get a good one always.
• Don’t bid on the job if you can’t do it.
• Under-promise and overdeliver.
• The portfolio is key.
• Few testimonials on the profile are a goldmine. We have mentioned the best 18 ways to write your Upwork cover letter effectively, follow up and see how your results changes into days, or weeks.

Thank You For Reading; Should you need any queries or suggestions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us., We would love to listen to them.

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Effective Tips to Writing Winning Upwork Cover Letters

Table of Contents

Upwork is a gold mine of opportunities for freelancers. But getting clients on the platform is no walk in the park, especially if you’re just starting. There’s a ton of competition out there, and to stand out, you’ll need a winning cover letter. If you need help getting started, we’ve got a great sample cover letter for Upwork proposal  that you can refer to. Aside from samples, we’ll also share some effective tips that will land you more jobs on Upwork. So if you plan to be a successful freelancer on the platform, read on!

Why Your Cover Letter Matters

A cover letter is an essential part of the Upwork application process and can make or break your chances of landing a job. It’s one of the first things that potential employers will look at. When they read it, they must automatically see that you’re a good fit for them. For those new to Upwork, having a good cover letter ensures that recruiters will notice you when evaluating applicants. Moreover, it gives employers more information about what skills and experiences they possess related to the job. By including concrete examples of how you’ve used these skills successfully in past work settings, you can help boost their confidence in your abilities. This will make a strong case for why you’d be an excellent fit for the job.

What To Include in Your Upwork Proposal Cover Letter

How you format your cover letter is essential for effectively conveying your message . A professional cover letter should follow a logical structure and include key information, such as:

• Contact Section : The contact section includes your name, phone number, and email address. It’s usually located at the top of your letter. This is then followed by the hiring manager’s name and company contact information.
• Greeting:  You can personalize your greeting by including the hiring manager’s name. If you don’t have information about their name, you can opt for “Dear Hiring Manager.”As much as possible, avoid using “To Whom It May Concern.” This sounds impersonal and too generic.
• Intro : After your greeting, include a short but strong introduction paragraph. This part is where you can highlight what makes you qualified for the role.
• Body : The body of your letter is where you can dive into further details about your qualifications and relevant experience. Include an explanation of how these previous accomplishments play a role in helping them achieve their goals.
• Call to Action and sign off : End your cover letter strongly and positively. You can encourage the hiring manager to reach out to you. Don’t feel shy to say that you look forward to an interview with them.

Effective Tips to Write a Winning Upwork Cover Letter

Keep it concise.

When writing a cover letter for Upwork, keep the document’s length to no more than one page. By making your points concisely, you will make a stronger impression and ensure that the hiring manager reads the rest of your letter.

Showcase your qualifications

Highlight the skills, experience, and qualifications that make you an ideal candidate for the job position. This should include relevant work history, certifications, or training courses which apply to the job description. You can also mention any awards or accolades demonstrating your success in similar roles.

Personalize your cover letter

Make sure to address the cover letter directly to the employer’s name, if possible. Additionally, provide specific examples from your past experiences that show how your capabilities are transferable to the role. Doing this helps create an engaging narrative demonstrating why you would be an excellent fit for the company.

Limit your cover letter to one page

It can be tempting to go all in with your cover letter and detail all your work experience and qualifications. But you should be mindful of the letter’s length. It is best to limit it to one page or less. Hiring managers screen dozens of people a day. An overly long letter will more likely be overlooked than considered.

Stay away from buzzwords

The main goal of a cover letter is to sell yourself and what you can do to the hiring manager. And choosing the right words can make all difference. Try to steer clear of or limit the use of generic buzzwords and phrases like the following:

• People person
• Team player

Tons of applicants use these words and phrases in the letter. And as such, they can be seen as empty. Plus, these phrases usually lack evidence. They can’t prove anything to the employer. Instead, you want to focus on using action verbs, job-relevant keywords and phrases, and evidence. This will help you better demonstrate your skills and expertise.

Incorporate keywords

Many employers use keyword searching when reviewing applications for open positions. To increase your chances of being noticed, incorporate keywords related to the job. For instance, if you’re applying for a software developer, you can include keyphrases like “data analysis” or “programming languages.” Additionally, match up these words with the words used in the job advertisement. This ensures that your application stands out amongst others.

Proofread and make necessary revisions

Before submitting your cover letter, take the time to proofread and edit it thoroughly. Check for any grammar, spelling, or punctuation errors that may have been missed during your initial review process. It is also essential to check for any formatting issues, such as font size or spacing.

Sample Cover Letter for Upwork Proposal

For a web developer role.

Greetings [Name of Hiring Manager], I am a skilled web developer, specializing in frontend and backend development for the past five years. When I saw your job post, I knew I would be perfect for this role. My experience includes creating dynamic websites from scratch with HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript (including JQuery), PHP, and MySQL. Additionally, I have extensive knowledge of cross-browser optimization, user interface design, and usability testing. I take great pride in being organized and diligent in my approach to each project. With a keen eye for detail, I leave no stone unturned in ensuring optimal results in the projects assigned to me. I would love to showcase my abilities and deliver stellar outcomes for your business through this position. Kindly get in touch if you wish to discuss this further. Thank you for your time and consideration. Warm regards, [Signature]

For a Writing Role

Hi [Hiring Manager’s Name], I am an experienced writer and editor with a strong background in crafting compelling stories that resonate deeply with readers. With more than ten years of professional writing experience, I have developed the necessary skillset required for creating captivating content. I also specialize in creating copy that is both clear and concise. And I believe that my creativity and technical proficiency make me an ideal candidate for this position. If you want to see my work samples, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to discussing this role with you further. Thank you for your consideration. Best Regards, [Signature]

Final Words

Well-crafted cover letters are essential for making a great first impression on Upwork. They allow prospective employers to learn more about your skills and expertise. They also provide an opportunity to showcase your personality engagingly. A professional yet captivating cover letter can be the difference between getting noticed and being overlooked. Take a cue from these tips and  sample cover letter for Upwork proposal  to start writing your letter and winning more clients. Good luck!

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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The Best Cover Letter For Upwork : Tips Plus Sample! [2023 Update] 

Want to write the best cover letter for Upwork but don’t know how? Well, good news because you’re in the right place! 

When I started on Upwork as a freelancer , I had no idea where to begin and how to write the best cover letter for Upwork to get the jobs and clients I wanted. 

It’s completely understandable given that Upwork is such a huge marketplace for freelancers and clients! 

I wished I had someone show me Upwork cover letter examples so that I could have saved all that time. 

But you know what, I don’t want you to struggle as I did, so I’m here to provide help writing a cover letter so that you’ll be able to write anything from short and sweet cover letters to providing outstanding cover letter examples. 

So buckle up and dive right into some tips I learn on how to write a cover letter for Upwork during my Upwork journey, as well as provide one of the best cover letter examples. 

By the end of this article, you’d be a complete Upwork cover letter pro!

Affiliate Link Disclosure

Some of the links on here are affiliate links and I may earn if you click on them, AT NO EXTRA cost to you. I hope you find the information here useful! Thanks.

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How To Write The Best Cover Letter For Upwork ?

1. read the job description carefully.

As a beginner on Upwork, you might be very excited to get things going and to start applying to as many jobs out there. That’s fine.

But what’s not okay is if you just blindly apply with the same Upwork proposal cover letter for different jobs and do not pay attention to individual job requirements. 

Imagine if you were a client weeding through dozens, if not, hundreds of proposals, trying to find the perfect candidate for your job, and the frustration you face if the applicant’s cover letter didn’t match your requirements.

That’s why many clients have started including instructions right at the end of their job descriptions to ensure that you’ve read their entire post, and also are sure of their requirements.

See if you can spot the special instruction below! 

This is becoming increasingly common, so make sure you read through every word on jobs you apply to! 

2. Prioritize Answering The Additional Questions

This was a mistake I made as a beginner on Upwork. I often thought the additional questions were just, well, additional questions. 

So what I would do is spend all my time, energy and creative juices on the cover letter, making it the best Upwork cover letter.

When it came to the additional questions, I would often post a single-sentence response or make a reference to my cover letter. 

My thinking was that the client would have read my cover letter first then the responses, right?

How wrong I was! 

I literally only realized this when I started hiring people on Upwork that clients see your response first, followed by your cover letter. 

This makes a lot of sense because if you have multiple applicants to weed through as a client, you’d set specific questions to zone in on your ideal candidates. Duh! 

So make sure you don’t commit the same mistake I did and invest all of your energy into writing a good cover letter for Upwork that you neglect the additional questions! 

3. Personalize Your Cover Letters 

This is extremely important. Imagine if you’re a client looking through many proposals and every cover letter starts with a generic greeting.

But suddenly one of them addresses you by name.

Wouldn’t that make you stop and read further?

Yes, granted not all job posters post their name on the job posting, but a little digging goes a long way. 

Here’s how I find out how to address the job poster if they haven’t posted their name on their job posting – I just look at past reviews they got! 

Here’s one example below:

Most of the time other freelancers would have given them feedback and addressed them by name. 

Sure I’ve gotten it wrong sometimes as it might be someone else in their team. (rarely though!) 

But the fact is they can tell if you’ve done additional homework on them as a client and are sincere in your cover letter. 

4. Ensure Your Expectations Align 

Now one thing I need to remind you before you go about crafting the best cover letter for Upwork is this – ensure that what the client requires is what you are able to provide and at the budget they’ve set.

There is no point in doing a smashing cover letter on Upwork but you realize that the client is paying too low, or that they require more availability than you are able to provide. 

This goes back to reading their job post clearly for the budget and availability required and also looking at their past history as a client.

Are they dependable? Have they paid decently for past projects? 

Once you have established this, then you can go about putting together all the tips I’ve highlighted so far to craft the best cover letter in Upwork. 

5. Tailor Your Experiences And Skill Sets To The Job Description

If you want to write a good Upwork cover letter then you jolly well make sure that your cover letter addresses your client’s requirements.

If they want someone with health and fitness experience and you have a personal trainer certification on the side, mention it.

If they’re looking for a cryptocurrency fanatic and you love following the ups and downs of the crypto market, make sure you tell them all about it too! 

Often your experiences may not be directly relevant. But dig deep and I’m sure you’ll find something.

I once saw a job posting for a wedding planner requesting SEO articles for their website .

 I told them I wasn’t married (yet!) but I loved weddings and I had actively helped some of my good friends behind the scenes for their weddings.

It didn’t get me hired, but it sure got them interested enough to start a conversation with me on Upwork. Baby steps! 

• How To Delete Upwork Account + Things I Wish I Knew![2023]

6. Show Don’t Just Tell

You can have the best cover letter for Upwork, but this doesn’t matter much if you don’t have the chops to back up what you’re saying.

If you’re a freelance writer pitching to a new client, make sure you have your portfolio on hand to show the client just what you’ve been telling them – your writing style and areas of expertise. 

Here are some of my writing samples ! 

If you don’t have the means to purchase a site to host your writing samples, there are tons of free sites out there where you can host your portfolio! 

Psst, I go through this in detail in my freelance writing course . 

But if you don’t have time for that and want to start immediately, Journo Portfolio is an amazing platform to get started on! 

7. Make Sure You End With A Call-To-Action 

If you want to end things on a high as you craft the best cover letter in Upwork, then make sure you end your cover letter with a strong CTA.

A CTA or Call-To-Action is a statement which encourages your reader or recipient to act immediately.

It’s like when you watch an advertisement on YouTube or on Instagram and they tell you to click on a link if you’re keen to find out more. 

You can say “Looking forward to hearing back from you!”

But why do that when you can say, “I look forward to working with you and I’ll be happy to jump on a Zoom call today or tomorrow to discuss your requirements in detail.”

Imagine if a client needed something urgently and needed to speak to a freelancer within the next day to get this done. 

Your CTA would have been a godsend to them! 

Best Upwork Cover Letter Samples

Now, are you curious about how to weave together all these tips to create the best Upwork proposal cover letter? 

Here’s how! 

Now before you go ahead and copy and paste this or any best cover letter examples for your next client proposal, remember that it is always important to read every posting carefully and personalize! 

Made it this far in the article? Great! Here’s a real-life example of an Upwork best cover letter that I wrote that got me the job!  

FAQs For Best Cover Letter For Upwork  

How do i write a cover letter for upwork.

Here are some quick tips on writing the best cover letter for Upwork:

• Read The Job Description Carefully
• Prioritize Answering The Additional Questions
• Personalize Your Cover Letters
• Ensure Your Expectations Align 
• Tailor Your Experiences And Skill Sets To The Job Description
• Show Don’t Just Tell
• Make Sure You End With A Call-To-Action 

Is A 500 Word Cover Letter Ok?

No, a 500-word cover letter is not ok. You should target a word count of 250 to 400 words for a cover letter. Keep things short, sweet and concise as your prospective client or employer may have a lot of cover letters to look through. 

Some of the best sample cover letters for employment aren’t the longest ones. They’re the ones that display the candidate’s experience best in the most succinct way. 

How Do You End A Cover Letter On Upwork ?

The best way to end a cover letter on Upwork is to reiterate why you’re the best person for the job and to remember to include a call-to-action statement so that the client will be inspired to contact you right after.

Some of the best Upwork cover letter samples are those that clients can look at and go – yes, this is exactly the person we need.

By ending the letter with these elements, you can be sure your proposal will be top of mind for your future client. 

How Do I Write A Good Cover Letter?

Writing a good cover letter isn’t just for Upwork, you can also apply these skills when writing a cover letter for a job:

• Read The Job Listing Carefully
• Do Your Research On The Role
• Start With A Strong Opening Statement 
• Use Forward-Looking Statements Like What You Want To Do For Them Instead Of Just Saying What You’ve Done 
• Be Personal 
• Show Enthusiasm And Interest For The Role
• Keep Your Cover Letter Short And Succinct
• Ask For Feedback Before Sending It
• Spell-Check Your Letter

So there you have it. The steps to writing the best cover letter for Upwork to get the job and clients you want.

It’s really not that daunting or scary, right?

The steps are very straightforward and as long as you’ve read the job posting carefully, you’ll be able to craft the perfect cover letter that shows the client you are exactly what they are looking for

If you’re still unsure about your Upwork journey, don’t worry I have many other Upwork resources you can refer to! 

You’ll realize that the best way to learn to get better at finding work on Upwork is really to just start applying to jobs with these tips and then finetune your approach from there. 

Take that first step, start writing and applying, and as always reach out to me in the comment section down below if you need help! 

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Types of cover letters: a complete guide

A cover letter introduces you to potential employers, highlighting your suitability for the role. Getting it right can make a strong first impression, differentiate you from other candidates, and increase your chances of securing an interview.

Taralika crafts compelling narratives that illuminate modern hiring practices and HR technology trends.

A cover letter accompanies a candidate’s resume when applying for a job. It is a personal introduction to the hiring manager, highlighting relevant skills, experiences, and reasons for applying.

Unlike a resume, which provides a structured overview of the career history, a cover letter offers a narrative that can showcase a candidate’s personality and passion for the role. 

74% of recruitment decision-makers prefer to receive job applications that include cover letters apart from CVs. According to their findings, good cover letter examples are highly valued by employers, with many considering them crucial for explaining career objectives, motivations, and employment gaps.

Even if a cover letter is optional, over 75% of recruiters tend to give preference to candidates who attach a cover letter in the correct format along with their resume.

Types of cover letters

Before writing a cover letter, it is vital to go through the various types of cover letters accepted by different organizations, each catering to a different role or purpose: – 

• Application cover letter

The application cover letter responds to a specific job posting. It should be a basic cover letter tailored to the job description, highlighting how the candidate’s qualifications match the requirements. Using this letter can expand on the achievements listed in the resume and explain the person’s motivation for applying. 

• Prospecting cover letter

Also known as a cold-contact letter, a prospecting cover letter is used when you want to inquire about potential job openings at a company. This type of letter demonstrates a proactive approach and interest in the organization, even if there are no current vacancies. 

• Networking cover letter 

A networking cover letter is sent to contacts within the professional network to ask for job search advice or referrals. It’s a great way to leverage connections and uncover hidden job opportunities. The letter should mention the mutual contact and explain the candidate’s job search goals.

• Career change cover letter

If an individual is transitioning into a new career, a career change cover letter is perfect for them! It is a short cover letter highlighting examples from experiences in the current role and how they make a suitable candidate for the new role. This letter should also explain the reasons for the career shift and highlight any transferable skills.

• Referral cover letter

When someone within an organization refers a colleague for a position, it is generally in the form of a referral cover letter. Mentioning the referrer in your letter can immediately capture the hiring manager’s attention and add credibility to your application. 

• No experience cover letter 

A no experience cover letter is for those who lack direct work experience in the job they are applying for. An ideal no experience cover letter will contain examples emphasizing the candidate’s enthusiasm, willingness to learn, and any relevant skills or coursework that can compensate for the lack of professional experience.

Cover letter examples 

Checking out a few good cover letter examples is a great way to get a head start towards crafting the perfect cover letter. 

Also read: Top 3 Cover Letter Template Samples .

The cover letter examples for a job provide a clear understanding of how to format and phrase cover letters for different scenarios.

Tips for writing a good cover letter

According to the Business and Professional Communication Quarterly , 56% of employers prefer cover letters with job applications. Here are some useful tips on how to type a cover letter that will help you stand out amongst others:

Customize each letter

Statutory warning – generic cover letters are easily spotted and often disregarded! Tailor the cover letter to the specific job and company. While it may be cool to generate cover letter formats through an AI tool, it is crucial to personalize and write the main content of the cover letter. 

Use a professional format

Follow a standard cover letter format with your contact information, the employer’s contact details, a salutation, body paragraphs, and a closing. 

Be concise and focused

Keep your letter to one page and avoid unnecessary details. Stick to relevant points that highlight your suitability for the job. Workable has a list of short cover letter examples that you can check out here . 

Showcase your achievements

Unlike a resume, a cover letter has examples from a person’s real life, showcasing key abilities and accomplishments and how they’re suitable for the job. 

Also read : Rise above the crowds: how to stand out in a crowded market

Include a strong introduction

Your cover letter introduction should grab the reader’s attention and make them want to learn more about you. 

Proofread thoroughly

Ensure no grammatical or spelling errors. A clean error-free letter shows your attention to detail and professionalism.

A well-written cover letter can significantly boost a candidate’s chances of landing a job interview. 

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• Maximizing candidate & employee experience
• Finding & attracting people
• Digitizing work processes
• Ensuring compliance best practices

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