You generally should not use the exact same cover letter for every application, but you also don’t need to rewrite it from scratch each time.

Quick Scoop

  • Reusing one generic cover letter for many jobs usually hurts your chances because it looks lazy and unfocused.
  • A smart approach is to build a strong base template and lightly tailor it for each role and company.
  • Mild reuse is most acceptable when the roles are very similar in duties, level, and industry.

Why “One Cover Letter for Everything” Is a Problem

Employers look for signs that you understand their specific role and organization, not just “any job.” A one-size-fits-all cover letter tends to feel generic and unenthusiastic.

  • It doesn’t speak to the particular job’s top requirements, so stronger tailored letters win out.
  • Recruiters see generic letters all day; it’s easy for them to dismiss one that could have gone to 100 companies.
  • You’re more likely to make obvious mistakes like leaving in the wrong company name or job title.

Some career sites even point to data showing a notable share of applications get rejected for being too generic, which includes copy‑paste cover letters.

When It’s (Mostly) Okay to Reuse

You can safely reuse 70–80% of your letter when:

  • You’re applying to the same type of role (e.g., Marketing Coordinator) with very similar responsibilities.
  • The jobs are in the same industry and at the same seniority level.
  • You’re applying to multiple similar roles at the same company and only some details differ.

Even then, experts recommend at least adjusting:

  • The company name and role title.
  • One short paragraph that connects your experience directly to that company/team.
  • A line showing you understand their product, customers, or mission.

Forum users who apply to many similar jobs often solve this by keeping several “template” versions by industry or role, then tweaking only a few sentences each time.

Smart Strategy: Template + Targeted Tweaks

Think of your cover letter as modular: core pieces that rarely change plus a “custom” section you rewrite.

Keep mostly the same:

  • Overall structure (intro, body, closing).
  • A short professional summary and 1–2 key achievements that are relevant everywhere.
  • The closing paragraph showing enthusiasm and a call to action.

Always customize:

  1. A specific line that says what role you’re applying for and where you saw it.
  1. A short paragraph tying your skills to that job’s top 2–3 requirements.
  1. A sentence showing why you’re interested in that company (product, mission, tech stack, clients, etc.).

People on career forums often say once you’ve written one strong letter, you can reuse big chunks and just change those targeted parts—which makes tailoring much faster and less exhausting.

Quick Pros and Cons Table

html

<table>
  <tr>
    <th>Approach</th>
    <th>Pros</th>
    <th>Cons</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Same cover letter for all jobs</td>
    <td>Fast, low effort.</td>
    <td>Looks generic, lower interest from employers, easier to reject. [web:3][web:5][web:7]</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Template + light tweaks</td>
    <td>Balanced time vs. personalization, manageable even for many applications. [web:1][web:2]</td>
    <td>Still requires some effort each time, mistakes if you rush edits. [web:2][web:3]</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Fully custom each time</td>
    <td>Highest relevance and impact, best for dream roles. [web:1][web:3][web:6]</td>
    <td>Time‑consuming and tiring, not always necessary for every posting. [web:2]</td>
  </tr>
</table>

Simple Example Flow You Can Use

Imagine you’re applying to three similar “Office Assistant” roles:

  1. You write one strong base letter highlighting admin skills, organization, and customer service wins.
  1. For each application, you only change:
    • The company name and job title.
    • One paragraph that mirrors their posting: if they emphasize calendar management, you emphasize that; if they stress customer support, you lead with that.
  1. You skim for any leftover old company names before sending.

This way you’re not starting from zero every time, but you’re also not sending something that reads like a mass mailing.

Bottom line: Don’t send the exact same cover letter everywhere; use a flexible template, then tailor a few key lines so each company still feels uniquely addressed.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.