Writing a General Cover Letter

As a career coach, I will get asked by job seekers about how to create a general cover letter. This is the wrong question to be asking. Cover letters should not be general. They should be specific. If you are applying for a specific job or at a specific company, your cover letter should be tailored according to the job description and/or the company. Tailoring your cover letter should not step on the feet of personal authenticity and integrity. If you don't have a job description or a specific company you are applying to, your cover letter should be specific to the unique value that you can add and the specific interests/goals you have. Your cover letter should represent your personal brand.