There are two kinds of cover letter you can send in the Philippines: a short email cover letter of 150–200 words pasted into the message, and a full one-page application letter of 250–400 words attached as a PDF or Word file. Send the full letter whenever the job ad asks for an “application letter” or the post requires a license — civil engineer, medical technologist, teacher, nurse — because it leaves room for your PRC license number, board exam date and TESDA or LET credentials, which HR checks first. The email version works best for retail, BPO and job-board applications, where recruiters screen dozens of applicants a day and decide in seconds; its drawback is that it cannot carry the proof a licensed role needs. Whichever you choose, keep it to one page, copy two or three keywords from the job ad, and name the file Lastname_Firstname_CoverLetter_Position.pdf so it is easy to find in an HR inbox.
Below are the parts of a cover letter, sample paragraphs for six common jobs, and a free Word file with seven complete templates you can edit.
What Is a Cover Letter?
A cover letter — in Philippine job ads more often called an application letter — is the one-page message that introduces your resume. The resume lists everything you have done; the cover letter picks the two or three facts that matter for this job and explains why you want it. A good one answers three questions in under a minute: which job you want, why you can do it, and when you can start.
Parts of a Cover Letter
| Part | What to write | Strong example | Weak example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Re: line | The exact job title from the ad | Re: Application for Cashier – Cebu City branch | Re: Job Application |
| Opening | The job, where you saw it, your top credential | …the Medical Technologist post on JobStreet. I am a Registered Medical Technologist (PRC No. 0000000)… | I am writing to express my interest in any available position. |
| Body | Achievements with numbers, keywords from the ad | I balanced my drawer with zero variance for 11 straight months. | I am hardworking and a fast learner. |
| Closing | Availability, start date, interview request | I can start after a 30-day turnover and am free for interviews on weekdays after 3 p.m. | I hope for your kind consideration. |
| Sign-off | Formal closing, signature, printed name | Respectfully yours, [signature] Maria Santos | Thanks! – Maria |
Cover Letter Samples by Job
These are the paragraphs that do most of the work in each letter. The full one-page versions with headers, closings and fields to fill in are in the Word file below.
Cashier Cover Letter
Cashier · opening and body
I am applying for the Cashier position at [Store Name] [Branch]. I bring two years of cashiering experience at [Previous Store], where I processed an average of 150 transactions per shift and balanced my drawer with zero variance for 11 consecutive months.
I am comfortable with POS systems, card terminals and GCash and Maya payments, and I am trained in opening and closing procedures, voids and refunds, and shortage and overage reports.
Civil Engineer Cover Letter
Civil engineer · opening and body
I am a PRC-licensed Civil Engineer (License No. [0000000]) who passed the [Month Year] licensure examination, applying for the Civil Engineer position at [Company Name].
As site engineer for [Previous Company], I supervised a four-storey commercial building worth ₱45 million, prepared quantity take-offs and progress billings, and kept the work compliant with the National Building Code and DPWH standards using AutoCAD, STAAD.Pro and MS Project.
Chef Cover Letter
Chef · opening and body
I hold a TESDA National Certificate II in Cookery and have five years of hotel kitchen experience, most recently as chef de partie at [Hotel Name].
I lead a station of six cooks, plan mise en place for 300 covers on peak days, and helped bring food cost down to 32% through tighter portioning and inventory rotation, all under HACCP food safety rules.
Medical Technologist Cover Letter
Medical technologist · opening and body
I am a Registered Medical Technologist (PRC License No. [0000000]) applying for the Medical Technologist position at [Hospital Name], with 1.5 years in the clinical laboratory of [Current Employer].
I run routine and STAT tests in hematology, clinical chemistry, microbiology and blood banking, operate [analyzer model] with daily quality control, and validate results in the LIS.
ESL Teacher Cover Letter
ESL teacher · opening and body
I hold a 120-hour TESOL certificate and have taught English to Japanese and Korean learners for two years, online and face to face.
I have completed more than 800 lessons with an average rating of 4.9 out of 5, and I teach from a quiet home studio with a 50 Mbps fiber connection and a mobile-data backup.
Research Cover Letter
Research assistant · opening and body
I am applying for the Research Assistant position for [project name] at [University]. I hold a BS in [Biology], and my undergraduate thesis examined [topic].
I collected and encoded field data from 120 respondents, ran the analysis in R, and co-presented our findings at the [university research forum], following ethics review and Data Privacy Act requirements.
If you are writing to a journal rather than an employer, a research cover letter follows a different pattern: it names the manuscript, the journal section, why the findings fit the journal’s scope, and confirms the work has not been submitted elsewhere.
Free download: 7 cover letter templates (Word)
One-page templates for a general job, cashier, civil engineer, chef, medical technologist, ESL teacher and research assistant, each on its own page with [bracketed] fields to replace, plus a one-page guide to formatting and file names.
⬇ Download the templates (.docx)How to Use the Templates
- Open the file in Word, Google Docs or WPS Office — it also opens on a phone.
- Find the template for your job, copy that page into a new document and delete the others.
- Replace everything in [brackets] with your own details, and delete any sentence you cannot back up with a real fact or number.
- Copy two or three keywords from the job ad — a skill, a system, a certificate — into the second paragraph.
- Check names, the company address and your PRC or TESDA number, then save the letter as a PDF named Lastname_Firstname_CoverLetter_Position.
- Applying by email? Cut the letter to 150–200 words and paste it into the message body, with your resume attached.
What Employers Check First, by Job
| Job | Credential HR looks for | Proof worth a number | Keywords often in the ad |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cashier / service crew | NBI clearance, health certificate | Transactions per shift, cash variance | POS, cash handling, e-wallet |
| Call center / BPO agent | English level, any account experience | Average handling time, CSAT score | voice account, KPI, shifting schedule |
| Civil engineer | PRC license and exam date | Project size in ₱ or km, schedule kept | AutoCAD, DPWH, quantity take-off |
| Medical technologist | PRC license (RMT) | Tests per shift, audit results | hematology, LIS, quality control |
| Registered nurse | PRC license, BLS/ACLS | Patients per shift, ward type | patient care, charting, infection control |
| Accountant | CPA license or board exam schedule | Accounts handled, closing time | BIR filing, reconciliation, QuickBooks |
| Public school teacher | LET passer, PRC license | Class size, learner results | lesson planning, DepEd, MATATAG |
| Chef / cook | TESDA NC II Cookery | Covers per day, food cost % | HACCP, mise en place, inventory |
Format Rules Philippine Employers Expect
| Item | What to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Paper and margins | Short bond paper, 1-inch margins | It prints cleanly when HR files a hard copy |
| Font | Calibri, Arial or Times New Roman, 11–12 pt | Applicant tracking systems read standard fonts reliably |
| Date | October 30, 2026 | The standard business format in Philippine offices |
| Salutation | Dear Ms. Reyes: — or Dear Hiring Manager: | “To whom it may concern” signals a mass-sent letter |
| File | PDF named Lastname_Firstname_CoverLetter_Position | Layout stays intact and HR can find it later |
| Email subject | Application – Position – Full Name | Recruiters filter their inbox by job title |
| Signature | Scanned or handwritten above your printed name | Expected on letters to government and corporate offices |
How Your Resume and Cover Letter Work Together
- The resume lists every job and skill; the cover letter picks the two or three most relevant ones and adds numbers.
- Use the same name, phone number and email on both, in the same order.
- Do not copy resume bullet points into the letter — turn one of them into a short story with a result.
- Send both as separate files, or as one PDF with the cover letter on page one if the online form allows a single upload.
Mistakes That Get Cover Letters Ignored
- Sending the same letter to every company without changing the job title and company name.
- Starting with “I am writing to express my interest…” and saying nothing specific until the third sentence.
- Listing traits — “hardworking”, “fast learner” — instead of results.
- Writing two pages or pasting the full resume into the email.
- Leaving the PRC, TESDA or LET details out of a letter for a licensed job.
- Typos in the company name or the recruiter’s name.
Students and fresh graduates applying for on-the-job training need a different focus — coursework, school projects and required OJT hours. See our cover letter samples for internship for those versions. For broader writing tips, the career guides on Indeed are also useful.
Cover Letter FAQ
What is a cover letter?
A cover letter is a one-page letter you send with your resume to explain why you are applying for a specific job and why you fit it. It names the position, highlights two or three achievements that match the job ad, and asks for an interview. In the Philippines it is often called an application letter.
Is a cover letter the same as an application letter in the Philippines?
In practice, yes. Philippine employers and job ads use “application letter” for the same document. The only real difference is format: an application letter is usually a full one-page letter attached as a file, while a cover letter is often shorter and pasted into the email.
How long should a cover letter be?
One page: 250–400 words for an attached letter and 150–200 words for an email. Recruiters skim, so three short paragraphs with concrete numbers work better than a long letter.
What are the parts of a cover letter?
Header with your contact details, date, the recipient’s name and company, a “Re:” line with the job title, a salutation, an opening paragraph, one or two body paragraphs with proof, a closing paragraph with your availability, and a sign-off with your signature and printed name.
Do I need a cover letter for a cashier or service crew job?
It is not always required, but a short email cover letter of 150–200 words helps you stand out from applicants who send only a resume. Mention cash-handling accuracy, POS and e-wallet experience, and the shifts you can work.
Should I write my cover letter in English or Filipino?
Use English unless the job ad is written in Filipino or asks for it. Most Philippine employers, especially corporate, BPO, hospital and government offices, expect application letters in English.