“Freelancer” + “cover letter” might just be the most loosely defined combination of words in the English language.
Jokes aside, writing a cover letter as a freelancer can leave even the most motivated job seeker scratching their head about where to start. But just like freelancing gives you the flexibility and agency that your 9-5 friends crave, a cover letter gives you the chance to express the “you” not found anywhere else on your application.
Whether you’re a graphic designer, web developer, writer, photographer, marketer, translator, PR rep or just about any other job that can be done remotely, Resume.io has got you covered with 300+ resume examples and writing guides for all occupations and experience levels.
Here’s what will cover in this freelancer cover letter example and guide:
- How to choose the best cover letter format and what paragraphs the cover letter should include
- How to maximize the effect of each cover letter paragraph (header, greeting, intro, body and conclusion)
- How to write a freelancer cover letter with no experience
- What mistakes to avoid when writing your freelancer cover letter.
Ready to go freelance? There’s no time like the present! Here are some numbers according to a study by Upwork:
- More than half of businesses say the pandemic has increased their willingness to hire freelancers.
- Over 70 percent of hiring managers say they will up their reliance on freelancers in the next six months.
- More than 40 percent of American workers will be fully remote in the next 5 years.
Best format for a freelancer cover letter
Here’s one thing that won’t change no matter how unpredictable freelance life is: the structure of your cover letter. You’ll need these basic sections:
- The cover letter header
- The greeting / salutation
- The cover letter intro
- The middle paragraphs (body of the letter)
- The ending paragraph of your cover letter (conclusion and call-to-action)
You’ll want to keep your cover letter between 300-500 words, which means using concise sentences and descriptive language to communicate your skills and experience in a short space.
Beyond the writing of your cover letter, you’ll also want to consider the formatting which should be attractive yet functional. It’s important to keep a balance of white space to text and use professional font styles and sizes. You can find even more specific formatting tips in our overall guide to cover letters.
Below you’ll find an adaptable freelancer cover letter sample which you can customize for your own experience.
Dear Mrs. Richards,
As a freelance social media assistant, I am used to being parachuted into a client to help grow their audience and spread the message about their brand. Over the past five years, my stable of clients has comprised many of the leaders in the SME fintech space and I always seek to leverage my personal 120k social following alongside the following of my employer.
I specialize in start-up freelance projects of 6-12 months duration where a client has not been active on socials and needs someone to create the strategy and direction for a future permanent (or part-time) employee to run with.
At Jolt we grew the following from 12k to 270k on Facebook, Insta and Twitter with a combination of market analysis, video commentary and the odd viral meme (our record reach for a post was 8.9m). Similarly, at my most recent client Portico, we created over $6m of attributable new business thanks to our lead generation strategy.
I normally work from home, but as your offices are accessible, I would be keen to spend a good amount of time with your people to really get under the skin of the business. You have over 500 potential social advocates, so visibility for our campaigns starts with them. Fintech is a high-growth area right now and my socials will also double as employer branding for new recruits. Social media presence is the first thing that any new employee will check out and it looks like you have a significant vacancy list currently.
I enclose my portfolio of campaigns with performance metrics and the estimated impact on the bottom line. If you can’t measure your impact, you don’t know what works. I know that I can make a difference to your socials and would welcome an interview to discuss my ideas.
Sincerely,
Jean Hendricks
Cover letter header
As a freelancer, you’re no stranger to marketing your own business. The header plays the same role on your cover letter. This is the place to make your name and contact information visible so that a hiring manager can easily contact you should they want to set up an interview. It’s also a great occasion to add a touch of attractive formatting to your cover letter so that it stands out among the rest.
The aim of the cover letter header: Create an attractive design that allows your name and contact information to stand out so the hiring manager can get in touch.
Cover letter greeting
The cover letter greeting is the place to address the person who will be reading your application and make a personal connection. To do this, make sure to use the hiring manager or letter recipient’s name. If you already have a relationship with the recipient or you work in an informal industry, you may consider using a first name, however “Dear” followed by the proper salutation and last name is the safest bet for most freelancers.
The aim of the cover letter greeting: Establish a friendly tone and personal connection by using the cover letter recipient’s name in the greeting.
Check out the greeting from our freelancer cover letter example below.
Dear Mrs. Richards,
Cover letter introduction
The cover letter introduction is perhaps the most important sentence on the entire page. That’s because many hiring managers only give a few seconds’ glance to each application and may stop reading after this crucial first line. Maximize the chances of capturing their attention by starting with an energetic, bold introduction that tells them something about you or your skills. An anecdote, statistic or personal statement can all make for great introductions.
The aim of the cover letter intro: Capture the hiring manager’s attention with a bold anecdote, statistic or statement that encourages them to keep reading
Here you’ll find the introduction of our freelancer cover letter sample:
As a freelance social media assistant, I am used to being parachuted into a client to help grow their audience and spread the message about their brand. Over the past five years, my stable of clients has comprised many of the leaders in the SME fintech space and I always seek to leverage my personal 120k social following alongside the following of my employer.
Cover letter middle part (body)
The middle part of your cover letter, known as the body, is where you’ll finally have the space to expand upon your most impressive achievements, relevant skills and the reasons why you're the ideal applicant. Make sure to tailor this part to the specific role you are applying to and help the hiring manager imagine you taking care of their most pressing tasks.
Using the STAR Method
One way to structure the body of your cover letter is by creating short anecdotes using the STAR Method. First, describe a Situation you faced and the Task required of you, then explain your Action and the positive Result it caused.
To maximize the effectiveness of the STAR Method, make sure to keep each anecdote to just 1-3 sentences and choose your examples based on the employer’s job description.
The aim of the body of your cover letter: Offer insight into your experiences, skills, achievements and the qualifications you’d bring to the job if hired.
Find the body of our freelancer cover letter sample below.
I specialize in start-up freelance projects of 6-12 months duration where a client has not been active on socials and needs someone to create the strategy and direction for a future permanent (or part-time) employee to run with.
At Jolt we grew the following from 12k to 270k on Facebook, Insta and Twitter with a combination of market analysis, video commentary and the odd viral meme (our record reach for a post was 8.9m). Similarly, at my most recent client Portico, we created over $6m of attributable new business thanks to our lead generation strategy.
I normally work from home, but as your offices are accessible, I would be keen to spend a good amount of time with your people to really get under the skin of the business. You have over 500 potential social advocates, so visibility for our campaigns starts with them. Fintech is a high-growth area right now and my socials will also double as employer branding for new recruits. Social media presence is the first thing that any new employee will check out and it looks like you have a significant vacancy list currently.
How to close a freelancer cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)
To close your freelancer cover letter, you’ll need a call to action. This sentence expresses your interest in the position and encourages a hiring manager to contact you and set up an interview. Tone is important here and you’ll want to come across as enthusiastic without bragging or demanding to hear back.
Then, sign off respectfully. “Sincerely” or “Best regards” can work well.
Goal of the cover letter conclusion: Create an effective call to action that encourages a hiring manager to schedule an interview, sign off politely
Check out the conclusion of our freelancer cover letter example below.
I enclose my portfolio of campaigns with performance metrics and the estimated impact on the bottom line. If you can’t measure your impact, you don’t know what works. I know that I can make a difference to your socials and would welcome an interview to discuss my ideas.
Sincerely,
Jean Hendricks
Freelancer cover letter no experience
Everyone has to start somewhere, which means it’s totally possible to write a great freelancer cover letter even with no experience. The trick is finding transferable skills that show how you’d successfully complete the tasks requested of you even if you’d never done them before.
Look to your previous positions, volunteer experience or even personality traits to connect the dots between where you are now and the role you’re applying for. As a freelancer, you can also create your own opportunities in order to gain work. For example, want to become a copywriter? Begin a free blog showcasing products and services and use those writing samples to leverage a paid position. College work and internships can also be great sources of material to prove you have the chops needed for the job.
Basic mistakes in a freelance application letter (and how to avoid them)
You can stand out from many others applying to freelance positions just by avoiding a few basic mistakes. Here’s what to watch out for:
- Generic cover letters: Cover letters should be customized to each and every role you apply for. That could mean anything from swapping out skills for ones that better match the job description to adjusting your tone to better reflect your prospective employer’s image. The extra effort here will go a long way in helping the employer see why you’re the right fit for the job.
- Spelling and grammar mistakes: Nothing ruins credibility faster than typos and grammar mistakes. Luckily, these are easy to fix. Simply use spell check when writing and have a friend proofread your cover letter before you submit.
- Poor formatting: An understated header, too much text or an unprofessional font style can distract from the image you want to create in your cover letter. Make sure to use color or other embellishments only when necessary or appropriate for your industry.
To create an attractive and functional header in a few clicks, consider using a free cover letter template. These professional layouts make it easy for you to focus on the writing while still allowing you to customize formatting options.
Key takeaways
- A cover letter is an essential part of a complete application as it allows you to express your skills, experience and personality to the hiring manager.
- There’s never been a better time to enter the gig economy, with the majority of employers reporting they plan to hire more freelancers in the next six months.
- Your introduction is the place to capture the employer’s attention and show them why they should keep reading your cover letter.
- Never underestimate the power of a great header. Check out our freelancer cover letter sample for more ideas on how to create your own.
For even more job-specific cover letter advice, check out our other related cover letter examples including:
