In Italy, the cover letter accompanies the CV (curriculum vitae) in the vast majority of job applications. Its format follows precise conventions that differ noticeably from practices in other countries. Knowing these conventions means avoiding the mistakes that immediately signal a letter written without knowledge of the Italian professional context.
In Italy, academic titles (Dottore / Dottoressa) are extremely widespread and widely used in professional correspondence. Anyone with a bachelor’s degree (laurea triennale) or a master’s degree (laurea magistrale) may be addressed with this title. Using it shows that the candidate is familiar with Italian professional customs.
Paragraph 2: skills and motivations. This is the heart of the letter. Two to three concrete points: a significant experience, a technical skill, a quantified achievement where possible. Lists of adjectives should be avoided.
Paragraph 3: conclusion and availability. Give thanks, indicate availability for an interview, and refer to the attached CV.
The cover letter in Italy: what is different
The Italian job market has its own expectations when it comes to written applications. Two cultural differences are worth highlighting before even addressing the writing itself. Sobriety above all. Italian recruiters do not expect a candidate to list their qualities in superlative terms. A candidate who writes sono una persona dinamica, creativa e motivata (I am a dynamic, creative and motivated person) without backing it up with concrete facts risks coming across as hollow. Italians prefer facts over adjectives: a successful experience, a figure, a result. The interview remains the selling moment. Unlike in some cultures where the cover letter must “make them want to meet you”, the Italian cover letter’s role is more to present the candidate in a structured way and justify sending the CV. The sales pitch is reserved for the interview. Formal address. In Italian, formal professional address uses Lei (capital letter mandatory in formal writing), the third person singular. Writing Le scrivo per (I am writing to you to) rather than vi scrivo per is a mark of respect in all Italian professional correspondence.Structure of the Italian cover letter
The standard structure follows a four-block layout.| Block | Content | Indicative length |
|---|---|---|
| Header | Contact details, date, recipient, subject line | A few lines |
| Opening formula | Personalised formal salutation | 1 line |
| Body (3 paragraphs) | Introduction, skills/motivations, conclusion | 10 to 15 lines |
| Closing formula | Thanks, availability, salutation | 2 to 3 lines |
The header and layout
In Italy, the candidate’s contact details are placed at the top left or bottom left of the page (usage varies by region and sector). The recipient appears at the top right. The date is placed below the candidate’s details or before the opening formula. The subject line (oggetto) is often included, concise and direct:| Subject | Italian |
|---|---|
| Application for a position | Oggetto: Candidatura per il posto di [job title] |
| Speculative application | Oggetto: Candidatura spontanea |
| Internship request | Oggetto: Richiesta di stage / tirocinio |
| In response to a job advertisement | Oggetto: Candidatura in risposta all’annuncio del [date] |
Opening formulas
The opening salutation varies depending on whether the recipient is known or not, and their gender.| Situation | Italian formula | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Man with title (doctor, engineer) | Egregio Dottore / Egregio Ingegnere, | Dear Dr / Dear Engineer, |
| Woman with title | Gentile Dottoressa / Gentile Ingegnere, | Dear Dr / Dear Engineer, |
| Man without a specific title | Egregio Signore, | Dear Sir, |
| Woman without a specific title | Gentile Signora, | Dear Madam, |
| Unknown recipient | Spettabile Direzione, | Dear HR Department / To the Management, |
| Unknown recipient (alternative) | A chi di competenza, | To whom it may concern, |
The body of the letter: the three paragraphs
Paragraph 1: introduction and context of the application. Who the candidate is, why they are writing, and how they found out about the position or the company.| Intention | Italian formula | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Introducing yourself | Mi chiamo [name] e sono un/una [profession/profile]. | My name is… and I am a… |
| Responding to an advertisement | Le scrivo in risposta all’annuncio pubblicato su [source] in data [date]. | I am writing in response to the advertisement published on… on… |
| Speculative application | Le scrivo per proporLe la mia candidatura spontanea per la posizione di [position]. | I am writing to submit my speculative application for the position of… |
| Mentioning a referral | Su suggerimento di [name], mi permetto di contattarLa riguardo a un’eventuale opportunità lavorativa. | On the recommendation of…, I am taking the liberty of contacting you regarding a potential opportunity. |
| Intention | Italian formula | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Mentioning an experience | Nel corso della mia esperienza presso [company], ho avuto l’opportunità di [concrete action]. | During my time at…, I had the opportunity to… |
| Highlighting a skill | Possiedo una solida esperienza nel settore di [field], maturata attraverso [context]. | I have solid experience in the field of…, gained through… |
| Expressing motivation | Sono particolarmente interessato/a a questa posizione perché [concrete reason]. | I am particularly interested in this position because… |
| Citing a degree | Ho conseguito una laurea magistrale in [subject] presso l’Università di [city]. | I obtained a master’s degree in… at the University of… |
| Intention | Italian formula | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Referring to the CV | In allegato troverà il mio curriculum vitae aggiornato. | Please find my updated CV attached. |
| Proposing an interview | Resto a Sua disposizione per un colloquio nel momento che riterrà più opportuno. | I remain at your disposal for an interview at a time that suits you. |
| Giving thanks | La ringrazio per il tempo dedicato alla lettura della mia candidatura. | Thank you for the time you have taken to read my application. |
Closing formulas
| Formula | Translation | Register |
|---|---|---|
| Distinti saluti, | Yours faithfully / Yours sincerely, | Very formal |
| Cordiali saluti, | Kind regards, | Formal, slightly warmer |
| Con i più cordiali saluti, | With kindest regards, | Formal and warm |
| In attesa di un Suo riscontro, porgo distinti saluti, | Awaiting your reply, yours faithfully, | Very formal, complete |
Key professional vocabulary
| English | Italian |
|---|---|
| cover letter | lettera di presentazione / lettera di motivazione |
| curriculum vitae | curriculum vitae (CV) |
| application | candidatura |
| position / job | posto / impiego / posizione |
| job advertisement | offerta di lavoro / annuncio di lavoro |
| company | azienda / impresa / società |
| recruiter / HR manager | responsabile delle risorse umane / selezionatore |
| job interview | colloquio di lavoro |
| internship | stage / tirocinio |
| degree / qualification | diploma / laurea (for a university degree) |
| skills | competenze |
| professional experience | esperienza professionale / lavorativa |
| sector / industry | settore |
| available for | disponibile per |
| attached / enclosed | in allegato |
Complete example of a cover letter in Italian
Here is an annotated letter for a marketing manager position at a Milanese company. The annotations (in orange) explain each editorial choice.
Marco Dupont
Via delle Rose, 12
75016 Paris (France)
[email protected] | +33 6 XX XX XX XX
Note: the candidate’s contact details at the top left, with the phone number including the international dialling code (+33 for France).
Milano, 15 giugno 2025
Note: the date is written in the name of the recipient’s city in Italy, not the candidate’s city. This is a common convention in Italian formal correspondence.
Spettabile Direzione Risorse Umane
Alfa Communication S.r.l.
Via Montenapoleone, 8
20121 Milano (MI)
Note: Spettabile (abbreviated Spett.) is the standard formula for addressing a company or department. S.r.l. = Società a responsabilità limitata (Ltd).
Oggetto: Candidatura per la posizione di Responsabile Marketing
Note: the subject line in italics is a frequent convention in Italian professional correspondence. It reproduces exactly the job title as it appears in the advertisement.
Egregio Direttore,
Note: Egregio is used for a man, Gentile for a woman. If the recipient’s gender is unknown, Spettabile Direzione is safer.
Le scrivo in risposta all’annuncio pubblicato sul portale LinkedIn in data 10 giugno 2025, relativo alla posizione di Responsabile Marketing presso la Sua azienda. Il profilo ricercato corrisponde pienamente al mio percorso professionale e sono fortemente motivato a contribuire alla crescita di Alfa Communication.
Note: short and direct first paragraph. The source of the advertisement and the date are stated. The word Sua with a capital letter is the formal address form of Lei.
Ho maturato cinque anni di esperienza nel settore della comunicazione digitale, lavorando per agenzie francesi e italiane. Nel corso del mio ultimo incarico presso l’agenzia Créa Paris, ho coordinato campagne sui social media che hanno generato un aumento del 30% del traffico organico in dodici mesi. Sono in possesso di una laurea magistrale in Scienze della Comunicazione conseguita all’Università Paris-Sorbonne e parlo correntemente italiano, francese e inglese.
Note: second paragraph: a concrete experience with a figure (30%), the degree mentioned with the institution, languages spoken. No self-promotional adjectives.
Sono convinto che le mie competenze in ambito digital marketing e la mia conoscenza del mercato europeo possano apportare un valore aggiunto alla Sua azienda. In allegato troverà il mio curriculum vitae aggiornato. Resto a Sua completa disposizione per un colloquio nel momento che riterrà più opportuno. La ringrazio per il tempo dedicato alla lettura della mia candidatura.
Note: third paragraph: added value in one sentence, reference to the attached CV, availability for an interview, thanks. No formula such as “hoping for a favourable reply”.
Distinti saluti,
Marco Dupont
Practice exercise
Test your knowledge of the Italian cover letter:
Question 1: Which opening formula is used to address a female doctor in a formal Italian letter?
Gentile is used for a woman, Egregio for a man. Spettabile is reserved for a company or department, not an individual. Cara (dear) is too familiar for a formal professional letter.
Question 2: How do you say “please find my CV attached” in Italian?
In allegato is the standard expression for “attached / enclosed” in Italian professional writing. The verb troverà is in the polite future tense (third person singular, formal address Lei).
Question 3: Which closing formula is the most formal in an Italian cover letter?
Distinti saluti is the most formal closing formula, equivalent to “Yours faithfully”. Cordiali saluti is slightly less formal. Cari saluti and Saluti alone are too informal for a professional letter.
Question 4: In professional Italian, which pronoun should be used in a formal letter?
Lei with a capital letter is the standard formal address in Italian professional writing. It corresponds to the third person singular. Voi as a singular form of address is an archaism still used in some southern regions but is not the norm in national professional correspondence.
Question 5: What is the main difference between the Italian and other cover letters according to cultural practices?
In Italy, recruiters appreciate a sober and factual letter. Self-promotion with generic adjectives (dynamic, creative, motivated) without concrete facts is unconvincing. The interview is considered the moment to “sell yourself”, not the letter.
Question 6: How do you translate “job interview” into Italian?
Colloquio di lavoro is the standard term for “job interview” in Italian. Intervista is used for journalistic interviews, not for professional recruitment interviews.
