Cover Letters
What is a cover letter?
- A cover letter expresses your interest in and qualifications for a position to a prospective employer.
What should my cover letter accomplish?
- Your cover letter should introduce the main points of your resume
- It should also help you to "sell" your qualifications to the prospective employer
Header
- Address your letter to a specific person -- ideally to the person who will interview you
- Look for the person's name in company publications, or phone the organization and ask for the person's name or for the personnel manager
Example:
Emma Markley
Human Resources Director
St. Luke's Medical Center
729 S. Paulina
Chicago, IL 60612
Dear Ms. Markley:
Introductory paragraph
Your first paragraph should:
- Get the reader's attention, stimulate interest, and be appropriate for the job you are seeking
- Make your goal clear to readers
- Preview the rest of your letter and highlight the qualifications you will discuss throughout the letter
Solicited application letters
- Solicited application letters are letters written in response to an advertised job opening
- In the first paragraph it is appropriate to mention where you learned of the opening
Example:
I believe that my knowledge of public relations and my proven communication and leadership skills make me a strong candidate for the position of Media Relations Coordinator that was posted by the Delta Airlines Job Opportunities Program.
Unsolicited application letters
- Unsolicited application letters are written to companies that have not posted a job opening
- It is important to gain the reader's attention and persuade them that you can contribute to the company's goals
Example:
As a member of one of the fastest growing publishing houses in the world, do you have an opening in your acquisitions department for a recent college graduate with a major in English and publishing and with editing experience?
Goals of the body paragraphs
- Highlight your strongest qualifications for the position for which you are applying
- Demonstrate how these qualifications will benefit the employer
- Refer employers to your enclosed resume
Detailing your experience
- Show (don't tell) employers your qualifications
- Include specific, credible examples of your qualifications for the position
- Use numbers, names of equipment you've used, or features of a project that may apply to the job you want
Example:
As a banking representative at Bank One, I provided quality customer service while promoting the sale of products to customers. I also handled upwards of $20,000 a day and was responsible for balancing the bank's ATM machine.
Need more help?
Career Management and Transition Services offers additional assistance in developing the focus needed to develop your cover letter.