Cover Letter Writing

When you’re serious about pursuing a career, your attention to the little things can make a big difference in being perceived as a quality candidate. It can separate you from the crowd, elevating you from “good” to “great.”

Eric Mason, Federated Insurance Company

When & Why Do I Need a Cover Letter?

Any time you send your resume to an employer it should be accompanied by a cover letter.

A cover letter acts as an introduction for your resume.

A cover letter also stands as a sample of your writing skills, so be sure to make it the best possible sample you can.

If you are sending your resume via email - the cover letter is the email message itself. Then attach the resume following the employer's instructions (i.e., MSWord document, text document, etc.)

Cover Letters

Should give the employer a reason to look at the resume

3 to 5 bulleted points leading to the resume

If the cover letter does not “speak well,” the resume will not be read!

Application (Cover) Letter

Purpose: persuade your audience to move you onto the next step of the job search process

Tone: project self-confidence and maturity; do not be apologetic, timid, stuffy, or arrogant

Homework: learn something about the company that you can mention in the letter. Can you tie your qualifications to what you learned or the way you might benefit the company?

Format

Letter conventions: heading, Date,inside address, salutation, complimentary close, end notations

Single spacing Introduction, body, and

conclusion paragraphs Letter length-- one page

(entry level job)

Letter Format

Heading: your address; city, state, zip code; date

Inside address: audience name and job title, company name, address, city, state, zip

Salutation or attention line Body of letter Complimentary close,

signature block End notations Enclosure

Specifics

Use an attention line when you don’t have a specific person to address Ex. Attention: Human

Resources Department Choose a traditional

complimentary closing Sincerely yours, Very truly yours, Respectfully yours,

End notations– Signature block

• Enclosure: résumé

Specifics 2

End notations– Signature block: typed name

four lines below complimentary closing phrase with space for signature

– Enclosure: can include name or type of enclosure. Use the entire word or abbreviate.

– Ex. • Enclosure: résumé • Encl.

Heading and Inside Address Example

4912 Vasant ViharDehradoon, Uttranchal 21207

February 28, 2009

Dr. ABC Sharma, PresidentInfosys1000 Hilltop CircleBangalore, Karnataka 21250

Dear Dr. Sharma:

Complimentary Close, etc. Example

Sincerely yours,

Jobseeker Negi

Enclosure: résumé

Introduction (paragraph 1)

Begin by stating purpose (cold contact or advertised position)

Tell how you learned about job– Name drop if applicable– Include specifics: name of

newspaper, date you saw ad, job title

Describe self here or at start of body– Tell name, student status,

major/degree. Can include reference to research on company.

Body (paragraph 2-3)

Discuss work and education experience, one paragraph each– For education, include

specifics about work done in classes. Class titles without supporting specifics won’t tell your audience much about you.

Education example– In my technical writing course,

I designed a web site and worked on a collaborative manual on using Front Page

Conclusion (paragraph 4)

Ask for action from audience: – an interview

Give contact information– E-mail address– Landline phone number(s) – Cell phone number

End all letters with a courteous closing sentence– Thank you for your assistance.