What is a cover letter? A cover letter, also called an application letter or letter of interest, is a letter you write to an employer that you send along with your resume when applying for a job. It is written in business letter format. 

What’s the purpose of it?  The purpose of both your resume and your cover letter is to get you an interview. Your letter should give the employer an overview of why you’re a good candidate for the job, and make them want to review your qualifications in more detail. 

An effective letter should convince the employer of 2 things:

1.      That you would be good match with what they’re looking for

2.      That you really want the job 

So how do you go about writing the letter? There are many ways to write a cover letter, but here is a standard formula for you to use:

·         Paragraph 1: State why you’re writing the letter.

·         Paragraph 2: Describe why you’re qualified for the job.

·         Paragraph 3: Provide supplemental information.

·         Paragraph 4: Sum it all up.

Tips for Writing an Effective Letter

TARGET each letter to each specific job and company. Do NOT send out generic cover letters- they will get thrown out! Explain how your qualifications match what that employer is looking for, and what interests you about that job and that company. (Do your research!) 

Focus on what YOU can do for THEM, not what they can do for you. You want to say enough about why you’re interested in the job to make them convinced that you really want it, but your main focus should be on how you will be a benefit to the company. 

Address your letter to a person; only use “To Whom It May Concern” as a last resort. It may not be obvious who the hiring manager is, so do some research to find out. 

Use a standard font (Times New Roman or Arial). Especially if you’re sending your letter electronically, this helps to ensure that your letter will open properly on the employer’s computer.

 Use a font size between 10 and 12 pt. Smaller than 10 can be hard to read, while bigger than 12 can look a little cartoon-like. 

Keep it to 1 page in length. Remember, in a cover letter you are summarizing your qualifications, not listing all the details. 

It must be error-free! Errors in your letter make the employer think you will be careless at work, and can get your letter thrown out. Always proofread carefully, and then have another person check it for errors. It’s often hard to proofread our own writing! 

Drop names. If someone the employer knows (and likes) referred you to that company or suggested you apply for that job, say that in your letter.   

Write professionally and intelligently, but don’t overdo it! An employer will be able to tell if you’re trying to sound more intelligent than you are, like if you use too many big words! Also make sure your letter is well written and well thought-out, because the employer WILL use it as a sample of how you write!
 

COVER LETTER FORMAT and CONTENT 

Your Street Address

Your City, State, Zip Code

 

Current Date (write out the name of the month)

 

Employer's Name, Title

Department or Division

Company/Organization Name

Street Address

City, State, Zip Code

 

Dear Mr./Ms./Dr./Individual's Name OR To Whom It May Concern:

Paragraph 1 (Introduction): Concisely state your purpose for writing the letter. This paragraph should only be a couple sentences long. Here, you will specify the position you want to be considered for. You can include how you learned about the opening, but this is really the most helpful if you heard of the opening from someone the employer knows, such as a current employee or a contact of the employer. (A note about name-dropping: This is helpful only if the employer has a positive relationship with the person whose name you drop. So be careful, especially since it is usually impossible to know for sure if the employer likes the person! Also, dropping the name of someone in a higher position than the hiring manager can be seen as threatening, and can hurt your chances.) You can also include a brief introduction of why you’re interested in the position and/or company, or why you’re qualified for the position. Just like you would in an essay, you are introducing the ideas you will talk about in the rest of your letter.

Paragraph 2 (Body): Tell the employer why you’re qualified for the job. In most cases, this should be your longest paragraph. What you talk about will depend on what the employer wants. How do you know what that particular employer wants? It’s in the job description! Talk about your education and/or training, experience (paid or unpaid), skills and abilities, accomplishments in your field, and any other qualifications. Or in other words, summarize the high points of your resume. Also, if you don’t do it elsewhere in your letter, tell them why you want to work for their company. Do your research ahead of time and demonstrate what you know about the company: its products, services, locations, growth area, history, etc. 

Paragraph 3 (Body): This paragraph is optional (but recommended). This is your chance to provide extra information that will help differentiate your letter from everyone else’s letter. Here, you can be a little more creative and show more of your personality. Some things you could talk about in this paragraph include why you are pursuing this career, this particular job, and this company; a philosophy of yours that relates to your profession; how you would go about doing a particular aspect of your job; or how you would make a unique contribution to the company. 

Paragraph 4 (Closing): Very briefly summarize the contents of your letter. Then, express your interest in an interview; don’t demand one. Indicate how the employer can reach you. Finally, thank the employer for his or her time and consideration. 

Sincerely,

 (Don’t forget to SIGN your name here!)

 

Your Name Typed