Cover Letter Writing

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Cover Letter Writing

• Rosemarie Sena Center
• Career Development Services

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What is a Cover Letter?

• Application Letter
• Letter of Introduction
• Any letter to an employer that accompanies or
  covers a resume

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A Good Cover Letter .

• Is a form of Business Communication
• Introduces YOU on paper to a prospective employer
• Is a personal marketing tool, targeting your
  education, skills, and experiences
• Can be a key factor in helping you get an
  interview(s)
• Draws attention to key information on your resume

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Cover Letter Dos

• Address the letter to a specific person
• Individualize each letter
• Refer to interest in a specific position
• Answer the question why you?
• Pay attention to details
• Use the employers terminology
• Close by describing your next step

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Cover Letter Donts

• To Whom it May Concern
• Form Letters
• Poor grammar, punctuation, or spelling
• General, unsupported statements
• Incomplete contact information
• Handwritten letters
• Letters over 1 page in length

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General vs. Specific

• General
• Sue
• I have always had an interest in your products.
  Furthermore, working for a fine company like
  yours would be just what I am looking for.

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General vs. Specific

• Specific
• Mary
• There are two reasons for my interest in ABC
  Company. First, I am convinced from my research
  that your main product, the self-opening
  envelope, will capture a large share of the
  stationery market. Second, I am impressed by a
  recent article in Inc. magazine that referred to
  your firm as one destined to grow straight into
  the 21st century. Since I want to grow with an
  innovative company, ABC Company would be a great
  place to build my career.

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General Tips

• Word process cover letters
• Use good quality, light colored paper
• Choose a font type size that is easy to read
• Proofread, Proofread, Proofread
• Sign each letter

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Examining Job Advertisements

• Child Protective Service Worker I
• Position 00021-95
• Salary 23,308
• Duties Responsibilities Investigate child
  abuse and neglect complaints. Develop and
  implement service plan for children and
  caretakers in need of services. Applicant must
  have a bachelors degree in a human services
  field, or degree in another field with two years
  of social services related experience. Must be
  able to work outside normal business hours,
  including 24 hour on-call responsibilities. Must
  reside in localities served by Staunton-Augusta
  DSS.

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Job Ads (cont.)

• Admissions Coordinator
• BA in Education, Counseling, Marketing or
  related fields, ability to travel, proven track
  record in public speaking, community relations
  and special events planning, ability to handle
  multiple projects and work independently,
  recruiting, interviewing and communication
  skills, work background with at-risk teens.
  Fax or mail resume by 2/4/00 to BRHS-Admissions,
  8977 Dry Creek Road, Belgrade, MT 59714 Fax
  [phone]

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Cover Letter Format

• Heading (with name/address info)
• Employers Name, title and address
• Salutation
• Opening Paragraph (Why? What? How?)
• Middle Paragraph(s) (Why interested? Work
  experience, skills and abilities,
  related education)
• Closing Paragraph (Request interview, address
  follow-up action, and express
  gratitude)
• Sincerely,
• Signature
• Enclosure

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What the Experts Say About Cover Letters

• Because you can use your cover letter to
  highlight certain aspects of your resume, the
  same resume can be used to pursue different job
  opportunities. The beauty of the cover letter is
  that you can gear it to each particular company
  that is the recipient of your resume by stressing
  your most important qualification.
• -Adele Lewis

• A resume without a cover letter is like an
  unannounced salesperson showing up at your door.
  If you are going to let in a perfect stranger,
  you at least want to see their credentials. This
  is exactly what a cover letter does-it introduces
  you, a total stranger, to the reader. It must be
  compelling, personable, and brief. It needs to
  specifically relate to the position in question.
  Remember, you only have eight seconds to convince
  the reader to invite you in.
• -Barbara Vinitsky Janice Benjamin