Cover Letter Guidelines
Cover letters are written for many reasons: to inquire about job
openings, to request an informational interview, to apply for a
position, to follow up after an interview, and to accept a job offer.
A good cover letter should:
- Demonstrate your writing and professional communication skills.
- Show that you have done your research about the field and the
employer.
- Summarize your skills and training relevant to the job.
- Communicate enthusiasm for the position and the employer.
Things to keep in mind:
- Always mail a resume with a cover
letter. Writing a cover letter often shows a level of
interest that is appreciated by an employer. A resume alone might be
ignored as there is nothing to distinguish it from other resumes.
- Address each letter to the recipient
by name. If you do not know the name of a contact, call
the organization and find out who is the manager or director of your
department of interest. If you cannot obtain a contact name, write
"Dear Director:" You could also choose to write the president of the
organization. At worst, your letter will get sent to Human Resources;
at best, s/he may take an interest in you. A letter addressed "Dear
Sir/Madam" will get as much attention as mail marked "occupant."
- Keep your letter to one page. Letters
much longer will lose the reader's attention. Employers read through
many cover letters and resumes and want to be attracted by a letter
that is succinct, catchy and says something unique about the person.
- Research the employer.
Your letter should reflect that you know something about the
organization and the type of industry in general. Each letter should
be unique to that organization. Do not use a letter that looks like it
could have been sent to anyone.
- Count the "I's" in your letter. Be
careful not to begin too many of your sentences with "I." Change
sentences so that the word "I" is eliminated. For example, "I have had
experience in..." could be changed to "My experience includes...".
- Start your letter with a strong
sentence. Inspire the reader to read on by
communicating something unique to that person or organization.
- Use the body of the letter to
highlight brief facts which arouse the reader's curiosity. Hopefully
it will interest the reader to look closely at your resume and ask you
for an interview.
- Conclude the letter by directly asking
for an opportunity to meet and/or talk with the employer. Indicate
when you will call to follow up and (hopefully) arrange a time to meet
for an interview. Try to call a day or two after your letter arrives,
and always follow up when you say you will.
- Proofread! Make sure
there are no typos, misspellings, grammatical or factual errors.
Employers are always looking for reasons to weed people out of a large
pile of resumes and cover letters.
|
