The Writing Center

The Writing Center

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Cover Letters

Cover letters are a crucial accompaniment to your resume when you are applying for a job. In fact, most employers glance over your cover letter and decide within seconds whether or not they will look at your resume, much less ask you to come in for an interview. Because they are your first impression, it’s important that they are clear, concise, and correct.

The following paragraphs outline standard cover letter format and provide tips for creating a cover letter that will present you in the best light.

First paragraph. Indicate why you are writing and how you became interested in the position. If you have spoken with someone at the company about the job, consider mentioning your conversation with that person. If another person referred you to the company or to the position you are applying for, consider mentioning that person and the reason he/she thinks you are a good fit for the position.

Middle paragraphs. Describe your qualifications and illustrate how they match the position you are applying for. If you are a student with little work experience, describe how your course work and campus involvement relate to the position. If you have work experience in a related field, emphasize your job training, skills, and experience.

If your qualifications don’t match the position as obviously as you would like, you might also mention why you are interested in moving from your current job into this one. For example, maybe you prefer to work for a particular company because of its reputation and philosophy or perhaps you want to take on new challenges in your professional life.

Last paragraph. Refer the reader to your resume for more details about your qualifications. Provide information as to how the employer can contact you to set up an interview.

Top Tips

Be specific about why you are interested in the position you are applying for and in the organization as a whole.

Don’t try to talk about everything on your resume. Highlight a few of your most relevant and impressive qualifications and talk about them in detail.

Explain how your unique qualifications and experiences have prepared you for the position you are interested in.

Be confident. Though you don’t want to convey arrogance, it is expected that you talk candidly and confidently about your abilities and accomplishments. Don’t shy away from selling your strong points.

Be concise. You have very little space to get across all the things you need to say, so edit carefully to eliminate wordiness.

Proofread carefully. Errors will really stand out in such a short document and since cover letters are one way employers “weed out” applicants, even a small typo can really hurt your chances of getting a position. Make sure names are spelled correctly.

Adapted from:

Brereton, J. C. & Mansfield, M. A.(1997).Writing on the job. New York: W.W. Norton & Co.

Oliu, W. E., Brusaw, C. T., & Alred, G. J.(1998).Writing that works: How to write effectively on the job(6th ed.).New York: St. Martin’s Press.