The Purpose of Cover Letters

• initiate contact (for a variety of purposes) with . . .
• an employer to introduce yourself and inquire about job or internship possibilities
• an employer to apply for a job or internship
• an alumnus, family or friend to ask for an informational interview
• a professor or former supervisor to request a letter of recommendation
• capture the employer's (or reader's) interest
• invite the recipient to read your resume in depth
• secure an interview (for information or employment purposes)

Your cover letter should be no longer than one-page composed of 3-4 paragraphs and should be word-processed in a professional letter format, unless you are a PhD applying for academic positions, then you may use two pages.

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Types of Cover Letters

1. Prospecting/Introductory Letter - used to inquire about potential job or internship openings.
2. Application Letter - used when applying for a job or internship.

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Anatomy of a Cover Letter

Opening Paragraph - Introduction

• State your reason for writing and how you learned about their organization
• If someone referred you to the position be sure to include the person’s name and title/affiliation with the employer
• Try to distinguish your cover letter by tailoring it to the position and organization- why do you want to work for this organization?, what is so great about them?,  remember they may be reading a lot of cover letters so make yours different from everyone else’s

Middle Paragraph - Sell Yourself

• Emphasize and elaborate on your strongest qualifications especially any the employer highlighted on their job description
• Indicate what you can do for the employer rather than what the employer can do for you
• Confidently state that you would be an asset to their organization

Closing Paragraph - Be Proactive!

• Thank them for their consideration
• Mention that you will follow-up with them in hopes of setting up an interview
• Indicate how an employer can contact you (phone, email)
• If you are doing a long distance search indicate when you will be in the area to interview

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Helpful Tips:

• Each letter should be focused on the specific employer- stray away from generic or form cover letters
• When sending your application materials in an email, your cover letter could be attached as a Word Document or in the body of the email
• If you are mailing a hard copy use high quality paper that matches your resume and envelope
• Address the letter to a specific name and title (ideally the hiring manager), try to stray away from “To whom it may concern:”
• If a specific person alerted you to a position or employer, include that individual's name and title (i.e., "Eleanor Smith, an Account Manager with your agency, encouraged me to contact you regarding the Assistant Account Executive training.")
• Research the employer in order to demonstrate how your background, skills and abilities fit with their organization
• Read the position description carefully for desired skills and qualifications
• Analyze your own background and identify experiences similar to those desired by the employer
• Make your writing style direct, strong, and error free
• A cover letter should not mirror your resume, rather they should work together to present a complete picture of you
• Be original (yet professional) and allow your personality and qualifications to shine!

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Sample Cover Letters

Cover Letter (pdf)
Application Cover Letter (pdf)
Prospecting/Introductory Cover Letter (pdf)

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