Cover Letter Writing

Cover these three topics succinctly (3-4 paragraphs)

1. For what position are you applying. How did you learn of the position and company?
2. Why are you perfect for the position?
3. What have you enclosed (résumé, transcripts, references?), and how may the employer contact you to set up an interview?

Key bits of advice to keep in mind

1. Be succinct and to the point. Do not be long-winded. Fit the letter into one page.
2. Be upbeat, with enthusiasm, albeit in a professional tone—not flowery, hip, etc.
3. Fonts and colors. No fancy fonts, colors, etc. Use a good basic font—a serif or sans-serif—and do it all in black type.
4. Formatting. Keep it sharp, simple, clean, and easy to read. White space is good.
5. Paragraph 1: State why you are writing and which position you are applying for. Mention how you heard about the position. Specifically reference the company and why you are interested in this position and organization. Demonstrate to you future employer that you know about them and that you are sincerely interested in working with them.
6. Paragraph 2: Describe why you are a good fit for the position. Open with a sentence that provides an overview of why you make a good fit, then back it up with succinct but specific descriptions of the skills and experiences that support that claim. Be selective and strategic, highlighting aspects of your background and experience that match the company’s needs and expectations. This will be your longest paragraph, but it should not be TOO long. It should not go into detail but rather give the prospective employer an overview of what you have to offer.
7. Paragraph 3: In 2-4 sentences, state what you have enclosed with the letter (résumé, reference list, etc.), and indicate how to reach you to schedule an interview.
8. PROOF READ. There must be NO typos, misspellings, etc. in this letter.
9. As you near completion of the letter, use this checklist to review your letter.
10. Compare your letter to good examples of other cover letters. (See other links below.)

Some of the Best Articles and Resources on Cover Letters

• How to Write a Great Cover Letter. A well-written set of great reminders, including to keep it professional, succinct, yet vibrant and upbeat. Well worth the read.
• The Cover Letter Checklist. This article provides a fairly exhaustive cover letter checklist. It is a good list of points to review as you polish the letter.
• The Résumé and Cover Letter Guide at About.com. Contains links to many useful, well-crafted articles of advice.

Sample Cover Letters

• A range of sample letters at About.com — very useful — includes letters from new college graduates
• Sample letters from Accent Résumé Writing
• Matthew Bradley’s Sample Letter