Sample Cover Letter
As I have been reviewing your cover letters, I found it easiest to compose one that does a few key things that most of you need to do:
- formatting and phrasing the top and bottom
- opening
- declaring the reason for your interest
- highlighting the specific benefits of your education (and perhaps your internship experience?!)
- highlighting specific things about the company to which you’re applying — things that particularly attract you to this company — and things that demonstrate you know who they are
- combining a general attitude of eagerness and humility with subtle but specific evidence that you’re pretty well educated and informed
- ending smoothly, with appropriate eagerness
This letter may not be perfect, but it does most of these things in ways that most of you can pick up something from. Please consult it as you revise your own cover letter. Do not hesitate to “steal” key phrases. I’m your instructor. You should steal phrases from me all the time. (Just don’t steal from others.)
And of course — you are always encouraged to OUT-DO my phrasing. It is not perfectly written.