Cover Letters

Monday, 3/22/10 - Tuesday, 3/23/10

Writing a Cover Letter

You have worked very hard and have written an excellent resume. However, without a cover letter, a resume will not make the impression that it could. According to a CareerBuilder.com survey, 66 percent of hiring managers prefer a good cover letter attached to a resume. This is your first chance to stand out in the crowd of applicants. Your cover letter can tell the hiring manager or dean of admissions that you are qualified for the job or college and a serious candidate. Perhaps more important is the opportunity to show your personality through your letter.

For this reason, some employers throw out resumes that do not have cover letters. By not writing a cover letter, you are telling a possible employer or school that you have not taken the time and energy to present yourself in the best possible light.

Here are some things to remember as you write your cover letter:

It’s your cover letter, not your memoir
Keep the cover letter to a few organized paragraphs that fit on one page.

Be yourself
Being yourself doesn’t mean being your party self. It means putting a little personality into your writing, but not a string of jokes or casual, over-familiar, or slang expressions. Use your own words and ideas, not just a form letter or template with the contact information changed!

Let the resume speak for itself
Hiring managers read the cover letter before they (hopefully) flip the page to look at the resume, so don’t just repeat your resume information. Discuss a specific achievement or experience that shows your qualifications for the job. The cover letter and resume combined give you their attention for only two pages, so don’t waste it repeating yourself.

Know your audience
If your teacher greeted you each morning by saying, “Hello, student,” you’d be irked she didn’t know your name. Cover letters beginning “Dear Sir or Madam” and “To Whom It May Concern” do not make good impressions. If the job posting does not specify who will receive the applications, find out. Look online or call the company’s main line or university or college to ask for the name of the corporate recruiter or hiring manager or director of admissions. Once you find out, use a formal title such as Mr., Ms. or Mrs. It adds a personal but professional touch that will be appreciated.

Why you want this job/admission to this college
Sure, a paycheck or diploma would be nice, but hopefully you want this job/college for another reason. The university’s or company’s history, accomplishments, reputation and culture probably played a role in your decision to apply. Let the hiring manager/director of admissions know. It tells him or her that you’ve done your homework and are serious about being a member of the business or college team.

Your manners
Even though job hunts are increasingly taking place online, you still need to adhere to business etiquette. As you would on any professional correspondence, include your full contact information as well as the hiring manager’s name and company address or university’s director of admissions name and address.

Take your time
You already know how important a cover letter is, so don’t rush through it. Treat it with the same care you used for your resume. Check your facts. Write several drafts, revise it and look it over again. Let your first impression be a good one.

Here are some links that have more tips and examples of cover letters:
http://www.rpi.edu/web/writingcenter/cover_letter.html

Who needs a cover letter?
http://jobstar.org/tools/resume/cletters.php

Tips for writing cover letters (with examples)
http://www.thejobexplorer.com/Cover_Letter/Tips-for-Writing-an-Effective-Cover-Letter.html

Cover letter examples:
http://www.career.vt.edu/JOBSEARC/coversamples.htm

Academic Content Standards:
15.1.11A- Write with a distinctive focus.
1.5.11B- Write using well-developed content appropriate for the topic.
1.5.11C- Write with controlled organization.