Purpose of a Cover Letter
The purpose of a cover letter is to:
- Introduce yourself to potential employers and express your interest in a specific position.
- Highlight your most relevant qualifications and experiences that make you a strong candidate for the role.
- Demonstrate your knowledge of the company and explain why you want to work there.
- Provide additional context and details that expand on your resume.
- Showcase your communication skills and personality.
- Address any potential concerns or gaps in your resume.
- Motivate the employer to review your resume and invite you for an interview.
Key tips:
- Customize each cover letter for the specific job
- Use keywords from the job description
- Be concise and to the point
- Strike a balance between confidence and humility
- Focus on what you can offer the employer, not what they can do for you
- Avoid simply repeating information from your resume
What Should be Said
- General Content:
- Open with a strong, attention-grabbing introduction
- Tailor the content to the specific job and company
- Highlight 2-3 of your most relevant skills or experiences
- Use specific examples to demonstrate your qualifications
- Show enthusiasm for the role and company
- Close with a call to action, expressing interest in an interview
- Length and Content Format:
- Heading with contact information
- Greeting (e.g. "Dear [Name]," or "Dear Hiring Manager," or "To Whom It May Concern,")
- You can list the name of the hiring manager if you want, but job applications may be seen by multiple people so it may be better to keep it vague if you don't know who exactly is going to see your application.
- Introduction paragraph
- Clearly state the position you're applying for
- Mention how you learned about the opening
- Express enthusiasm for the role and company
- Briefly highlight 2-3 key qualifications that match the job and make you a strong fit
- Body paragraphs
- Expand on your most relevant qualifications and experiences
- Provide specific examples of achievements that demonstrate your skills
- Use quantifiable results when possible
- Connect your background to the job requirements
- Show knowledge of the company and industry
- Explain why you're interested in working there specifically
- Closing paragraph
- Restate your interest in the position
- Summarize why you're a strong candidate
- Include a call to action (e.g., request an interview)
- Thank the reader for their time and consideration
- Sign-off (e.g. "Sincerely,")
- Structure:
- Include your contact information at the top
- Use a professional font like Arial or Calibri in 10-12 point size
- Customization:
- Tailor each cover letter to the specific job and company
- Address it to a specific person if possible
- Proofreading:
- Carefully proofread for any errors
- Ask someone else to review it as well
- Consistency:
- Ensure formatting and contact details match your resume
- White space: Include enough white space to make it visually appealing and easy to scan
Books about Cover Letter Writing
How it Should be Formatted
- General Formatting Tips:
- Maintain consistent formatting with your resume
- Use standard business letter format with proper spacing
- Proofread carefully for any errors
- Length and spacing:
- Keep it to one page
- Use single line spacing with blank lines between sections so it can be read and scanned easily
- Margins and layout:
- Use standard 1-inch margins on all sides
- Left-align the text
- Use a clean, easy-to-read layout
- Font and Size:
- Use a clean font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman in size 10-12 points. The header can be slightly larger (14-16 points).
- File format:
- Save as PDF or DOCX
- Use an appropriate file name (e.g. "FirstName-LastName-Cover-Letter.pdf")
Why Cover Letters are Important
Need Help Writing a Cover Letter? Contact a Career Development Advisor!
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