IMPORTANCE OF WRITING A COVER LETTER A cover letter should answer, “Why should the employer hire you?” It should also grab an employer’s attention and point out why you, above all other applicants, should be contacted for a personal interview. A cover letter: • Is usually submitted with a resume but should not duplicate your resume information • Includes your good qualities and / or what your supervisors or coworkers value about you • Helps market your resume Expect to change the letter so it can contain specific information for each employer’s needs. Just as you will need to tailor your resume for each job you apply to, you will also need to tailor your cover letters to each job you apply to. DECIDING THE PURPOSE OF THE COVER LETTER In this section, we will discuss three types of cover letters: a cover letter in response to a job posting, an inquiry asking about positions at a company that are not posted, and a networking or informational cover letter. The purpose of your letter will help you decide what needs to be written and how. This section will provide you tips and samples for the cover letter that is specific to a job posting, as this is the most common format. A COVER LETTER THAT IS SPECIFIC TO A JOB POSTING A cover letter should encourage an employer to read your resume and include highlights of your experience and accomplishments relevant to the job. Keep the specifics of the job posting in mind and use keywords from the job description in your letter. Choose your language carefully and keep the cover letter professional. Do not make the cover letter too long; keep it to one page. Read the application instructions and job description carefully before applying. The quickest way to land a cover letter in the trash is to disregard instructions. For example: if the instructions ask for a cover letter as an attachment, do not place it in the body of an email message. Be sure to use spell check before submitting your cover letter. Do not submit a cover letter that has spelling or punctuation errors. “COLD” COVER LETTERS OF INQUIRY TO AN EMPLOYER WHO HAS NOT ADVERTISED A JOB “Cold” cover letters allow you to contact a potential employer directly without a referral or a job posting. Many jobseekers use “cold” cover letters to search for vacancies that are not advertised or for future job openings. NETWORKING OR INFORMATIONAL COVER LETTERS Networking or informational cover letters have one main purpose – to introduce (or reintroduce) you to a contact whom you hope may have some useful information or advice to help you with your career. TIPS FOR WRITING AN EFFECTIVE COVER LETTER Your cover letter tells a story. It has a beginning, middle and end. If you tell your story clearly, you’ll increase your chances of getting your resume read. Here are some tips on writing an effective cover letter: 33
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