- Understand what a cover letter is and how to write one
Cover Letters
A cover letter is a letter of introduction, usually three to four paragraphs in length and no more than one-page long, that you submit with your résumé. It’s a way of introducing yourself to a potential employer and explaining why you are suited for a position. Not all employers ask for a cover letter but because many do, it’s useful to know how to write a good one.
What a Cover Letter Is NOT
First, it’s important to understand that the cover letter is not your résumé put into the form of a letter. That is, your cover letter is not a revision of your résumé from bullet points into paragraphs.
What a Cover Letter IS
While you may use some of the information from your résumé, a good cover letter is one that does three things:
- Explains in an enthusiastic way the reasons you are interested in working for this particular organization and in the specific role you are applying for
- Highlights how your skills and experiences can be used in the role you are applying for
- Shows off your excellent, professional communication skills
How to Write Your Cover Letter
Before you start writing, you should do some research about the employer (e.g. look at their website and LinkedIn page, speak with a current employee, search for recent news articles). You should carefully read the job description and think about what parts of your experiences match the skills and qualifications the employer is seeking.
Make sure to us a formal letter format such as a block format and include:
- your contact information
- the date you are writing
- the employer’s name, title, and address
- a greeting (Dear Ms./Mr./Dr./Prof. with their last name)
- your signature after the body of the letter