Texas Tech University

Cover Letter

The letter of application, or cover letter, should accompany every resume you mail to prospective employers. A good letter introduces you to the employer, briefly states the purpose of communication, highlights pertinent information from your resume, and suggests a meeting or interview. It should not reiterate everything in the resume, but should complement and expand upon the resume and support a position as to why the applicant should be considered further. Remember that the main purpose of a cover letter is to get the reader interested enough in you to want to read your resume.

In the cover letter, remember to do the following:

  • Type it neatly on 8 1/2" x 11" bond paper to match your resume. Keep it clean and free of errors.
  • Keep it brief (no more than four paragraphs). Cut to the chase - don't ramble.
  • Never send a form letter. Each letter should be individually composed.
  • Always address your letter to a specific person, and with his/her appropriate title.
  • Talk about what you can do for them, and then take the initiative when closing by asking for an interview.
  • Use your own style of writing.
  • Use correct sentence structure and grammar.
  • Always send an original and not a carbon copy; however, once a good letter has been developed, it may be used as a model many times with slight revisions.
  • Avoid "I-itis"-excessive use of "I," "my," and "me"; blend the letter and the resume.
  • Keep a copy of all correspondence sent for your own records. You'll be amazed how helpful this can be.
  • When you complete a rough draft of your letter, show it to a career counselor, professor, experienced professional, or a friend for some helpful feedback.

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CONTACTS

Dr. Bill Bennett Student Success Center
Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources
Texas Tech University
PO Box 42123
Lubbock, Texas 79409-2022
(806) 742-2808

University Career Services
Texas Tech University
150 Wiggins Complex
Lubbock, TX 79419
(806) 742-2210
Career Services Web Site