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. Keep it clean and free of errors.
Keep it brief (no more than four paragraphs).
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.
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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