Cover Letter Tips

Content

• Your cover letter should be written to a specific individual, if at all possible. Verify the spelling of the name. As a last resort, you may direct the letter to someone with a specific job title, such as "Director of Human Resources" or "Hiring Manager."
• Write from the reader’s point of view, with the goal to meet the employer’s needs as related to the targeted position.
• Never start a paragraph with "I" and avoid starting sentences with "I." Focus on the needs of the employer and how you can meet them. Write an attention-getting introduction that invites, informs, and attracts the reader to seek more information."
• Write confidently and share just enough specific information to spark the interest of the reader to want to find out more about you on your résumé.
• In the first paragraph, state the position for which you are applying, how you learned of it, and why you are attracted to the employer.
• In the second paragraph, point out at least three relevant qualifications which highlight why you are uniquely suited for the job. Do not repeat the contents of your résumé, which can be easily found. Instead, be personable and cite specific reasons or examples of your qualifications that are explained further on your résumé.
• In the third paragraph, ask for an interview! Let the employer know that you are looking forward to hearing from them. But be sure to follow up once the résumé and letter have been received.
• Limit sentences to seven or eight words. Limit the paragraphs in the body of the letter to four or five sentences. Letters that are too lengthy take too much of the reader’s time; show the employer that you can write with clarity and brevity.
• Tailor your letter to the needs of the employer and the requirements of the position. Use the position announcement and company literature for clues about what to stress and keywords to include.
• A letter written in a friendly tone, as opposed to one that is stiff and formal, enables you to say things more clearly and briefly.
• Say complimentary things about yourself, but paint an accurate picture. Too much modesty may hinder your possibilities. On the other hand, if you exaggerate, even once, your reader may suspect everything you write is also an exaggeration. Work hard at being a person of integrity.

Formatting

• Keep your cover letter to one page, left aligned and vertically centered on the page.
• Watch your use of abbreviations. Spell out words such as Street, Circle, Avenue, and degrees (Bachelor of Science).
• Be sure to include the date at the top of the letter.
• Font size should be from 11-12 point so the reader does not have to strain to read your letter. If necessary, 10-point size may be used if the font is readable and clear.
• Meticulously edit your letters. Ask someone else, and in particular, your career counselor, to proofread them for spelling errors, grammatical errors, typographical errors, and awkward sentence structures.
• Be certain that your signature appears on your cover letter. After the closing, it is common to space down four lines before typing your name. Your signature will appear in that space.