A cover letter always accompanies your resume wherever you send it. It lets the
employer ... (Sample 1 - Application Letter – Full Block Format). Structure your ...
Career Services - The Cover Letter A cover letter always accompanies your resume wherever you send it. It lets the employer know two key things. First, that you are aware of their needs, interests and direction, and second, that you have the skills, abilities, and experiences that will meet their needs. Appearance hUse a professional, business letter format. hUse quality bond paper (8 1/2" X 11") that matches your resume and envelope. hUse the same font type as your resume and envelope. hCarefully check spelling, grammar, and typing. hBe sure it is signed, your resume is included, and the address on the envelope matches the address on the letter. Content
hAddress your cover letter to the person who is responsible for initiating the
hiring process or making the hiring decision. If you don't know who that person is, call the organization to inquire. Avoid sending letters to "To whom it may concern." "Dear Sir or Madam," or "Dear Personnel Director." hAlways include the title (or at a minimum a description) of the position you are seeking. hInclude the name of the person who referred you to the organization (if applicable). Networking letters have been proven to be more successful! hBe creative with word choice and style to ensure a more interesting letter. hRequest an interview and an establish a time when you will follow up with a phone call or visit. Be sure to follow through on any commitment you make. Remember hSelect several employers, research them and target them with personalized cover letters. Also, demonstrate familiarity with the company or organization. hIt is ineffective to send the same cover letter to a variety of employers. Employers can spot generic letters (and those copies from a source) a mile away. hA quality letter takes time and effort to compose. Allow yourself enough time. hKeep a copy of your letter, along with any information you may have about the job. Over time this will become a valuable way to measure your job search. _____________ Information adapted from Dynamic Cover Letters website:http://www.stetson.edu/~rhanson/cover_letters.html and "How to Write a Cover Letter" by Scripps College. August 1998 HANDOUTS:COVER LETTER Phone:319-399-8844 Fax:319-399-8503 www.public.coe.edu/careerservices Revised:6/02
Cover Letter Outline Your street address City, state, zip code (Area code) Phone number E-mail address (return twice) Date (return twice) Mr. or Ms. Employer Title Organization/company name Street address City, state, zip code (return twice) Dear Mr. or Ms. Employer: (return twice) 1st Paragraph:Explain why you are writing in such a way to pique the employer's interest. Name the position or kind of work for which you are applying and how you became aware of the opening. Hint:Speak to your strengths. If referred by someone, use that information in this paragraph. (return twice) 2nd Paragraph:Briefly describe your professional and/or academic qualifications. Refer to research you have conducted on the position, employer, and industry by identifying exactly what they are looking for in the ideal candidate. Indicate the skills you have that would meet their needs. You must convince the employer that your skills will benefit their organization. Use specific examples from your experience, education and achievements. Hint: If responding to a want ad, tailor this paragraph to the needs described in the ad. (return twice) Closing Paragraph: Request action. Ask for an interview appointment and then follow up. Tell the employer you will make contact within a specific period of time (such as a week, 10 days, two weeks). Thank the employer for their time and consideration. If you need to reach me, you may contact me at (phone number and area code) or (e-mail). Hint: Follow up is the key, so plan on making some phone calls. (return twice) Sincerely, 3-4 blank lines for your signature Your name typed (return twice) Enclosure (this indicates that your resume is included)
(Sample 1 - Application Letter – Full Block Format) Structure your application letters with three or four paragraphs: 1225 Hampton Boulevard Norfolk, VA 23517 August, 2003
Come to the point. Reveal your purpose. Identify the position and your source of information. Introduce your themes.
Ms. Dianne C. Strand Manager of Human Resources Atlantic Coast Industries, Inc. 2900 Virginia Beach Boulevard Virginia Beach, VA 23464 Dear Ms. Strand: I am applying for the position of systems analyst, which was advertised on March 11 with the career center at Old Dominion University. The position seems to fit very well with my education, experience, and career interests. Your position requires experience in computer systems, financial applications software, and end-user consulting. With a major in management information systems, I have training on mainframes, minicomputers, and microcomputers as well as with a variety of software programs and applications. My practical experience in my university’s computer center as a programmer and as a student consultant for system users gave me valuable exposure to complex operations. Additionally, I worked as a cooperative education student in computing operations for a large bank where I gained knowledge of financial systems. My enclosed resume provides more details on my qualifications. My background and career goals seem to match your job requirements well. I am confident that I can perform the job effectively. Furthermore, I am genuinely interested in the position and in working for Atlantic Coast Industries. Your firm has an excellent reputation and comes highly recommended to me. Would you please consider my request for a personal interview to discuss further my qualifications and to learn more about this opportunity? I shall call you next week to see if a meeting can be arranged. Should you need to reach me, please feel free to call me at 683-4388. If I am not in, please leave a message on my answering machine and I will return your cal within a day. Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to talking with you. Sincerely yours,
Show appreciation to the reader for his or her time and consideration.
Lisa Watson Outline your strongest qualifications that match the position requirements based on the themes you selected. As much as possible, provide evidence of your related experiences and accomplishments. Make reference to your enclosed resume.
Taken from “Planning Job Choices:1999 Four-Year College Edition.”
Convince the employer that you have the personal qualities and motivation to perform well in the position. Sell yourself. Suggest an action plan. Request an interview, and indicate that you will call during a specific time period to discuss interview possibilities.
Job Search Correspondence There are many different letters that you may write throughout the job search process. You may use the same format as in the cover letter example, but the content of the letter will vary. Below, you will find the most common letters. Networking Letter – Information Interview The networking letter is designed to generate information interviews - not job interviews. Information interviews allow you to meet individuals who can provide specific information about your intended career. Networking is a viable way to conduct research on jobs, to refine career goals, and to uncover position information. A networking letter establishes a connection between you and the reader. (For example, when writing to Coe alumni, state you are a Coe student.) Your purpose should be stated without placing pressure on the reader. Briefly explain your situation. The closing section should indicate that you would like to speak with the person and how you will be in contact to make arrangements. Thank You Letter Within 24 hours of any type of interview (informational, employment, internship) it is extremely Important to send a follow up letter to the person(s) with whom you interviewed. In your thank you letter, you should: Introduction iIndicate why and when you met the individual, and thank them for their time. iReiterate your enthusiasm and continued interest in the field or position. Body
iRemark on unique aspects of your discussion. This is a key element! iRelate your qualifications (education, experience, and skills). Closing
iHighlight any important information which was not discussed in the interview. iNote follow-up action regarding his/her suggestions. iConvey your appreciation for his/her time and consideration. Acceptance Letter Use this letter to officially accept a job offer and to confirm the terms of your employment (salary, starting date, medical examinations, etc.) Most often, an acceptance letters follows a telephone conversation during which the details of the offer and the terms of employment are discussed. The letter confirms your acceptance, expresses your appreciation for the opportunity, and positively reinforces the employer's decision to hire you. Withdrawal Letter Once you accept a position, you have an ethical obligation to inform all other employers of your decision and to withdraw your other employment application(s) from consideration. You may do this by phone or in writing. If you choose to write, your withdrawal letter should express appreciation for the employer's consideration and courtesy. It may be appropriate to state that your decision to go with another organization was based on a better fit for you in this stage of your career. Do not say that you obtained a "better" job.
Additional Resources These are books found in the Career Services Resource Library. iCover Letters! Cover Letters! Cover Letters! iCover Letters Made Easy iCover Letters That Knock 'Em Dead iCover Letters Almanac iThe Curriculum Vitae iHow To Say It _______________________ Information adapted from handouts by Ripon College and Lawrence University.
HANDOUTS:COVER LETTER Phone:319-399-8844 Fax:319-399-8503 www.coe.edu/careerservices Revised: 6/02
