Cover Letter Writing

The following will give an overview of employment letter writing and help you write a draft of your letter. When you have written your draft, you are encouraged to make an appointment with an OCS Career Counselor for a critique. After making any changes, if you would like a final review, please use our Drop-In Hours (Monday to Friday, 4 to 5 p.m.) More information on cover letter writing can be found in the ACCEL Resource Library.

Employment Letter Writing

The cover letter is as important a job search tool as the resume. In fact, in many cases it is more important. Many employers scan the cover letter first to see if it catches their attention; if it does not, they will give little or no attention to the resume. The cover letter is your opportunity to showcase your writing skills and to persuade the employer that you are the perfect match for the position.

A cover letter should accompany a resume in all cases except when an employer explicitly requests that it not be included.

Before you write...

Be sure you know the answers to the following questions:

1. What does the organization do, make, sell, research, etc.?
2. What does the job description tell you about the organization's current needs? (If you've only seen an abbreviated advertisement, contact the organization for a complete description.)
3. To whom should you address the letter? (You can usually obtain the name, title and work address by contacting the organization's switchboard.)
4. Who are you, who do you want to be, how do you want to use your skills in the world? You can best convince an employer that you are right for a job if you have taken the time to answer these questions for yourself.

Use your writing skills to set the tone

Rather than a narrative version of your resume, the cover letter should be a "conversation in writing," reflecting your natural choice of vocabulary and style and your enthusiasm about the opportunity. Take the time to use all of the writing skills you've developed at Allegheny. Employers use the cover letter as the place to determine your writing skills, and a very well written letter can sometimes offset a lack of relevant experience.

Getting started

The first sentence is often the hardest. Good openers can be based on how you learned of the opportunity, the name of a mutual acquaintance who referred you, or whatever caught your attention about the position.

Tailor your letter to the position

Use the job description to gain a sense of the skills and qualities the employer is seeking, then relate experiences from your past to them. These can include internships, relevant jobs, your senior thesis, a class project, or anything you have done that relates to the position. You can elaborate on any relevant experiences in more depth than is possible on the resume. If you have a passion for the subject being discussed, let it come through. This is the most important part of the letter and can take more than one paragraph when appropriate.

Include anything that really makes you stand out

If there is something in your background which tends to catch people's attention, and you can work it in smoothly, do so. (Don't force it in at the expense of the unity of the letter.) For instance, if you have lived in Guatemala, took a year off from school to work in a homeless shelter, or been a national finalist in artistic roller skating, this may be the detail which distinguishes you from the many equally qualified candidates.

Closing

Be sure to include, in some form, a request for an interview. Also include a plan of action: for instance, "I will call you next week," or "I will look forward to hearing from you." Be sure to include contact information, with a backup phone number if it is difficult to reach you at your number.

Cover Letter Tips

1. Use good quality bond paper that matches your resume.
2. Try to use type of a quality equal to laser printing.
3. Use proper business format. (See attached samples.)
4. Be sure to have someone review your letter for spelling, grammar and typos.
5. Be concise. Do not exceed one page. A space between paragraphs makes the letter more inviting to the eye.
6. Be honest. Always be able to back up your claims.
7. Your resume and cover letter can be sent in either a matching #10 business envelope or a 9 X 12 envelope. The larger envelope allows your documents to remain unfolded.