Cover Letters

Why are cover letters important?

• They offer an employer a sample of your writing abilities and skills
• They allow creativity of text, unlike résumés which are more rigid in format and style
• They allow you to expand upon relevant information from your résumé, or to introduce additional information
• They can generate an employer's interest and subsequently lead to interviews
• When written well, they can be an excellent tool by which to market yourself, make convincing points about your salient qualities, and demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of an employer's business and why you would be a valuable addition to their business
• When written poorly or containing errors, they can cause you to be eliminated from consideration by employers

Why should a cover letter include?

A cover letter is a brief document (approximately three or four paragraphs, no more than one page in length) which usually accompanies a résumé. Its purpose varies according to circumstance -- for example, it can be used when trying to obtain an interview with an employer, or after meeting an employer or networking contact who has asked for a copy of your résumé, or in response to a job listing, or to request an informational interview with a networking contact.

Although its appearance can vary, its basic format will include:

• Heading: Your full name, address, email and phone – Same heading as your resume
• Date (left-justified or to the right of center, followed by four blank lines),
• Contact name
• If Career Connections job, contact information is on the right side of the posting
• If you do not have a name use: Hiring Manager, or Recruiter
• Employer's name and full address (at left) followed by two spaces
• Greeting: Dear Contact name or as directed above)
• Body of the letter will be single-spaced with a double space separating paragraphs.
• End with closing: Sincerely
• Your full name
• If mailed, leave four blank lines between the closing and your name and sign.

For additional information and a cover letter template, please use the link below.
Sample Cover Letter