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General Formatting Guidelines
In cooking, basic ingredients form the start of a good dish, but the way you
combine the ingredients also impacts the outcome of your efforts. The same is
true for your cover letter. Careful choice of words, tone, and aesthetics are
essential to creating a pleasing product.
The “write” stuff.Insiders tell us that cover letters are used to assess an
applicant’s ability to write clearly and concisely. For example, candidates with
strong technical focus and international candidates seeking a position in the
United States whose first language is not English undergo this type of scrutiny.
As with your resume, be sure to proofread for typos.
Lookin’ good.To increase the professional look ofyour application,use the
same paper, contact information, header, and font style in both your cover
letter and resume. It is acceptable (and often encouraged) to e-mail applications.
For more on this, see the “Sending your Application Materials” section later in
this guide.
A well-tuned tone.The tone ofyour cover letter in most circumstances will be
professional but thoughtful, persuasive but restrained. Use concise sentences
and be direct. At the same time, be sure to inject plenty of enthusiasm and
genuine interest into your letter.
Custom content.In your cover letter,include information that truly tailors the
application to a particular employer and specific job opening. Complement and
reinforce the qualifications presented in your resume, using words and phrases
from the employer’s job listing and/or website.
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Here are some points about content you’ll want to keep in mind as you
write your letter:
1. How you learned of the job or company is important to recruiters and
hiring managers, especially if there exists a mutual connection that can
speak of your qualifications.
2. Demonstrate a good fit with the employer’s corporate or organizational
culture. Be sure to back up any assertions of personal characteristics by
describing the resulting achievement either on your resume or in your
cover letter. Ideally, the cover letter refers to information found on your
resume without being repetitive or redundant.
3. Go beyond the resume in explaining your situation and career direction.
For example: “My career goals include gaining leadership experience in the
delivery of financial advising services and working in a private business
setting that supports high-quality customer care. I will be able to relocate
for this kind of opportunity.”
4. Avoid discussing weaknesses or making excuses; instead, explain your
situation in a way that indicates a sense of purpose and that you have
learned something of value from your experiences. For example, if you
have been laid off, what have you done to be productive since losing the
job (e.g. volunteering your time with a worthy cause, reaffirming or
reshaping your career goals)?
5. If salary requirements are requested in a job posting, discuss them in your
cover letter. It’s best not to trap yourself by naming a very specific amount.
Instead, say something such as “my salary requirements are in step with the
responsibilities of the position and the expertise I would offer your company.”
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15
Finally, in some fields such as investment banking or consulting, the cover letter
is a little like a bull market—it’s taken for granted until there’s a problem. This
can also be true when job searching through an on-campus recruiting process.
Where this may be the case, we recommend a low-risk strategy. The cover letter
should be kept short and to the point, with a maximum length of one-half
page. Be sure to include all of your critical information in your resume, because
there’s a good chance your cover letter won’t be read.
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5. “Readability”
4. A sense of the applicant’s personality
3. How an applicant found out about the job opening
2. Something eye-catching
1. Evidence that the applicant has researched the company
Top Five Things Interviewers Look for in a Cover Letter
9
Sample Cover Letters
Now it’s time to see how all the pieces discussed in the first chapter come
together. The letters in this section demonstrate a variety of formats, fields, and
professional levels. Don’t take the examples here as prescriptions. Instead, use
them to provide you with ideas for creating concise correspondence that reflects
your strengths. These letters contain fictionalized names and organizations, but
the information is based on real work histories and position listings.
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32
A Specific Position
Although somewhat lengthy, this letter does a thorough job of emphasizing the
relevant skills and goals of the applicant. Note that it is directed towards
Human Resources and therefore includes the job number as a subject header.
Ideally, addressing an individual is preferable than just going with “Human
Resources Administrator”; you can call the organization to inquire about the
hiring person’s name and title.
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LETICIAROBERTS
Address
City, state, zip
Telephone
E-mail
June 10, 2003
World Art Museum
200 Lafayette Street
San Francisco, CA94100
FAX: 415.555-9410
RE: Position # 436654, Membership Assistant
Dear Human Resources Administrator:
I am applying to the position of Membership Assistant with the World Art Museum. I
learned of the opportunity through your online posting on Craigslist.org, and feel my
qualifications are a good match for the responsibilities of the position.
I have several years of customer service and administrative experience in the non-profit
community. As Member Services Assistant for the International Association of Business
Communicators (IABC), I responded to daily requests for the association’s library
services department, providing publication information and resource referrals to
association members and the public. I was also responsible for editing informational and
promotional materials, as well as preparing for and working on-site at the association’s
annual international conference. As Office Support Person for the ASPECT Foundation, I
processed applications to the organization’s study abroad program, distributed program
19
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materials to applicants, and used Microsoft Word and Excel programs extensively. These
duties required strong communication skills, attention to detail, and an ability to both
organize and prioritize several tasks at once.
I am very interested in education and the arts. At Bryn Mawr College, I took courses in
both art and art history, and I participated in an educational exchange program through
which I studied Renaissance art in Florence, Italy. Since then, I have taken extension
courses through UC Berkeley in Asian and Latin American art history.
As a result of these experiences, I am enthusiastic about continuing to work with non-
profits, and would like to further explore career possibilities with public arts
organizations. Aposition as Membership Assistant with the World Art Museum would
combine my member service and clerical skills, my interests and my career goals. I am
confident I can be of value to your organization and the customers you serve. Please feel
free to call me to set up an interview, or if you need more information. I look forward to
hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Leticia Roberts
[Enclosure]
8
Personal Contact
The letter on the opposite page is quick and to the point. The introduction can
be brief, as the employer has already heard of the candidate through their
mutual contact. Note that the employer is addressed by her first name; only do
this if your contact has suggested it is appropriate. When in doubt, include the
full name and title of your addressee.
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27
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Bill Pendleton
Address
City, state, zip code
Telephone
E-mail
June 14, 2003
Cathy Stevenson
McKinsey & Company
75 Park Plaza, 3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02116-3934
Dear Cathy,
Frank William suggested that I forward my resume to you for your consideration. I am a
second-year MBA student at the Krannert Graduate School of Management at Purdue
University, and I am currently working as a summer associate at Motorola in Chicago.
As Frank may have mentioned, I am in the top 5% of my class at Krannert, and I was
recently elected President of the MBA student body. In and out of the classroom, I have
consistently demonstrated my capacity to make a positive impact regardless of the
situation. My analytical and personal skills are ideally suited to management consulting,
and I am confident that I would be an asset to McKinsey & Company.
I will call you next Wednesday to discuss next steps. If you have any questions regarding
my resume or qualifications, please do not hesitate to call. I look forward to speaking
with you.
Sincerely,
Bill Pendleton
[Enclosure]
8
Broadcast Letter
In the letter on the opposite page, Linda emphasizes her personal qualities, as
well as some of her background. This letter style is assertive, and will be most
effective if she has done a good job of researching the qualities this firm looks
for in its candidates. The conclusion suggests a very proactive approach to
targeting the prospective employer and requires follow-through.
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Documents you may be interested
Documents you may be interested
