A cover letter should accompany every resume you send out. Its primary purposes are to indicate your interest in a particular position or employer, and to highlight the skills, knowledge and qualities in your background, which relate to the needs of the employer. Where a resume should be targeted to a specific job objective, a cover letter targets a specific employer with unique needs that you can fill. It is meant to “sell you” for a particular job or to a particular employer.

Content

There are several things to keep in mind when you consider what will go into your cover letter. You need to:

• Introduce yourself and tell the employer why you’re writing
• Sell yourself! What’s in it for the employer? Why this job, this company?

Your goal should be to describe your qualifications dynamically and concisely. Use action words. Quantify accomplishments as much as possible. Edit and rewrite with directness and an eye for being concise.

Start from the perspective of the employer. The points to focus on are those that the employer has outlined in the job description. Read through the description and list the major needs or requirements indicated. Prioritize your list as best you can according to perceived importance to the employer. Then address the top 3-5 needs, in order of importance, by telling the employer how or why you meet each need through relating your relevant skills, experience or accomplishments.

Try not to use space discussing points that, while they may be strong areas of your background, are not connected to the most important needs of the employer. Remember, the employer has your resume as a companion document to look at for other information about you. 

General tips

• Limit letters to one page (generally 3-4 paragraphs)
• Use your own natural writing style, but with language that is simple and to the point
• Edit and proofread all letters. Try to have someone else proofread your letters as well
• Letters must be perfect! Typos, spelling or grammatical errors are not acceptable; such errors may very well knock you out of the running before your qualifications are considered
• Handwritten letters are unacceptable - all letters must be individually typed; no fill-ins
• Use high quality stationary, preferably the same color and stock as your resume
• Get the name and title of the hiring manager and address your letter to her/him
• Always cite your referral source, if you have one
• Sign and make a copy of each and every letter

Block Style Business Letter Format

(See a Sample Letter for College of Arts and Sciences or Sawyer Business School)
All components of the letter are placed flush with the left margin

(your street address)
(your city, state and zip code)
(date)

Ms. Contact Person
Hiring Manager
Interesting Company
000 Industrial Way
Anywhere, US 00000-0000

Dear Ms. Person:

Initial Paragraph Goals: Introduce yourself; grab the attention of the reader; declare the purpose for your letter. What to include: state why you are writing, the position in which you are interested and how you learned about that position. Indicate why you are interested in that particular position or employer. Be as personal as you can in stating your motivations for wanting to work for the employer. Cite a facet of your experience, interests or education that makes the connection between the job and you.

Middle Paragraph(s): Ideally one paragraph, no more than two. Goal: A claim that you meet the specific needs of the employer for this job, and support or justification for this claim. Identify from your background appropriate skills, experiences and knowledge areas and connect them individually with the particular needs stated in the requirements and responsibilities outlined in the job description. Present the results you’ve attained, and highlight that you’ll be able to achieve similar results for the employer. Make references to your resume, but don’t repeat it verbatim.

Final Paragraph: The wrap-up. Goal: A call for action and thanks to the employer. Include: Request an interview or let the employer know you will follow up on your letter. Clarify, if necessary, how the employer can best reach you. Express appreciation for the employer’s time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Your signature

Your name typed