Guide to Cover Letter

Include an opening paragraph about your intent to apply.

Write an introductory paragraph that includes the position you’re applying for. You should also
include a statement about your enthusiasm in regards to the role and company.

Write a second paragraph about your background

Your second paragraph should be a brief overview of your background as is relevant to the
position. Here, you should include key achievements, skills and specialties that make you
particularly suited to perform well in the position. Focus on one or two and provide specific
details about your success including measurable impacts you made.

Pay close attention to keywords listed in the job description and include those that you identify
within the body of your cover letter. You should only include information about your most recent
one or two professional experiences.

Focus on another reason why you are qualified in the next paragraph

Your next paragraph should focus on another key achievement or skill that is relevant to the
position. Instead of repeating details from your resume, expand on specific stories or anecdotes
that display your fitness for the role. Eg: extra-curricular.

Conclude with reasons why you are uniquely qualified

Your last paragraph should recap the reasons you are applying for the role and why you would
be a great fit. Keep the closing conclusion brief and explain that you look forward to hearing
from the employer with next steps.

Other Tips
Here are five guidelines to keep in mind when writing a cover letter.

Customize your header based on your application format and job description.
If you’re writing your cover letter directly within an online job application, there’s no need to
include your address or other contact information, as you’ve probably already typed that into
other areas of the application form. If you’re including your cover letter as an attachment, you
can use the same heading as your resume.

Use an appropriate greeting after researching the culture of the organization

If you know the name of the hiring manager for this job, begin your cover letter by addressing
them directly (Example: Dear Mr. Hasan). If you don’t know the name of the hiring manager, you
can begin your letter with a simple “Dear Hiring Manager,”. Get a feel for the company’s culture
when deciding how formal your greeting should be. More formal introductions such as “To
Whom It May Concern:” or “Dear Sir or Madame,” can come across as too stuffy for some
organizations, while greetings like “Hey!” and “Hi there,” are almost always too casual for a
cover letter.

Avoid generic and vague references to your abilities skills or experiences.

Whenever possible, tell meaningful anecdotes that tie your skills to concrete problem-solving
activities or tangible business results you’ve worked on in your career. Any candidate can say
they possess a desirable skill. To make an impact, you need to show hiring managers examples of
your skills in action. For example:

Too vague: “My skills would be a great fit for your organization.”

More specific: “In my role as a sales associate, I am frequently required to provide

exceptional customer service on short notice. Exceeding customers’ expectations is a point
of personal and professional pride for me, and this is a skill I’m eager to continue
developing.

Too vague: “I’m a proactive team player.”

More specific: “In my current job, I proactively jumped in to help launch an internal
recycling and waste reduction initiative. Together, our team contributed to a 25%
reduction in solid waste production within the company.”

Keep it short and to the point, keeping the job applied for in mind.
When determining how long a cover letter should be, focus on the details that are most
important for the job. Read the job description closely to identify the best opportunities to
illustrate your qualifications. What professional achievements are you the proudest of?
Choose one or two and map them directly to the desired experience or qualifications the
hiring manager is looking for, using just a few detailed but concise sentences. What
attributes is the job description calling for in a candidate? Consider using the cover letter
itself as a way of demonstrating those traits.

Don’t reiterate everything that’s on your resume. You want to focus on one or two anecdotes,
expanding on how you achieved something specific.

And finally, proofread before you submit. Basic errors are the worst impression creation,
Reread your cover letter several times before submitting and keep an eye out for errors of
spelling, grammar, or punctuation. Reading the letter aloud can help you pick out awkward
phrasing or too-long sentences. There are certain common errors that we all have a tendency to
gloss over, so make sure to do a slow, deliberate reading that examines each word. If your
salutation includes the hiring manager’s name, triple-check the spelling.

For jobs that require submitting a cover letter, remember that you’re getting a valuable chance to
illustrate your capabilities and share a glimpse of authentic personality. Take advantage of the
opportunity to let your greatest strengths shine, while also showing that you respect the hiring
manager’s time and attention.