JOB MATERIALS 2

COVER LETTERS
 PURPOSE

• PURE FORMALITY
• A WAY TO EXPLAIN YOUR RESUME
• EXPOSE SKILLS NOT EASILY SEEN IN A RESUME
• GET YOUR TRUE PERSONALITY ACCROSS
 STANDARDS

• UNIFORM IN NATURE
• ONE INCH MARGINS
• 8-11 POINT SERIF FONT
• SINGLE SPACED
• LEFT HAND JUSTIFIED/PARAGRAPHS NOT INDENTED
• ART/DESIGN KEPT TO A BARE MINIMUM
• SINGLE PAGE
 STARTING OUT

• YOUR ADDRESS/CONTACT INFO: UPPER RIGHT CORNER

• DATE
• PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYER’S ADDRESS UNDER ON THE LEFT SIDE
• GREETING
• NEVER SAY “TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN”
• RESEARCH THE COMPANY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
 SECTIONS

• A COVER LETTER ALWAYS HAS THE SAME FOUR PARAGRAPHS:

• INTRODUCTION
• EXPERIENCE/HARD SKILLS
• EDUCATION/SOFT SKILLS
• CLOSING

• IF A RECENT GRAD, YOU CAN SWITCH THE ORDER IN WHICH EDUCATION AND
EXPERIENCE COME
• YOU CAN ALSO SPLIT EDUCATION INTO TWO PARTS
 INTRO

• RESTATE YOUR NAME

• SPECIFICALLY STATE THE NAME OF THE POSITION YOU ARE APPLYING FOR AND
COMPANY NAME
• GIVE A REASON OR TWO AS TWO WHY YOU WOULD BE BEST FOR THIS JOB
 EXPERIENCE

• START WITH THE PRESENT AND WORK BACKWARDS

• GIVE THE MOST IMPORTANT KEY WORDS IMPORTANT TO THE INDUSTRY
• AROUSE CURIOUSITY BY HIGHLIGHTING SALIENT POINTS
• SAY THINGS YOUR RESUME CANNOT
• GIVE YOUR TECHNICAL EXPERTISE—THINGS THAT ARE QUANTIFIABLE
 EDUCATION

• HOW DOES YOUR EDUCATION SUIT THE NEEDS OF YOUR INDUSTRY?

• WHAT SKILLS DID YOU GAIN AND HOW DID YOU APPLY THEM IN CLASS?
• SHARE AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OF YOUR MAJOR SUCCESSES/ACOMPLISHMENTS
• HIGHLIGHT SOFT SKILLS THAT ARE HARD TO MEASURE/PERSONALITY
• SHOW, DON’T JUST TELL!
 CLOSING

• STRESS ACTION
• REFERENCE YOUR ENCLOSED/ATTACHED RESUME
• INVITE TO TALK MORE
• GIVE CONTACT INFO AGAIN AND TIME FRAME
• THANK READER FOR THEIR TIME
• CLOSE OUT WITH SOME CORDIALITY
• AVOID “SINCERELY” AS IT IS CLICHÉ/OVER USED
 SIGNING OFF

• GAIN ACCESS TO A PRINTER AND SCANNER IF POSSIBLE

• PRINT OFF COVER LETTER AND ADD A PHYSICAL SIGNATURE
• SCAN SIGNED LETTER AND SAVE IT AS A PDF