Cover Letter Targeting: 

• • Personalize the cover letter for each job application. This can be done by: 

    • Using the company's name and hiring manager's name.

    • Showing you have done the research and put effort into understanding the company's mission and values.

    • Referring to the job posting when you can. 

    • Vague cover letters can be easily identified by ATS and recruiters; it shows laziness.

Job Posting Purpose:

• • Now we have already learned how to read a job posting, but how does this correlate with your cover letter? 

    • You use the purpose section of the application, which contains the company's values, achievements, and projects.

    • Use key information about the company that relates to you and your experiences and skills, and use this in the introduction part of your cover letter. 

Cover letter don’ts:

• • Do not send a generic cover letter.

  • Do not elaborate on skills that are not relevant to the job posting. 

  • Do not list skills without explaining further; cover letters are more about storytelling rather than listing.

  • Do not make yourself look desperate. 

  • Do not make your cover letter longer than a page. 

Formatting:

• • Contact information:

    • Include your contact information: Email, full name, phone number, and address.

    • Date you submit the cover letter.

    • Name of employer, job title, organization name, and address.

    • In the subject line, include the position title and posting number. 

    • Dear [name] or hiring committee.

  • Introduction: 

    • Have a hook: Catch the attention of the reader. Do not use clichés like “I am a … student from ….” Instead, be specific.

    • Connect: Once the attention has been caught, use the research you conducted on the company and relate it to your skills and beliefs. This will help the person reading envision how you will fit into the company. 

    • Thesis: This statement will guide you on where you want this cover letter to go. Highlight three skills required by the employer in the order they will show up in the body. 

  • Body Paragraph 1:

  • Body Paragraph 2: 

  • Body Paragraph 3: 

    • During the body paragraphs, each body will further discuss the highlighted skill you wrote down in your thesis.

    • Point sentence: State which skill you will be discussing and where you gained this skill (topic sentence).

    • Proof: This is the lengthiest portion of the body. Here you will tell the story of where you gained this skill and use the STAR method. 

    • Significance: Here is where it can be crucial to securing the job, as you will have to connect your previous experience and skill to how it will contribute to the potential job. 

  • Closing and Sign off:

    • Summary: The first sentence of this paragraph should summarize all the points proven in the body, like a conclusion paragraph. 

    • Availability and contact: Provide how the employer can contact you and when you are available. 

    • Call to action: Thank them for their time and push for that interview. Be assertive; don't say “appreciate” but rather “look forward.”

    • Sign off: Use “Sincerely” or “Regards."