COVER LETTERS

Your street or box number

City, State, Zip

Date

Contact´s Name

Contact´s Title

Organization Name

Street Address

City, State, Zip

Dear Mr. or Ms. (person´s last name only):

Paragraph 1: State immediately the position you are pursuing and how you came to know of the opening. If you have an alumnus, family or other contact at the organization, you can mention that here as well. Tell the employer briefly (one or two sentences) why you are interested in this position.

Paragraph 2: Explain the skills and experiences you have that will make you successful in the position. Talk about classes you have taken, activities you have been involved in, summer experiences you have had. You do not have to have directly related experience but think about the skills you have gained from what you have done and how those could relate to the duties of the position you are applying for. You do not want to repeat your resume to the employer in this paragraph but this is the place to highlight related accomplishments that will make the reader want to learn more, which will lead them to your resume. The goal is to show the employer that you have confidence in your ability to succeed in the position.

Paragraph 3: Demonstrate that you have done some research about this organization. Go to their web site, look in industry periodicals (Ad Week, Wall Street Journal, Chronicle of Higher Education) and talk to alumni or other contacts that may currently work for the organization. This research does not have to be extensive but it shows that you have taken some time to think about this position and put some effort into this letter. This makes a very good impression on employers. It shows that this is not a form letter where only the address and contact name is changed for each position.

Paragraph 4: State that you would welcome a personal interview to further discuss this opportunity. If you need to explain anything out of the ordinary on your resume, this is the place to do it. You might mention that if you do not hear anything from the potential employer in two to three weeks time that you will call to follow up this letter to see where they are in their process. Finish by thanking them for their attention and express a desire to meet them sometime in the near future.

Sincerely,

Your signature (leave 4 blank spaces for this)

Your name in print

Below are some sample cover letters that may be helpful to review prior to creating your own. At the bottom are Word templates that you may use to start your cover letter and modify to your specific situation.

Month, Day, Year

Your Street Address

City, State, Zip

Mr. Percy Nell

Human Resources Manager

Most Desirable Organization

1500 Shangri La

Anytown, IN 88888

Dear Mr. Nell:

I am interested in a summer internship with Most Desirable Organization. Currently I am a sophomore at Valparaiso University majoring in (your major), and I would very much appreciate an opportunity to further my skills in (your area of interest). Most Desirable Organization has an excellent reputation for its work in (area of specialization), and I am confident that my academic background and personal experience could be beneficial to your work environment.

As a member of the Student Council at Indiana High School, I gained valuable experience working with people from diverse backgrounds. I also learned to think on my feet. These skills will help me work with others in Most Desirable Organization, as well as provide excellent service for your customers. In addition, from being involved with many extracurricular groups during both high school and college, and maintaining solid grades at the same time, I know that I can handle multiple responsibilities and successfully meet deadlines.

My background and experience, combined with my eagerness to learn more about (area of interest), will allow me to contribute to Most Desirable Organization. I would greatly appreciate an opportunity to meet you in person to discuss internship opportunities. Please feel free to call me at (your phone number) or email me at (your email address).

Thank you very much for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

(sign your name here in blue ink)

(type your name here)