Cover Letters
Cover Letters
Embedded Files
A cover letter is a letter submitted with your resume in a job application.
A cover letter can help you set yourself apart as a candidate. Taking the time to write a cover letter shows the employer you are taking the application seriously and that can be really helpful in our competitive job market where you might be competing with many other applicants for one position. A good cover letter should show you've taken the time to learn something about the company/opportunity you're applying for, and that you've carefully considered your own skills in relation to the requirements.
Cover letters are not always required, but some jobs and employers do require them. Having a cover letter is also helpful for scholarship applications - you might even be able to use portions of what you've written in a cover letter to apply for scholarships!
Your cover letter should describe specific reasons you're a good fit for the position/opportunity. Let's take a look at the anatomy of a cover letter to see how.
Your cover letter should describe specific reasons you're a good fit for the position/opportunity. Let's take a look at the anatomy of a cover letter to see how.
Anatomy of a Cover Letter
Anatomy of a Cover Letter
Greeting
The greeting is the first line of the letter, where you address the recipient. Some examples are "Dear Hiring Committee," "To Whom It May Concern," or you can include the hiring manager's name if you know it, ie "Dear Dr. Gardner" - in general, if you do know the name of the hiring manager it's good to include it.
First Paragraph
In your first paragraph, you should clearly state your purpose. State your interest, the specific position you're applying for, and how you heard about the position. This paragraph is an opportunity to captivate the employer with your interest and show you are well informed about the position and organization. Keep the first paragraph brief and to the point, no more than four or five sentences.
Second Paragraph
Explain your interest in working for this employer, in this position, and why you want to do this type of work while highlighting your background and experience. This section is typically the largest section of your cover letter. Target two to three skills and experiences from your resume and clearly connect those experiences to the employer’s needs for the position. Demonstrate how you are a good match for this position by connecting your experience to what you have learned about the employer/organization. Include how that information has strengthened your interest.
Closing Paragraph
In the closing paragraph, reiterate your interest and enthusiasm for the position, and provide a one sentence summary of how your skills can contribute to the organization. Thank the reader for the considering you for the position. State that you look forward to the opportunity to further discuss your qualifications.
Signature
You should end your cover letter by virtually signing off, just like you would in any other letter or email.
This is how a Cover Letter looks:
This is how a Cover Letter looks:
Things to do before you start writing
Things to do before you start writing
1. Find a specific job you want to apply for! Your cover letter should be specific to the job, so you shouldn't write it until you've picked out the job first.
2. Read the job description thoroughly. It’s a good practice to either print it out or copy it into a document so that you can make notes as you read.
2. Determine which aspects of the position are similar to things you’ve done before or have direct experience in. Make note of those things by highlighting them or otherwise making a list of responsibilities and qualifications from the job description that you want to address in your cover letter.
3. Based on the job description, do some brainstorming. What skills, accomplishments, and attributes of yours should you make sure the company knows about?
4. Go to the company’s website and try to find information about their company mission or values. Think about what aspects of their business or work resonate with your own personal values and goals.
Once you have all of your notes from the above step, you'll be ready to start working on a draft.
Let's get started on your cover letter!
Let's get started on your cover letter!
Click here to open a cover letter template in Google Docs.
It's easiest to edit your cover letter on a laptop or desktop computer rather than a mobile device, so plan to work on your resume when you have access to a computer.
In the menu bar, click on on "File" and then choose "Make a Copy" as shown in the picture.
When you Make a Copy, you will need to enter a new name. The name of the document should include your full name and the word "Cover Letter" - for example, if your name was John Smith the file should be named "John Smith Cover Letter"
Now pull out your notes! Going paragrpah by paragraph, work your way through the draft by writing each paragraph out in your own words. The template has a reminder of what should go in each paragraph - be sure to delete the instructions as you go.
Just like your resume, you should always have someone proofread your cover letter, and then read it again yourself. Pretend you're the employer and think about how what you've written will seen to them. Do you have the right skills? Does your experience apply to the role? Are you interested in doing this type of work?
Just like your resume, your name should be in the name of the file. If your name was John Smith the file should be named "John Smith Cover Letter"
Need help with your cover letter?
Need help with your cover letter?
You can visit the Lynn Teen Center, operated by LEEP for Education.
It's open Monday through Thursday from 3 to 7pm at 17 Columbia Street, 01907.
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