Cover Letters

Project MentorNew Jersey City UniversityJersey City, NJ

Partially funded by a grant from the NJ Commission on Higher Education

What Is a Cover Letter?

A cover letter introduces you to a prospective employer, expresses your interest in and qualifications for a position.

What Does a Good Cover Letter Accomplish A good cover letter

captures the reader’s interest

It begins the process of “selling” yourself to the prospective employer

It demonstrates your interest and knowledge of the company

Format

No longer than one typed page Three Parts

Why you are sending your resume How your qualifications match the job Conclusion

Begin each paragraph with a clear topic sentence

Introductory ParagraphYour first paragraph should:

Get the reader’s attention Stimulate interest Be appropriate for the job you are seeking Make your goal clear to readers

The Body Paragraphs Highlight your strongest qualifications Match qualifications to the position you are seeking Demonstrate how your skills and qualities will

benefit the employer Refer to your enclosed resume for more detail

Use Clear Active Language

Use concrete words to describe your experience and results

Use present tense to discuss current activities and past tense for previous job duties or accomplishments

Be as specific as possible in descriptions

Examples

I organized and advertised a conference… Attendance increased by 25%

Developed menus for members of a senior center

Designed the web page for our local food bank

Concluding Your Letter I look forward to the

opportunity to meet with you, at your convenience, to discuss my qualifications and learn more about XYZ Company. You can reach me at the above address, phone numbers and email. Thank you for considering me for the position of IT technician.

Conclude by asking for a personal interview

Be flexible regarding a date and time for the interview

Be specific about how the interviewer should contact you

Include a thank you

Summary First

Explain why you are sending a resume Tell how you learned about the position or the organization (a

job posting at your school, a website, an individual who works at the organization)

Convince the reader to look at your resume

Second Focus on elements of your background (education, work

experience, activities) that are relevant to a position you are seeking

Give one or two specific examples. Indicate your positive qualities (attitude, personality, motivation, enthusiasm, and communication skills) 

Provide any information that was requested in the job posting that might not be covered in your resume (e.g. availability date or including a writing sample) 

Third

Indicate your desire for an interview “I look forward to hearing from you.“

Say you will follow up “I will call your office in the next two weeks to see if

you require any additional information regarding my qualifications." 

Check List Proofread

Spelling Grammar Typos

Use same paper as your resume Good letter quality No designs or colors

Signature Full name Write neatly

Make sure both the resume and letter are enclosed

Additional Letter Writing Assistance NJCU Office of

Academic Career Planning and Placement http://www.njcu.edu/dept/acp

www.career.vt.edu/JOBSEARC/coversamples

www.whitesmoke.com/how-to-write-a-cover-letter-for-a-job-application.html