Cover letter

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A cover letter or covering letter is a letter of introduction attached to, or accompanying another document such as a résumé or curriculum vitae. A successful cover letter results in the résumé being considered, rather than discarded. It also sometimes accompanies a scientific article.

1 Purpose
2 Format
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Purpose

A cover letter is the job seeker's introduction to the employer or recruiter. It can also be a marketing device. It highlights a few specific points in the job seeker's experience and skills that match or exceed the requirements of the job. It should be written to address the employer or recruiter's concerns. For example, "My experience in (whatever is needed) can help you with (whatever is needed)," would be preferable to "Your job interests me." Additionally, the requirement of a cover letter for employment purposes can also be used to weed out potential candidates who lack the necessary interest in the position. Many individuals, who are not entirely interested in the specific position, are likely to balk at the idea of drafting an individualized cover letter, thus leaving the employer with a pool of only the most interested candidates.

[edit] Format

The format of a cover letter varies depending on whether or not it is being emailed or sent as a hard-copy to the recipient. The primary difference is that the hard-copy begins with the sender's name and contact information, while the emailed version places the name and contact information at the end of the letter in place of a handwritten signature.

The cover letter should be at most one page, and consist of three primary paragraphs, the introduction, the body, and the closing. First (or second, if it's a hard-copy), the date that the letter was written or sent is aligned to the left of the cover letter. Next, the recipient's contact information appears, followed by a personal greeting to the recipient ("Dear Mrs. Cunningham," or the like).

[edit] Introduction

The introduction to a cover letter should be brief and to the point, but not rushed. The writer should address the employer by name, and make clear what position they want to apply for, and why. As the employer will most likely receive a significant number of applications, this is also the point to attract their attention to the individuality of the cover letter. Carefully chosen words, rather than the stock "I wish to apply for..." should be used.

[edit] Body

The body of a cover letter gives specific reasons for why the job seeker would be of value to the employer. This includes skills, qualifications, and past experience. The cover letter should be targeted to a specific position and company. It should focus on fulfilling the needs of the employer.

[edit] Closing

A good closing is critical. Although some authors recommend ending a cover letter with a statement such as, "I will call your office in the next week to schedule an appointment."[1], others find this pushy[2]. They prefer a more deferential approach, such as, "I think we could both benefit from meeting to talk about this opportunity in more detail. I would like to follow up within the next week to discuss your thoughts. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to call me at XXXX with any questions. Thank you for your time and consideration." Many believe that the latter approach expresses interest but avoids telling the employer what the process should be.

After the closing paragraph, the letter is formally closed (with "Sincerely," or something similar) and then the sender's name (and contact information if it's an emailed cover letter). Finally, the letter should point out any enclosed documents (such as a resume, or curriculum vitae) across the bottom of the page.