Cover Letters
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Cover Letters
Table of Contents
Links in the list below will take you to the relevant information located on this page.
- What Is a Cover Letter?
- A Word On Résumés
- Cover Letter Rules!
- Easy Enough: Paragraphs One, Two & Three
- Technology Considerations
- Cover Letter and Résumé - Sample #1
- Cover Letter and Résumé - Sample #2
1. What Is a Cover Letter?
- A cover letter is the companion piece that accompanies the résumé you send to an employer to express interest in working for his or her organization.
- Its purpose is to communicate to the employer a personalized message about your potential value to that organization.
- It's an opportunity to expand upon the information included in your résumé, without the limitations imposed by the standard résumé format.
- A cover letter is your chance to answer the primary question asked by every employer: "Why should I consider this applicant, and what value will they add to our efforts?"
- Cover letters may be in response to advertised positions as well as to inquire about prospective opportunities that have not been advertised.
2. A Word On Résumés
Sample résumés are included here to illustrate how the résumé and cover letter complement each other. For more on résumé construction you might look at Résumé Writing.
3. Cover Letter Rules!
Many people find cover letters easier to write than résumés. Not being bound by the résumé format, you are more free to express enthusiasm for a position or organization in a more natural voice. Nevertheless, there are certain guidelines that are best followed. These include:
- Always address your letter to an individual in a hiring capacity (i.e., not "Dear Sir or Madam," "Dear Human Resources Department," or "To Whom It May Concern").
This may take a little bit of time, and phone (or Internet) research, but there is a specific person that will be reading your résumés. Tenacity, persistence, and the right question (e.g., "I'm addressing some correspondence to the person in charge of your regional sales force. Could you please tell me their name and official title?") will reveal who you want to read your letter. Once you know who might be in a position to hire you and have personalized your correspondence, you are in a position to follow rule number two. - End with a statement that you will be following up (i.e., not, "I look forward to hearing from you.").
- Keep your cover letter to one page.
- Highlight your résumé, but don't merely duplicate the information already included on the résumé.
4. Easy Enough: Paragraphs in One, Two & Three
A cover letter can be as brief as three short paragraphs:
Paragraph one (2-4 sentences):
- Address your letter to the person making hiring decisions.
- State the reason your letter (e.g., "I am writing to express interest."
- How you learned about the position you are seeking (e.g., "I am responding to your ad from this past Sunday's St. Paul Pioneer Press").
- Generate interest and grab the reader's attention.
Paragraph two (6-8 sentences; may be two paragraphs if necessary):
- Explain what you can offer the company.
- Express your enthusiasm for opportunity.
- Highlight qualifications, academic major, achievements and accomplishments.
- Address how your skills, expertise and/or experience relate to the employer's needs.
- Clearly communicate your purpose.
- Avoid excessive use of "I."
Closing paragraph (2-3 sentences):
- Indicate your desire for an interview.
- Indicate that you will follow-up by contacting the employer.
5. Technology Considerations
Electronic transmissions or E-Cover Letters
E-mailing directly to potential employers is an increasingly accepted way of sending your cover letter and résumé. Tips for using this method include:
- Include attachments for cover letter and résumé.
- Indicate in your e-mail which application the attachments were created in. For example, "Attached are my cover letter and résumé, which were created in MS Word 2000."
- Use an "e-friendly" format that can be easily viewed by various platforms and browsers. A good idea is to send your application materials to a few friends first, to make sure they have no trouble receiving and reading them.
- To assure that employers also get a look at the higher quality that goes along with bonded paper and more elaborate graphics, some candidates send e-mail letters and résumés with the notation "hard copy to follow."
6. Cover Letter and Résumé Sample #1
An inquiry for a position that may or may not be currently open. (Approximately 2/3 of jobs and internship are never advertised, and are filled through networking, cold-calling and other direct contact.)
Ms. Loretta Jones
Marketing Manager
Big City Bank
2000 Big City Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Dear Ms. Jones:
I am interested in an internship in Marketing, and am particularly focused on financial institutions, such as Big City Bank. I am entering my third year at the University of St. Thomas, and I believe I would bring a strong combination of skills and enthusiasm to your company.
As the enclosed résumé indicates, I am a Business Administration major at St. Thomas. I have worked part-time jobs, averaging twenty hours per week, while maintaining a 3.25 GPA. I am confident that my ability to multi-task, coupled with my enthusiasm for the field will make me a strong candidate for an internship at Big City.
I am aware that Big City is a growing regional bank and of its reputation for focusing on the individual customer. I am especially interested in the challenge afforded by being an intern in a team environment. My leadership experience as Vice President of the UST Collegiate Management Association, in particular, has helped me develop important communication and organizational skills.
I am looking forward to discussing this opportunity with you. I will call you early next week to see when we can schedule a time for us to discuss this opportunity in person.
Sincerely,
Daniel Smith
1314 Berkeley Ave.
Saint Paul, MN 55116
651-555-2020
(d9smith@stthomas.edu)
Daniel Smith
1314 Berkeley Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55116
651-555-2020
d9smith@stthomas.edu
OBJECTIVE
Seeking an internship in marketing.
EDUCATION
| University of St. Thomas Major: Business Administration Graduation: May 2007 GPA: 3.25 Coursework completed includes: |
St. Paul, MN |
CAMPUS ACTIVITIES
|
EMPLOYMENT
| Herbergers Sales Associate |
Edina, MN September 2005-Present |
| |
| University of St. Thomas Information Desk Attendant |
St. Paul, MN September 2002-April 2005 |
| |
INTERESTS
- Aviation
- Music
- Golf
REFERENCES
- Furnished upon request.
7. Cover Letter and Résumé Sample #2
Response to an advertised position.
(About 1/3 of jobs and internships are filled through advertisements.)
Ms. Maria Fogel
Director
Fine Music Agency
2000 Excelsior Boulevard
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Dear Ms. Fogel:
I am writing in response to your ad for a Talent Representative that is currently posted on the St. Thomas Career Development Center's web page. I am interested in the music management industry, and am especially interested in a growing local agency, such as Fine Music. I am completing my final year at the University of St. Thomas, and I believe I possess the background and skills to be strong candidate for your opening.
As the enclosed résumé indicates, I am a Music major with a Business Administration minor at St. Thomas. I have followed my passion for music and the music business even in my part-time work experiences while at St. Thomas. For me, these experiences have confirmed my desire to pursue a career in the music industry.
Your ad states that you are seeking someone with both exposure to the music business and that the candidate must be "growth and challenge oriented." I am confident that I meet both of these qualifications.
Both my work as a disc jockey, as well as my background as a performing musician, have given me valuable exposure to the business side of music. I am especially interested in the challenge afforded by being in your competitive, creative environment. My leadership experience as Vice President of STAR (St. Thomas Activities and Recreation) in particular, has helped me develop important communication and organizational skills.
I am looking forward to discussing this opportunity with you. I will call you early next week to see when we can schedule a time for us to discuss this opportunity in person.
Sincerely,
Sarah Jones
2525 Zager Ave.
Saint Paul, MN 55116
651-555-2020
(s9jones@stthomas.edu)
Sarah Z. Jones
2525 Zager Ave.
Saint Paul, MN 55116
651-555-2020
s9jones@stthomas.edu
OBJECTIVE
Seeking an entry-level position in the music industry that will build on knowledge of and enthusiasm for both music and business.
EDUCATION
| University of St. Thomas Major: Music Minor: Business Graduation: May 2006 |
St. Paul, MN |
CAMPUS ACTIVITIES
|
EMPLOYMENT
| Disc Jockey Z's Traveling Turntables |
June 2003-present St. Paul, MN |
| |
| Band Member Big Shoes |
January 2003-August 2005 Minneapolis, MN |
| |
| Information Desk Attendant University of St. Thomas |
September 2004-April 2005 St. Paul, MN |
| |
