Cover Letter
Use the following format when applying for a job; make sure to attach resume.Your Street Address
City, State Zip
Telephone Number
Date
Name of person to whom you are writing
Title
Name of Organization
Street Address
City, State Zip
Dear :
Paragraph 1: Identify the position or type of work for which you are applying and where you found job advertisement/opportunity.
Paragraph 2: Express the research you have done on the company and/or industry and why it is interesting to you.
Paragraph 3: Divide into two columns. The left-hand column will be titled “Job Requirements”; the right-hand column will be titled “My Qualifications”. Use bullets for both columns. This information can also be written in paragraph format, versus columns.
Paragraph 4: Your Contact Information.
Sincerely,
Signature
Enclosure
Source: Jeanne Breisch, Senior Career Advisor, The Henderson Glenn Group. Guest Presenter for Job Search Strategies Workshop, 1/01/25.
Legal Cover Letter Tips
- According to a recent study, 50% of hiring managers at Fortune 500 companies utilize cover letters as writing samples--devote as much time to your cover letters as you do to your resume.
- Use care in sentence structure, spelling and punctuation: make sure there are no mistakes.
- Use a standard business letter style; make sure you sign your name.
- Tailor each cover letter to each position and/or company.
- Keep copies of your letters for your records.
- Keep it short (no more than one page); you need not cover the same ground as your resume. Your letter is an introductory summary of what you have to offer.
- Do not call attention to lack of experience in certain duties. Instead, emphasize valuable skills, transferable experience and company knowledge.