Cover Letter

Cover Letter Guidelines

Cover Letter

• First opportunity to make a positive impression.
• ONE page in length.
• You have 30 seconds to interest your reader in yourself.
• Must be easy to read and concise.

What is a Cover Letter?

• A business letter written to introduce yourself to a prospective employer
• The font style used should be simple, clear, decent which looks professional
• Most commonly used are
  • Times New Roman
  • Arial
  • Bookman Old style
  • Georgia
  • Calibri

Components of the Cover Letter

• The most important tip to remember when writing a letter of introduction is to keep it short and to the point.
• The Heading (Your contact information & the Recipient's contact information)
• The Salutation (The Hello)
• The Opening (The Grab)
• The Second Paragraph (The Hook & Knowledge)
• The Third Paragraph (The Close)

Cover Letter Heading

• Your name, address, city, state, zip code, phone number and email address
• Followed by the recipient’s name, credentials, address, city, zip code
• Date

The Salutation (The Hello)

• Dear Mrs. Smith,
• To Whom it may concern:

The Opening (The Grab)

• The opening paragraph is your introduction and presents the reader with some immediate and focused information regarding the position you are pursuing and a few core competencies that demonstrate your strengths.

The Second Paragraph (The Hook & Knowledge)

• This paragraph should define some examples of the work performed and results achieved.
• This paragraph should be connected to your resume.
• This does not mean you should copy verbatim what is in the resume.
• Cover some key competencies that you feel define your success.
• Demonstrate something you know about the company that prompted you to write.
• This shows the reader that you did some preliminary homework and understand the company’s drivers and goals.

The Third Paragraph (The Close)

• Quickly summarize what you offer and close by either suggesting a meeting or indicating that you will call in a certain number of days.
• If you choose the latter approach, make sure you follow-up within the time frame you reference.
• End with Sincerely, Respectfully, Yours Very Truly, Best Regards
• Type your name and sign the letter

Cover letter assignment can be a generic produced one or if you have a particular position/person would be fine also. Below are two examples of students in the past, keep in mind they are NOT perfect but they can give you an idea of what you should be aiming for.  

Grading rubric available for reference. Check Schedule for Due Date.

STUDENT SAMPLE Cover Letter.docx

STUDENT SAMPLE 2 Cover Letter.docx