Cover Letters:
Format
- Your Street Address (no abbreviations)
City, State, Zip Code
- Date of Letter
- John Smith (Contact Name)
Vice President of Operations (Contact Title)
XYZ Company (Company Name)
123 Main Street (Street Address)
Boston, MA 02215 (City, State Zip Code)
- Dear Mr. Smith: (Mr./Ms. Last Name: — be sure to use a colon)
Paragraph 1: Addresses purpose of letter (3-4 lines)
- Clearly state why you are writing: name position you are exploring, how you heard about position
- Indicate why you are interested in this specific company
- Lay groundwork of why you are a strong candidate (focus on your fit with the company not how the company will fit you)
Paragraph 2: Sell yourself or tell your story (8-10 lines)
- Demonstrate your worth and value to organization
- Highlight relevant skills and experiences
- Review job description and identify skills needed for job
- Match your skills to position
- Incorporate examples
- Lead with work experience (consider combining various experiences to highlight one specific skill)
- Support, if necessary, with academic experiences
Paragraph 3: Close the deal (3-4 lines)
- Thank reader for time
- Restate interest in position
- Suggest an interview or meeting to discuss your qualifications
- Identify follow-up steps
- Provide contact information
- Sincerely,
Your Name Signed
Your name Typed
