The Cover Letter

Beyond Factual Information in Resume and Application

Sample Cover Letters

• Cover Letter 1
• Cover Letter 2
• Cover Letter 3

Basic Formatting Rules of Writing Cover Letters

• Use paper matching your resume
• Keep the letter brief and to the point; use short paragraphs
• Prepare the cover letter using a word processor and print using a laser quality printer
• Vary the font size between 10 and 12 points
• Don't get too cute with novelty graphics, gothic fonts, shadowed letters, or fancy borders
• A crisp, clean, professional look

An Outstanding Cover Letter

• Tailored to each company to which you are applying
• Addressed to a specific person (Call the HR office and ask who is responsible for hiring for the position of _______)
• Identifies the position for which you are applying and the way you learned about the opening
• Indicates why you are applying for the position
• Shows you can perform the items listed in the job descriptions
• Indicates your main qualifications (Highlight important experiences that directly relate to the position, but take care not to restate your resume)
• Refers reader to your enclosed resume
• Indicates how to reach you
• Sells yourself (Go beyond the facts outlined in your resume and show the reader what makes you stand out from everyone else)
• Uses power words (see below)
• Contains no typos/no misspelled words and no grammatical errors
• Tenses agree
• Projects enthusiasm and confidence (Gives a picture of your personality)
• Makes the most of your experiences
• Paints a picture of what you will do for the employer's company
• Showcases knowledge of the employer's company (Check the company website for information to include here)

An Unacceptable Cover Letter

• Addressed to "To Whom it May Concern" or "Dear Sir or Madam"
• Restates your entire resume
• Starts every sentence or paragraph with "I"
• Not signed
• Addressed to the wrong company
• Typos and misspelled words
• Long sentences that ramble on and on
• Lack of organization
• Poor print quality
• Handwritten corrections or information that has been crossed out
• A worn appearance (bent corners, creases, smudges or stains)

Never send your resume without a cover letter!!

Power Words Words that bring a cover letter to life
Verbs Achieved Acquired Acted Addressed Administered Attained Advised Advocated Applied Assisted Attained Briefed Brought Budgeted Built Cared Checked Coached Collaborated Collected Comforted Communicated Compared Completed Conducted Coordinated Counseled Created Delegated Demonstrated Developed Directed Designed Displayed Documented Drafted Drove Edited Enabled Encouraged Ensured Established Evaluated Examined Expedited Facilitated Formulated	Gained Gathered Gave Generated Guided Handled Helped Identified Illustrated Implemented Improved Increased Influenced Initiated Installed Instituted Instructed Interacted Interviewed Introduced Judged Kept Learned Led Logged Made Maintained Managed Mastered Mentored Met Molded Monitored Negotiated Observed Obtained Offered Operated Ordered Organized Oversaw Participated Perfected Performed Planned	Prioritized Produces Programmed Promoted Provided Ran Recorded Recommended Reported Researched Resolved Revamped Reviewed Scheduled Selected Set goals Shaped Specialized Strengthened Studied Succeeded Supervised Supported Taught Tested Trained Troubleshot Updated Utilized Won Skill Words Active Adaptable Adept Broad-minded Committed Competent Conscientious Creative Dedicated Dependable Determined Diligent Disciplined	Effective Efficient Energetic Enthusiastic Exceptional Experienced Fair Familiar Firm Honest Independent Innovative Instrumental Keen Logical Loyal Mature Methodical Objective Open minded Outgoing Personable Pleasant Positive Practical Productive Receptive Reliable Resourceful Self-motivated Sensitive Sincere Strong Successful Tactful Well-organized