Cover Letter Guide.pdf

Cover Letter Guide

Why Write a Cover Letter?

The cover letter accompanies your résumé to potential employers and provides you the opportunity to

introduce yourself. Cover letters are comprised of at least 3 – 4 paragraphs and should be written in a

manner that highlights the skills, abilities and accomplishments listed on your résumé. Additionally, the

overall tone of your cover letter should be conversational and professional while relaying your enthusiasm

for the organization. Your goal is to motivate the employer to read your résumé and invite you for an

interview.

Inasmuch, the cover letter should hone in on your areas of expertise by summarizing your experience as it

relates to the requirements for the job or internship for which you are applying. Be sure to use transitional

words to segue from one thought and paragraph to another, and review the company’s website so you’re

able to customize the letter to the position and organization. Below are the essentials of a cover letter.

Jane Jones

1234 Main Street

Pembroke, NC 28372

January 5, 2017

Brenda Clark, Director

Employment Solutions, Inc.

5678 Main Street

Pembroke, NC 28372

Dear Ms. Clark,

I am writing to express my interest in the Career Advisor position with Employment Solutions, Inc. that is

currently posted your website. I have been seeking an opportunity to work for your organization for quite

some time and am excited about the possibility of serving in this position. I have seen firsthand the impact of

ESI’s emphasis on assisting community members with their employment searches and would enjoy

contributing my career counseling and teaching skills to this position.

My interest in career counseling began in high school when I volunteered for the Cumberland County Schools

job fairs as an administrative assistant. While in college at UNC Pembroke, I further explored my passion for

serving as a Hawk Assistant at my university career center. During my final semester, I even served as a Hawk

Assistant Leader. In this position, I was able to fine tune my skills in programming and marketing while

working under tight deadlines.

In addition to my experience with UNC Pembroke, I completed an internship at the NC Department of

Commerce. The opportunity to connect my personal passion for providing tools and information for

employment seeking individuals allowed my work to shine. I worked on more than 60 job applicant caseloads,

and facilitated several workshops on career decisions and networking. This internship required me to work

closely with the workforce solutions team on a daily basis, which allowed me to advance my verbal

communication, teamwork, and attention to detail skills.

I am confident that my professional experience and educational background would serve me well as Career

Advisor for Employment Solutions, Inc. It would be my pleasure to work with the ESI staff at such a well-

respected organization. I look forward to the opportunity to interview with you to allow us to further discuss

my qualifications for the position. If you have any questions or would like me to provide any additional

information, please feel free to contact me at (555) 555-5555 or [email protected]m.

Thank you for your time in considering my resume.

Sincerely,

Jane Jones

Your address

Today’s date

Employer’s Address

Format notes

 1 page maximum

 11-12 point font

 Choose “standard” fonts such

as Calibri, Times New Roman,

Arial, Georgia, Verdana

Paragraph 1: Intro

Should include:

 Purpose of the letter

 Name of the organization

 Job title for which you are

applying

 Where you found the job

 What makes you a fit for the

organization?

 (Optional: If a current

employee referred you to this

position, state that and their

name here)

Address the letter to the

manager, supervisor, or

director. Only use “To

Whom It May Concern” if

you’re unable to locate this

information.

Paragraph 4: Conclusion

 Summarize your

skills/experiences

 Reiterate your interest in the

position

 Reiterate the job title and

organization

 Include your email & phone

number

 Close with grace and

appreciation

Paragraph 2: Story # 1

Describe one experience

that is both impressive

and relevant to the job.

Examples:

 Part-time jobs

 Internships/Volunteerism

 Research/Projects

 Student leadership

Paragraph 3: Story # 2

Describe a second

experience that is both

impressive & relevant.

Highlight the skills this

experience demonstrates.

Closing

Use a professional

closing and include your

first and last name.

(Optional: Some

applicants include a

digital signature)