COVER LETTERS



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COVER LETTER TIPS AND CONTENT OVERVIEW

A good cover letter won’t necessarily get you an interview, but one that is poorly written will certainly prevent you from moving forward in the interview process!

10 Quick Cover Letter Tips for Graduate Students

1. No one reads cover letters: Some employers don’t, but many use cover letters as writing samples. Always include a cover letter unless the job ad specifies differently.

2. Include: The date, recipient’s name and title (if you have them), company name and address; many forget this.

3. Don’t guess a person’s gender: If you are unsure, research the person on LinkedIn or use the entire name.

4. No name? Use Dear Hiring Committee or Dear Selection Committee instead of Dear Sir or Madam.

5. Focus on the company – not you: Tell the company what attracts you and what you can do for it, not what it can do for you.

6. Brief is best: One page and leave plenty of white space.

7. Highlight related experience and skills to the position: Demonstrate what you can do for the company, not what you hope you can do.

8. What to leave out: Do not include your age, marital status, religion or any other personal information that is unrelated to the position you are seeking.

9. Mistakes will eliminate you: Common technical mistakes include misspelling the company’s name and sending a company-specific letter to the wrong organization. Typos, spelling and grammatical errors will show you lack attention to detail.

10. Be proactive: Request an interview or meeting at the end of your letter.

CONTENT OVERVIEW: Standard Block style (see cover letter samples for other formats

Your Name

Address

Your City, State, ZIP

Telephone and E-mail

OR

Your NAME

Address

City, State, ZIP

Telephone and E-mail

DATE

Ms. / Mr. First and Last Name

Title

Company

Address

City, State ZIP

Dear Ms. / Mr. Last Name:

Paragraph #1

What position are you applying for? If you do not know the exact title then state what roles you would like to carry out and in what area/division of the firm.

Identify yourself. Do you know or have you spoken with someone at the organization (An alum or guest speaker in one of your classes)? If so, mention their name and the conversation.

Describe why you are interested in this company / position.

Paragraph #2 or Bullets

Describe special skills and accomplishments that are unique and important requirements for this position; give specific examples and quantify where possible.

Closing Paragraph

State that you are very interested in the organization and would like to be considered for the position. Mention that you will be calling shortly to discuss the possibility of an interview.

Sincerely,

Your Name

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