Writing the Cover Letter # 9008 
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Writing the Cover Letter # 9008
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| In her book, Finding a Career that Works for You, Wilma Fellman helps readers prepare cover letters to accompany a resume. | ||||||
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The Purpose of a Cover Letter
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If a resume is to be taken seriously it needs to be accompanied by a cover letter. The purpose of the cover letter is to introduce yourself to a prospective employer. It should be written in a way that grabs the attention of the reader. The cover letter doesn’t need to be long, but it should draw attention to what you want noticed most about your qualifications. In general, a cover letter is made up of three paragraphs. Paragraph one states why you are writing. You might start with a statement such as, “In reference to your ad in the Detroit Free Press of Sunday, January 2, 2000, for the position of Administrative Assistant, enclosed please find a copy of my resume for your consideration.” Paragraph two points out something from within the resume that you want the reader to notice. It might say something like, “As you can note from my resume, I have more than nine years experience as an Administrative Assistant, where I demonstrated strong detail-oriented skills, excellent interpersonal abilities and the ability to take initiative when necessary. I’m a self starter and believe that my skills match your requirements very well.” Paragraph three states what you hope will happen next, such as, “I look forward to speaking to you further about the position you have open. I encourage any questions you may have regarding my qualifications and background.” As a backup, it is recommended that you end the letter by saying you will get in touch with the prospective employee to make sure he received the resume. |
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Cover Letter Checklist
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___ include your telephone number, fax number, e-mail address, and physical address ___ include the date above the inside address ___ include some industry terms ___ limit letter to one or two pages ___ proofread for spelling and grammar errors ___ have someone else proofread it ___ do not handwrite ___ send in envelope that matches cover letter paper (unless mailing in large envelope without folding) ___ make reference to your skills and qualifications for the job ___ include statement at end indicating you will follow up to see that materials were received ___ do not use a generic greeting (Dear Sir, Dear Madam, etc.); address letter to a specific person ___ avoid using abbreviations and acronyms ___ do not include your photograph ___ make sure you state why you are writing, what you want, and what your qualifications are |
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Sample Cover Letter
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January 2, 2003 Ms. Susan Screener 1234 Wannawork Ave. Desired, NM 00012 Dear Ms. Screener, I am writing regarding the ad you placed in the Sunday, January 2, 2000, want ads for the position of Administrative Assistant. Enclosed please find a copy of my resume. As you can see from my resume, I’ve been told that I possess excellent detail-oriented, interpersonal and self-starting skills. I can work independently and prioritize well. I have many examples of these skills that I would be happy to discuss with you during our interview. Also, I possess letters of reference that support these statements and I look forward to sharing them with you at that time, too. Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to answering any questions you may have at the interview. I will call your office next week to make sure you have received this. Very sincerely, John Eager |
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