Instead of “I am the best writer in my class,” you could say “Because of my award from the Composition program, I believe my writing will be an asset for the team at your magazine’s editorial department.".
Indicate what you have to offer them in a neutral, positive tone.
Relate your relevant experiences to your ability to perform the job responsibilities.
Provide examples that illustrate the general claims of your qualifications.
Expand on these experiences in more detail than your résumé allowed.
Elaborate upon one to two qualifications/experiences from your résumé that are most relevant to the job requirements (refer to and use language from the job description and requirements in the ad).
End with a thesis-like statement that summarizes the skills/experience you will highlight in the body of your cover letter.
State your biggest or most relevant qualifications, such as your education level or your total years of relevant job experience.
Explain what you understand about the job and what drew you to it.
State the position you are applying for and how you found the position.
If you don't know who will be reading your cover letter, then address it to "Whom It May Concern" followed by a colon.
Greet the person by their title (Dr., Mr., or Ms.) and their last name, followed by a colon (:).
If a specific person is not addressed, then just include the company name and its address on separate lines. If a specific person to contact is provided, give their name and position, followed by the company name and the address on separate lines.
Provide the address of the person and company you are writing the cover letter to.
Include the date that you will submit your cover letter, followed by one blank line.
Provide your current address at the very top, followed by one blank line.
Insert a blank line between paragraphs.
Format all information and paragraphs as flush left and single-spaced.
Use a serif, easy-to-read font, such as Times New Roman, Cambria, or Palatino.
Reasons why this job is right for you, your interests, and career goals.
Reasons why you are right for the position/organization.
Your cover letter speaks volumes about how you will work professionally and could make all the difference in your job search.Ĭustomize each letter to the position and company, to show the following: Cover letters should complement your résumé and illustrate your interests, the skills you possess, and your communication abilities.