The Cover Letter

Always use a cover letter when your first contact with an employer is by mail. The cover letter enables you to point out how your qualifications can be valuable to an employer. In it, you can relate background to a particular company's needs. Generally, there are two types of cover letters:

• A letter of application, used when you are investigating a specific job lead, i.e., answering an ad or following a direct referral. Indicate the source of the lead (newspaper, employer referral, job posting) and tailor your letter to emphasize your qualifications for the job being offered.
• A letter of inquiry, used when you do not know of a specific opening but are investigating opportunities in a particular field and wish to make contract with employers who generally offer the kind of employment you seek.

Whichever type of cover letter you use, remember that it...

• should be addressed to a specific person.
• must be typewritten, in business form and free of errors.
• should not repeat what is in your resume.

Like your resume, make your cover letter an individual expression. In some cases, your cover letter will be considered a sample of your writing ability.

Like your resume, make your cover letter an individual expression

Avoid Frequently Made Errors: Using preprinted form letters rather than individually typed letters. Overlooking one or more spelling, typographic, or grammatical errors. Using overly formal language, rather than writing as if you're having a conversation with the reader. Typing on "erasable" paper which smudges easily when it's handled. Lack of organization. Falling to have an attention getting opening, a persuasive middle section, and/or a motivating ending. Double-spacing a letter so that it takes two pages to cover what could be said in one. Lack of graphic appeal. Typed too high on page, margins too narrow, unclean typewriter keys, sloppy erasures, and so forth. Paragraphs too long. Uninviting to reader. Forgetting to sign letter, indicating lack of attention to detail. Using one or more initials rather than a first name, projecting coldness and leaving reader ignorant of whether a response should go to a "Mr." or "Ms."

Writing Your Cover Letter

Check Out These Short Videos:

When a Cover Letter is Needed
What to Include in a Cover Letter

First Paragraph:

Establish a bond between you and the employer or between you and the organization. This is done by:

• mentioning the person who recommended you for the job
• referring to someone you and the employer both know
• describing a long standing interest compatible with the company's goals of present course
• using any other means you can think of

Show some selection:

Tell why you are interested in that particular organization of field.

Example 1: My long standing interest in human resource management has led me to (your organization).

Example 2: One of my professors, Dr. Adam Smith, is a consultant with your firm. He suggested that I contact you regarding...

Second Paragraph:

Focus on you, capitalize on what makes you special. Highlight skills, make reference to your resume, and add anything important about you that does not appear on your resume.

Example: Through this project I added writing and marketing skills to my insurance background, and developed my interest in research.

Third Paragraph:

Close your letter with a specific request for a meeting. Indicate when you are available and that you will call to confirm the time and date.

Example 1: I will be phoning you on Tuesday, March 15, to arrange a convenient meeting time.

Example 2: I shall call your office early next week to see about the possibility of an appointment.

University of Hartford • Career Services • GSU 309
200 Bloomfield Ave • West Hartford, CT 06117
tel: 860-768-4287 • fax: 860-768-5141 • email: career@hartford.edu