COMMUNICATION SKILLS

• TOPIC: COVER LETTER

• PRESENTED BY
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20PG005
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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
• WHAT IS COVER LETTER?
• WHY DO WE NEED COVER LETTER?
• PURPOSE OF COVER LETTER?
• HOW TO WRITE A COVER LETTER?
 WHAT IS A COVER LETTER?
• COVER LETTER IS A DOCUMENT SENT WITH YOUR
RESUME OR CV TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ON YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE.
• IT IS WRITTEN AS AN INTRODUCTION TO YOUR RESUME,
HIGHLIGHTING THOSE SKILLS AND AN EXPERIENCE
MOST SUITED TO THE POSITION, AND OFFERS THE
PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYER A TASTE OF YOUR
CHARACTER AND LEVEL OF INTEREST.
• ON AVERAGE, YOUR COVER LETTER SHOULD BE FROM
250 TO 400 WORDS LONG.
 WHY DO WE NEED COVER LETTER
• COVER LETTER IS VERY ESSENTIAL WHEN APPLYING FOR JOB
OR ADMISSION IN MASTERS/GRADUATE UNIVERSITY.
• FOR A JOB APPLICATION:
1. IT TELLS THE EMPLOYER WHO YOU ARE AND WHY THEY
WANT YOU.
2. IT LETS YOU HIGHLIGHT YOUR STRENGTHS.
3. IT SHOWS THAT YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY.
WHY DO WE NEED COVER LETTER

• FOR ADMISSION IN MASTERS:

• A COVER LETTER FOR ADMISSION IN MASTERS IS
IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IS OFTEN THE FIRST
IMPRESSION THE ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE GETS OF YOU
AS AN APPLICANT. MANY UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS
REQUIRE A COVER LETTER AS ONE OF THE APPLICATION
DOCUMENTS.
 PURPOSE OF COVER LETTER?
• THE MAIN PURPOSE OF A COVER LETTER IS TO
SUPPORT THE CONTENT OF YOUR RESUME. YOUR
RESUME FOCUSES ON YOUR QUALIFICATIONS AND
ACHIEVEMENTS, AND YOUR COVER LETTER
EXPANDS ON THOSE ACHIEVEMENTS, SHOWCASES
YOUR PERSONALITY, AND EXPLAINS WHY YOU’D BE
A GOOD FIT FOR THE COMPANY OR UNIVERSITY.
 HOW TO WRITE A COVER LETTER
• HEADER:
• A COVER LETTER SHOULD BEGIN WITH BOTH YOU AND
THE EMPLOYER'S CONTACT INFORMATION (NAME,
ADDRESS PHONE NUMBER, EMAIL)FOLLOWED BY THE
DATE. IF THIS IS AN EMAIL RATHER THAN AN ACTUAL
LETTER, INCLUDE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION AT
THE END OF THE LETTER, AFTER YOUR SIGNATURE.
 HOW TO WRITE A COVER LETTER
• SALUTATION:
• THE WORD OR PHRASE OF GREETING (SUCH AS GENTLEMEN OR DEAR SIR
OR MADAM) THAT CONVENTIONALLY COMES IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE
BODY OF A LETTER.
• BEGIN YOUR COVER LETTER SALUTATION WITH "DR./MR/MS. LAST
NAME . IF YOU ARE UNSURE IF YOUR CONTACT IS MALE OR
FEMALE ,YOU CAN WRITE OUT THEIR FULL NAME. IF YOU DO NOT
KNOW THE EMPLOYER'S LAST NAME SIMPLY WRITE, "DEAR
HIRING MANAGER.
 HOW TO WRITE A COVER LETTER
• BODY:
• IN A PARAGRAPH. OR TWO, EXPLAIN WHY YOU ARE
INTERESTED IN THE JOB AND WHY YOU MAKE AN EXCELLENT
CANDIDATE FOR THE POSITION. MENTION SPECIFIC
QUALIFICATIONS LISTED IN THE JOB POSTING, AND EXPLAIN
HOW YOU MEET THOSE QUALIFICATIONS. DO NOT SIMPLY
RESTATE YOUR RESUME BUT PROVIDE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES
THAT DEMONSTRATE YOUR ABILITIES.
 HOW TO WRITE A COVER LETTER
• CLOSING:
• IN THE CLOSING SECTION OF YOUR COVER LETTER,
RESTATE HOW YOUR SKILLS MAKE YOU A STRONG FIT FOR
THE COMPANY AND/OR POSITION. STATE THAT YOU
WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW OR
DISCUSS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. EXPLAIN WHAT
YOU WILL DO TO FOLLOW-UP AND WHEN YOU WILL YOU
DO IT .THANK THE EMPLOYER FOR HIS/HER
CONSIDERATION.
 HOW TO WRITE A COVER LETTER

• SIGNATURE:
• USE A COMPLIMENTARY CLOSE, AND THEN END
YOUR COVER LETTER WITH YOUR SIGNATURE,
HANDWRITTEN, FOLLOWED BY YOUR TYPED
NAME.
FORMAT OF COVER LETTER FOR UNIVERSITY
APPLICATION: