Cover Letter Writing

What is a cover letter?

• A way to introduce yourself and your resume.
• Your opportunity to say why you are the right
person for the job.
• Your cover letter is simply an introduction for
your resume that will grab an employer's interest
in you.
• Use it to showcase your personality,
accomplishments, and skills that specifically
apply to the position.
 What is a cover letter?
• Your cover letter also has another purpose: to
make you seem like a real person who'd fit into
the company culture.
• Try to write a cover letter that lets some of your
personality shine through.
 What makes a good covering letter?
Do
• Find out the name of the
person you need to write
to.
• Research the employer and
show that you know
something about them.
• Highlight your key
skills/experience related to
the job.
Don’t
• Just repeat what you have
put in your CV.
• Write more than a page.
• Use the same letter for
different jobs/companies.
• Send a letter containing
spelling mistakes.
 Some General Rules

– Cover letter is not a cut and paste of your resume. It must be

customized for each and every job you apply.
– Cover letters are short and must not be beyond one page view of
your email.
– Format – no fancy fonts, use around 3 paragraphs and not more to
convey your suitability for the position.
– Use bullet points and few highlighted words. writing the cover letter
with lots of paragraphs and wordy explanation is boring and time
consuming.
– Always include the job title as it appears in the job description in the
subject line of the email, you may also include it in the main text.
– At the end of the letter write your full name and contact
information.
 ACTION VERBS
• Achieved
• Administered
• Attained  Effected
• Built
• Coached  Established
• Led
• Completed  Expedited • Maintained  Reinforced
• Coordinated
• Delivered
 Formulated • Managed  Reorganized
• Demonstrated  Generated • Motivated  Researched
• Developed
 Headed • Negotiated  Set up
 Implemented • Organized  Simplified
 Improved • Originated  Solved
 Invented • Planned
 Tackled
 Launched • Presented
• Proposed
 Taught
 Updated
 SELF-DESCRIPTIVE WORDS
• Adaptable
• Analytical
 Efficient
• Assertive
 Energetic
• Confident • Innovative
 Enterprising
• Conscientious • Manager
 Enthusiastic  Responsible
• Creative • Personable
 Expressive  Self-reliant
• Disciplined • Persuasive
 Extroverted  Self-starter
• Precise
 Ingenious  Skilled
• Productive
• Reliable  Tactful
 Team player
 Technical
 How to Transform Your Job Search with Your Letter

• Luckily, almost every job comes with a guide to what to say

in the cover letter: the job description. Read it carefully
and then make your cover letter a direct response to it. Try
to address the requirements they have listed in the job
description with brief but specific ways that you meet that
requirement.

• An interesting tactic that might be right for you is to

include one or two quotes from past employers or clients
about your relevant skills.
How to Transform Your Job Search with Your
Letter

• If there is a specific reason you want to work

with this company or organization, you can
include that too. Remember, though, your
cover letter should ultimately focus on how
the employer will benefit from you, not how
you will benefit from your employer.
 Important  Note

Do not send your cover letter as an attachment in

the email – it is best to copy and paste in the
email text.  Your resume may well be an attachment in
word or PDF format, but your cover letter must be visible
and must stand out in the reach-out email.
 Cover Letter Tips
• Target your cover letter. Take the job posting and list
the criteria the employer is looking for. Then list the
skills and experience you have. Either address how
your skills match the job in paragraph form or list
the criteria and your qualifications.

• Don't rehash your resume. Your cover letter should

complement, not duplicate, your resume. Expand on
your resume and highlight your background as it
relates to the job.
 Cover Letter Tips
• Write simply and clearly. Get right to the point
and write short, targeted letters. Each letter
should be one page or less. Each paragraph
should contain three or four sentences at most.

• Use email for cover letters.  keep cover letter

short and include them in the email messages.
Don't send a cover letter as an attachment
unless the employer specifically requests one.
 Cover Letter Tips

• Spell check and proofread. Then ask someone

else to provide you feedback on your letter
before you send it. It's often not easy to notice
mistakes in our own writing.
 Cover Letter Tips
• Review cover letter samples. To get ideas for
format and content for your letters. Use
examples as a starting point for creating your
cover letter.
Review cover letters examples, both written and
email, that are designed for a variety of
different types of job applications and
employment inquiries.
 What is a Cover Letter Salutation?

• A salutation is the greeting you include at the

beginning of a cover letter written to apply for a
job. In your salutation, you will set the tone for
your letter, which should be professional and
appropriate.

• Avoid casual salutations (“Hey There” or “Hi”)

in your job search correspondence.
 How to Write a Cover Letter Salutation

• When you're writing a cover letter or sending an email

message to apply for a job, it's important to include an
appropriate salutation at the beginning of the cover letter or
message.

• If you know the employer gender , be sure to include their

personal title and name in the salutation (i.e. "Dear Mr. Adil").

• If you are unsure of the reader's gender, simply state their full
name and avoid the personal title (i.e. "Dear Jamie Smith").
Leave one blank line after the salutation.
 Cover Letter Salutation Examples

• When You Have a Contact Person:

The following is a list of letter salutation examples that are

appropriate for cover letters and other employment-
related correspondence when you have the name of a
employer.

• Dear Mr. Jones

• Dear Ms. Brown
• Dear Riley Doe
• Dear Dr. Haven
 When You Don't Have a Contact Person

• Many companies don't list a contact person when they post jobs, because they have a team of
hiring staff who sort through cover letters and resumes before passing them to the hiring
manager for the appropriate department.
• They prefer to leave the hiring manager anonymous until he or she contacts you for an
interview.

• An organization may also not want to disclose who the hiring manger is to avoid emails and
phone calls from applicants. So, don't worry if you can't find someone to address your letter
to.

• If you don't have a contact person at the company, use a general salutation. When using a
general salutation, capitalize the nouns.

• Examples of general salutations:

• Dear Hiring Manager
• To Whom It May Concern
• Dear Human Resources Manager
• Dear Sir or Madam
 Cover Letter Outline
• First paragraph: why are you writing? Reference
the job you are applying for and where you saw
it.

• Second paragraph: link your education, skills

and experience with the job description.

• Third paragraph: ask for an interview and thank

them for their review of your resume.
 SAMPLE COVER LETTER FORMAT: Hard copy

Date

Name of receipt
Title
Organization
Address
City, State, Zip Code

SUBJECT: Management trainee

Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name or Sir/Ma’am,

 
Paragraph 1: Why you want to work for this organization?
 

Paragraph 2: your response to requirements

Paragraph 3: courtesy paragraph, also write your availability and how and when to
contact you

Sincerely,
Your name
 
 Suggestions for Letter of
Application
• Make it one page long.

• Proofread the letter of application and resume VERY carefully; let there be NO
mistakes in them.

• Make every effort to mail the application letter to a specific person in the
company; if need be, make a call to find out the name of the person to whom to
mail the letter and resume.

• Mail the letter and resume in an envelope that is large enough that the letter
and resume do not need to be folded.

• Send your application at least three days before the deadline.

 Cover Letter Example
Date

Name
Title
Company
Street Address
City, State, Zip
Subject: Job Title

Dear Hiring Manager:

I am applying for the Sales Associate position that we discussed during the Career Fair at The George
Washington University in Washington, D.C. on (date). My varied sales experience and my bachelor's
degree in Business Administration are my strongest qualifications for this position.

As you can see from the enclosed resume, I have sold a variety of products through my extracurricular
activities and have worked in many banking environments through my cooperative education and
internship positions. My marketing, computer research, and customer relations experiences, as well as
my oral and written communication skills, should prove valuable in increasing (name of company's)
sales volume. I am enthusiastic about pursuing a career in sales with (name of company) because of its
diverse product line and international scope.

I would welcome the opportunity to meet you. I will be in New York next week and will call you on (date) to discuss the
possibility of an interview.

Sincerely,
(Handwritten sig.)
Your name, typed
 Email Cover Letter Example
• Subject Line of Email Message: Store Manager Position - Your Name

• Email Message:

Dear Hiring Manager,

I read your job posting for the Store Manager position with interest. I have the experienced of XYZ
Company:
- Over five years of retail management experience
- Ability to effectively hire, train, and manage staff
- Payroll management, scheduling, reports, and inventory
- Extensive work with visual standards and merchandising high-ticket items
In addition to my extensive retail experience, I have excellent communication skills. I always maintain a
gracious and professional manner when communicating with people, including customers and store staff.
My broad experience and range of skills make me a superior candidate for this position.
My resume, (attached here in PDF format), provides additional information on my background and
qualifications. I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible to arrange time for an interview.

Thank you for your consideration.

Paul Jones
Email Address
 Software Developer Cover Letter Example

Company Name
Address
City, State, Zip Code
Dear HR Manager:

This letter is to express my interest in your posting on Dice.com for an experienced Software Developer. With a
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Master’s degree in Information Technology, and hands-on experience using . I am
confident I will be an asset to your organization.
I enjoy being challenged and working on projects that require me to work outside my comfort and knowledge set, as
continuing to learn new languages and development techniques are important to me and the success of your organization.
Your listed requirements closely match my background and skills. A few I would like to highlight that would enable me
to contribute to your bottom line are:
• Highly skilled in designing, testing, and developing software
• Thorough understanding of data structures and algorithms
• Knowledgeable of back-end development best practices
• Hands-on software troubleshooting experience
• Proven track record of proper documentation for future maintenance and upgrades
I’ve attached a copy of my resume that details my projects and experience in software development. I can be reached
anytime via my cell phone, 555-555-5555 or via email at name@gmail.com.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to speaking with you about this opportunity.
• Sincerely,
• Your Signature (hard copy letter)
• Typed Name
Resignation letters
 Resignation letter
• A resignation letter should be simple, brief,
focused, and to the point.

• Completely avoid any negativity - remember,

the company and its employees could
potentially play a role in your career or job
search in the future – it is a very small world.
• A resignation letter is not the time to share
frustrations about coworkers, managers, or the
company. Keep in mind that you may someday need a
reference from people who will see this letter.

• There is no need to elaborate on your reason for

leaving - keep the letter professional rather than
personal. Simply provide information on when you are
leaving and let the employer know you appreciate
your time with the company.
Thank You