Cover Letters

Cover Letters

Marketing yourself begins with the cover letter. Employers seek candidates who present themselves in a concise, inspired, and professional manner. You write cover letters to grab employers` attention and get them to read your resume!

The cover letter ...

• is a formal business letter and marketing document that accompanies your resume when you are applying for a specific job or inquiring about potential job openings.
• customized and forceful.  It should be between two and four paragraphs.
• is used to sell your skills and qualifications to the reader.  It should focus on the “fit” and complement the resume, not repeat it. It should be able to stand alone.
• should make it easy for the employer to understand what you bring to the position.  Use positive self-descriptive words to match employer’s needs and concrete examples of your claims. 

Do not:

• overuse “I”.
• undersell yourself.
• go beyond one page and waste the employer’s time with too much information.
• just “list” your experiences and characteristics.  Show knowledge of the field, the employer and/or position.

Remember:  Show confidence, but not conceit.  You are attempting to persuade the employer to ask you for an interview.