Cover Letters

Sioux-Hudson Employment Services

GUIDELINES FOR WRITING COVER LETTERS

A cover letter is as important as your resume. It catches the employer's eye. It should be focused, well planned and well written. This is your opportunity to explain what position you are interested in, introduce your background, sell yourself and ask for an interview.

Elements of a Cover Letter

Salutation: Personalize your cover letter by addressing it to the person responsible for hiring. Call the company and get the exact name and title of the person. Ask for the correct spelling.

Introductory Paragraph: Explain what position you are applying for and how you found out about it.

Contribution Paragraph: This is where you should list specific achievements and contributions you made in other companies that relate to this company. Highlight your skills that relate to the requirements of the position. Look for clues in the job ad as to what they are looking for specifically. Many people waste time giving irrelevant details from their work experience in this section. Ask yourself, "If I were in the place of the reader or the prospective employer, is this information important to me?"

Closing Paragraph: Define the next step. For example, you might request an interview by writing,

I look forward to hearing from you to further discuss my qualifications in an interview. I can be reached at (807)123-4567.

Statement of Appreciation: Close with something like:

Thank you for your consideration, I would be pleased to hear from you.

Basic Guidelines for Cover Letter Preparation

Present a professional appearance. Use the same paper as your resume (white or off-white good quality paper). Type it, unless the employer specifically asks for a hand written cover letter.

Use an appropriate business letter format. Check at Sioux-Hudson Employment Services or at the library for samples of cover letters.

Keep it brief. It should not be more than one page. Highlight your qualifications and your resume will fill in the details.

Have someone proof read your letter. Your cover letter should be checked by someone else to ensure that there are no spelling mistakes or grammatical errors. This is very important because errors will make you appear careless.

This web site was developed by Diane Martin