Cover Letters

Highlight your skills and experience in a well-written cover letter.

Now that you have developed a resume to apply for a job, you need to create a cover letter. A cover letter should accompany your application every time you apply for a job. It serves as a formal introduction and should briefly reflect why you are qualified for a position. A cover letter also does the following:

• Gives an employer a snapshot of your personality.
• Signals that you pay attention to details.
• Conveys professionalism.
• Demonstrates immediately your written communication skills.
• Gives you an opportunity to highlight your skill sets and experience.

Getting started on your cover letter — things to think about

• Why are you applying for the job? What are your objectives?
• What are your reasons for wanting to work for the employer?
• What are your skill sets and how do they fit into the job you are applying for as well as the vision and mission of the employer?

Cover letter guidelines

• Keep it short, usually one page.
• Ask a reliable source to read and edit your cover letter before you send it.
• Customize your letter as much as possible by acknowledging the reader and the employer.
• Focus on what you can offer the employer.
• Express your career aspirations and goals.
• Establish what makes you different from other candidates. Recruiters get a lot of cover letters and resumes, so make yours stand out.

Sample cover letter

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