Cover Letter Tips

Preparing an interesting and effective cover letter is not easy. On the other hand, a well-written cover letter can make the difference between your resume being reviewed or not. Highlighted below are some of the "do's" and "don'ts" for writing an effective cover letter.

Note: Cover letters should always be original copies on 8½" x 11" white bond paper using good, clear, black type. You may wish to have your own letterhead printed along with your resume. If so, the letterhead should be centered, and include your name, return address, phone number, and email address. We recommend you use the same paper stock for your letterhead, resume, and envelopes to present a professional package. If emailing a resume, also inclued a cover letter as a part of your email.

Do:

• Address your letter to a named individual.
• Make the most of your opening paragraph.
• Project confidence, but don't be arrogant.
• Use simple language and uncomplicated sentence structure. Ruthlessly eliminate all unnecessary words. Follow the journalist's credo: Write tight!
• Speak to the requirements of the job, especially when responding to an ad.
• Imagine yourself in the prospective employer's position. What would you look for in a cover letter? What would turn you off? What would you consider vital information and what would you just as soon see left out?
• Keep it brief. NEVER more than one page, and it's best to keep it well under a full page. Each paragraph should have no more than four or five sentences. You may think there is important information that you can't possibly leave out, but rest assured, a busy employer will never read it all. The longer your letter appears, the more forbidding it is. If it looks hopelessly long, it may never be read at all.
• Try to answer the question the employers will be asking themselves as they read your letter: "Why should I hire this person?"
• Be sure the potential employer can reach you. When you know the name of the employer you're writing to, follow up and make an interview appointment. If you're writing to a blind-box number, be sure the box holder knows how to reach you during business hours.

Do Not:

• Use a sexist salutation, such as "Gentlemen" when answering a blind ad.
• Be negative or too humble.
• Send your resume without a cover letter.
• Leave the ball in the employer's court. Don't say things like, "If you are interested in someone with my qualifications, please feel free to call me to arrange an interview" or "I look forward to hearing from you." Request an interview, tell the recruiter when you will follow up to arrange it, then do so.
• Send a cover letter that contains typos, misspellings, or incorrect grammar or punctuation.
• Send letters that are obviously photocopied or otherwise mass-produced. Send an original letter to each employer.
• Tell the employer what the company can do for you. Tell the employer how you can meet their needs and contribute to the company. This is a common mistake among inexperienced job-hunters. The employer may like to have happy, motivated employees, but they don't really care whether you see the company fulfilling your dreams. Generally speaking, the employer is in the business to make a profit; they want to know how you can help them do that.
• Rehash your resume. You can use your cover letter to highlight the aspects of your resume that are relevant to the position, but you're wasting precious space and the potential employer's time if you simply repeat your resume.
• Try to include too much detail or be too general. Hone in on the precise descriptions of the accomplishments that qualify you for the job.
• Make the employer dig through the letter to discover what kind of job you're seeking.
• Use vague and nebulous phrases that describe your personal objectives: "I am seeking a responsible, people-oriented position with growth potential." Such a description could apply to hundreds of jobs.
• Expect the employer to offer career counseling. Occasionally, you may run into a benevolent interviewer who will give you some career advice in an interview, but don't ask for it in a cover letter, e.g. "I'd like the opportunity to interview with you so I can clarify my career goals."