Creating a Cover Letter

The purpose of a cover letter is to introduce and/or sell you to the employer. You might be:

• Responding to an ad in the paper.
• Sending an unsolicited letter to a targeted company without a particular position in mind.
• Following up on a referral from your networking efforts.

Whatever the situation, observe the following guidelines

• Always include a cover letter with a traditional resume (sent by mail or fax). It is optional to include a cover letter with an electronic resume (sent via the internet). If you include a cover letter in your e-mail, write a very short, concise letter.
  
• Address it to a specific person. Make sure you have the spelling of their name and their title correct. If you cannot locate the name, use one of the following as a salutation: Director of Human Resources, Hiring Manager or Hiring Committee.
  
• Be clear about your purpose when you send the letter. Do you want an interview? Are you looking for information? Whatever it is, state it. Each letter needs to be specific. Do not use generic letters.
  
• Take a professional, but friendly, approach. Don't be too pushy. Do not leave the "ball in their court." Tell them when you will be contacting them again.
  
• Keep the letter to one page; center it on the page, and use a 12-point font.
  
• Sign and send the original. Keep a copy for your records. You want to be able to refer to your letter if you are called for the interview.
  
• Use good quality paper and envelopes.
  
• Proofread it. If you find a mistake and find yourself asking, "Is this worth doing over?" the answer is “yes”. If it is worth sending at all, it's worth having it right. Employers will assume that if you settle for "okay" in your job search, you'll most likely do no better as an employee.
  
• Never use staples when sending your cover letter and resume.

The content of each letter will vary depending on the reason you are writing. However, an introduction, a body, and a conclusion formula can be used in most letters.