Claremont Graduate University
Writing a Strong Cover
Letter
Career
Development
Purpose of a Cover Letter
Introduce yourself to perspective employer
Bring your resume to life, create interest
Highlight relevant skills and experiences
Highlight fit to employer's needs and organizational culture
May be used to minimize anxieties employers have about PhDs
Land you an interview
FYI
Before You Hit Submit
Do:
Use a mature and professional tone
Describe your relevant accomplishments and skills
in a direct and confident manner
Be specific. Back up your assertions with specific
examples (stress experience)
Your homework and demonstrate your knowledge
of the job, industry, and company
Address it to a specific person by name or "Dear
Hiring Manager"
Use business letter format
Keep it to one page
Proofread! No typos or grammar errors
Make sure you highlighted relevant qualifications
Don't:
Emphasize what the company will do for you or
your career
Be doubtful (I am confident, I believe...)
Be too humble about your strengths
Duplicate information in your resume
Assume they will draw the connection between
your academic experience and their needs
Cover letters MUST be written for each
specific position. A general cover letter will
not impress an employer.
Format
First Paragraph
Catch attention and engage reader
What position are you seeking
Why that position, that company
Middle Paragraphs
Tell a compelling and confident (not
arrogant) story about: what you can do for
them (specific skills, experience, and
expertise)
Relate your specific
interests/skills/experiences to their
organization and position
Final Paragraph
Express desire for interview and state
when you will follow up
Express appreciation for time and
consideration
Final Advice
Attend a cover letter workshop--see CDO calendar for time & place:
http://www.cgu.edu/careerdevelopment
Have your cover letter critiqued at the Career Development Office:
Visit: cgu-csm.symplicity.com/students/ to request an appointment
131 e. 10th St. Claremont, CA 91711 (909)621-8177
Marla Jones
100 North Avenue Claremont, California 91711 marla.jones @cgu.edu 909-555-0000
October 4, 20XX
Ms. Jennifer Johnson
The Chocolate Factory
123 Cocoa Lane Caramel, California 95555
Dear Ms. Johnson:
I’d like to be The Chocolate Factory’s Training and Development Intern. I am currently a graduate
student in the School of Behavioral and Organizational Science at Claremont Graduate University
studying employee engagement. My combination of academic training and experience in improving
organizational effectiveness will enable me to make an immediate contribution to The Chocolate
Factory
During my recent internship at Cracker Jack Consulting, I completed an enterprise-wide needs
assessment to determine how to improve organizational effectiveness. My recommendations
included creating ongoing communication forums between senior management and staff and an
incentive-based performance management system. Since implementing my recommendations, the
company’s employee retention rate has improved by 17%, and qualitative research shows an
improvement in employee morale.
My current research project is exploring ways to improve collaboration across functional areas. This
aligns well with the project outlined in the position description. Further, your company’s commitment
to providing employees with ongoing professional development activities and a state-of-the-art
training facility, recently documented in the Wall Street Journal, convinced me my beliefs about
management effectiveness align well with your training and development practices.
Applying my experience to your organization’s needs for a Training and Development Intern would
be an excellent experience allowing me to combine theory with practice. My resume is enclosed for
your review.
My schedule is flexible with respect to arranging an interview. I will contact you next week to
follow-up on my candidacy.
Sincerely,
Marla Jones