COVER LETTER TIPS AND CONTENT OVERVIEW
A good cover letter won’t necessarily get you an interview, but one that is poorly written will
certainly prevent you from moving forward in the interview process!
10 Quick Cover Letter Tips for Graduate Students
1. No one reads cover letters: Some employers don’t, but many use cover letters as
writing samples. Always include a cover letter unless the job ad specifies differently.
2. Include: The date, recipient’s name and title (if you have them), company name and
address; many forget this.
3. Don’t guess a person’s gender: If you are unsure, research the person on LinkedIn or
use the entire name.
4. No name? Use Dear Hiring Committee or Dear Selection Committee instead of Dear
Sir or Madam.
5. Focus on the company – not you: Tell the company what attracts you and what you
can do for it, not what it can do for you.
6. Brief is best: One page and leave plenty of white space.
7. Highlight related experience and skills to the position: Demonstrate what you can do
for the company, not what you hope you can do.
8. What to leave out: Do not include your age, marital status, religion or any other
personal information that is unrelated to the position you are seeking.
9.
Mistakes will eliminate you: Common technical mistakes include misspelling the
company’s name and sending a company-specific letter to the wrong organization.
Typos, spelling and grammatical errors will show you lack attention to detail.
10. Be proactive: Request an interview or meeting at the end of your letter.
CONTENT OVERVIEW: Standard Block style (see cover letter samples for other formats
Your Name
Address
Your City, State, ZIP
Telephone and E-mail
OR
Your NAME
Address
City, State, ZIP
Telephone and E-mail
DATE
Ms. / Mr. First and Last Name
Title
Company
Address
City, State ZIP
Dear Ms. / Mr. Last Name:
Paragraph #1
What position are you applying for? If you do not know the exact title then state what roles you
would like to carry out and in what area/division of the firm.
Identify yourself. Do you know or have you spoken with someone at the organization (An alum
or guest speaker in one of your classes)? If so, mention their name and the conversation.
Describe why you are interested in this company / position.
Paragraph #2 or Bullets
Describe special skills and accomplishments that are unique and important requirements for this
position; give specific examples and quantify where possible.
Closing Paragraph
State that you are very interested in the organization and would like to be considered for the
position. Mention that you will be calling shortly to discuss the possibility of an interview.
Sincerely,
Your Name