Cover Letters: Selling your skills on paper
WHAT IS A COVER LETTER?
Your formal introduction
The first read can make or break your
entry
A ‘must’ with your resume
GENERATING INTEREST
The goal is to get an interview!
Should be brief and interesting
Should not be a carbon copy of your resume
Should highlight what you’ll bring to the job
Should be job specific
CREATE THE RIGHT IMPRESSION: 10 TIPS
1. Letter geared for specific job opening
 Adapt letter to needs of the job you want
 Refer to that job in opening sentences
2. Describe your related skills


Tie your experience to your skills
Show how they directly relate to the job
description
CREATE THE RIGHT IMPRESSION: 10 TIPS
3. Make it personal
 Address letter to a specific person
 If you don’t have a contact, call and ask
4. Create a catchy opener
 Readers scan for content
 Open with attention-grabbing sentences
 Describe why you’re the best for the job
CREATE THE RIGHT IMPRESSION: 10 TIPS
5. Include vital information
 Name, address, phone with area code
 Should be clearly visible
 First thing reader will need to contact you
6. Type and proofread
 It’s your first impression…make it good
 Be sure it’s neat and professional
 Errors will reflect badly on you
CREATE THE RIGHT IMPRESSION: 10 TIPS
7. Keep it brief
 Use action words, active sentences
 Limit letter to one page
8. Be confident, creative, enthusiastic
 It’s a tool to sell your best asset…you!
 Let your personality shine in your letter
CREATE THE RIGHT IMPRESSION: 10 TIPS
9. Keep copies
 Keep a copy of every letter you send
 Past letters make job search easier
10. Request a response
 Your letter is written to get an interview
 Ask for one!
 Avoid vague clichés:
 “I am a hard worker and a good team player.”
 “I have excellent problem-solving skills.”
 Use specific details and examples.
 “One project in particular demonstrates my teamwork skills. Last year, I participated in a robotics
design competition with four other students….”
 “My strong background in accounting would be a valuable addition to your team. As an office
assistant for ABC Rentals and Sales, I was responsible for accounts payable, accounts receivable,
payroll, and quarterly reports. I have also completed several upper-division accounting courses.”
 Avoid vague clichés:
 “I am a hard worker and a good team player.”
 “I have excellent problem-solving skills.”
 Use specific details and examples.
 “One project in particular demonstrates my teamwork skills. Last
year, I participated in a robotics design competition with four other
students….”
 “My strong background in accounting would be a valuable
addition to your team. As an office assistant for ABC Rentals and
Sales, I was responsible for accounts payable, accounts receivable,
payroll, and quarterly reports. I have also completed several
upper-division accounting courses.”
 A self-marketing tool.
 Represents YOU—your accomplishments and skills.
 Summarizes what you have to offer to employers—
your unique selling points—in an easy-to-read
format.
 Top to bottom, left to right
 10-second glance, most recent and relevant
Important information needs to be found
easily and quickly!
 Bold, italics, underline
 Order of categories
 Font size
 Use of white space
 Category headings
 Bullets
Don’t “lose” the employer in a maze of
job descriptions and extracurricular
activities.
 DON’T: List subjective, vague skills
 Sample: Good people skills, excellent teamwork
capabilities, enthusiastic, hard worker.
 DO: List concrete, job-specific skills
 Computer Skills
 Certifications
 Languages
 Skills relevant to field
 Use strong action verbs and key words
to describe your work experience.
 Don’t forget about extensive volunteer
or extracurricular activities.
- Use these “experiences,” even if you
were
not paid.
Treasurer, Delta Chi Fraternity (2004-Present)
 Manage over 100 active accounts receivable for members on
campus.
 Manage and prepare payroll and benefits for nine employees.
 Work with collection agency to collect delinquent accounts.
Student Alumni Relations Board (2003-Present)
Committee chair responsible for coordination of “Graduation
Salute” event. Assist with organization, planning, and execution of
campus events such as Homecoming
Application Letter
•A job application letter format is a business letter
that states an applicants intention in a specific job
applying for.
•It is a letter that provides a detailed information
about the applicant.
Application Letter
•It explains how a person was able to discover the
job, how interested is he with the job, as well as the
reasons unto why he wanted to be chosen.
•Skills and abilities are also clearly identified in an
application letter because it helps in determining
how qualified the applicant is.
Cover Letter
•A cover letter template, on the other hand, is a letter that
introduces an applicant, it mentions the job title a person is
applying for.
•The purpose of a cover letter (cover letter samples) is to
encourage someone in the recruitment team to read an
applicant’s resume.
Cover Letter
•A cover letter also matches the skills and abilities
required by the job.
•It is a document that does not exceed more than one page.
•The closing of a cover letter is usually in a form of a callto-action.
Steps in Writing a Formal Letter:
1. State the WHAT, WHERE, WHEN in the
first paragraph
2. State the WHY and HOW in the second
paragraph
3. State a call-to action in the third
paragraph