Cover Letters
A cover letter, also referred to as a letter of application, accompanies your resume whether you
mail, email, or fax your resume. Cover letters are important because they serve as a first
impression of your application materials and they reflect your writing skills.
The purpose of a cover letter is to:
 Introduce your resume
 Express your personality, skills, experience, and enthusiasm for the position
 Provide support for your candidacy that is not covered by your resume
It is extremely important that you customize your cover letter for each position and employer
you are applying to.
General Cover Letter Tips:
 Be concise in your cover letter, keep it to one page.
 Address your cover letter to a specific person. This step may take some extra work, but a
cover letter that addresses a specific person by name gets their attention.
 Sell Yourself! Be specific about your qualifications, education, and experience. Indicate
why you would be a good fit for the position. Be specific and use examples.
 Be sure to proofread your letter. There should be no grammar or spelling errors!
Cover Letter Outline:
Click the link below for information about what to include in each paragraph of the cover letter:
– Cover Letter Outline
Cover Letter Examples:
Click the link below for cover letter examples:
– Cover Letter Examples
Want to learn more about writing cover letters? Check out these short videos:
http://careertv.com/video.php?mediaid=c5FasJGlVBBSg0wXt-R8sg
http://careertv.com/video.php?mediaid=SrN_cgLTOI2FYvhlu2TVAA
For more information on cover letter writing, please visit:
http://www.jobweb.com/ or contact the Career Services Center for a Job Choices magazine.
Example #1: Cover Letter Outline
Sally Moore
1001 Rogers St.
Columbia, MO 65216
573-234-0000
sallymoore@cougars.ccis.edu
Date of Letter
Individual’s Name – (Try to get a specific contact name)
Title
Employer
Street Address
City, State, Zip
Dear Mr. /Ms. _________:
First Paragraph: In the initial paragraph, indicate the reason for writing. Include the specific position you are
applying for and how you learned about the opening (newspaper, Career Services, company web-site, etc.)
Second Paragraph: Mention why you are interested in the position, the organization, and its products or services.
Indicate what you can do for the employer. Be specific about your education, experience, and skills. Explain why
you are the perfect candidate for the position. If you have practical work experience, point out the specific
achievements or unique qualifications of that experience. Cite specific work examples, but remember to be brief.
Try not to repeat the same information the reader will find in your resume.
Third Paragraph: Mention other information such as relevant coursework, certifications, foreign languages, or
professional affiliations that may strengthen your candidacy for the position. After researching the company,
include some positive information about the company that is attractive to you. If a prospective employer is asking
you to include your salary requirements, this information can be addressed in this paragraph.
**Please Note: Paragraphs 2 and 3 may be combined if they are short paragraphs.
Closing Paragraph: State your interest in the company/position again. Then, indicate your desire for a personal
interview. Be as assertive as you feel comfortable being. You may want to suggest alternative dates and times or
simply advise the employer of your flexibility as to the time and place. Include your contact information in this
paragraph, specifically a current phone number and professional email address.
Closing Statement: Keep it simple, and thank the employer for their time. “Thank you for your time and
consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.”
Sincerely,
(Your hand written signature)
Sally Moore (Typed Name)
Enclosure (s): (Indicates which documents are included: resume, references, etc.)
Example #2: Sample Cover Letter
JACK SMITH
(573) 666-0000
Jacksmith1122@ccis.edu
Present Address:
1001 Rogers St.
Columbia, MO 65216
Permanent Address:
333 Circle Drive
St. Louis, MO 63102
May 18, 2011
Mary Success
Director of Human Resources
B&B Marketing
1000 Gear Drive
Columbia, MO 65202
Dear Ms. Success:
I am writing to apply for the position of Marketing Research Assistant. I learned about this position
through speaking with Tom Warner at the Columbia College Career Fair.
I will be graduating in December with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a major in
Marketing. While in college, I have learned a great deal about marketing from my courses in Global
Marketing, E-Marketing, Marketing Research, and Marketing Management. I am very interested in how
B&B Marketing uses current marketing principles with a variety of clients. During my internship with Smith
Marketing, I worked on streamlining the marketing research process. Also, as you can see from my
resume, I have had extensive experience working with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Access. I am also
fluent in Spanish. This combination of academic and professional experience makes me an ideal
candidate for the Marketing Research Assistant position.
Your position description states extensive travel is required in the first year of employment. Please know
that I thoroughly enjoy traveling and this component of the position provides the career experience I am
seeking. Once again, I am excited about the possibility of working for B&B Marketing. I would appreciate
the opportunity to discuss this position in further detail. I may be contacted by phone at 573-666-0000 or
by e-mail at jacksmith1122@ccis.edu. I will follow up this letter with a phone call in the next week to see if
I can arrange a time to meet with you.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
(Written Signature)
Jack Smith
Enclosures: Resume, References, B&B Marketing Job Application
Example #3: Sample Cover Letter
Jackie Test
1001 Rogers St., Columbia, MO 65216
573-666-5555 | jackie.test@aeroinc.net
May 21, 2011
Smith Counseling Center
PO Box 9922
Columbia, MO 65216
RE: Case Manager Position, #332255
Please accept this letter and enclosed resume in application for your opening for a Case Manager. I saw
this position advertised in the Monday, May 16, 2011, Columbia Daily Tribune.
As a May 2008 graduate of Columbia College, I have over three years experience in human services in
addition to my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. My work experience includes working as a Case
Manager and a Counselor Assistant. Since my graduation, I have been working as a Case Manager for a
local company, Tri-State Health Network.
The enclosed resume provides details of my solid career and academic experiences. The following
highlights some of my achievements:
 Over 3 years experience working as a Case Manager
 Developed and facilitated over 4 new educational programs at Tri-State Health Network
 Experienced professional skilled in both individual and group counseling settings
Based on my work experience and education qualifications, I am confident that I can make an
immediate contribution to your counseling center. I would appreciate the opportunity to further discuss
my credentials with you in person. Please contact me by phone at 666-5555 or by email at
Jackie.test@aeroinc.net.
Thank you for your time. I look forward to speaking with you.
Sincerely,
Jackie Test
Enclosure: Resume and References
Prospecting Letters
A prospecting letter, also known as a letter of inquiry, accompanies your resume when you’d
like to apply to a specific company and you do not know if they have any current openings.
These letters are structured similarly to the application letter, but they focus on how your
qualifications match the work environment rather than focusing on a specific position.
The purpose of a prospecting letter is to:
 Prospect for possible vacancies within a company
 Get your resume read
 Generate an interview
General Prospecting Letter Tips:
 Target specific individuals within the organization
 Focus on broader occupational and company information
 Suggest an action plan – indicate that you plan to follow up the letter with a phone call
 Be sure to proofread your letter. There should be no grammar or spelling errors!
 If appropriate, ask for an application.
Prospecting Letter Example:
-Prospecting Letter
For more information on prospecting letters, please visit:
http://www.jobweb.com/ or contact the Career Services Center for a Job Choices magazine.
Lucas Schultz
1001 Rogers St.
Columbia, MO 65216
(573) 999-0000
Lucas.Schultz11@ccis.edu
March 6, 2011
Betty Smith
Executive Director
Smith Marketing
918 Madison Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63044
Dear Ms. Smith:
I am writing to inquire about existing or anticipated openings with Smith Marketing. In researching a
number of organizations for summer internships in the field of marketing, I was especially impressed
with what I have read about Smith Marketing’s mission statement and marketing strategies. With my
interest in marketing combined with my skills and motivation, I could make a valuable contribution to
your organization.
In May, I will be completing my junior year at Columbia College with a major in Marketing. While
attending Columbia College, I have completed coursework in Marketing Research, Marketing
Management, and Public Relations. I have a strong interest in both marketing strategies and business
management. In addition to my education, I also have experience as a marketing assistant at a local
marketing firm.
In researching Smith Marketing, I was impressed that you specialize in multiple areas including online
marketing, telephone sales, and building technology infrastructure. I would be interested in learning
more about Smith Marketing and any available internship opportunities. I am eager to use the skills I
have acquired, and I am very motivated to gain a broader knowledge of the field.
I would appreciate the opportunity to further discuss the possibility of an internship with Smith
Marketing. I will follow up with a phone call next week. If you should have any questions in the
meantime, I may be contacted by phone at (573) 999-0000 and by email at Lucas.Schultz11@ccis.edu.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Lucas Schultz
Enclosure: Resume
Thank You Letters
Thank you letters are essential in the job search process. Writing a thank you letter after an
interview is a must, it shows the employer your interest in the position, it expresses
appreciation, and it can strengthen your candidacy.
General Thank You Letter Tips:
 Plan to send out your thank you letters promptly (preferably within 24-48 hours, no
later than a week) after the interview.
 Use the thank you letter as an opportunity to reemphasize your strongest qualifications.
Draw attention to the good fit between your qualifications and the job requirements. It
is a way for you to provide the employer with more information.
 Keep the thank you letter short and to the point. It should be about one page in length.
 A thank you letter can be hand written, typed, or e-mailed. Let the company culture
drive how you compose your thank you letter.
 Remember to proofread your thank you letter! Be sure to check your spelling, grammar,
typos, formatting and overall appearance.
Three Basic Parts of the Thank You Letter:
 Express your sincere appreciation. Thank the interviewer for taking the time to talk with
you. Be sure to include the date the interview occurred.
 Reaffirm your interest in the company/position by pointing out particular issues brought
up during the interview that appeal to you. Try to personalize the letter by referring to a
topic you discussed during the interview.
 Close the letter with another word of appreciation, an offer to provide additional
information, and a statement that you look forward to hearing from them.
Thank You Letter Example:
Click the link below for a thank you letter example:
– Thank You Letter Example
For more information on thank you letters, please visit:
http://www.jobweb.com/ or contact the Career Services Center for a Job Choices magazine.
Farrah Walsh
1001 Rogers St., Columbia, Missouri 65216
573-666-6666 | farrahwalsh@ccis.edu
May 24, 2011
Ms. Julie Edmonds
Business Manager
Atlantic Systems, Inc.
1220 Warwick Avenue
Kansas City, MO 64101
Dear Ms. Edmonds:
I want to thank you very much for interviewing me yesterday for the Assistant Manager position. I
enjoyed meeting you and learning more about your retail and management work.
My interest in working for Atlantic Systems, Inc was strengthened as a result of the interview. My
education in Business Administration and my internship experiences fit nicely with the job
requirements. I am confident that I could make a signification contribution to the company.
I want to reiterate my strong interest in the position and in working with you and your staff. You provide
the kind of opportunity I seek. Please feel free to contact by phone at 573-666-6666 or by email at
farrahwalsh@ccis.edu if I can provide you with any additional information.
Again, thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Farrah Walsh