Cover Letter Guide
UNDERGRADUATE
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Your Present Address
City/State/Zip
Phone Number
Email
Salutation
Date of Letter
Purpose
Individual’s Name
Title
Employer
Street Address
City/State/Zip
Referral
Interest
Salutation:
First Paragraph. Indicate the reason for writing, the specific position or type of
work for which you are applying, and how you learned of the opening. You may
also include a sentence that indicates why you are interested in this position
and the organization.
Second Paragraph. Point out one or two key skills that you possess that
correspond well to the job you are applying for, and give 1-2 specific examples
of an achievement that demonstrates that you have those skills. Avoid
repeating the exact information the reader will find in the resume, but refer them
to the resume for additional detail.
Third Paragraph. Indicate your desire for an interview. For example, say you
will call within 5-7 business days to set up a mutually convenient meeting time
or phone appointment. Finally, be sure to thank the reader for his/her time and
consideration.
Sincerely,
Your signature
Relevant skills
Experience/
Achievements
Reference to
résumé
Action plan
Express
appreciation
Your typed name
Closing
397 East Shoe Street
New York, NY 11507
March 4, 2013
Ms. Vibha Malhotra
Saatchi & Saatchi
375 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
Sample Marketing
One-inch margins on all
four sides are standard
Dear Ms. Malhotra:
I am writing to apply for the 2013 Saatchi & Saatchi X Summer Internship. I am
currently a junior Marketing major with a Psychology minor at The College of William
and Mary. The Mason School of Business Undergraduate Program referred me to
this position, and this position aligns well with my post-graduation career goals. I
am interested in all aspects of shopper marketing from consumer behavioral
research to category management, packaging, promotions, and working with
retailers.
Being a member of the varsity volleyball team has instilled in me a passion for
teamwork and camaraderie. My experience as a leader through athletics has
allowed me to attain the skills needed to work strongly in a group setting, and Iʼd like
to contribute these skills to Saatchi & Saatchiʼs work environment. In addition to my
athletics, I was selected as one of two undergraduate students out of approximately
450 at the Mason School of Business to attend the Undergraduate Business School
Leadership Conference in February of this year.
As an avid member of Net Impact, I have had the opportunity to be closely involved
with the Do One Thing (DOT) campaign. Sustainability is one of my personal
passions and this internship would allow me to pursue that passion even further. My
experience with marketing the DOT campaign to other colleges through outlets, such
as the Corporate & College Collaborative for Sustainability and the Undergraduate
Business School Leadership Conference, has allowed me to learn the basics of
marketing the same idea to different audiences.
The Mason School of Business has given me a solid foundation of marketing skills
integrated with sustainability. The internship with Saatchi & Saatchi will not only
intensify my skills, but also grant me new and exciting opportunities.
Thank you for reviewing my application. I hope to further discuss this opportunity in
the near future. If you should need additional information, please donʼt hesitate to
contact me at liana.patel@gmail.com or 804.546.7623.
Sincerely,
Space for your signature, if
sending hard copy.
Liana Patel
Purpose,
referral,
interest
Related
achievement
Personalization
to the job
328 Redwood Drive Los Angeles, CA 90210 864.763.3472 bianka.alpino@gmail.com February 3, 2012 Use Recruiting Manager
for an unknown contact
Recruiting Manager Unilever 940 Sylvan Avenue Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632 Dear Recruiting Manager: Sample Marketing I am writing to express my deep interest in the Marketing Assistant position with Reason for
Unilever at the Englewood Cliffs, NJ office. I believe that my education, employment applying
background with a competitive CPG company, and various leadership roles make me a great candidate for this position. I have accumulated a wealth of valuable professional experiences through my position as a Customer Development intern with Colgate-­‐Palmolive Co. I worked on several analytical projects for the Value Discount Channel Sales Team, and my projects helped Evidence of skills
me develop my research, analytical, and presentation skills along with teaching me key insights into the sales field. This internship developed my ability to effectively prioritize tasks and communicate with managers and team members, along with increasing my passion in a future career with a top CPG company like Unilever. I am also very passionate about and dedicated to a host of extracurricular activities on campus. This year, I was elected by my chapter to be the Director of Recruitment for my sorority, where I worked closely with the President and VP of Recruitment. As well, as the Tour Manager for William and Mary’s a cappella group, The Intonations, I have been Full block letter
planning our very first fall tour by creating a detailed schedule and budget for the format: keep all
performers. paragraphs flush
with left margin
I have admired this Unilever ever since we analyzed its business in a marketing class I took last year. The company's mission and sustainability efforts align with my morals, and Unilever has one of the best brand images in the CPG industry. Although the accompanying résumé highlights some key points, I would love the opportunity to interview with you so that I may further discuss my passions, skills, Desire for interview
and desire to work for your company. Thank you for your time and consideration and I look forward to hearing from you soon. Sincerely, Bianca Alpino 219 Greenfield Crescent
Suffolk, VA 23434
Sample Accounting
March 19, 2013
Ms. Joanne Rodriguez
Regional College Recruiter
Human Resources Department
One GEICO Landing
Virginia Beach, VA 23454
Cover letters should be
between 3 and 5 paragraphs;
always one page
Dear Ms. Rodriguez:
I am applying for GEICO’s summer internship program in Virginia Beach,
which was advertised on the College of William and Mary’s recruiting website.
My passion and experience surrounding statistical input and financial
reporting has inspired me to pursue this internship, and I am a solid
Industry
candidate for the position.
I am currently a junior at the College of William and Mary, majoring in
Accounting and minoring in Mathematics. My studies have included courses
in computer science, accounting, marketing, finance, and I have been
Microsoft Office PowerPoint and Word certified – as well as completing a
course in Excel. I have developed the skills to work in a team as well as
independently in my course work and in my recent internship with the
College of William and Mary’s Human Resource Department. There, I worked
within the training and development division of human resources, primarily
around ways to further engage employees in training presentations. I also
possess a high level of dependability as my work ethic indicates – holding
various part-time positions for the last several years while maintaining a high
GPA.
terminology
Qualifications
specific for
position
I am confident that I can perform the job duties effectively. I have
experience working with groups and independently on projects. I also enjoy
offering ways to enhance efficiency and streamline business processes. I am
excited to work with a multi-billion dollar corporation, and I look forward to
the contributions I can make as well as the skills this internship will offer me.
If you would like to schedule an interview or otherwise discuss my interest in
this position, please contact me at 757-536-5874 or rcovington@gmail.com.
I will be available at your convenience.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Ronald Covington
Express appreciation
Phone/Email
appear only once
73 Birch Street
Williamsburg, VA 23185
(Cell) 564.863.1231
pwilliams@gmail.com
January 21, 2013
Sample Finance
Perfect formatting for all
contact information
Mr. George Gray
Assistant Vice President Asset Management Division
Goldman Sachs
120 Spring Street
Rochester, NY 12900
Dear Mr. Gray:
I am very excited about applying for the summer analyst internship program with
Goldman Sachs that was advertised in William and Mary’s annual From DoG Street to
Wall Street panel. Ethan Hofmann recommended that I apply for the internship since the
qualifications directly match my educational experience, interest, and skills.
I am currently a junior at the College of William and Mary, majoring in finance with a
concentration in accounting and a minor in Chinese Language and Literature. Throughout
my college career I have excelled in all of my finance courses, become Vice President of
the Finance Academy, and my professors have recommended that I serve as a tutor for
students requiring assistance with class assignments. My courses have provided me with
a strong background in the methodologies required for successfully analyzing and
synthesizing important financial information and in preparing documentation to assist
management when making critical business decisions. I am a quick learner and enjoy the
challenges of doing comparative, quantitative, and cash-flow analysis in addition to asset
management and financial modeling. I believe my strengths in these areas would serve
me well as an intern in Goldman Sach’s summer program.
In addition to my relevant coursework, my internship with Deutsche Bank provided me
with a great opportunity to use my knowledge and skills and apply them to the real world.
I very much enjoyed assisting customers with their financial decision-making and I found
that my excellent interpersonal skills served me well when dealing with challenging
clients. I am especially excited about the summer program that Goldman Sachs offers;
this opportunity would provide me with additional knowledge and skills necessary to
succeed in the field.
Thank you for your time and interest, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Patricia Williams
Be sure to use an easy-to read font:
Arial, Times New Roman, Helvetica
Referral
Key industry
skills
Relevant
experience
743 North Street Williamsburg, VA 23185 757.624.3611 Nathan.allmann@gmail.com May 1, 2012
Sample Consulting Your phone/email go here if
not listed in last paragraph
Mr. John Smith
Navigant Consulting
257 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 12345-6789
Dear Mr. Smith:
I am a senior at the College of William and Mary, majoring in Process Management &
Consulting, and I am extremely interested in a position with Navigant Consulting upon
graduation. With my education and experience, I am confident I will be a valuable asset
to your team.
Through my honors research project, I have been involved with extensive research, data
management, investigative skills, analysis, and team collaboration; providing me with a
foundation similar to that of typical consulting environments. In addition, my
concentration in Accounting has increased my interest, as well as my financial acumen
and tolerance for data overload.
Navigant Consulting appeals to me for a number of reasons. I have participated in
William and Mary’s annual Navigant Case Competition, winning 1st place along with
$2,000 prize money. I am extremely interested in the wide variety of industries that
Navigant Consulting is involved with such as healthcare and energy. I am also drawn to
the global reach of the firm, as it would empower my unique talents and provide a robust
network of resources.
I have enclosed my résumé for your review. I very much appreciate your time and
consideration, and I hope to hear from your team in the near future.
Sincerely,
Nathan Allmann
Qualifications
that match the
position
Accomplishment
Reference to
enclosed résumé