Cover Letters

1. Cover Letters Sarah Rach-Sovich

2. Purpose of a Cover Letter • To highlight those areas of your skills and experience (on your resume) which make you particularly well-suited to the position for which you are applying • Cover letter – should market your advantages to the employer • Resume – give the facts • Always send with a resume

3. Cover letter basics • Content and style is up to you • There should be a basic structure

4. Sections of a Cover Letter • Address it • Greeting • Opening • Why this job? • Why you? • Ending

5. Address It • Standout salespeople know the names of all their customers.  Whenever possible, get personal by addressing your cover letter to a particular individual instead of writing a generic salutation such as "To Whom It May Concern" or "Dear Employer."  • Use "Dear Director" or "Dear Personnel Manager" if you don't know proper names. • If a job posting doesn't mention whom to contact, call the company to ask for the hiring manager's name and title, the correct spelling of the name, and the person's gender if it's not obvious.  • At the very least, avoid using the following salutations from two actual cover letters: "Dear Sir or Mom" and "To Concern Whom It May Concern."

6. Opening • Introduce yourself • Explain why you are writing • If you are responding to an advertisement or classified ad, say where you saw it

7. Opening • Example: • I am writing in response to a recent vacancy notice in the newsletter of Minnesota State Community & Technical College (M-State) Careers Service and wish to apply for one of your sales vacancies. As you will see from my resume, I am in my final year of an Associate in Arts degree in Business Management at M-State.

8. Why this job? • Explain why you are interested in the job and the organization • This is where you should put all your research to good use – target the letter to the organization. Make it clear that you have not simply sent out multiple copies of the same letter to different employers • If you can, say something original about the organization • Explain what factors attract you to them – don't just repeat text from their publicity material

9. Why this job? • Example: • Most of my computer experience has been with PCs, and I am a confident user of Word, Excel and Access. While at M-State, I have also worked on Apple Macs, however, and I am familiar with the word processing packages which are available. I feel that this background awareness would be advantageous in selling Apple Macintosh machines - and I certainly know some ways in which Apple Macs outperform PCs. I am attracted by the opportunity to act as an interface between technical staff and clients, and the scope of your training scheme would give me a broad base of experience on which to develop my career. Having spoken to a number of people who have worked with your company, I am drawn to the supportive and friendly working environment you offer.

10. Why you? • Use the third paragraph to explain why you are well-suited to the position • Refer to relevant skills, experience and knowledge that you have • Try to avoid using exactly the same phrases which appear on your resume • Match what you say to the requirements given in the job advertisement

11. Why you? • Example: • I worked as an intern at IBM last summer, and enjoyed the IT experience in a commercial environment. I seized the chance while there to give presentations to my colleagues. I particularly enjoyed the opportunity to develop my communication skills, explaining features to those without a technical background. I am an enthusiastic and outgoing person, who thrives in group situations. In both high school and college I have sought out opportunities to initiate and coordinate worthwhile group activities. In my role as Treasurer of the Circle K club, for example, I raised over $5,000 from contributors by introducing a sponsorship scheme tailored to the needs of local employers.

12. Ending • Reiterate your desire to join the organization • Add a 'look forward to hearing from you'-type statement • Take action - - either request an interview or let them know that you will follow up with a phone call • Be sure the employer can reach you (correct phone number, address) • End your letter by thanking the person reading it for his or her time (good manners never go out of style) • Don't forget to sign it!

13. Ending • Example • I am excited to establish a career in computer sales, as I am confident of the future potential for the industry. I feel that a young but growing company such as yours would provide excellent opportunities as it deals with such a well-regarded product. I look forward to hearing from you.

14. Tips for a successful cover letter • Do NOT exceed one page • Write to a named person – never Dear Sir/Madam • Check spelling – don't just rely on the spell-checker; get someone else to read it too • Don't use long words and complicated sentence structure just for the sake of it • Don't start every sentence with "I" • Do give evidence for your claims • Be enthusiastic • End "Yours sincerely", and type your name and title under your signature • Use good quality paper – no bright colors • Don't repeat your whole resume