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Cover Letter Basics
It is a short letter used to introduce yourself to
a recruiter/company. In it you summarize your professional experience,
and highlight the skills which make you an appropriate fit for the position.
The cover letter is used to attract the attention of the recruiter by
showing why you're an excellent candidate for a given position. It should
always be short and to the point.
The cover letter has three main parts:
1. The Introduction
This first paragraph states why you are writing,
names the type of position, and if you have heard about a vacancy, mentions
how you heard about it. If you were referred by a person, mention that
name. You should also explain briefly why your background makes you
the best candidate for the position. Keep this paragraph short. It must
attract enough attention to cause the reader to want to read the rest
of your letter and your resume.
2. The Body
The main body of your letter, which may be one or
two paragraphs long, should detail what you could contribute to the
company and how your qualifications could benefit the firm. Keep in
mind that your resume is general enough to use with many employers and
that the cover letter links that resume (and you) to a specific employer.
The body of your letter should reflect the research you have done on
the employer and elaborate on your interests and experience. You should
be careful not to reiterate everything that is on the resume, however,
you might mention a couple key aspects of your background and provide
more detail about them than is contained in the resume. Support what
you have mentioned on the resume to show why you should be considered
for the position. Refer you reader to the resume and any other enclosures.
3. The Closing Paragraph
The closing paragraph must make it clear what action
you will take to follow up on your resume and cover letter. Keep the
initiative on your side. Stating that you will wait to hear from the
employer more often than not results in just that... waiting. Instead,
you should request an interview and tell the employer that you will
call him or her within a specific period of time. You might also mention
a name or two of a reference, if the employer will recognize the name.
EXAMPLE:
103A Circle Ave.
Charlottesville, VA 22905
September 30, 2002 |
Mr. Mark Gibson
Flight and Ticket Recruiter
American Airlines
Atlanta International Airport
Atlanta, Georgia 33123
Dear Mr. Gibson:
I have read in the New York Times that your
company is planning to assume some of Braniff Airline's routes
to South America. Many of your new customers will be the Hispanic
populations of Atlanta, New York, Miami and the South American
countries you intend to serve. No doubt, you will be interested
in increasing the number of bilingual personnel in these cities.
In this regard, I believe I could be of benefit to American Airlines.
I was raised in Brazil where I received a
comprehensive bilingual education. As the enclosed resume indicates,
I will be graduating with a major in English from the University
of Boston next May and am completely bilingual in written as well
as oral English and Spanish. Also I have had significant experience
with computers which are used in most modern airports. I believe
that these skills will work to your advantage in meeting the needs
of the new Hispanic population you will be serving.
I will be in Atlanta the week of November
24-28, 1998, and would appreciate the opportunity to meet with
you. Within the next two weeks, I will call you in order to arrange
an interview. I am looking forward to speaking with you. Thank
you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Mary Ann Taylor
Enclosure
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