Cover Letters

Basic Guidelines

• Cover letters are persuasive, not objective.
• The goal is to help employers see relevant experiences and qualifications on your resume as evidence that you’re a good fit for this position.
• This is an important opportunity for you to expand on specific experiences from the jobs/positions on your resume.
• It’s important to look at example cover letters from your field. Talk to someone you know in the field or use online examples from the Carson College of Business or the Academic Success and Career Center (ASCC).

What Does a Good Cover Letter Look Like?

• Tells a story that highlights your key skills and qualifications.
• Makes clear, detailed connections between specific points on your resume and how great you will be at this new job.
• Gives your audience a feel for your personality and character.
• Tells them why you want to work for them.
• Proves that you can write/communicate effectively.
• Stands out from the crowd; is unique and interesting.
• Is concrete and specific.
• Is addressed to a specific person, if possible.
• Is around 3-4 paragraphs.
• Is tailored for a particular job at a particular company.

Getting Ready to Write: What Should I Include?

• Contact Information – your own and that of the person you’re writing to
• Greeting Introduction – Identify yourself, what position you’re applying for, and a brief explanation of who you are (e.g., junior at WSU studying hospitality/business management) and/or a single sentence preview of why you are ideal for this job.
• Education – If relevant to the position, discuss your degree’s application to the job or related coursework. Remember, the most important thing is to relate your education to the job requirements.
• Experience – This is similar to the education section but instead elaborate on any relevant experience you have (professional, volunteer, or otherwise) and how it sets you up to excel in this job. Education and experience can be organized in any way you see fit.
• Conclusion – Thank them for their time and consideration and include your next step. If you’re going to email them, mention that. If you are going to wait for them, mention that. Whatever the plan, make sure to execute!

It’s OK if this feels like bragging!

You are trying to convince employers that you are the best person for the position.

Example Cover Letter Formatting

Your Name Street Address
City, State Zip Code

Date
Hiring Manager’s Name Hiring Manager’s Title Company Name Company Street Address City, State Zip Code

Dear [Insert Hiring Manager’s name if known],

1st Paragraph: Introduce yourself and state the reason for writing. Name the specific position or type of work for which you’re applying. Mention how you learned of the job opening. If you know someone in the organization, consider mentioning your connection here. In one sentence you need to establish your fit in some way, whether that is experience, previous employment, or academic background.

2nd Paragraph: Explain why you’re interested in working for this employer and specify how you fit in this position, tailoring your wording to incorporate the keywords they used in the job description. Don’t just repeat the information on your resume; connect it to the skills needed for this job. Your goal is to “train” them to read your resume as evidence that you are qualified for the job. Include something special or unique about yourself that will benefit the employer. Additionally, you might include something about your personality to indicate how you fit within the organization.

3rd Paragraph: Expand on whatever qualifications you have that makes you a good fit. Frame your experiences as accomplishments, not simply a summary of job duties. Use your experiences as examples to discuss. This is a good place to further explain a job title; you can explain that job in a way that makes it clear what you did there and why that is pertinent. Tell a story of an experience you had, or of a typical day for you, that illustrates what you know.

Last Paragraph: Provide a one sentence summary of why you believe you are a good fit for the job and why you’re a good fit for their organization. This is a good place to address any perceived weaknesses in your application. If there’s something about you that doesn’t quite fit, address it directly and emphasize that the weakness is just an opportunity to learn. Tell them that you look forward to hearing from them soon or you look forward to the possibility of an interview. Be sure to communicate your plan to follow up. You might state that you’ll be in the area on a certain date and would like to set up a meeting, or you’ll call on a certain date to set up a meeting, or you’ll wait for them to reach out. Finally, thank the hiring manager for their time.

Sincerely,
[Insert signature]