12.5 Cover Letters

A cover letter is a letter of introduction, usually 3–4 paragraphs in length, that you attach to your résumé. It is a way of introducing yourself to a potential employer and explaining why you are suited for a position. Employers may look for individualized and thoughtfully written cover letters as an initial method of screening out applicants who may who lack necessary basic skills, or who may not be sufficiently interested in the position.

Often an employer will request or require that a cover letter be included in the materials an applicant submits. There are also occasions when you might submit a cover letter uninvited, for example, if you are initiating an inquiry about possible work or asking someone to send you information or provide other assistance related to a potential job. Cover letters usually combine the purposes of information and persuasion.

While cover letters should show interest in a company and highlight the applicants’ qualifications and strengths, the applicant should also create a paragraph focused on the values of the organization and a clear interest statement in the position that the individual is seeking. This personalizes the letter and provides a give and take approach. Give: What will the company gain by hiring you? What type of skills will you bring with you to the new position? Take: What will you gain by working for this company? Why are you interested in this organization and position particularly? This way you can create a balanced document that lists your strengths and shows interest in the company and the position.

Cover letters should accomplish the following:

• Get the attention of the prospective employer.
• Set you apart from any possible competition.
• Identify the position in which you are interested.
• Specify how you learned about the position or company.
• Present highlights of your skills and accomplishments.
• Reflect your genuine interest in the company and the position.
• Use clear, easy-to-read, correct language.

Do ensure you meet the listed criteria with a clear beginning, middle, and end. See Figure 12.3 for a sample cover letter.

This section is adapted from Cover Letters in Communication for Professionals | Simple Book Publishing by Susan Oaks licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.