Creating the Cover Letter

Rising above the rest

General Guidelines

Tells an employer a lot about youThis is a sales pitchWhy are your skills a good match for the

employer / school?Don’t present all of your experience here –

let the resume do thatHighlight one or two of your skillsBrevity = good

Keep the Cover Letter Brief

You can generally compose the letter in four paragraphs Introduce yourself and explain why you are

writing Lay out your key skills and accomplishments Explain why you want to work for the company /

attend the school Thank the reader – invite contact and lay out

the follow-up plans

Keep in mind…

Make it personal – don’t use cookie cutter greetings “To Whom It May Concern” – try to address to a specific person

Strive to highlight your strongest, most applicable skills

Write clearly and concisely – this should not be more than a page

More to keep in mind…

Include the follow-up – how can you be reached?

Make sure to proofread carefully – some employers will throw a letter away if there are typographical errors

References

http://hr.dop.wa.gov/jobtips/cover.letter.htm