Cover Letter
• Highlights your experience and expertise relevant to the specific position and institution
• Length of cover letter can be dictated by what other materials are asked for
• Shows your writing/communication skills
• Can make or break your application through
Before getting started
• Read the advertisement for the job very carefully, also the application pack.
• Think in depth why you are applying for this job. What are your career aspirations, How
does this job help build your career
• What you consider to be your most appropriate experience and qualifications for the job,
and how to bring them out clearly in the cover letter
1781 Weber Road
Warminster, PA 18974
January 17, 2012
Ms. Hannah Gail
Fox Run Medical Center
399 N. Abbey Road
Warminster, PA 18974
Dear Ms. Gail:
Last April I contacted your office regarding the possibility of an internship as a laboratory assistant at your center. Your assistant, Mary McGuire, told me then
that you might consider such a position this year. With the experience I have gained since last year, I believe I would be a valuable addition to your center in
many ways.
At Harmon College, I have earned a 3.7 GPA in 36 credits in chemistry and biology; all but two of these courses had laboratory components. One skill stressed
at Harmon is the ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and orally. Our science courses have extensive writing and speaking requirements; my
portfolio includes seven research papers and lab reports of more than 20 pages each, and I have delivered four oral presentations, one of 45 minutes, to
classes.
At GlaxoSmithKline, where I currently work part-time, I analyze molecular data on an E&S PS300, a Macintosh, and an IBM PC. I have tried to remain current
with the latest advances; my manager at GlaxoSmithKline has allowed me to attend two different two- day in-house seminars on computerized data analysis
using SAS. My experience as the manager of a 12-person office for four years helped me acquire interpersonal skills that would benefit Fox Run.
More information about my education and experience is included on the enclosed résumé, but I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you at your
convenience to discuss my application. If you would like any additional information about me or Harmon’s internship program, please call me at (215) 555-3999
or e-mail me at [email protected].
Very truly yours,
Alice P. Linder
Enclosure
Cover letter
Elements of a cover letter
➢ Salutation: Dear Prof. Huntsman and members of the Search Committee
Don’t make spelling mistakes with names
➢ First paragraph: mention how you learned about the job
‘I am applying for the post of…, advertised recently in …’
summarize your key qualifications
➢ Body: use the structure of the job advertisement to guide you in the more detailed
discussion of your qualifications.
Select two or three points of greatest interest to the potential employer and develop
them into paragraphs
Mention your skills and competencies and how that gives you an edge. How you can fit
or contribute to the requirements of the position
➢ Final paragraph: Explain why this position and this institution/company are a good fit,
Offer to provide additional information upon request.
➢ Don't send form letters - they are easily identifiable
About as appealing as junk mail
➢ Concentrate on perspectives of
the reader of the letter and try to address their interests
as you write
Always keep end user in mind
➢ Never be informal, be professional
The Introductory Paragraph
The introductory paragraph has four specific functions:
It identifies your source of information.
In an unsolicited application, ask if a position is available.
For a solicited application, state how you heard about the position.
It identifies the position you are interested in.
The organization you are applying to is advertising several positions
If you omit the title of the position you are interested in, your reader might not know which one you seek.
It states that you wish to be considered for the position.
You should mention it because the letter would be awkward without it.
It forecasts the rest of the letter.
Choose a few phrases that forecast the body of the letter so that the letter flows smoothly.
For example, if you use the phrase “research experience” , or “mathematical modelling” or
“entrepreneurship” in the opening paragraph, you are preparing your reader for the discussion of experience later in
the letter.
The Introductory Paragraph cont.
The Education Paragraph
The Experience Paragraph
The Experience Paragraph cont.
The Extracurricular Paragraph
The Concluding Paragraph
The concluding paragraph is to motivate the reader to invite you for an interview.
The concluding paragraph contains three main elements:
• A reference to your résumé.
• A polite but confident request for an interview.
Use the phrase at your convenience.
Don’t make the request sound as if you’re asking a personal favor.
• Your phone number and e-mail address.
State the time of day you can be reached.
Adding an e-mail address gives the employer one more way to get in touch with you.
The Concluding Paragraph cont.
