4.5 Cover Letters
This chapter focuses on the cover letter (sometimes called an application letter), which typically accompanies your resume in an employment package. In fact, your cover letter is often the potential employer’s first introduction to you.
The purpose of the cover letter is to draw a clear connection between the job you are seeking and your qualifications listed on the resume. Put another way, your cover letter should match the requirements of the job with your qualifications, emphasizing how you are right for that job.
*NOTE: The cover letter is not simply a lengthier or narrative version of your resume. The cover letter should selectively illustrate how the information contained in the resume is relevant to the position.
Common Types of Cover Letters
To begin planning your letter, decide which type of letter you need. This decision is, in part, based on the employers’ requirements and, in part, based on what your background and employment needs are. Here are the two most common cover letter types:
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- Objective letters: This type of letter says very little: it identifies the position being sought, indicates an interest in having an interview, and calls attention to the fact that the resume is attached. It also mentions any other special matters that are not included on the resume, such as dates and times when you are available to come in for an interview. This letter does no salesmanship and is very brief (the true meaning of a “cover” letter.)
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- Highlight letters: This type of letter (the type you would do in most technical writing courses), tries to summarize the key information from the resume, key information that will emphasize how you are a good candidate for the job. In other words, it selects the best information from your resume and summarizes it in the letter—this type of letter is especially designed to make the connection with the specific job.
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Common Sections in Cover Letters
As for the actual content and organization of the paragraphs within the application letter (specifically for the highlight type of application letter), consider the following common approaches.
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- Introductory paragraph: That first paragraph of the application letter is the most important; it sets everything up—the tone, focus, as well as your most important qualification. A typical problem in the introductory paragraph involves diving directly into your work and educational experience. A better idea is to do some combination of the following in the space of a very short paragraph (some introductory paragraphs are a single sentence):
- State the purpose of the letter—to apply for an employment opportunity.
- Indicate the source of your information about the job—a website posting, a newspaper ad, a personal contact, or other.
- State one attention-getting thing about yourself in relation to the job or to the employer that will cause the reader to want to continue.
- Main body paragraphs: In the main parts of the application letter, y