Meridian Career Institute presents

A Learning Resource Center Seminar

How to Write a Cover Letter

The best resume in the world won’t do you much good if it’s accompanied by a sloppy-looking, poorly written cover letter.

An effective cover letter will answer three questions: Why you are writing What you have to offer to an employer How you will follow up

Why You are Writing

If a friend or acquaintance told you about the job, mention their name. Hopefully, that will encourage the employer to keep reading your letter.

If you’re responding to a job posting or ad, tell them how you learned about the job and include the job title.

You could simply write something like: “I am writing in response to your ad (on Craigslist, in the Bradenton Herald, etc.).”

Then you should state how your education and work experience have prepared you for this job.

In a prospecting letter or cold-contact letter, a job seeker contacts a company or business that hasn’t placed an ad for an open position.

The letter is sent in the hope that it will lead to an interview. This type of letter will receive the fewest responses, so don’t be overly concerned if only a few potential employers respond.

What you have to Offer

If you’re answering an ad, refer to the qualifications listed by the employer and tell them how your skills, work experiences, and education relate to the qualifications they’re seeking.

You need to express how you can fulfill the employer’s needs.

Don’t be concerned with asking the employer what he/she can do for you.

Emphasize your achievements and refer the reader to your resume for a more detailed description of your qualifications.

How You Will Follow-Up

In your cover letter, you should let the employer know how you can be reached – email address, phone number, and cell phone number.

Let them know you’re available for an interview at their convenience.

Checklist

Before you send out the cover letter with your resume, review this checklist to ensure that you’ve covered everything and that you’re sending out the best possible cover letter:

Make sure the contact name and company name are correct

If possible, address the letter to an individual

Mention what position you’re applying for and where you saw it advertised.

Make sure the font is 10 or 12 point and easy to read (ex Make sure the font is 10 or 12 point and easy to read (ex. Times New Roman or Arial)

Be sure there are no spelling, grammatical, or typographical errors

Read the letter out loud to ensure there aren’t any missing words

Keep a copy for your records

If you’re mailing it, be sure to sign it

(otherwise, fold it neatly into thirds with the resume on top) Again, if you’re mailing it, put the cover letter and resume in a large envelope to mail flat (otherwise, fold it neatly into thirds with the resume on top)

The cover letter should be printed on good quality paper that matches the resume

Be sure there aren’t any smears or smudges

These Websites offer tips and tools for writing effective cover letters and other job search correspondence: http://jobsearch.about.com/od/coverletters/a/aa030401b.htm http://quintcareers.com http://www.trincoll.edu/depts/career/guides/cover_ltr.shtml http://www.ehow.com/search.aspx?s=write+cover+letters&Options=0