1. Creating the Cover Letter Rising above the rest

2. General Guidelines Tells an employer a lot about you This is a sales pitch Why are your skills a good match for the employer / school? Don’t present all of your experience here – let the resume do that Highlight one or two of your skills Brevity = good

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

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