USE EFFECTIVE FORMATTING RULES
• Your letter should follow the standard personal business
letter format.
• Do not exceed one page of approximately three to four
paragraphs.
• Use short words rather than long, complicated words; keep
jargon to a bare minimum.
• Avoid using script, bold fonts and heavy typefaces.
• Strive to keep your cover letters interesting, concise and to
the point.
• Remember to hand-sign your name above your typed name.
COmmunicate your interest
• Identify the desired position or type of position for which you
are applying. Focus on your skills, training or experience that
relate to the position and draw a connection between the needs
of the current job opening and the skills you can bring to the job.
• Make the addressee want to read your resumé. Be personable.
Communicate enthusiasm and motivation.
• Show that you are knowledgeable of the employer and career eld.
• Make sure to refer briey to your resumé or additional enclosures,
e.g., transcripts, application blanks or letters of reference.
• Do not make reference to salary unless requested by employer.
• In closing, request an interview at the employer’s convenience or
indicate that you will be in contact with the employer.
PERSONALIZE YOUR LETTER
Write and type each cover letter individually. It should be
personalized to each employer and company.
If possible, address your letter to a specic person in the
organization. You can often nd the employer’s name by
utilizing Career Services resources, researching the company
website or calling the company and asking for the contact
person’s name and job title.
Always refer to the employer as either Mr. or Ms., never Mrs.
(unless specied in the vacancy announcement). If you are
unable to identify the gender of the employer, omit the
“Mr./Ms.” title and address correspondence to “First Name,
Last Name.”
4
JOB SEARCH TIP
VERBS for positions you no longer hold should be past tense.
ELEMENTS OF A PROFESSIONAL COVER LETTER
CREate a professional-looking finished product
If mailing in your documents, match the paper color and
weight of your cover letter with that of your resumé. Use
high-quality bond (at least 20-pound weight). Generally,
employers are conservative, a resumé and cover letter
perpared on white, o-white, light tan or light gray will
receive a more positive response. Additionally, matching
envelopes provide a professional look.
Proofread the letter carefully for spelling, grammatical, and
punctuation errors. It is a sample of your writing and
communciation skills.
If emailing in your documents, or attaching to a job portal,
refer to the job vacancy if they require documents uploaded
in a specic format (ie word, pdf, etc.)
FORMATTING
PERSONALIZATION
INTEREST
CORRECT TENSE
FINISHED PRODUCT
SEND