Cover Letter Writing - University of Michigan School of Art and Design

University of MichiganSchool of Art & DesignCover Letter Writing______________________________________________________________________________Cover letters introduce you to potential employers, attention to selected information on your resume thatgallery owners, art dealers, etc. Whenever you send is relevant to the position or person. If you are usinga resume to a potential employer you must also send the cover letter as part of an artist packet,a cover letter. Also, when sending an artist packet to demonstrate to the reader how your art is appropriatea gallery owner, part of the packet will be a cover for the gallery or show.letter. Both cover letters and resumes are fluiddocuments that need to change to meet the needs of Third paragraphthe position for which you apply. Below are somegeneral guidelines about how to write a cover letter,and then some examples of cover letters.HeadingThe heading of a cover letter includes your name andaddress, and if appropriate, other contact information.If you have personalized stationery that contains thisinformation make sure to change it when you moveor change telephone numbers. Some people print theinformation horizontally across the top or bottom ofthe page and others print this information in the topright or left hand corner (see examples). Below yourcontact information place the name, title ifappropriate, and address of the person to whom youare writing. The date upon which you are writingalso needs to go in the heading. Remember! Spell theperson’s name correctly.AddOpening paragraphThe opening paragraph serves as an introductionstating who you are and why you are writing. Ifpossible, start with something catchy to gain thereader’s attention, but use common sense as well.Second paragraphUse the second paragraph to draw the reader’sIf appropriate, write a third paragraph explaining howyour experiences and skills make you not onlyqualified for a position but a stand out in the mind ofthe reader. If you are using the cover letter as a partof an artist packet, you may wish to use a shortversion of your artist’s statement as the thirdparagraph.Final paragraphThe final paragraph is a conclusion wrapping up whatyou have conveyed to the reader and informing thereader how you will contact the reader and/or providemore information if needed.EnclosuresAdd the word “Enclosures” below your signature toalert the reader to look for accompanying material.Common enclosures are resumes, slides, artist’sstatement, artist’s biography, self-addressed stampedenvelope, etc.Always check your grammar and spelling beforesending out your letters.For more information about cover letters, or to discuss other issues related to career development, contact JohnLuther, Career Development Coordinator, by stopping at the front desk of the Student Academic Services Office orcalling to make an appointment (734) 764-0397.

Example of standard cover letter:Jo Q. Public210 Main StreetSpringfield, WY 12345June 1, 2002Ms. Julia Haversham, RecruiterBloomingdale’sExec. Placement, 1000 Third Ave, 3 rd FloorNew York, NY 10022Dear Ms. Haversham,When I saw your recent posting for a buyer position I knew it was a wonderful way to combinemy background in art, design and retail sales.As you can see from my resume, I graduated magna cum laude from the University ofMichigan’s School of Art & Design. While attending the university I was able to learn a greatdeal about marketing strategies and product design in several of my courses. Further, I was ableto gain an appreciation for all kinds of aesthetics and have learned to apply this ability whenhelping customers in my retail sales position at Middle Earth. The store is well known in AnnArbor for its eclectic mix of merchandise. In addition to my experience in retail sales, I wasresponsible for keeping track of inventory, as all merchandise was sold on commission.My communication skills have been greatly enhanced through all of my positions, especially atCampbell Ewald, where I had the responsibility to communicate concepts quickly and clearly tothe design team. I am confident these skills will be an asset when negotiating with vendors.I will be in New York City the week of June 25. I will call you in advance to set up a time whenwe can meet. If you have any questions, please call me at (211) 987-6543, or e-mail me atjqp@umich.edu.I look forward to meeting with you.Sincerely,Jo Q. PublicEnclosure: Resume

Examples of Alternative HeadingsAlternative heading 1:Jo Q. Public 210 Main Street Springfield, WY 12345Ms. Julia Haversham, RecruiterBloomingdale’sExec. Placement, 1000 Third Ave, 3 rd FloorNew York, NY 10022 June 1, 2002______________________________________________________________________________Alternative heading 2:June 1, 2002`Jo Q. Public211 Main StreetSpringfield, WY 11234Ms. Julia Haversham, RecruiterBloomingdale’sExec. Placement, 1000 third Ave, 3 rd FloorNew York, NY 10022______________________________________________________________________________

Example of cover letter to accompany artist packet:Jo Q. Public211 Main StreetSpringfield, WY 12345June 1, 2002Mr. Ishmael Ahab, DirectorBig Fish GalleryProvincetown, MA 54321Dear Mr. Ahab,During my recent trip to Cape Cod I had the opportunity to visit your gallery. The exhibitentitled “Abstract No More” was a wonderful example of the resurgence in representationalpainting in the northeast. I understand the artists in that exhibit are indicative of the kind of workyour gallery usually displays, which leads me to believe you will be interested in my recentwork.Enclosed you will find a current resume, slides of some of my recent paintings, a statement aboutthe work, and a review from my solo exhibit at the Tarrytown Gallery. I would be happy to sendyou more slides, or bring examples of my work to the gallery in person.Thank you in advance for considering my work. I will contact your for follow up by the end ofthe month.SincerelyJo Q. PublicEnclosures:ResumeSlidesStatementReviewSASE