2016 Career Guide - Official (2)

PREPARE YOUR COVER LETTER
PURPOSE
A cover letter should always accompany your résumé. The purpose is to introduce you and your résumé
to potential employers. It is the first impression employers have of you. It should not simply repeat your
résumé content but provide specific examples and expand upon your experience.
CONTENT
Salutation
The salutation should be personalized if at all possible, for example Dear Ms. Jill Fortson. If you do not
know the name of the individual, research the company’s website, the employer contact information in
your College Central Network account, or call the company and politely ask for the name of the hiring
manager in charge of the position. If you are unable to locate a specific name it is recommended to use
Dear Hiring Manager rather than To Whom It May Concern.
Paragraph One
In the initial paragraph, state the specific position or type of work for which you are applying and
indicate where you learned of the opening (Career Center, etc.).
Paragraph Two
Explain why you are interested in the position and organization. Indicate that you understand their
needs and why you believe you are a good fit for the position. Use this opportunity to show that you
researched the organization. Bring out some information about the company that makes them interesting
to you.
Paragraph Three
State your request for an interview and how you can be reached. Thank them for the opportunity. We
encourage you to be proactive by adding a statement regarding your intention to reach out to them in a
few weeks to discuss the position further.
COMMON MISTAKES
Rehashing your résumé. Your cover letter should serve as an introduction to the résumé.
Too long. Keep your cover letter concise and down to one page.
Irrelevant Information. Be sure the information you share is pertinent to the job and the values of
the organization.
Assuming Gender. If you are unsure of the gender of the recruiter, do not use Ms. or Mr. Instead
address the letter to the full name of the recipient. For example, Dear Chris Jones, rather than Mr.
or Ms. Jones.
Cover Letter Example
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