Career Development Office Gund Commons, lower level [email protected]u 740.427.5165
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COVER LETTER GUIDE
THE PURPOSE OF A COVER LETTER
The purpose of a cover letter is to introduce yourself as a viable candidate to a potential employer. For
this reason, it should always accompany your résumé, even if not specifically requested. A cover letter
isn’t meant to repeat what is on your résumé. Rather it’s an opportunity to creatively highlight your
unique experiences while demonstrating your ability to think strategically and write convincingly. A cover
letter should skillfully exhibit that you have considered your audience and can adeptly showcase your
relevant background, knowledge, attributes, and skills. This will give employers reason to take notice.
WHERE TO BEGIN
A cover letter should be personalized for each opportunity. This requires: taking the time to analyze what
the employer is likely looking for in a candidate; what the culture of the organization might be; and how
you can offer your skills and enthusiasm to advance the department’s and/or organization’s work. Cover
letters take time to write. It may be tempting to throw together something generic and cut-and-paste in
the organization’s name and position title so that you can get more applications sent off more quickly.
However, this approach is unlikely to get you noticed, and in the long run it will extend your job search.
Drafting a strong cover letter may take you a few hours to complete. Taking this time to write a powerful
and tailored cover letter will greatly increase your chances of being seriously considered as a candidate,
and it will even better prepare you for an interview with the organization.
Analyze job requirements
: Similar to the process of curating a résumé, begin by reviewing the job ad and a
more detailed position description if one is provided. Highlight any reference to the required or preferred
background and skills being sought. Identify what you imagine are the top three requirements of the
position. Start to note what experiences you have that demonstrate these qualifications. Use the same
keywords from the job posting when appropriate. Show why you are a good fit for the position and
organization by providing specific examples and detailing results. It’s alright if you haven’t had direct
experience or a considerable amount of paid employment. You can emphasize how your volunteer,
academic, and leadership experiences have prepared you for the tasks ahead. For example, instead of
saying, “I haven’t worked in public relations but am willing to jump in.” instead consider, “Conducting
interviews, performing research, and writing informative, concise articles under strict deadlines have
provided me with solid experience that I believe will prove valuable in the public relations field.”
Research the company and industry:
Whether the company is a for-profit, nonprofit, or government
organization, take time to review their website. Find their mission statement. Read about any new
initiatives they have launched that sound particularly relevant to the position. See if the department you
would be working for has a webpage. Jot down any reflections on the kind of aspiration values, company
outcomes, and/or societal impact that is driving their work. Also, what do you notice about the language
they use? Does it suggest a more informal and playful culture or a more disciplined and traditional one?
Google the company to see if anything about their work recently made the news. Do the same for the
industry to understand what the current hot topics are. All of the above insights will give you clues for
certain items to highlight and what tone to strike in your cover letter. Finding ways to organically weave
into a cover letter a line or two about what you’ve discovered about the company’s initiatives, goals, or
approach, or something about industry trends, will indicate that you’ve done your research.
Career Development Office Gund Commons, lower level [email protected]u 740.427.5165
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Reflect
: Why are you interested in the position? What is it about the company that you find compelling?
Why have you decided to look for a position in this industry or market? It’s understandable if your first
answers to these questions tend to be self-serving, like a stepping stone for future opportunities, salary
range, company prestige, or desired location, but you’ll want to drill a bit deeper. These responses are
good for you to know, but not what a company is interested in hearing from you. Although it’s okay to
share what you hope to learn from the opportunity, companies are generally more interested in what you
wish to contribute or why you are interested in advancing their goals. Being able to articulate a genuine
interest in the work signals to the employer that you’ve given the opportunity thoughtful consideration.
COVER LETTER WRITING TIPS
Formatting
• Write your letter in proper business format and don’t exceed one page
• Align all text to the left, do not indent paragraphs, and leave only one line between paragraphs
• Address the letter to an individual. If one isn’t listed, research the head of the department or
Human Resource Director. Or, call the company and ask to whom you should address your
application. Be sure to confirm proper spelling. If this doesn’t surface a name, address it to “Dear
Search Committee:” or “Dear Director of Human Resources:”
Do not
write “To Whom it May
Concern:”
• Use the same header and font from your résumé
• Reflect your voice as a writer; remember, you’re crafting a professional narrative specific to you
• Back up your skills with brief detailed examples
• Proofread for spelling and grammar errors and have someone else read it. Typos can cost you the
job
• Insert a blue-ink scanned signature (or annotated signature on Macs). Don’t use a script font here
Submitting the Application
By Email or Online Platforms:
• Include a short message in the body of your email referring to your attached cover letter and
résumé
• In the subject line, list the position and your name (e.g. Financial Analyst Application – Benjamin
Brown)
• Send as a PDF to ensure everything looks the way you intend. Never trust that the recruiter has
the same font or version of Word. (If you’ve included hyperlinks, make sure they’re still embedded
once you convert to PDF)
• Include your name in the file name with the appropriate descriptor. (E.g.” Benjamin Brown_Cover
Letter_ABC Investment Partners)
• Always double-check your attachments before sending to ensure you’ve included the final draft
• An online system will generally prompt you for the required documents, which you’ll upload. Some
systems will not allow you to submit any supporting documentation other than what they request
By Mail:
• Use 8 1/2 x 11-inch résumé paper in neutral colors like white, beige, or ivory
• Use the same type and color paper for all of your submitted materials. (Exceptions include letters
of recommendations, transcripts, or anything that was not generated by you)
• Use typed mailing labels for the addressee and your return address, placed on a legal-sized or flat
envelope
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COVER LETTER TEMPLATE
YOUR NAME
Street Address, City, ST Zip Code |Telephone Number; Email Address
Month Date, Year
Addressee, Title of Addressee
Organization’s Name
Business Address
City, ST (or country/territory) Zip Code
Dear Mr./Ms./Dr. Last name of Addressee:
Introductory Paragraph—Set the Stage
State the position you are applying for, how you learned of it, what you respect about the organization,
and share your enthusiasm for the opportunity to be considered. Mention the name of any referral in the
first few sentences. Express your interest in both the company and the position and include something
unique about the organization that prompted you to apply. Be careful about disclosing interests that
might appear too self-serving; instead, use insights from your research. Succinctly summarize why you
believe you’re a strong candidate.
Middle Paragraphs—Highlight Your Qualifications
In one or two paragraphs, establish the connection between the organization’s needs and your
background and skills. Instead of simply restating your achievements from your résumé, develop a
professional narrative about the breadth of your skills and potential contribution. Primarily emphasize
what you have to offer, not what you hope to gain. Limit your focus to one or two of your experiences and
provide specific results. To show that you’ve done your homework, you should reference their mission
statement, a new initiative, a recent positive media mention, or an industry trend or report. Then find a
way to tie it into why you find the position and company of interest.
Last Paragraph-Conclude with Confidence
Restate your interest in the organization and position. Mention all enclosures, like a résumé, references,
writing sample or anything else that was required for the application, if you haven’t already. Indicate your
interest in meeting with them to further learn about the position and share about your background. Let
the employer know when you’ll call (preferably) within the next week or two to inquire about the status of
your application (and do so). If the employer requests "no phone calls" in the job listing, then follow up via
email. Finally, thank the reader for their time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Your Signature
Type Your Name
Career Development Office Gund Commons, lower level [email protected]u 740.427.5165
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Cover Letter Sample
Ken Yon
College Address
PO Box 1492
Gambier, OH 43022
KenYon@gmail.com
(740) 123-4567
Permanent Address
23 Newton Street
Old Westbury, NY 11568
September 28, 2018
Katherine Brooks, Vice President
ABC Investment Partners
One Wall Street
New York, NY 10005
Dear Ms. Brooks:
The opportunity to help global clients make smart investment decisions as an entry-level Financial Analyst
compelled me to submit my credentials for your review. As someone who has completed extensive research
on sustainable and impact investing solutions, I was notified of this opportunity by Kenyon College’s Career
Development Office. I’m eager to apply my economics coursework, professional experience, and analytical
skills to your recently restructured Socially Responsible Investment division.
I’m focused on finding trends to solve problems, something I was happy to read is core to this position. Within
one month of assuming the co-presidency of Eats & Treats—a student-run, late-night servery where I manage
a $25,000 budget—I analyzed consumer habits and reduced staff at non-peak hours. This saved the company
over $1,000 per term. During my internship this summer at Westbury Financial, I utilized the Bloomberg
Terminal to monitor and analyze real-time financial market data. This allowed me to work alongside the full-
time analysts in providing recommendations to clients based on trends, news and research. I even analyzed my
six housemates’ sleeping patterns to alleviate the morning bathroom bottleneck. It worked!
My love for finding patterns is matched by my fascination with responsible investing. With ESG factors
becoming more nuanced and Millennials, Gen Y, and Gen Z influencing markets at unprecedented rates, I’ve
been enthralled with this area of research. According to The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible
Investment’s 2016 Report on US Sustainable, Responsible, and Impact Investing Trends, the US market size
alone in this area was $8.72 trillion, a growth rate of 33% from 2014. Following this field requires a keen eye
for detail, and the ability to forecast needs. As my enclosed résumé highlights, I possess these skills.
I will graduate from Kenyon College in May 2019 and I’m eager to apply my commitment and competencies
toward the needs of this position. I welcome the chance to speak with you further about my qualifications and
to learn more about this opportunity. I will follow up with you in two weeks if I don’t hear from you before. It is
thrilling to consider a future with ABC Investment Partners. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Ken Yon
