Cover Letters
Steps for Creating a Cover Letter
Cover letters should include your skills (that match the job description) and passion for this industry, role or company. You can include previous and current experiences including volunteer work, internships, part time work, leadership, campus involvement, coursework, and projects.
Show why YOU are the perfect fit for this role.
- Where did you find this specific position? (Job board/Company website)
- Can you mention anyone you know who works there or who recommended the job to you?
- Ask if you may include their name in your cover letter first
- Why does this job appeal to you?
- Write a sentence or two on how you fit the company and their mission (check website)
- Find something you like about the company/position that matches your values/passion
- Why should they hire you?
- How do you meet the position descriptions & requirements?
- Use your experience, courses & education or leadership/volunteer work
- “Sincerely,” leave space to signature after you print the document and then put your name under that.
- Thank the employer for their consideration and taking the time to read your letter
- Provide your contact information (email and phone number)
Sitting down to begin writing is usually the hardest part of any project. The following bullets were created as examples to help you begin each paragraph as you write your cover letter.
- After reviewing the description for POSITION TITLE at COMPANY NAME on Indeed.com…
- After speaking with NETWORKING CONNECTION NAME, I was interested in contacting you regarding the opening for…
- I am writing in response to your internship posting on Idealist.com…
- I am writing to inquire about the POSITION TITLE working for COMPANY NAME…
- In view of your ongoing need for POSITION TITLE…
- I am writing to enthusiastically state my interest in…
- I am excited to apply to…
- Your organization interests me because…
- Your company’s efforts to……have attracted me because…
- As a Junior at Emmanuel College studying…my coursework has included…
- As a rising Senior at Emmanuel College, I have taken classes in…
- The position of _______________will allow me to utilize…
- My qualifications and experience include…
- Your internship description mentions the need for ____, and I have experience with this through _____.
- This May I will graduate from INSTITUTION NAME with a Bachelor of _____ degree in…
- The experience I have gained in INDUSTRY…
- My experience highlights accomplishments such as…
- I have specialized in…
- I have also developed key skills in….
- As an honors student, I have taken additional courses in….
- Please feel free to reach me at EMAIL or PHONE NUMBER
- Thank you for your time and consideration
- Thank you for taking the time to review my application
- I am confident that my experience has provided me with the skills I need to be the POSITION TITLE for COMPANY NAME…
- Based on my experience and passion for X, I know I would be a great addition to your team
While you may not have to write a totally different cover letter for every job, you should still do your research and tailor each cover letter just as you do with your resume for each role. So while your experiences and the coursework you have done may not change drastically between applications, you still want to make sure what skills you are including make sense. For example: If the role is seeking someone who has knowledge of Adobe Illustrator that you are mentioning that. If it is not a role seeking that then that is something you would not need to include but instead have on your resume.
Even if a job or internship does not require a cover letter you should include one. It will give you a better chance of landing an interview vs. a candidate who does not include one.