Conquering the cover letter

Cover letter? What does that even entail?!

I love the job position available but how do I write an impressive cover letter?

Do any of these questions sound at least somewhat familiar? Well, have no fear! We at the Career Center are here to assist you with that! Writing cover letters can be pretty tough when you’re not too sure what things you should actually highlight in the 3-4 paragraphs of your cover letter, especially if you have many or little experiences.

Here are some tips for getting started:

1. Before you begin writing, research the employer. This is a very important point. Go on their website or look through pamphlets from their office in order to gain a better sense of what they are about and the products/services they offer. It would be best advised to read up on their “About Us” or mission statement that describes their purpose. Use their verbatim (either from their website or job listing) when writing your cover letter to demonstrate that you’ve done some research on them and have a strong interest in working for them. Pinpoint needs of the employer with your qualifications in your cover letter and DO NOT discuss what you want from employers.
   
   
2. Make sure you have the appropriate headings for your name and contact information. You can follow the same header format as you have in your resume if you like but a standard example (in addition to examples of cover letters and resumes!) can be found in our Jobs & Internship Guide (JIG), which can be picked up for free at the entrance of the Career Center or downloaded from our website here: https://career.berkeley.edu/Guide/Guide.stm.
   
   
3. Make sure you identify the hiring person’s name and contact information as well. If the job positing does not list these, contact the employer to find out. If you cannot find the information, put a personable title to replace the name, such as “Hiring Manager” or “Selection Committee”. These greetings will be the addressee when you begin your letter if you cannot locate the person’s actual name. Be sure to avoid using “To Whom It May Concern”.
   
   
4. In Paragraph 1, you should start by clearly stating what position you are applying for or your main purpose. If you know the job listing number or title, state them. Move on to discussing why you are interested in the position, company, and how you found out about the position. Many people believe that they should start out with “My name is ABC and I go to XYZ University”. This is incorrect. Doing this will be redundant since the information is already in your resume and may make the employer skip onto the next resume; being straightforward is important in these first few sentences. Here, name dropping the person who referred you, whether it is a friend that already works for the employer or a recruiter you spoke to, can seriously work to your benefit. However, if you reference a friend or family member, ascertain that he or she is in good standing in the company or department. Referencing someone who isn’t viewed in such a positive light might be damaging. Be sure to mention the values of the employer and how your qualifications match with what they are seeking. Conclude with a statement of why you are a good candidate.
   
   
5. In paragraphs 2 and 3 (remember, you can write 3-4 paragraphs in total for your cover letter), identify parts of your experiences that are relevant to what they are looking for. It is highly recommended to focus on 2-3 experiences that will interest the employer instead of many since that is what your resume is for. These experiences can be paid or non-paid; both are valid for cover letters. Again, look over the job listing to use similar jargon in your cover letter to describe how your skills, values, and experiences fit with the employer’s. Take this portion of your letter to really address their qualifications section of the listing.
   
   
6. Finally, in paragraph 4, conclude by saying what you want to happen next. Reiterate why you are a good candidate for the position, request an interview appointment, and then thank the employer/reader for their time and consideration. Remember, it is one thing to be assertive but it is another to be pushy! Avoid giving the impression of sounding demanding.
   
   
7. In terms of formatting and etiquette follow these steps: keep your font at 12 point, have one page maximum, use a font that is consistent with your resume, use heavier bond paper if submitting a copy in person so the ink does not bleed through, and go through your cover letter 2-3 times to make sure there are no mistakes! Better yet, have someone else revise it, like a peer advisor (no appointment necessary) or a career counselor (appointments must be made online) at the Career Center.
   
   
8. Some final points: be mindful of potential readers of your cover letter when deciding your font size and cover letter as a whole. Submit your cover letter and the rest of your application to the person hiring you, be concise throughout your cover letter, and avoid starting sentences with “I” because employers already know the cover letter is about yourself.

Remember to come in to the Career Center to see a peer advisor or make an appointment through the Career Center website to see a career counselor if you want someone to look over your cover letter! Good luck and happy cover letting-writing!

Blog written by Linda Thai, 4^th year Sociology major and Education minor