Cover Letters
CUSSW Office of Career & Leadership Development
Why do you have to write cover letters?
Cover letters serve several purposes. They are NOT simply paragraph version of your resume. In your cover letter you are matching your background, skills, and abilities to the needs of the employer and conveying your interest in working for them. This portrays your knowledge of their needs and how you can address them. Form cover letters do not accomplish this goal, so take the type to tailor it to your audience. Secondly, the cover letter serves as a sample of your writing ability. So, being well-written and free of typographical and grammatical errors is essential.
When do I send one?
Your cover letter should accompany your resume whenever you do not. If you are attending a career fair, a cover letter is not necessary. However in that case, a follow up letter is recommended.
Is there a set length?
With the exception of faculty positions, cover letters should never exceed one page. Cover letters for faculty positions can exceed that limitation if it includes your research areas and teaching interests.
What is the typical format?
A cover letter is a business correspondence, so it should be formatted like a business letter. It should lead with your address (or your header), the date, recipient name and address. Your salutation should be followed with a colon rather than a comma. Standard business letter format also includes the word Enclosure (if mailing) or Attachment (if emailing) at the bottom of the letter to indicate that your resume is included.
Who do I make the letter out to?
Do your homework. If no contact person is included in the job listing, do research online to determine who the position reports to or telephone the main line of the employer and ask who you should direct the letter to. (Do not call the employer if they state no phone calls!) If you are unable to find a specific person’s name, address your letter a relevant title (i.e. Dear Human Resources Manager or Dear Search Committee or Dear Clinical Director).
What’s the best way to submit my resume and cover letter?
Follow the employer’s instructions! If the employer provides several options (i.e. email, hard mail, fax, etc.), select the one that is best for you. Keep in mind email and fax arrive immediately, so these are the best modalities if under a tight deadline. If emailing, you have two options- you can place your cover letter in the body of the email or include a brief email message with your cover letter and resume attached. By all means, if an employer requests no attachments and you want to email your materials, copy and paste both into the body of your email. If attachments are permitted, often times, attaching your cover letter and your resume is a better approach. It enables you to keep the email message professional, but brief. A sample email message with documents attached may be:
Dear Ms. Smith:
I have attached my resume and cover letter in regards to the xyz position posted on your website. If you have difficulty opening the attachments, please contact me via email or phone at 212-555-5555. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Jody Jobseeker
If you choose to fax and/or email your application, you may also submit a hard copy if desired. If you do, indicate you are doing so on the fax cover sheet or in the email message. For example, if faxing:
Dear Ms. Smith:
I am submitting my resume and cover letter in regards to the xyz position. If you do not receive all pages, please contact me at 212-555-5555. A hard copy is also in the mail. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Jody Jobseeker
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