Crafting an Effective Cover Letter
A cover letter is a critical component of your internship or job application. In your résumé, you share the general details of your past experiences, but a cover letter provides you the opportunity to develop a compelling story as to why you are the best candidate for the position. It is where you make your “pitch” - showcasing more of who you are, your enthusiasm, your motivations for applying, and the contributions you hope to make to the organization.
Formatting Considerations
Use a professional business writing format, and do not exceed one page. This means that your document should be left-justified and use single-spaced block formatting. The font type and size should match your résumé. Other formatting considerations include:
- Contact information. Include your personal contact information by copying your résumé header.
- Address the hiring manager or HR. If possible, address your cover letter to a specific person.
- Structure your letter appropriately. Cover letters consist of an introduction, 1-3 paragraphs of content, and a conclusion.
- Proofread. There is nothing worse than submitting a cover letter with a typo in the first sentence or that includes the wrong organization’s name. Triple-check your document prior to submitting!
Getting Started
Writing a strong cover letter that catches an employer’s attention can be challenging. These tips will help you set yourself apart, while reflecting on whether a position will be a good fit for your interests and values:
- Conduct research and gather information about the organization and position. This will allow you to personalize your cover letter and show that you understand their needs.
- Review the internship or job description to identify keywords relevant to the role. What is the organization looking for?
- Reflect on your past skills and experiences. How do they align with the skills that the organization is looking for? What skills and experiences can you incorporate into your document to tell a strategic story?
- Focus on your values. Determine what excites you about this organization and position. How does the organization’s mission or vision align with your core values? Consider what is important to you in a work environment or culture and how this organization or position would meet those needs.
Best Practices
Many people struggle demonstrating personality and their authentic voice, resulting in a generic and boring cover letter. To stand out from the competition, remember the following things:
- There is no such thing as a universal cover letter. Your document should be tailored for each individual position to which you apply.
- Stay focused. A common mistake that people make when writing cover letters is that they try to incorporate too much information. Determine 2-3 key points (skills or experiences) to highlight and ensure that your cover letter remains centered around them.
- Showcase your unique value proposition. It is important to purposefully highlight your qualifications and explain how your skills and experiences align with the job requirements.
- Connect the dots. Make explicit connections between your skills, experiences, and the position to which you are applying. An employer may not know how your past experience will translate to this new role, so share how your past experiences will help you excel in this position. Doing so helps the employer envision your fit within their organization.
- Use a professional tone. While you want to use your authentic voice, a cover letter is still a formal document. It is important to not use jargon or informal language to convey your message unless the organization’s culture indicates that this would be acceptable.
Crafting Your Cover Letter
Writing an effective cover letter requires careful thought, research and customization. Following the structure outlined below will help you craft a document that increases your chances of making a strong impression and standing out from the competition.
HEADER MATCHES RESUME
City, State Zip Code | xxx-xxx-xxxx | email@huskers.unl.edu | www.linkedin.com/in/name
Date
Contact Name
Contact's Title
Organization Name
Address
City, State Zip Code
Dear First and Last Name (or Ms./Mr./Mx. Last Name): [SEE BOX 1]
In the INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH, establish the purpose of the letter. Start with a strong hook that engages the reader and makes them excited to continue reading [SEE BOX 2]. This should be something that describes why you are pursuing careers within a specific industry, why you are passionate about your major or career path, or a personal connection that will draw your audience in. Next, indicate the position for which you are applying and why you are interested in that role and organization. Share what you know about the organization, what drew you to them, and knowledge of their needs or challenges. If you have a personal connection to the organization or if you have interacted with their recruitment team, you can mention that as well. Show why you are excited about the possibility of working for this organization. End with a thesis statement that explains how your skills and/or experiences will benefit the employer. [SEE BOX 3]
The CONTENT PARAGRAPH(S) should emphasize the skills and experience that qualify you for the position. Develop the main points of this paragraph based on your thesis statement and be sure to relate your background to the job description using keywords. Do not just repeat information that can be found in your resume. Rather, tell compelling stories that demonstrate how you have leveraged specific skills in your past experiences and how they connect to the role. Include any special training. education, or experience that might set you apart from the competition. Focus your message on the benefits to the organization that your qualifications offer, how your skills and experiences will help you excel in this role, and what you want to help the organization accomplish. More than one content paragraph can be used to help present your points clearly and effectively. [SEE BOX 4 & 5]
In the CONCLUSION PARAGRAPH, restate your qualifications and refer to your included resume. You should also restate your interest in the position and organization. This demonstrates you are passionate about the position and really want to work for this organization. Express your interest in a personal conversation, provide your contact information, and thank the reader for considering you.
Sincerely,
Signature [SEE BOX 6]
Your Name (typed)
Attachment.
TIP
Proofread your cover letter carefully to ensure it is error free, and make sure it is personalized to each individual organization to which you apply. Cover letters are often used to assess your writing ability and gauge your interest in the organization.
1
If you cannot find a specific contact name, you can address it using whatever terminology the organization uses for their HR division (i.e., “Talent Acquisition Team,” “People and Culture”).
2
Create interest with a hook. Ask yourself questions such as:
What are your strengths?
Why did you choose your major?
What interests you in this field or specific organization?
3
Your thesis statement should drive what information is included in your content paragraph(s).
4
Show your personality and passion. A cover letter is a great chance to tell your story while expressing enthusiasm for the position and organization.
5
Provide evidence through specific examples. Dive deeper than the content on your résumé and make explicit connections as to how you will help the organization.
6
For an electronic signature, include your name in a scripted font.