University Advising Career Center UniversityofNewHampshire102HoodHousedurham,Nh603-862-2064.www.unh.edu/uac Cover letters In most situations, it is essential to send a cover letter with your resume to potential employers. There are a few exceptions, such as when you hand out your resume at job fairs or when you take your resume to an in-person meeting with an employer. a good cover letter should accomplish three things: 1) Explains your interest in the position. 2)Gives the reader a reason to be interested in you. 3) Serves as the groundwork for further contact By developing transferable skill and achievement oriented letters, you will gain a competitive edge. Not only does the cover letter let you highlight your special qualifications and enthusiasm for a specific job and the organization. but it also gives the employer an idea of your written communication skills. Your letter needs to show the employer what you can do for the organization and why they should select you Some general tips Cover letters are not long. Consider a half-page best, three to four paragraphs, between 200-300 words All cover letters should be individually created for a specific job Single-space your letters and put them in business letter format( Word has a letter template Center your letter on the page so top and bottom margins are equal Use simple, direct language and correct grammar Letters should be flawless-no typos or spelling errors- using spell check is not enough, read it out loud! When printing, use high-quality, white or off-white paper that matches your resume paper Keep a copy of your letters for future reference and to keep track of where you applied Although each cover letter needs to be individually developed for each position you are applying for, a standard outline can help you organize the information you should include. The following cover letter outline can be tailored to a variety of job search situations In the First Paragraph, state why you are writing the employer. If you are applying for a specific job opening, name the position and how you learned of it(e.g, from someone known mutually to you and the employer, from a University Advising and Career Center(UACC) posting, a newspaper ad, web listing, directory, etc. ) Insert a brief sentence that gives your degree, major, college affiliation, and graduation date Example: I read with great interest your posting for Communications Specialist on the University of New In the Middle Paragraph, using your education, experience, and personal skills, show what makes you a good match for the position. Be specific, offering proof of your experiences. Clearly describe ways you will contribute will fit the company s needs. Take note of buzz words and industry specific language used in the job posting and So After carefully reading the job description, outline one or two specific examples of how your skills and experience try to relate the job requirements to your experiences. You will want to highlight particular accomplishments relating to the position for which you are applying. Refer to your enclosed resume, but don' t repeat information from your resume in exactly the same way Explain why you want the job. You should be able to answer the question- why do I want to work here? Ask yourself how the position fits into your overall career plans and what you find exciting about the particular profession. Also refer to the organization you are applying to, and speak to what it is about them and the job opportunity that appeals to you. Emphasize your knowledge of the organization(from your research efforts )and UniversityAdvising&caReerCenter.102HoodHouseDurhamNh.603-862-2064.www.unh.edu/uaceUniversity Advising & Career Center • 102 Hood House • Durham, NH • 603-862-2064 • www.unh.edu/uacc University Advising & Career Center University of New Hampshire • 102 Hood House • Durham, NH • 603-862-2064 • www.unh.edu/uacc Cover Letters In most situations, it is essential to send a cover letter with your resume to potential employers. There are a few exceptions, such as when you hand out your resume at job fairs or when you take your resume to an in-person meeting with an employer. A good cover letter should accomplish three things: 1) Explains your interest in the position. 2) Gives the reader a reason to be interested in you. 3) Serves as the groundwork for further contact. By developing transferable skill and achievement oriented letters, you will gain a competitive edge. Not only does the cover letter let you highlight your special qualifications and enthusiasm for a specific job and the organization, but it also gives the employer an idea of your written communication skills. Your letter needs to show the employer what you can do for the organization and why they should select you. Some general tips: ƒ Cover letters are not long. Consider a half-page best, three to four paragraphs, between 200 – 300 words. ƒ All cover letters should be individually created for a specific job. ƒ Single-space your letters and put them in business letter format (Word has a letter template). ƒ Center your letter on the page so top and bottom margins are equal. ƒ Use simple, direct language and correct grammar. ƒ Letters should be flawless―no typos or spelling errors – using spell check is not enough, read it out loud! ƒ When printing, use high-quality, white or off-white paper that matches your resume paper. ƒ Keep a copy of your letters for future reference and to keep track of where you applied. Although each cover letter needs to be individually developed for each position you are applying for, a standard outline can help you organize the information you should include. The following cover letter outline can be tailored to a variety of job search situations: In the First Paragraph, state why you are writing the employer. If you are applying for a specific job opening, name the position and how you learned of it (e.g., from someone known mutually to you and the employer, from a University Advising and Career Center (UACC) posting, a newspaper ad, web listing, directory, etc.). Insert a brief sentence that gives your degree, major, college affiliation, and graduation date. Example: I read with great interest your posting for Communications Specialist on the University of New Hampshire (UNH) Jobline website. As a recent UNH graduate in the field of Communication, I found your opening particularly appealing and have enclosed my resume for your consideration. In the Middle Paragraph, using your education, experience, and personal skills, show what makes you a good match for the position. Be specific, offering proof of your experiences. Clearly describe ways you will contribute. After carefully reading the job description, outline one or two specific examples of how your skills and experiences will fit the company’s needs. Take note of buzz words and industry specific language used in the job posting and try to relate the job requirements to your experiences. You will want to highlight particular accomplishments relating to the position for which you are applying. Refer to your enclosed resume, but don't repeat information from your resume in exactly the same way. Explain why you want the job. You should be able to answer the question – why do I want to work here? Ask yourself how the position fits into your overall career plans and what you find exciting about the particular profession. Also refer to the organization you are applying to, and speak to what it is about them and the job opportunity that appeals to you. Emphasize your knowledge of the organization (from your research efforts) and