Cover Letters and Professional Correspondence

In addition to your resume, cover letters and other professional correspondence (e.g. thank you letters, networking emails, etc.) are your tools to make and maintain a positive impression. While resumes provide an overview of your qualifications, education, and experiences, cover letters and professional correspondence introduce you as a candidate, establish relationships, and nurture lasting relationships between you and the organization or your contact.

What is a Cover Letter?

A cover letter is a brief, one-page business letter to submit if possible with your resume when you apply for a job, internship, or volunteer opportunity. A piece of persuasive writing, the purpose of your cover letter is to convey to the employer why you are a great candidate to consider for the specific role.

How to Write a Cover Letter

• Customize your cover letter to each job to show you are aware of the specifics of what this employer is looking for and what it will take to be an asset in this particular work setting. To tailor your letter, first
  • research the employer and
  • review the position description, highlighting the key things the employer wants.
  • Address how you are prepared to meet the expectations and responsibilities they indicate are important.
  • For example, instead of just writing a list of your qualities that match the text in the position description, such as
    • “I am detail-oriented, a good communicator, and skilled at prioritizing and multitasking”, give examples that are true for you and align with the requirements for the position, such as
    • “In addition to being flexible and responsive, I pay attention to accuracy in details, particularly when it comes to presentations. For a recent project, I extracted information from over 200 research pages into a coherent, correctly cited 10-page paper and a concise, persuasive, five-minute oral presentation. My professor particularly praised how effectively I presented data, in visualizations that summarized the most important points for the reader/viewer. I will apply my attentiveness to detail as I collaborate on tasks in your office, from prepping materials for a high-level meeting to ensuring the copier has paper”.
    • Provide context for things that otherwise might seem confusing or less than ideal to a hiring manager, such as if the responsibilities of the position are outside the main areas of your studies. Explain why you are excited about the position and think you could excel at the job. Note how you think your experience will translate to what the employer needs. If you plan to relocate to where the job is or you have successfully worked remotely and the position calls for that, make it clear.

    Open the boxes below for cover letter tips and samples:
    Reviewing a Position Description to Prepare an Effective Cover Letter
    Internship Cover Letter
    Full-Time Position Cover Letter
    Message of Inquiry/Interest

    Sample Documents

    Use the template below to guide your cover letter writing. Use the full-screen feature to see the comments provided to give context and suggestions.