resume

Berkeley College

Career Services & Placement

Who needs to write a cover letter?

Anyone sending a resume to a potential employer (for a job or internship) will need to include a

cover letter. Whether the resume is sent through postal mail, as a fax, or as an e-mail attachment,

always send it with a cover letter.

What is the purpose of a cover letter?

It literally "covers" your resume, and introduces you and your career objectives to the employer.

It is the vehicle through which you connect your skills and experience to the requirements and

responsibilities of the job you want. Do not expect the employer to read your resume and make

this connection. The cover letter many times also serves as a writing sample.

Should I take the time to write a carefully researched cover letter?

A good cover letter is an asset to your search, encouraging the employer to take a careful look at

your resume. A poorly written cover letter will create the impression that you are unmotivated

and sloppy in your work.

Follow these steps to write a great cover letter:

1. Clearly communicate the reason you are contacting this employer (identify the position

and how you learned about it).

2. Demonstrate that you have done your research about the field and the employer (e.g. I

recently read in the Wall Street Journal about XYZ's prominent told forging new business

initiatives in Russia.)

3. Identify and expand upon two or three main points from your resume that are particularly

relevant to the position. You can discuss activities, internships, volunteer, and work

experience, courses, language or computer skills — anything that would be helpful for the

reader to know about you.

4. Express enthusiasm and a "can-do" attitude for the position and the company. This positive

attitude will come easily if you apply only to jobs that genuinely appeal to you.

CONTENT

Tell them what you can do for them and why you are the person they should interview and hire.

Review your resume and emphasize the skills and/or experiences that are most relevant to the

position you are seeking (e.g. As Coordinator of the Waltham Group, I effectively led thirty students

in community service activities.)

Address all major requirement listed in the job description. Consider all you have to offer —

your skills, knowledge, personality, and various experiences For internships and entry-level

jobs, no one expects years of experience, but it is up to you to convey self-confidence and make

the most of what you have The following is a list of skills that are desirable to employers:

Leadership and management

Quantitative

Computer and language skills Written and verbal communication

Teamwork and interpersonal

Problem solving and analytical

APPEARANCE

Limit the letter to one page, single sided, 11 or 12-point font. Make it easy to quickly scan your

letter. Avoid long, densely packed paragraphs. Use standard business letter format, 3 — 5

paragraphs. Use a high quality printer and the same quality and color paper as your resume.

HINTS

 Take the time to carefully write, edit, and proofread a targeted letter. Avoid sending a

general letter for mass mailing to employers, which is less effective.

 Address every letter to an individual. Avoid anonymous "Dear Sir/Madam" letters. If no

name is provided, send your material to the head of the department in which you wish to

work.

 Research the organization, which will help you identify the appropriate contact people, verify

their job titles and the correct spellings of their names.

 Send a cover letter and resume to companies that interest you even if no openings are

posted (this is called a letter of inquiry).

 Save copies of your letters for later reference (interviews, thank you notes, etc.).

 Never staple your cover letter to the resume. Be sure to include your phone number or e-

mail in the letter in case it gets separated from the resume.

 Make sure your answering machine/ voicemail sounds professional. It may seem fun to leave

a casual, creative, or comic message with music playing for your friends, but this could turn

off prospective employers when they call you.