Write a cover letter

xkcd

Whenever you apply for a selective educational or work opportunity – a summer job, an internship, a spot on a research team, or a volunteer role in a service organization – you need more than a resume, a LinkedIn site, and a personal brand: you need to craft a personal cover letter targeted to the hiring decision-maker. This assignment gives you practice in writing such a letter.

Read this first

• Lindsey Pollak, "Market yourself on paper and online," in Getting from College to Career (New York: Harper, 2012).

Complete these steps

1. Outline some ideas. Your cover letter is not simply a summary of your resume. It needs to quickly and clearly introduce you to the hiring decision-maker, reassure them that you understand the job or opportunity you are seeking, convince them that you have the background necessary to be successful in the job, and express your enthusiasm to be hired – all in one page. It's a good idea to put some ideas down in outline form before writing the actual letter. Jot down some notes in each of these categories to start:

• Who I am
• What the requirements of the job that I seek are
• Aspects of my background that match the requirements of the job
• My enthusiasm for being hired

Remember, your cover letter shouldn't simply repeat all of the information that can be found in your resume or on your LinkedIn site. But it should encourage the hiring decision maker to refer to those tools.

2. Imagine a particular scenario for your cover letter. Each cover letter needs to be tailored to the specific job or opportunity you are applying for. So for this assignment, please imagine a specific employer or organization to which you are applying, and a specific job or role that you seek. Or even better: use a real advertisement for a position that you might be interested in!

3. Compose your letter. Now starting from your outline as a guide, write a one-page cover letter which demonstrates how your experiences, strengths, and accomplishments make you an attractive candidate for the organization and job that you are imagining. Feel free to draw on the language and examples that you already used in your "wanderings" diagram, your StrengthsFinder results, and your STAR statements.

You might want to think about your cover letter as similar to a standard three-part academic essay: an introduction and thesis statement, a set of body paragraphs and evidence statements, and a conclusion. In this case, your thesis involves the primary qualities you offer to the organization, and a statement of confidence about your ability to use those qualities to excel in the position. For example: “Because of my writing skills, intercultural competencies, and passion for digital advertising, I believe I would be an excellent candidate for this position.”

Once the draft is composed, delete the jottings from the previous step.

4. Address your letter. Make sure your cover letter actually looks like a letter: add the introductories of date, salutation, and your signature and contact information. The salutation should be directed to a particular individual or to "Hiring manager" if you don't know the name of the person. Do not use the rather outdated "Dear Sir or Madam" as your salutation, nor the ungainly "To whom it may concern."

5. Check your formatting. Follow these formatting guidelines. (NOTE: you do not need the introductory information, unlike other assignments.)

6. Take a break. This is essential to quality proofreading in the next step. If you try to revise immediately after writing, you'll miss things because it's too familiar. But if you do your revision the next day, errors will pop out – it will have been long enough that you don't recognize everything. (If you choose to watch a show during this time, send your recommendations to me or your TA!)

7. Proofread your letter. Finally, check your cover letter over twice to make sure there are no spelling or grammar errors. It is a good idea to ask someone else to proofread your letter as well. 

8. Turn it in. Upload your letter to Canvas to receive credit for this assignment. 

Notes on this assignment

• Review the SuccessWorks handout: Cover letter basics.
• You may wish to meet with an adviser to get one-on-one feedback on your cover letter.
• The Writing Center holds regular workshops on cover letter writing, and you can even meet individually with a Writing Center Fellow for one-on-one feedback.
• You might want to consult the Writer's Handbook on cover letters.
• How difficult did you find it to compose a professional letter?
• What can you do improve your ability to write quickly, efficiently, and clearly in such professional settings?

Examples

• Dear ________,

  In searching for research opportunities, I found the listing for a research assistant in your laboratory. I feel my lab experience and my ability to write scientific papers would allow me to perform well in the position.

  Through my experience in research at ________________, I was able to develop the scientific skills needed to excel in laboratory settings. I have developed my abilities in analyzing scientific data and interpreting the results efficiently and thoroughly. I have been trained to analyze data from gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) graphs, and I have done a vast amount of work in electron ionization as well as chemical ionization gas chromatography. I feel that my skills in the field would make me a good fit for your laboratory.

  My curiosity in proteomics and metabolomics spawns my interest in continuing work in the identification of small molecules. My experience in scientific writing for multiple research papers in chemistry and biology has given me the skills needed to explain complex ideas and specific analysis into simplified and concise words.

  I hope you will agree that my research experience and abilities in scientific writing and analysis make me a good fit as a research assistant. Attached is a copy of my resume for your consideration. If I can provide any additional information, you can reach me at __________________. Thank you for your time and consideration.

  Sincerely,
  ___________

   

To learn more

• Taking Initiative Student Guide chapter 08, "Communicating your value" 
• Katharine Brooks, You Majored in What? chapter 09, "Making the employer care." 
• Olivia Crosby, "Resumes, applications, and cover letters," Occupational Outlook Quarterly (2009).