Many organizations will require a cover letter to accompany a resume. Even if this is not required, it’s good practice to use a cover letter with your resume. Outlined below are the key elements of a cover letter. As you read each section, you might want to look at the attached model cover letter.

First Paragraph

• Introduce yourself.
• State the position title and where you saw the ad (include date).
• Indicate if someone recommended you.
• Hints: General referrals come from family or friends who know someone at the prospective employer’s company.
• You should always get approval from your referral to use their name in your cover letter.

Second Paragraph

• Indicate your interests – include your career interests and your interests in the specific organization.
• Identify with the product/service.
• What you read or heard about the employer – positive things.
• Discuss opportunities to practice your profession.

Third Paragraph

• Highlight why the employer would be interested in you.
• Some things to talk about: experience, academic credentials, honors. (This is not a rehash of your resume. Include items not specifically covered in your resume).
• Key points from your resume (elaborate on them)
• Keep statements factual.

Fourth Paragraph

• Can provide explanations for what is on their resume (example: low GPA – you worked while in school).
• Always make positive statements about your credentials.
• Don’t ever say you meet the company’s criteria. That’s being presumptions.

Final Paragraph

• Indicate the follow up YOU plan to do (call to provide further information, arrange an interview, find out job specifics).
• Thank the person for their time and consideration.

Here are some other points to consider in doing your cover letter.

• Keep it to one page
• Write the letter to a specific person rather than to the employer in general.
• The person who should receive the letter would be
  • Organization leader for small companies.
  • Recruitment or human resource manager for large companies.
  • Someone who you know who will get you letter to the right person.
• Make sure to use proper business letter style
• Every cover letter should be specific to the employer. Don’t waste postage on a generic cover letter.

Ms. Edna Gordon
StratfordElectronics
1520 West Main Street
Fairmont,WV26554

Dear Ms. Gordon:

I am a freshman in Manufacturing Engineering fromCyberTechUniversity. My advisor, Dr. William Tabott, suggested I write since he feels that I may be able to contribute to Stratford Electronics. Ever since I started developing electrical devices in high school, I have used Stratford Electronics components, and I have always been impressed with their performance characteristics. I would really enjoy being a part of your engineering team.

As you can see from my resume, I have previous experience in the electronics industry. Last summer I worked for Allied Electronics as a line employee. My boss stated that I “had made a real difference”.

My senior project in high school physics was to develop a design concept for a new robotic application in looking for scratches on a metal sheet. I also learned CADD software use while in high school.

I am proud of my academic record. I was able to maintain a 3.8 GPA in high school while holding a job that will allow me to finance 80 percent of my college expenses. This often required 30 hours per week of work. I feel that I have the personal discipline and initiative to be successful.

I would like to give you a call next week to see if I can arrange an interview. Thank you very much for any help you can give me.

Sincerely,

John Smith.