HOW TO WRITE A COVER LETTER

FORMATTING OUTLINE
Your Name
Your Address
City, State, Zip

Cut and paste this section from your rsum so that

your cover letter & rsum look like a pair.

Date
(Ms. or Mr.) Personnel Manager
Name of Company
Company Address
City, State, Zip
RE: (regarding line is optional, but helps as a quick header)
Dear (Ms/ Mr. or Hiring Manager):
GAIN ATTENTION: Your opening paragraph should grab the hiring managers attention. Tell
the employer what position youre applying for, and where/when you found the job listed. Then
include one or two lines that lead into your suitability for the position and/or explain why youre
interested in the company.
ROUSE INTEREST: Your middle paragraphs should rouse the managers interest by explaining
what makes you special: your accomplishments, relevant experiences, value you bring to the
organization, etc. Give details of your background that will show the reader why one should
consider you as a candidate (consider using bullets to highlight at least 3 qualifications you have
that are relevant to the job). If you are responding to a job posting, be sure to mention any
relevant skills or qualifications that that the job listing says are important.
TAKE ACTION: In your closing paragraph ask the hiring manager to call you for an interview,
and mention that you would like to follow up. Include your phone number and when
you intend to touch base for an interview. You may also list your dates of availability.
Respectfully,
[Your Signature]
Type your name here

SAMPLE COVER LETTER

PAT PERFECT
One Pluperfect Way, Anytown, TX. 12345
(111)222-3333 ~ PPerfect@internetserver.com
April 10, 2013
Office Manager
Listen Up, Inc.
55 NowHiring Way
Anytown, US. 12345
Re: Job code 5678 from the Blabbermouth
Ms. Joboffer:
I would like to apply for your Office Receptionist position, which I saw advertised April 1, 2013, in the
Blabbermouth. I have three years of experience in customer service, including working in a fast-paced
environment with multiple phone lines and a large staff.

I am familiar with most telephone systems, fax machines, email, plus both Apple and Microsoft

operating systems.
I have hands-on experience with Quickbooks, Microsoft Word, Excel, and appointment scheduling

software.
I also have experience as a bill collector. If the need arises, I would be happy to make collection
calls or field difficult or awkward inquiries.

Enclosed is my resume for your review. I am enthusiastic about exploring opportunities with Listen Up,
Inc., and look forward to meeting you. You can reach me at (111) 222-3333. Thank you for your time
and consideration, and I will contact you within the next few days to answer any questions and schedule
an interview at your convenience.
Respectfully,

Pat Perfect
Pat Perfect
Rsum Enclosed

SAMPLE COVER LETTER To use for hidden/unadvertised positions.

The hidden job market is really just another name for a proactive job search. If you're waiting by the
phone for hiring managers and recruiters to contact you after posting your rsum on one or two online
job boards - it will likely be a very long wait! Take into account that you, along with thousands of other
candidates are using these same obvious sources.
I'm not saying that you shouldn't use Career Wings or other common online job boards, just don't make
them the foundation of your search. Check them out every once in a while or set-up an automatic search
agent so the job boards will send you an email each time a new posting that matches your search criteria
becomes available.
So how can you proactively take control of the job search process? Target a specific organization you
want to work for, and if the position you desire isnt currently posted, send them a proactive cover letter
asking if they would consider you for a future position. Every company experiences turnover, so just
because the position you want isnt available now, doesnt mean that it wont be available soon.
Below is a sample cover letter that a student studying International Business could use when searching for
internship opportunities with targeted employers. Modify the text to fit your situation.

Dear Ms. Joboffer,

I would like to express my interest in securing an international business internship at COMPANY NAME.
I am currently in my _____ year at the University of North Florida Coggin College of Business and am
interested in a position that will use my skills in _____and _____. I am passionate about _________ and
my goal is to enhance my career in the ______ industry through an internship with your company.
Please note that I have both relevant education and experience Elaborate on the value you can add to
this company. Remember to note any relevant qualifications, flexibility, leadership and decision making
experience, and IB related skills such as: fluency in multiple languages, global perspective,
multicultural/international experiences, networks in foreign countries, etc.
It is very important for me to associate theory and practice, and serving your company would be a great
way to both expand my skills and have a rewarding experience related to international business.
Enclosed is my rsum for your review. I am enthusiastic about exploring opportunities with COMPANY
NAME and look forward to meeting you. I can be reached at 904-123-4567 or via email at
student@ospreys.unf.edu. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
NAME

Source material: https://www.localjobnetwork.com/a/t-pssssti-have-a-secret--the-hidden-job-market-isntreally-hidden-au-long,-john-e.-articles-a2392.html