Cover Letter Tips (Editor's Note)

A cover letter is a letter of introduction in which you present yourself to your

prospective employer. Of all the documents that form part of your application,
it will probably be the first document that will be read. It has to be clear,
self-contained, simple and a good read the first time around.
The cover letter should be looked at as complementing your resume. The two go h
and-in-hand. Don't repeat what is already in your resume. Rephrase, shed a new
perspective or emphasize what is in your resume instead. A well-written cover
letter will give a personal touch to your application, draw attention to your st
rengths and spark interest in the reader. A recruiter that is impressed with yo
ur cover letter will pay more attention to your resume.
Avoid writing long cover letters and stick to what is essential to advance your
application. Address issues that are not addressed in your resume, such as why
you are interested in the position, how you became aware of the opening, etc. A
void going passed one page and a half, unless you have very good reasons to do s
o.
Some experts argue that a cover letter is at best neutral. This means that most
of the time, it is the resume that will seal the deal. This view is not shared
by everyone. For applicants that have a weak candidacy, the cover letter can o
ften be the trump card to the job interview. We hope that the cover letter tips
in this section will help you improve the cover letter that you already have or
, if you do not yet have one, form the basis for your cover letter to be.
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when a cover latter is needed
Many job seekers focus most, if not all, of their energy on developing the resum
e while giving little thought to the cover letter; others are unsure what a cove
r letter does or why it is even needed. As the document that personally introduc
es you (and your resume), it can be a powerful and essential tool in a job searc
h.
Under most circumstances, a cover letter is used as an introduction and should a
ccompany your resume, whether e-mailed, posted on a job site, mailed, or hand de
livered to an employer.
There are a few exceptions to this rule: being a personal introduction that acco
mpanies your resume, a cover letter is not needed if you are hand carrying a res
ume to a prearranged interview since you will be present to introduce yourself.
If an interview is not prearranged when hand delivering a resume, then a cover l
etter is appropriate since you would not want to be so presumptuous as to assume
you will have an interview even if that turns out to be the case.
Also, if you are delivering the resume to a recruiter or during a networking eve
nt such as a career fair, a cover letter is not always needed as these are often
cases where the opportunity to introduce oneself in person supersedes the need
for a written introduction. However, many candidates at career fairs are handing
out resumes; to be sure your documents stand out, you may want to have a broad
cover letter on hand and include it with your resume when not meeting directly w
ith hiring managers.
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What to Include in a Cover Letter

The cover letter serves as the first introduction to an employer, and it is an o
pportunity to convey one's viability as a strong candidate as well as one's abil
ity to communicate in a polished, professional manner. It notes the specific pos
ition targeted while showcasing relevant qualifications the job seeker has to of
fer. In addition, it allows a job seeker to further explain any unusual circumst
ances in his or her background (e.g., gaps in employment, a return to the workfo
rce, or change in career focus), demonstrate professionalism, and attract an int
erview.
With this in mind, it is best to ensure the cover letter aligns with common expe
ctations by limiting it to one page and addressing a specific individual wheneve
r possible. Include the company name and the recipient's name and title. Even wh
en applying to a blind ad or box number one can use the ad information to person
alize a cover letter.
A well-written, employer-centric cover letter will typically consist of three ma
in parts: the introduction, the body, and the closing (which ends with a compell
ing action or request).
The introduction: Whenever possible, indicate how you came to apply to the compa
ny, such as...
responding to an advertised opening
having identified the company through research (do not use this if you didn't do
the research as it may be obvious to the employer)
reading about the company or its executives in a publication
receiving a referral from John Jones at XYZ company
The body: It is important to highlight your qualifications and strengths as they
relate to the requirements of the position. Amplify or augment information cont
ained in your resume (rather than merely repeating it) and include a few strengt
hs or personal qualities.
The closing: If the position was unadvertised and the resume is unsolicited, ind
icate that you will follow up in a few days. If you are responding to an adverti
sed position, indicate you are looking forward to the opportunity to discuss how
you can contribute to the success of the organization.
It is important to balance the tone of your cover letter. You want to be profess
ional yet cautiously assertive. While a resume does not conform to standard writ
ing styles (e.g., using personal pronouns, articles, and complete sentences), a
cover letter does! Lastly, remember to focus on the employer's needs rather than
your own (e.g., indicate what skills you will bring to the position to get the
job done, rather than what you expect the employer to do for you).
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Addressing Requests for Salary Histories or Salary Requirements
Employers request salary histories and/or requirements to help determine if ther
e is a fit financially. If you ignore the request entirely, you are likely to be
screened out; however, you also run a risk of being screened out if you provide
salary information too early in the process and the information is not a close
fit. The goal is to obtain an interview to determine if the position is a fit fo
r you and the company, which is when salary discussions can begin. (Visit Expert
Advice on Interviewing and InterviewSmart®)
Salary requirements: If an employer requests your salary requirements, they are
seeking information about what you expect to earn in your next position and whet
her this expectation is compatible with their budget. Your personal circumstance
s, such as geographical area, career track, industry, or type of organization, m
ay create differences between your past salary and your current requirements. Th
e safest course may be to indicate that you are sure the employer has a fair com
pensation program and that your primary interest is in this company and opportun
ity. Another option is to provide the widest range possible based upon the type
of position and geographical area; however, also indicate that that your primary
 interest is in this company and opportunity.
Salary history: When employers request a salary history, they are seeking factua
l information specific to your past positions that they will analyze to infer a
potential match. If you are fairly certain that your salary history matches well
with an organization's compensation structure, you may include this in your cov
er letter. Often, though, an organization's salary expectations are less clear.
If your salary history differs significantly from the employer's expectations, t
here is a risk in presenting the information without being able to discuss any m
itigating factors. If you have mitigating factors that can be easily explained,
such as a geographical move, career change, etc., you may note it in your cover
letter without mentioning numbers. Always indicate that you are sure the employe
r has a fair compensation program and that your primary interest is in this comp
any and opportunity.
Keep in mind that once you have the interview (telephone or face-to-face) you ne
ed to be prepared to discuss your salary history along with any mitigating facto
rs to account for potential discrepancies between your salary history and your c
urrent expectations.
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The Letter of Application
A letter of application is a type of cover letter that accompanies an employment
application typically for civil service agencies, schools, colleges, and other
government or quasi-government organizations and often summarizes information th
at would have been contained in a resume and may be lacking in the application f
orm itself.
Used in this way, a letter of application is more comprehensive than a typical c
over letter and may have skill headings and/or subheadings similar to a resume.
Depending upon the application requirements of the organization, a resume may no
t be accepted in addition to the employment application while a letter of applic
ation usually is accepted and may even be required.
A well-designed resume and cover letter combination is usually a better choice t
o accompany the employment application, if accepted. However, a letter of applic
ation can accomplish much of the same goal as the resume by bringing to the fore
front your relevant qualifications that may be partially missing or scattered th
roughout the employment application.
Note: "Letter of application" is sometimes used synonymously with "cover letter.
"

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Resume Mistakes (Editor's Note)
Sometimes, when reviewing a resume, it is easier to eliminate the mistakes that
we see than to try to improve the resume per se. One way to go about it is actu
ally to remove all the mistakes and then see what else needs to be improved (or
do the opposite). In this section, we have listed some articles that discuss er
rors that are often made by job seekers when drafting their resume. Go through
the articles and see if you recognize yourself. If you do, consider yourself lu
cky that you have been made aware of your mistakes in time.
As you go about writing your resume, keep these two tips in mind:
Writing a resume is not about luck, but about hard work. Don't expect the recru
iter to see something special in your application unless you make it apparent.
Don't fall into the trap of wishful thinking. Whether or not you get a job is n
ot up to the recruiter, it's up to you to show your worth to him or her.
Recognize your limitations. If you don't have good writing skills, acknowledge
your weakness. Do the best you can and ask for help from a professional, a fami
ly member or a friend.
As you go through the literature, remember that resume writing is an art and not
a science. There will be exceptions and there will be instances where you will
disagree with what is written. When and if that happens, use your judgment and
decide what is the best course of action for yourself.