Cover Letters

DR. WILLIAM C. KURLINKUS

TECHNICAL WRITING

10 Minutes: Lets Improve This Resume

As small groups, hunt for the following errors:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Scannability
Hierarchy: Most important things first
Uniformity and consistency
Things to cut
Grammar and writing quality
Anything else?

Cover Letter Format

Paragraph 1: Who you are, what the job is you are

applying for. Prefacing sentence about the

skills/stories you will tell.
Paragraph 2: Strong story about you doing
something in the past that will serve the company.
Paragraph 3: Another strong story about you doing
something in the past that will serve the company.
Paragraph 4: Thank you for your time, Im available
for contact at x, y, x.

Cover Letter Tips

1.

You Language: The goal of the cover letter is to illustrate how your prior
work experiences will benefit the company. What you can do for them.

Wrong: Ive wanted to work for your company since I was littlethis would be my dream job,
and it would mean so much to me if you would grant me an interview!
Right: I was very excited to find this open position because Ive been following your company
since its startup phase. My thorough understanding of your companys background and mission
means that I can jump in and make contributions to your marketing team right away.

2. Interest: Show interest in what this company does compared to other

companies. Why do you want to work for me instead of someone else?

Search their company ethos.
3. Addressee: Find the name of the person youre actually writing to.
4. Storytelling: Focus on 2 or 3 quality stories of you doing something
successfully (show that you not only did something but that you did it
well) that will directly transfer to the company.
5. Formatting: Follow basic cover letter block formattingsee Thursdays
readings.

Cover Letter Mistakes

Too much or too little: You want to build a picture of
yourself as a success, but do so scannably. You also
dont want just two sentence paragraphs.
2. Stating anything negative: Theres just no reason to list
what you dont have. Do not say: Though I dont have
as many years of experience as you ask for, I do have
these skills.
3. Regurgitating your resume: Theres a reason why your
cover letter and resume are separate documents. The
cover letter should tell a story.
4. Not customizing your letter to the company and job ad.
1.

Show Dont Tell: Cover Letter Tips

P.E.A.: Build an image of

you doing something.

Point: I have developed

this skill you want.
Evidence: Heres an
example of me doing this
skill.
Analysis: Heres how my
experience with this skill
directly translates to your
specific company.

During my undergraduate years, I have

acquired considerable managerial and
supervisory experience. While an
administrative intern at a nursing
home, I made significant contributions
to the efficiency of the organization by
analyzing the functions of seven
departments and developing
administrative systems to coordinate
the efforts of 48 staff members. As
program assistant in a Cornell residence
hall, I supervise six resident advisors
who, in turn, are responsible for 200
students. In my role as volunteer
coordinator for the Catholic Church, I
created and continue to oversee a corps
of 50 adult and adolescent parishioners
who plan social and educational
activities for a parish of 1,000 members.

Lets Grade Some Cover Letters