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There are no rigid rules on how to structure a cover
letter. Writing a cover
letter is a much more personal exercise than writing a
resume. The most important thing to remember,
however, when writing a
cover letter is to be structured, mention all the
relevant information, and have a natural flow.
Below are some suggestions on how you can structure your
cover letter.
First paragraph:
-
Introduce yourself
briefly. For instance, state whether you are a
new graduate or a seasoned professional, where you
come from, what school you attended, etc.
-
Mention the
position you are applying for. Try to be
specific and use the correct designation. If
possible, use the designation used in the job
posting.
-
Specify how you
learned about the opening. Recruiters are
always curious about these kinds of things,
especially when they posted the opening on multiple
job boards.
-
State your general
qualifications for the job. This is meant to
be a transition to your second paragraph.
Mention your strongest skills as related to the
opening and try to be as specific as possible
(situate your skills within the context of what the
recruiter is looking for; don't just mention your
skills).
Second paragraph:
-
State in more
detail your qualifications and back up your assertions.
-
Choose your most
relevant qualifications and discuss how your
background and experience qualify you for the job.
-
Remember that you
should not repeat what is already in your resume.
Use different sentence structures and try to be
imaginative, yet concise.
Third paragraph:
-
Request an
interview or some other kind of response (be
proactive).
-
State where and
when you can be reached (and make sure you can be
reached).
-
State your
willingness to be interviewed or supply further
information.
-
Thank the reader
for his or her time and consideration.
Note that
the main difference between an e-mail and a hard copy
correspondence is the format. The signature block
(address, etc.) goes below your name in an e-mail while
it goes at the top of the page on a hard copy.
When applying online, do not fall into the trap of not
writing a cover letter or writing a generic one.
Always take the time to tailor your cover letter. |
