Cover Letters
Main differences between e-mail and hard copy correspondence:
Format: your signature block (address, etc.) goes below your name in e-mail, while it goes at the top of the page on hard copy.
E-mail requires a subject line logical to the recipient. E-mail subject lines can make or break whether your e-mail is opened and read.
Hard copy can have a subject line too, but it's on the letter (after recipient's address block and before "Dear...," and it's seen after the
letter is opened.
Signature: Of course you won't have a handwritten signature on e-mail, but don't forget this on hard copy.
All cover letters should:
Explain why you are sending a resume.
Don't send a resume without a cover letter.
Don't make the reader guess what you are asking for; be specific: Do you want a summer internship opportunity, or a permanent
position at graduation; are you inquiring about future employment possibilities?
Tell specifically how you learned about the position or the organization — a flyer posted in your department, a web site, a family
friend who works at the organization. It is appropriate to mention the name of someone who suggested that you write.
Convince the reader to look at your resume.
The cover letter will be seen first.
Therefore, it must be very well written and targeted to that employer.
Call attention to elements of your background — education, leadership, experience — that are relevant to a position you are
seeking. Be as specific as possible, using examples.
Reflect your attitude, personality, motivation, enthusiasm, and communication skills.
Provide or refer to any information specifically requested in a job advertisement that might not be covered in your resume, such as
availability date, or reference to an attached writing sample.
Indicate what you will do to follow-up.
In a letter of application — applying for an advertised opening — applicants often say something like "I look forward to hearing
from you." However, if you have further contact info (e.g. phone number) and if the employer hasn't said "no phone calls," it's better
to take the initiative to follow-up, saying something like, "I will contact you in the next two weeks to see if you require any additional
information regarding my qualifications."
In a letter of inquiry — asking about the possibility of an opening — don't assume the employer will contact you. You should say
something like, "I will contact you in two weeks to learn more about upcoming employment opportunities with (name of
organization)." Then mark your calendar to make the call.
Page margins, font style and size
For hard copy, left and right page margins of one to 1.5 inches generally look good. You can adjust your margins to balance how your
document looks on the page.
Use a font style that is simple, clear and commonplace, such as Times New Roman, Arial or Calibri. Font SIZES from 10-12 points
are generally in the ballpark of looking appropriate. Keep in mind that different font styles in the same point size are not the same
size! A 12-point Arial is larger than a 12-point Times New Roman.
If you are having trouble fitting a document on one page, sometimes a slight margin and/or font adjustment can be the solution.