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Cover Letters and Follow Up

Cover Letters

An employer can receive hundreds of resumes in response to an advertised position. For every hundred resumes an employer receives, only a few resumes stand out from the crowd. Want your resume to shine in the eyes of the employer you want to attract? Start by including a well-written cover letter with the resume.

A cover letter is a standard term that refers to any letter written to accompany another document. As is relates to a job search, a cover letter is usually written to accompany your resume or other application materials that you send to employers to convey your interest and qualifications for a specific position.

Content and Tone of a Cover Letter

The cover letter that accompanies your resume should not re-state everything that appears on your resume; it should supplement your resume by explaining what you are applying for, how you learned of the position and what you can do for the employer.

Use the cover letter to highlight your strengths and abilities and your most relevant experience in no more than three to four paragraphs.

Show your enthusiasm for the job or internship and use an active, conversational tone. State what interests you about the position and what you have done in previous jobs, volunteer experiences or academic projects that might show the employer you are a good fit for the position.

How to get started

  1. Put three to four paragraphs on one page: introduction, skills/qualifications and asking for the interview in the last paragraph.
  2. Keep each paragraph to just three or four punchy, well-written sentences. Make it "easy on the eyes."
  3. Allow your text to breathe by including plenty of white space. This means big margins, double-spacing between paragraphs and one and a half spaces between lines.
  4. Create bulleted and numbered lists to help readers scan quickly.
  5. Use bolding occasionally to emphasize important points and to increase readability.
  6. Proofread your cover letter and correct spelling, grammar and punctuation. If it is not handled, it can ruin any chance you have of the landing the interview.
  7. Double check your contact information and do not forget to sign the letter.

Skills First

Skills First includes the option of Letter Builder, which combines expert advice and high-quality samples to help you create focused, targeted letters for almost every opportunity.

Thank-You Letters

A thank-you letter should be sent to an employer within 24-48 hours following the interview. Make sure you thank the employer for taking the time to interview you and reinforce your interest in the employer and in the position. Also, mention some key points that were discussed during the interview. If you forgot to mention something important about yourself at the interview, you can mention it in the thank-you letter.