Tips for Writing a Cover Letter

Send your letter to the high-ranked¹ people in the company, who are directly responsible for hiring the personnel.

Address each employer by name and title. Don't send a "Dear Sir/Madam" letter-- it's too impersonal².

Start your letter with an atten­tion-grabbing³ sentence that will make your reader take notice⁴.

Keep your letter short to hold the reader's interest. Three to five paragraphs are recommended.

Appeal⁵ to the self-interest of the person who you are writing to. Give clues⁶ that indicate⁷ that hir­ing you will be useful and profita­ble for the company.

Use simple vocabulary and proper⁸ grammar. State why the company interests you. Your letter should reflect your personality, but avoid being too aggressive or humorous.

Close with a statement that indicates some action. For exam­ple: I will call you in five days to set up an interview.

Check for grammar and spell­ing errors. This letter will give the first impressions of your writing skills and how you present yourself.

1. having a position in a company

2. not referring to any person

3. getting somebody's attention

4. paying attention

5. attract or interest somebody

1. facts that help you find the way out of a problem

2. show that something is true or ex­ists

6. right, appropriate or correct

There are two types of cover letters. One is used in submitting¹ a letter in reply to an advertise­ment², it is known as a "stand­ard", or "solicited³" cover letter. Such a type is also used when someone has referred⁴ you to a company.

The second kind of cover let­ters is called a "broadcast⁵", or "unsolicited⁶" cover letter. This type is used when you apply to a company that interests you, but when no known opening is availa­ble. This is a part of "the hidden⁷ job market".

Solicited cover letters are easi­er to write for an obvious⁸ reason — you know what the em­ployer wants, what criteria⁹ will be appreciated and you're sure that your material is expected.

In unsolicited submissions, it's more important to make your reader feel that what you have to say and what you offer is worthy¹⁰ of their time and attention.

1. giving a document to somebody of authority so that they can study or consider it

2. a notice telling people about a job available

3. supported by some information

4. recommending

5. telling a lot of people about some­ thing

6. not asked for and sometimes not wanted

7. kept in a place without being seen or found

8. easy to see or understand

9. standards or principles

10. having the qualities that deserve something