Cover letters
Cover letters
An effective cover letter makes a personal, memorable introduction while detailing your interest, qualification and compatibility for the job. A cover letter brings your resume to life through stories and examples.
You should write a new cover letter for every job application. A successful cover letter describes your qualifications (e.g. education, experiences) most relevant to the employer based upon the job description and your knowledge of the company.
Cover letter FAQs
Do I need to include a cover letter?
A cover letter is a regular part of an application process and often required. Even when it is optional, it is advantageous to include one. Writing a cover letter demonstrates that you are interested enough to invest extra time drafting a thoughtful letter.
What are some common cover letter mistakes to avoid?
Using a generic cover letter. Employers can usually tell when you've used the same cover letter for multiple jobs. It makes a bad first impression because it appears that you aren't interested in that specific job or don't understand what unique skills are important. Be sure to write a tailored cover letter for each position that makes strong connections between your experiences and interest in the company and their needs, challenges or mission.
Failing to provide examples. Many cover letters make empty claims, asserting that the applicant is a "good communicator" or "detail oriented." Unfortunately, employers say that these claims usually are not believed and have become common clichés. To make your claims more powerful, add an example or proof to each skill you mention. For example, you might write, "I am very detail-oriented, a skill that I honed while completing detailed inventory sheets working in a grocery store."
Restating the resume. Often, cover letters will fall into the trap of reiterating the facts of the resume — "I worked at Company X for two years where I was a cashier. Then, I worked at Company Y in 2018." Instead of repeating the resume, a good cover letter should draw connections between your skills and experiences and how these connect to the company's needs. For example, a cover letter statement could be "As a shift manager at Jimmy John's, I enjoyed training and coaching new employees to be successful within the team, a skill I know would be helpful working as a team leader within your organization."
What’s the difference between a cover letter and a letter of qualification?
Cover letters are typically one page and briefly elaborate qualifications, interest and fit for the job.
A letter of qualification is similar to a cover letter but addresses every qualification in the job description. It is often longer than one page.