Sample Cover Letter Outline printable pdf download

Cover Letter

Your cover letter is often your first introduction to a prospective employer; therefore, you want to make

sure you are putting your best foot forward. An effective cover letter will provide an introduction, explain

the purpose of writing, and create interest to generate an interview.

The letter should demonstrate your written communication skills and outline how your skills, education

and experience match the employer’s needs.

Your Cover Letter Should Be…

1. CONSISTENT WITH RESUME

 Font size, type, and letter layout should be business format

 10-12 point font size

 Standard fonts (Arial, Times New Roman)

 Adequate margins- top/bottom, left/right (1/2”-1”)- ideally same as your resume, but not a must

 Printed on quality resume paper

 When sending electronically (email) you may type letter into the text area of the email and

attach your resume to the email (preferably Word Doc or PDF), or you may attach both as

documents to your email

2. EASY TO READ

 Well-organized

 No typos- the minute an employer sees a typo, you are out of the running for a job

 Simple block format with left flush margins

 One page (3-4 paragraphs)

3. RELEVANT TO EMPLOYER’S NEEDS

 Addressed to a specific individual- this is important - it shows you have done your research

 Differentiate yourself from other candidates

 Be concise and highlight what is most important

 Unique and customized for each specific position- pull in keywords from the job description

WHEN RESPONDING TO A JOB ANNOUNCEMENT…

 Read the announcement carefully

 Pay close attention to the job description and focus on those duties in your cover letter

 Match your qualifications with what they want

 Follow instructions carefully. If the announcement requires 3 letters of recommendation, send 3

letters. If the announcement states “No Phone Calls”, do not call.

AVOID...

 Irrelevant details

 Starting every sentence with “I” or “my”

 Flowery phrases or vague statements that say nothing

 Unnecessary personal information

 Abbreviations or acronyms unfamiliar to the employer

 Copying and pasting the same letter for each position

Sample Cover Letter Outline