Resumes & Cover Letters Page 18
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Other Rules to Remember
o In referencing a personal referral, state that the referral suggested you write or email the
contact.
o Utilize impressive quotes from letters of reference in your cover letter, e.g. “I am highly
organized; my internship supervisor stated in her letter of reference”, ‘Alex is the most
organized intern I have ever had.’
o Use brief personal examples to back up what you say about yourself, e.g. “Several instructors
have consistently commented on my excellent writing skills”.
o Talk about and quantify your accomplishments that relate to the position.
o Be brief and concise, no more than one page.
o Proof-read and have others proof-read your letter for errors, Career Services at CMC, your
faculty members and staff will help review your cover letter.
o Do not overuse “I” to begin sentences, vary the sentence structure.
o Single space within each paragraph, double space between paragraphs
o Always sign your cover letter except for email versions.
o Matching the paper and heading of your cover letter to the heading of your resume, (for
hard copies), is a nice professional touch.
o If you lack a skill or some required experience discuss how you can pick up the skill quickly,
or how other experience will substitute.
o It is common to have the cover letter be the text of an email, with the resume attached.
Mistakes to Avoid
o Never misrepresent your background, skills and experiences.
o Never sound desperate or negative.
o Never confess shortcomings, give a positive slant to your background and experience.
o Don’t repeat your resume, but summarize and enhance, add your best personality traits and
word pictures that aren’t on the resume.
o Always send an email version of your cover letter and resume to yourself first to make sure it
opens up perfectly. It is also recommended to save your materials as a PDF prior to e-
mailing your application, as PDF files will not change when opened in any format.
o Always read and follow any employer instructions for submitting a cover letter and resume.
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