Cover Letter Writing

A résumé tells the reader what you did, but a cover letter goes a step further to tell the reader what you learned from your experience. It is a chance for you to show off your storytelling ability by drawing the parallels from your experience to the job or internship description. 

Show rather than tell. 

First, and most importantly, never use the salutation “To Whom It May Concern.” This greeting is what we call “the kiss of death” in a cover letter; it shows no research on the writer’s part and, instead, shows that the writer has taken the easy way out.

Try to find a name of someone in the department to which you’re applying. Use those journalist skills you’ve learned. It’s ok to make an assumption. Even if the only name you can find is that of the president or CEO of the company, your letter will still make its way to Human Resources, and you’ll come across as having done some research!

If you’re uncomfortable with that idea, though, at least use a title in your salutation, such as “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear Internship Coordinator.”

In the world of communications, the more direct you can be while still delivering your point, the better. As a general rule of thumb, try the following guideline:

• Stick to a three-paragraph structure: intro, body, conclusion.
• Keep the first paragraph to two or three sentences.
• Your second paragraph should have roughly eight to 10 sentences.
• Your final paragraph should be another two or three sentences.
• Use block formatting (no indenting of paragraphs).

Chances are that if an employer doesn’t require a cover letter, it’s because cover letters don’t usually get read by the hiring manager or committee. Especially in companies that are highly competitive and receive hundreds of applications for one position, cover letters may hardly get a brief glance. Spend the time you would have used writing a letter to perfect the details of your résumé instead. 

No, you should not do this. The purpose of a cover letter is to show that you recognize what the employer is seeking and to show that you have it. Because each employer seeks something a little bit different, your cover letter will need to evolve and adapt to fit the role to which you’re applying. You should select two or three skills from the job description to highlight in your cover letter. If Company A is seeking someone who has experience with Adobe Premiere, and Company B is seeking someone who has experience with writing press releases, you can see how submitting the same cover letter for both roles won’t make sense. 

You want to write about what they (employer) wants to hear and not what you want to say (things not relevant to the role).