Lauren Weber
So you have to write a cover letter. Do you know how to start one? Do you even know what a cover letter is? Well, in a nutshell, a cover letter is a three to four-paragraph letter applicants will send to employers when applying for a job. The cover letter can be a great way to showcase your interests, skills, and achievements. But how do you write one? What do you include?
On Campus Resources
If you have already written your cover and need someone to look it over, you can upload a copy to Nittany Lion Careers where someone from CPD will be happy to review it. “We are more than happy to look over student resumes and cover letters. We encourage students to use these resources during their time at Abington,” Jennifer Rae states. The CPD also has some online resources to help you write your letter. You can look at the career guide CPD provides and check out this video they posted on YouTube. In my experience, whenever I send out my cover letter the review takes about a day or two. You can check out some resources on social media too.
Other Resources
Some influencers who excel at spreading need-to-know career information for young adults are Internshipgirl and AdviceWithErin [links?]. You can easily find them on Instagram. These women provide career advice for college students or young professionals, but they also have some cover letter templates on their platforms.
Additionally, Indeed offers some help, walking users through writing a cover letter and even providing some templates. Much of the advice that I’ve seen suggests that the first step is formatting your letter:
- The header with the date and contact information
- The header should contain your name, contact information, and your address in the upper right corner. Place the name of the organization and their address in the lower left-hand corner.
- Salutation/Greeting
-
- Use a name where possible
- Where a name isn’t possible, use a title, like “Dear Hiring Manager”
- General phrases like “To Whom It May Concern” should be used as a last resort.
-
- Opening paragraph
-
-
-
- This is the first section of your letter and will typically be the first impression an employer will get as soon as they read the letter so it’s important to draw them in quickly.
- It’s good practice to mention the position you’re applying for and a good way of showing your interest in the company.
-
-
- Second paragraph
-
-
- This section is a brief overview of your career background, any achievements, or relevant skills to the position
- This is where you are going to use as many keywords as possible from the job description
-
- Third Paragraph
- A third paragraph is optional but if you have a lot of work experience and want to showcase any more accomplishments or skills this can be a section to put those items.
- Closing paragraph
- You can also discuss any transferable skills that are relevant to the role
- Be sure to thank the reader for reviewing your cover letter
I hope this helps and remember you have a vast amount of resources at your fingers tips.
Be the first to comment on "How to Write a Cover Letter"