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cover letters: types and samples
2006-11-07 来自 中山大学
发信人: floatingsky (逝), 信区: Job
标 题: cover letters: types and samples
发信站: 逸仙时空 Yat-sen Channel (Mon Oct 30 00:26:31 2006)
i asked my singaporean friend about cover letters, he gave me the article in d
etail.
wish this could be of some help to you during job-hunting period.
Cover letters: types and samples
The guidelines here apply to both hard copy correspondence and e-mail. (To d
ecide which to use, see e-mail in your job search.) The main difference betwee
n e-mail and hard copy correspondence is format: your signature block (address
, etc.) goes below your name in e-mail, while it goes at the top of the page o
n hard copy. Of course you won't have a handwritten signature on e-mail, but d
on't forget this on hard copy.
All cover letters should:
Explain why you are sending a resume.
Don't send a resume without a cover letter.
Don't make the reader guess what you are asking for; be specific: Do you want
a summer internship opportunity, or a permanent position at graduation; are yo
u inquiring about future employment possibilities?
Tell specifically how you learned about the position or the organization —
a flyer posted in your department, a web site, a family friend who works at th
e organization. It is appropriate to mention the name of someone who suggested
that you write.
Convince the reader to look at your resume.
The cover letter will be seen first.
Therefore, it must be very well written and targeted to that employer.
Call attention to elements of your background — education, leadership, expe
rience — that are relevant to a position you are seeking. Be as specific as p
ossible, using examples.
Reflect your attitude, personality, motivation, enthusiasm, and communicatio
n skills.
Provide or refer to any information specifically requested in a job advertis
ement that might not be covered in your resume, such as availability date, or
reference to an attached writing sample.
Indicate what you will do to follow-up.
• In a letter of application — applying for an advertised opening —
applicants often say something like "I look forward to hearing from you." Howe
ver, if you have further contact info (e.g. phone number) and if the employer
hasn't said "no phone calls," it's better to take the initiative to follow-up,
saying something like, "I will contact you in the next two weeks to see if yo
u require any additional information regarding my qualifications."
• In a letter of inquiry — asking about the possibility of an opening
— don't assume the employer will contact you. You should say something like,
"I will contact you in two weeks to learn more about upcoming employment oppo
rtunities with (name of organization)." Then mark your calendar to make the c
all.
Sample Cover Letter Format Guidelines (below).
Cover letters generally fall into one of two categories:
1. Letter of application: applying for a specific, advertised opening. See:
Sample 3.1: letter of application following personal meeting, hard copy ver
sion
Sample 3.2: letter of application for advertised position, e-mail version
Sample 3.3: letter of application for advertised position, e-mail version
Sample 3.4: letter of application for advertised position, hard copy version
2. Letter of inquiry: expressing interest in an organization, but you are not
certain if there are current openings. See:
Sample 3.5: letter of inquiry about employment possibilities, e-mail versio
n
Sample 3.6: letter of inquiry about internship opportunities, hard copy ver
sion
Information-seeking letters and follow-up
To draft an effective cover letter, you need to indicate that you know somet
hing about the employing organization. Sometimes, even with research efforts,
you don’t have enough information to do this. In such a case it is appropria
te to write requesting information.
See Sample 4.1: Information seeking letter, hard copy version.
After you receive the desired information you can then draft a follow-up let
ter that:
Thanks the sender for the information;
Markets why you would be a good job candidate for that organization based on t
he information; and
Explains why you are sending your resume.
See Sample 5.2: Follow up letter to information seeking meeting.
Also see:
Guidelines for using e-mail in your job search
Guidelines for correspondence in your job search
Researching employers — why and how
Thank you / follow up letters
Samples
Cover Letter Format Guidelines:
Your Street Address
City, State Zip Code
Telephone Number
Email Address
Month, Day, Year
Mr./Ms./Dr. FirstName LastName
Title
Name of Organization
Street or P. O. Box Address
City, State Zip Code
Dear Mr./Ms./Dr. LastName:
Opening paragraph: State why you are writing; how you learned of the organizat
ion or position, and basic information about yourself.
2nd paragraph: Tell why you are interested in the employer or type of work the
employer does (Simply stating that you are interested does not tell why, and
can sound like a form letter). Demonstrate that you know enough about the empl
oyer or position to relate your background to the employer or position. Mentio
n specific qualifications which make you a good fit for the employer’s needs.
This is an opportunity to explain in more detail relevant items in your resum
e. Refer to the fact that your resume is enclosed. Mention other enclosures if
such are required to apply for a position.
3rd paragraph: Indicate that you would like the opportunity to interview for a
position or to talk with the employer to learn more about their opportunities
or hiring plans. State what you will do to follow up, such as telephone the e
mployer within two weeks. If you will be in the employer’s location and could
offer to schedule a visit, indicate when. State that you would be glad to pro
vide the employer with any additional information needed. Thank the employer f
or her/his consideration.
Sincerely,
(Your handwritten signature)
Your name typed
Enclosure(s) (refers to resume, etc.)
(Note: the contents of your letter might best be arranged into four paragraphs
. Consider what you need to say and use good writing style. See the following
examples for variations in organization and layout.)
Sample 3.1 — Letter of application, hard copy version
E-2 Apartment Heights Dr.
Blacksburg, VA 24060
(540) 555-0101
abcd@vt.edu
February 22, 2007
Dr. Michael Jr. Rhodes
Principal, Wolftrap Elementary School
1205 Beulah Road
Vienna, VA 22182
Dear Dr. Rhodes:
I enjoyed our conversation on February 18th at the Family and Child Developmen
t seminar on teaching young children and appreciated your personal input about
helping children attend school for the first time. This letter is to follow-
up about the Fourth Grade Teacher position as discussed at the seminar. I wil
l be completing my Bachelor of Science Degree in Family and Child Development
with a concentration in Early Childhood Education at Virginia Tech in May of 2
007, and will be available for employment at that time.
The teacher preparation program at Virginia Tech includes a full academic year
of student teaching. Last semester I taught second grade and this semester, f
ourth grade. These valuable experiences have afforded me the opportunity to:
develop lesson plans on a wide range of topics and varying levels of academic
ability,
work with emotionally and physically challenged students in a total inclusion
program,
observe and participate in effective classroom management approaches,
assist with parent-teacher conferences, and
complete In-Service sessions on diversity, math and reading skills, and commun
ity relations.
Through my early childhood education courses I have had the opportunity to wor
k in a private day care facility, Rainbow Riders Childcare Center, and in Virg
inia Tech’s Child Development Laboratory. Both these facilities are NAEYC ac
credited and adhere to the highest standards. At both locations, my responsib
ilities included leading small and large group activities, helping with lunche
s and snacks, and implementing appropriate activities. Both experiences also
provided me with extensive exposure to the implementation of developmentally a
ppropriate activities and materials.
I look forward to putting my knowledge and experience into practice in the pub
lic school system. Next week I will be in Vienna, and I plan to call you then
to answer any questions that you may have. I can be reached before then at (5
40) 555-7670. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
(handwritten signature)
Donna Harrington
Enclosure
Sample 3.2 — Letter of application, e-mail version
April 14, 2006
Mr. William Jackson
Employment Manager
Acme Pharmaceutical Corporation
13764 Jefferson Parkway
Roanoke, VA 24019
jackson@acmepharmaceutical.com
Dear Mr. Jackson:
From your company's web site I learned about your need for a sales representat
ive for the Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina areas. I am very interested
in this position with Acme Pharmaceuticals, and believe that my education and
employment background are appropriate for the position.
While working toward my master’s degree, I was employed as a sales representa
tive with a small dairy foods firm. I increased my sales volume and profit ma
rgin appreciably while at Farmer’s Foods, and I would like to repeat that suc
cess in the pharmaceutical industry. I have a strong academic background in b
iology and marketing, and think that I could apply my combination of knowledge
and experience to the health industry. I will complete my master's degree in
marketing in mid-May and will be available to begin employment in early June.
Enclosed is a copy of my resume, which more fully details my qualifications fo
r the position.
I look forward to talking with you regarding sales opportunities with Acme Pha
rmaceuticals. Within the next week I will contact you to confirm that you rece
ived my email and resume and to answer any questions you may have.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Lynn A. Johnson
5542 Hunt Club Lane, #1
Blacksburg, VA 24060
(540) 555-8082
lajohnson@vt.edu
Resume attached as MS Word document (assuming company web site instructed appl
icants to do this)
Sample 3.3 — Letter of application, e-mail version
March 14, 2008
Ms. Charlene Prince
Director of Personnel
Large National Bank Corporation
Roanoke, VA 24040
cprince@largebank.com
Dear Ms. Prince:
As I indicated in our telephone conversation yesterday, I would like to apply
for the marketing research position you advertised in the March 12th edition o
f the Roanoke Times and World News. With my undergraduate research background,
my training in psychology and sociology, and my work experience, I believe I
could make a valuable contribution to Large National Bank Corporation in this
position.
In May I will complete my Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in So
ciology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. As part of t
he requirements for this degree, I am involved in a senior marketing research
project that has given me experience interviewing and surveying research subje
cts and assisting with the analysis of the data collected. I also have complet
ed a course in statistics and research methods.
In addition to academic work, my experience also includes working part-time as
a bookkeeper in a small independent bookstore with an annual budget of approx
imately $150,000. Because of the small size of this business, I have been exp
osed to and participated in most aspects of managing a business, including adv
ertising and marketing. As the bookkeeper, I produced monthly sales reports t
hat allow the owner/buyer to project seasonal inventory needs. I also assisted
with the development of ideas for special promotional events and calculated b
ook sales proceeds after each event in order to evaluate its success.
I believe that the combination of my business experience and social science re
search training is well-suited to the marketing research position you describe
d. I have enclosed a copy of my resume with additional information about my q
ualifications. Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to receiving
your reply.
Sincerely,
Jessica Lawrence
250 Prices Fork Road
Blacksburg, VA 24060
(540) 555-1234
jessica.lawrence@vt.edu
Resume text included in email below and attached as MS Word document
Sample 3.4 — Letter of application, hard copy version
1000 Terrace View Apts.
Blacksburg, VA 24060
(540) 555-4523
stevemason@vt.edu
March 25, 2005
Mr. John Wilson
Personnel Director
Anderson Construction Company
3507 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20895
Dear Mr. Wilson:
I read in the March 24th Washington Post classified section of your need for a
Civil Engineer or Building Construction graduate for one of your Washington,
DC, area sites. I will be returning to the Washington area after graduation in
May and believe that I have the necessary credentials for the project.
I have worked at various levels in the construction industry every summer sinc
e the 8th grade. As you can see from my resume, I worked several summers as a
general laborer, gradually moved up to a carpenter, and last summer I worked a
s assistant construction manager on a 100 million dollar job.
In addition to this practical experience, I will complete requirements for my
Building Construction degree in May. As you may know, Virginia Tech in one of
the few universities in the country that offers such a specialized degree for
the construction industry. I am confident that my Building Construction degre
e, along with my years of construction industry experience, make me an excelle
nt candidate for your job.
The Anderson Construction Company projects are familiar to me, and my aspirati
on is to work for a company that has your excellent reputation. I would welco
me the opportunity to interview with you. I will be in the Washington area dur
ing the week of April 12th and would be available to speak with you at that ti
me. In the next week to ten days I will contact you to answer any questions yo
u may have.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
(handwritten signature)
Steve Mason
Enclosure
Sample 3.5 — Letter of inquiry about employment possibilities, e-mail version
December 12, 2007
Mr. Robert Burns
President, Template Division
MEGATEK Corporation
9845 Technical Way
Arlington, VA 22207
burns@megatek.com
Dear Mr. Burns:
I learned of MEGATEK through online research using the CareerSearch database t
hrough Career Services at Virginia Tech where I am completing my Master's degr
ee in Mechanical Engineering. From my research on your web site, I believe the
re would be a good fit between my skills and interests and your needs. I am in
terested in a software engineering position upon completion of my degree in Ma
y 2008.
As a graduate student, I am one of six members on a software development team
where we are writing a computer aided aircraft design program for NASA. My res
ponsibilities include designing, coding, and testing of a graphical portion of
the program which requires the use of GIARO for graphics input and output. I
have a strong background in computer aided design, software development, and e
ngineering, and believe that these skills would benefit the designing and manu
facturing aspects of Template software. Enclosed is my resume which further o
utlines my qualifications.
My qualifications make me well suited to the projects areas in which your divi
sion of MEGATEK is expanding efforts. I would appreciate the opportunity to d
iscuss a position with you, and will contact you in a week or ten days to answ
er any questions you may have and to see if you need any other information fro
m me such as a company application form or transcripts. Thank you for your co
nsideration.
Sincerely,
William Stevens
123 Ascot Lane
Blacksburg, VA 24060
(540) 555-2556
WStevens@vt.edu
Resume attached as MS Word document
Sample 3.6 — Letter of inquiry about internship opportunities, hard copy vers
ion
2343 Blankinship Road
Blacksburg, VA 24060
(540) 555-2233
StacyLeeGimble@vt.edu
January 12, 2006
Ms. Sylvia Range
Special Programs Assistant
Marion County Family Court Wilderness Challenge
303 Center Street
Marion, VA 24560
Dear Ms. Range:
I am a junior at Virginia Tech, working toward my bachelor's degree in family
and child development. I am seeking an internship for this summer 2006, and wh
ile researching opportunities in the field of criminal justice and law, I foun
d that your program works with juvenile delinquents. I am writing to inquire a
bout possible internship opportunities with the Marion County Family Court Wil
derness Challenge.
My work background and coursework have supplied me with many skills and an und
erstanding of dealing with the adolescent community; for example:
I worked as a hotline assistant for a local intervention center. I counseled t
eenagers about personal concerns and referred them, when necessary, to appropr
iate professional services for additional help.
I have been active at my university as a resident hall assistant, which requir
es me to establish rapport with fifty residents and advise them on personal ma
tters, as well as university policies. In addition, I develop social and educa
tional programs and activities each semester for up to 200 participants.
My enclosed resume provides additional details about my background.
I will be in the Marion area during my Spring break, March 6 - March 10. I wi
ll call you next week to see if it would be possible to meet with you in early
March to discuss your program.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
(handwritten signature)
Stacy Lee Gimble
Encl.
Sample 4.1 — Information seeking letter, hard copy version
23 Roanoke Street
Blacksburg, VA 24060
(540) 555-1123
email: K.Walker@vt.edu
October 23, 2006
Mr. James G. Webb
Delon Hampton & Associates
800 K Street, N.W., Suite 720
Washington, DC 20001-8000
Dear Mr. Webb:
I will be graduating from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor’s degree in Architect
ure in May 2007, and am researching employment opportunities in the Washington
area. I obtained your name from VT CareerLink, Career Services' Alumni databa
se. I very much appreciate your volunteering to help students with job search
information, and I hope that your schedule will permit you to provide me with
some advice. I am particularly interested in historic preservation and underst
and that your firm does work in this area. I am also interested in learning ho
w the architects in your firm began their careers. My resume is enclosed simpl
y to give you some information about my background and project work.
I will call you in two weeks to arrange a time to speak to you by telephone or
perhaps visit your office if that would be convenient. I will be in the Washi
ngton area during the week of November 21. I very much appreciate your time an
d consideration of my request, and I look forward to talking with you.
Sincerely,
(handwritten signature)
Kristen Walker
Encl.
Sample 5.2 — Follow-up letter to information seeking meeting, email version
November 30, 2006
Mr. James G. Webb
Delon Hampton & Associates
800 K Street, N.W., Suite 720
Washington, DC 20001-8000
webb@delon.com
Dear Mr. Webb:
Thank you so much for taking time from your busy schedule to meet with me last
Tuesday. It was very helpful to me to learn so much about the current project
s of Delon Hampton & Associates and the career paths of several of your staff.
I appreciate your reviewing my portfolio and encouraging my career plans. I a
lso enjoyed meeting Beth Ormond, and am glad to have her suggestions on how I
can make the most productive use of my last semester in college.
Based on what I learned from my visit to your firm and other research I have d
one, I am very interested in being considered for employment with your firm in
the future. I will be available to begin work after I graduate in May 2003. A
s you saw from my portfolio, I have developed strong skills in the area of his
torical documentation and this is a good match for the types of projects in wh
ich your firm specializes. I have enclosed a copy of my resume to serve as a r
eminder of my background, some of which I discussed with you when we met.
During the next few months I will stay in contact with you in hopes that there
may be an opportunity to join your firm. Thank you again for your generous he
lp.
Sincerely,
Kristin Walker
23 Roanoke Street
Blacksburg, VA 24060
(540) 555-1123
KWalker@vt.edu
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