Cover Letter guide

A cover letter tells the employer the type of position you're seeking and highlights the specific aspects of your experience that qualify you for a particular position. Your cover letter can explain things that your resume can't. If you have large gaps in your employment history because of school or you are reentering the job market or changing the focus of your career, a cover letter can explain these circumstances in a positive way. The cover letter should never, ever exceed one page, and it's best to keep it well under a full page. Be Sure to Include the Following: Include the position title (and number if provided) in the first paragraph of the cover letter (If e-mailing, make sure to include this information in the subject heading of your e-mail) Include your educational background (whether you are currently in an MBA program or have recently graduated from one) Make specific references to the company and indicate your knowledge of the company’s primary ...

Block Format When writing business letters, you must pay special attention to the format and font used. The most common layout of a business letter is known as block format. Using this format, the entire letter is left justified and single spaced except for a double space between paragraphs. Modified Block Another widely utilized format is known as modified block format. In this type, the body of the letter and the sender's and recipient's addresses are left justified and single-spaced. However, for the date and closing, tab to the center point and begin to type. Semi-Block The final, and least used, style is semi-block. It is much like the modified block style except that each paragraph is indented instead of left justified. Keep in mind that different organizations have different format requirements for their professional communication. While the examples provided by the OWL contain common elements for the basic business letter (genre expectations), the format of you...

Your cover letter should convey a professional message. Of course, the particular expectations of a professional format depend on the organization you are looking to join. For example, an accounting position at a legal firm will require a more traditional document format. A position as an Imagineer at Disney might require a completely different approach. Again, a close audience analysis of the company and the position will yield important information about the document expectations. Let the organization's communications guide your work. For this example, we are using a traditional approach to cover letters: Single-space your cover letter Leave a space between each paragraph Leave three spaces between your closing (such as "Sincerely" or "Sincerely Yours") and typed name Leave a space between your heading (contact information) and greeting (such as, "Dear Mr. Roberts") Either align all paragraphs to the left of the page, or indent the first li...