3.6 Cover Letter

Your Name & Contact Information (you may use the same header as you used on your resume)

Date

Contact’s Name (if not in the job ad, research to determine the person’s name)

Contact’s Title
Company Name
Address, City, Province, Postal Code

Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms./Dr. (Contact’s Last Name):

If no name or title – use Dear Hiring Committee: (do not use “To Whom It May Concern”)

INTRODUCTION: Explain what motivated you to write the letter. Name the position/job posting for which you are applying and how you heard about it. You can refer the employer to the attached resume in this paragraph or in the final paragraph.

BODY: Carefully explain how your skills match those needed for the job. Use action verbs (e.g. planned, organized, completed) to describe your skills as they relate to the job. When responding to a job ad, make sure to address all the listed requirements. This will make it easier to match your skills to the job- both for the resume scanning technology and the human who will eventually read your resume.

Include a paragraph outlining why you would like this job and why you’d like to work for this specific organization and how they match your goals and interests. Mention something you have learned about the company during the course of your research. This is your chance to expand on how your skills and past work experience will serve the role and the organization. It will also provide evidence that you have done your homework.

CLOSING: Use an appropriate closing to pave the way for an interview by suggesting a meeting to further discuss your qualifications. You can refer to your attached resume here if you have not mentioned it earlier. Always thank the employer for their time.

Sincerely,

Signature Here
Your Name