Letter of Introduction vs. Cover Letter
A letter of introduction is written by someone referring a candidate to an employer or is written by someone seeking career help. A cover letter is written by someone applying for a job and telling a potential employer how she can bring value to the company. A cover letter is sent with a resume. A letter of introduction can be sent with a resume or alone.
Other People Are Reading
-
Types
-
A letter of introduction referring a candidate to an employer is an informal letter. It can be sent by email or in letter form since the writer and the intended reader have a relationship. A letter of introduction asking for career help should be sent in letter form or by email. The more formal tone of a letter would be considered more professional than the email.
A cover letter is usually sent in letter form with a resume but with online applications, cover letters are now sent over the Internet. A formal tone is used whether the letter is sent by mail or over the Internet.
Features
-
Letters of introduction begin by establishing how the writer and the person being referred know each other. It then asks the reader to consider the candidate for employment and the reasons why the writer thinks the person would be a good fit for the company. It then tells the reader to look at the resume or that the candidate will be getting in contact with him about the open job position.
Cover letters are formal letters to employers that begin by letting the reader know what position is being applied for and what attachments accompany the letter. The letter then explains a candidate's background, accomplishments and how he can bring value to the company. It ends by giving the reader contact information for the writer.
-
Function
-
Both letters of introduction and cover letters function to help people get an interview with an employer. Letters of introduction that ask for career assistance let people know a person is interested in a certain line of work. This type of letter will help someone learn what employers are looking for in an employee or in general what types of jobs are in a certain industry and what requirements are necessary to get a job.
Benefits
-
A letter of introduction is a networking tool. Letters of introduction are helpful because an employer is getting a referral from a trusted source. Cover letters are an opportunity for candidates to give employers a glimpse of what they are capable of contributing to companies.
Considerations
-
Job seekers should consider getting letters of introduction in addition to sending cover letters and resumes. Letters of introduction make potential job candidates less anonymous. While resumes are the work horse of many job applications, cover letters are the first impression. Job seekers should spend time creating a letter specific to each job position.
-
