How to Write & Print a Cover Letter
When you are applying for a job, you often have to include a cover letter with your resume. Many people make the mistake of sending potential employers recycled cover letters filled with generic content. This may hurt their chances of being considered for the position. Properly composing, formatting and packaging your cover letter improves the chances of it being read and of you being called for an interview.
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Things You'll Need
- High-quality printing paper
- Blue ink pen
- Envelope
- Mail merge application
Instructions
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Provide your name and contact information such as mailing address, phone number and email address. Put that information in the top left corner or in the middle of the top of the page.
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Skip two lines. Write the recipient's name and title. Write the organization's name and address on the following lines.
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Address the cover letter to the intended recipient, which shows that you are not sending the same generic letter to several organizations. Insert the greeting "Dear" before the recipient's name. If you do not know the name, use "To whom it may concern."
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Explain why you are contacting the reader, mentioning how you found out about the position and/or organization. Keep in mind that a cover letter should not be a paraphrase in prose form of the information on your resume. The cover letter should answer the questions: "Why should the organization hire me?" and "What makes me a good fit for this position?" Spark the reader's interest and encourage him to look to your resume for more information.
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Refer to any information requested by the job posting that your resume does not reflect. Examples include your availability dates or an attached writing sample.
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Use a phrase such as "Please find attached my resume" to indicate that you have enclosed your resume. Unless the ad states "No phone calls," say that you will be contacting the recipient within a given time frame to further discuss employment opportunities. Alternatively, express your interest in an interview and provide any special instructions for reaching you.
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Skip two lines. Close the letter with "Regards" or "Sincerely." Skip four lines and type your name.
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Print your cover letter on high-quality paper, such as resume paper. Stick with white or off-white paper. Avoid overly ornate details such as borders. They are likely to distract the reader from the contents of your letter.
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Sign the letter in blue ink. Position your signature in the blank space between the closing and your printed name.
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Tips & Warnings
Avoid using printed mailing labels on a cover letter envelope, which may cause some to mistake it for bulk mailing. As a result, a person may not open it or pass it along to the recipient. Instead, hand-address the envelopes or use the mail merge feature of an office suite computer program to print the address on envelopes.
