How to Write a Cover Letter for a Staff-Writer Position

Cover letters should be brief.

In your cover letter, you want to focus mainly on your work experiences that are significant and will make you stand out, since most of your information will be covered in your resume. You should also research the company you're applying to before writing the cover letter; this helps you explain why you want to work with a particular company. Your cover letter should be one page long.

Instructions

1. Mention relevant accomplishments. For example, you can discuss how your series of articles on the breakdown of the middle class in your city won an award by your local branch of the Press Club for investigative journalism. You can talk about your 10-year career as a freelance writer for a magazine.

2. Discuss what you can contribute to the company. If you have experience in completing multiple articles within a tight deadline, state this in the letter. If you're applying to be a bilingual staff writer and you can speak more than one language, mention this.

3. Mention any unpaid activities that relate to the job. Suppose you're applying for a food-writer position with a local magazine. If you volunteered as a cook for several charity events throughout your life, include that fact in the letter. If your experience as a student research assistant could help you get a position as a staff writer for an education journal, discuss your accomplishment.

4. Talk about why you're choosing this company. For example, you can say that you're choosing "The Source" magazine because you believe in this magazine's mission to educate a worldwide audience on the nature and politics of hip-hop. You should also discuss how the company will assist you in the development of your career.

References

• University of Maryland, Phillip Merrill College of Journalism: Cover Letters
• City University Graduate School of Journalism