How to Write a Cover Letter for a Counselor Position

When applying for a counselor position, you may be going up against some tough competition. A thorough and well-written cover letter can set you above the rest. Without a quality cover letter, you may never get to interview for the counselor position you are applying for.

Instructions

1. Address your letter to a specific person. If the job posting does not list who the application should be directed to, call the company and find out. If the counselor position is for a school, the cover letter should be addressed to a principal, dean or superintendent. If the job is in a clinical setting, it should be directed to a manager, department head or supervisor.

2. Type your full name, address, phone number and email address in the first five lines, at the top left corner of the paper. Skip one line, then enter the month, day and year you are typing the the cover. Skip another line, then add the contact information for the person receiving your letter. The first line of the addressee's information should be his name, and the second line should be his title. The third line of that section should be name of the school or business, with the next two lines being the physical address of the school or business.

3. Begin your cover letter by stating what counseling position you are applying and for, and where you saw the listing.

4. Focus the second section of the letter on your qualifications. Include information about education and experience in the field of counseling. Note anything that sets you apart from other applicants, such as why you feel you make a great counselor.

5. Express your interest in an interview. State when a good time for you would be, such as a particular week that you will be free, or state that you will call to set up an interview. Taking the initiative to set up the interview yourself leaves some of the power with you.

6. Proofread your cover letter more than once. Check for spelling and grammatical errors. Have someone else read the letter as well, if possible, to catch any mistakes you may have missed.

References

• Winona State University: Careers: Sample Cover Letter - Counseling
• University of Pennsylvania: Career Services: Sample Cover Letters and Job Search Correspondance
• Williams Office Of Career Counseling: Write Cover Letters
• Free Cover Letters: Counselor Cover Letter
• Career Services at Virginia Tech: Cover Letter Format Guidelines