What Is an Effective Sample Cover Letter?

When writing your cover letter, include specific work examples to increase effectiveness.

When employers post available job positions, they sometimes receive hundreds or thousands of responses from candidates eager to compete for the job. Since it is costly and time-consuming to meet with each candidate, employers review job applications, cover letters and resumes to weed out weaker candidates and identify potential professionals who qualify for the interview process. Effective cover letters help you stand out from the pack, but the prospect of drafting successful letters may seem intimidating. Reviewing sample cover letter topics can help you draft an effective cover letter.

Rationale

Effective cover letters explicitly state the writer's intention. For example, you may be searching for a summer internship, research opportunity, mentorship, part-time employment, full-time employment or occasional consultation work. Link your cover letter submission with the company's call for employees when possible to demonstrate that you have completed prior research. A sample sentence might say, "I am writing to express strong interest in the part-time assistant professor position listed in the University of Arizona's weekly job bulletin this week."

Appeal

Maximize cover letter effectiveness by explaining why you're the best candidate for the available position. Discuss your educational background, work experience, research achievements, languages spoken, technical skills and desirable professional qualities such as punctuality, self-motivation, or being detail-oriented. It's especially effective to match your skill set with the qualifications and expectations listed in the job description so that potential employers can clearly identify shared characteristics between yourself and their desired employee. When possible, use short, specific examples to back up your skills; long lists of complimentary adjectives aren't especially effective. A sample sentence might read, "My motivation to boost profits in my last job led to an overall 20 percent increase in sales."

Action Call

Effective cover letters conclude with a decisive call to action intended to motivate employers to pick up the phone and schedule an interview with you. An example might state, "If you'd like to review my resume and work sample materials in person, please feel free to call the telephone number listed below. I look forward to hearing from you." For a more forward approach, explain that you'll plan to get in touch within a specific time frame to follow up on the cover letter submission. Sample phrasing might include, "I plan to get in touch in two weeks to discuss whether you require any additional materials." Make sure to call if you've indicated that you plan to call. Keep in mind that not all companies want to field phone calls from candidates.

Unique

While it's fine to craft a generic cover letter that you'll refer to as a master draft when responding to job postings, it is important to make each letter seem specifically written for a particular job. Effective cover letters are targeted to one job at one company. Interweave facts, research and observations about the company to demonstrate that you have taken the time to write a unique cover letter. A sample sentence might read, "After reviewing your recent successful marketing strategy targeting teen athletes, I have three specific ideas for how to increase effectiveness for next year's campaign."

References

• Virginia Tech: Cover Letters
• Amazing Cover Letters: 7 Elements of a Highly Effective Cover Letter
• Smashing Magazine: What Makes a Great Cover Letter
• Rensselear Polytechnic Institute: Cover Letters
• Career Consulting Corner: Cover Letter Examples
• Career Consulting Corner: Example Specific Cover Letter