Why Use a Cover Letter?

A cover letter is a job applicant's sales pitch to potential employers.

While a resume is a summary, a cover letter is a sales pitch. A cover letter affords a job applicant the opportunity to market skills and convey interest in the employment opportunity. In addition, the cover letter is an opportunity for the job applicant to showcase her communication skills and professionalism.

Resume Expansion

Cover letters offer job applicants the opportunity to fill in resume gaps.

A cover letter allows a job applicant the opportunity to expand on his resume by highlighting special achievements and by filling in gaps that may exist in his resume. For example, he might wish to explain time between jobs or elaborate on a certain award he received. He also can pick an item from the resume that differentiates his application and draw the employer's attention to that differentiating item.

Tailored Pitch

Expanding on information that matches an applicant to the job is a benefit of the cover letter. It provides an opportunity to include what the job applicant has done and also what she can do if hired. Cover letters allow her to communicate career-related goals and intentions. In addition, the cover letter allows a job applicant switching careers to highlight her transferable skills.

Writing Sample

A cover letter can highlight a job applicant's communication skills.

Cover letters are an effective way to supply a writing sample to potential employers. The cover letter can convey a job applicant's solid communication skills and give the employer a taste of the kind of work the prospective employee can do. The cover letter is an opportunity to showcase an applicant's professionalism as well.

Types

According to Harvard Business School's Career Development Office, six major categories apply to cover letters. The first category is the referral/approach cover letter. The second is the informational interview request letter, and the third is the executive recruiter contact letter. The fourth is the broadcast letter, and the fifth is the thank you letter. The final category is the turn-down letter.

References

• Duke University Career Center: Cover Letters
• Harvard Business School, Alumni: Career Development -- Resumes and Letters: Letters of Employment
• Purdue University Online Writing Lab: What Is a Cover Letter?

Resources

• Vault: Resume and Cover Letters
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University: Cover Letter Types and Samples
• Wet Feet: Resume and Cover Letter Articles