Career Research

This seems like a silly thing to say, but you have to read the job description! 

The point of a cover letter is to explain why you are the best fit for this role. That means you have to know what is included in the role.

Some things to pay extra attention to:

• What are the requirements for this position?
• Which skills does the description specifically list?
• What are the educational requirements? Are there any specializations they highlight?
• What keywords pop out at you?
• Does it say a certain type of person/attitude would be most successful in this role? 

The point of a cover letter is to make yourself sound like the best possible person for this role! 

That means you have to do more than list your skills and accomplishments- you have to explain why those things make you qualified for this role. 

It does not have to just be work experiences- this is where you can discuss classes or assignments you've completed, internships, volunteer experiences, etc.- anything that makes you stick out from other candidates.

Some things to ask yourself:

• Have I done any of these responsibilities in a previous job?
• Have I volunteered or interned at a company with similar values?
• Did I take a class or training that included relevant work?
• Which of the keywords can you use to describe your work?
• Have you gotten any impressive awards or accolades?
• Have you completed any special projects?
• What is the most interesting thing you've done at a job?
• How do my experiences reflect the qualities that this position needs?

EXAMPLE:

Here is a job responsibility (Front Office Associate in a radiology office): 

• As a Float Front Office Associate, you will be the first point of contact for patients and referring professionals -- answering phones, cheerfully greeting and registering patients, scheduling patient procedures, and acting a liaison between medical technologists and patients waiting for exams.

How to use this description to guide your writing:

• "During my role as a library assistant, I was responsible for managing the circulation desk. This included greeting incoming patrons, answering phones, creating library cards, and booking study rooms. I also was the point of contact between patrons and the librarians. Thus, I am confident that I could acclimate to the medical environment and provide the same level of friendly but organized service. Additionally, I have completed training in HIPAA compliance while volunteering at my local hospital, so would handle patient information with strict confidentiality."

Notice how even though I don't have front desk experience, I used my experiences to demonstrate the same skills?

Here is how not to approach this:

• I have not had any direct experience as a Front Office Associate. However, while I was a library assistant, I would answer phones and create library cards. 

This does not explain why you would do well at the job, and will probably just make the hiring manager wonder why you applied.

Here is a general template for a cover letter:

Your Name
Street Address City, State, Zip
Email and phone number

Today’s Date

Mr./Ms./Dr. Name
Title
Organization

Dear ______:

The opening paragraph should explain why you are writing, giving your specific employment interest. Mention how you found out about the position. If it was advertised, refer to the website or resource in which you saw it. If a contact told you about it, say so. It is also helpful to include an overall summary of the key skills, knowledge areas, or experiences that you are bring to this role right here in the first paragraph. If you start off with these very specific conclusions that confidently state that you have what the employer is looking for, then the reader will also have a lot of confidence that your letter and resume are worth reading. The next paragraphs will then expand on and illustrate what you are summarizing in this first paragraph.

The middle paragraph(s) should summarize the aspects of your background which will interest the employer. The more information you have about the organization and its needs, the better.  Discuss your qualifications in terms of the contributions you can make. While you should not repeat your resume verbatim, don’t hesitate to refer to the most important information discussed in it. Ideally, both your cover letter and your CV/resume would be able to stand alone. It is not necessary to describe yourself in superlatives. Rather than saying, “I can make a uniquely valuable contribution to your organization,” give the employer enough relevant, targeted information to allow the reader to reach that conclusion independently. Be specific and credible. Tell stories that have a touch of drama, for example: “When I was working as the president of X student group, one of the challenges that we faced was XYZ.” Once you have created a touch of drama, describe how you used your skills to overcome it, for example: “So what I had to do was build relationships with administrators on campus by communicating the critical role our group played in doing ABC.” Once you have told the story, reflect on it in terms of how this is particularly relevant for the reader, for example: “I really enjoyed being placed in a position where I had to reach out to contact and bring them all together by creating a shared vision for everyone to buy into. I think this combination of strong marketing skills and relationship building will be valuable to the role of Advertising Associate.”

The closing paragraph should explain why the position and the particular organization is attractive to you, and should hopefully pave the way for the interview. Provide an authentic reason why you are excited about bringing your skills to the role, and what you will also gain from being in the role. Speaking with former or current employees at the organization as part of your networking will help in this regards.  You can also offer to send any additional information, restate your contact details, and state that you look forward to hearing from them.

Sincerely,

Your Name

From the Career Services Department at the University of Pennsylvania. Read more here: https://careerservices.upenn.edu/cover-letter-writing-guide/

Here is an example from California State University- Dominguez Hills

BAD COVER LETTER

To Who It Concerns,

I am an alumni of Cal State Dominguez Hills.  My program is known for it’s hands on approach to learning.  If I had went to another school, I probably wouldn’t no as much as I now no about digital audio and video mediums.

All I need to know is, do you have a job that I would be interested in.  I need money fast and would be willing to start now if the pay is alright.  I am now available on Tuesday from 7:15-8:00 or Friday from 9:30-10pm.

I have alot of professional references you can refer to and your free to check them at anytime.  You can call Dr.V or myself if you need a letter of recommendation.  I think I would be good for this job because I have done simular work in the past. I also have a demo reel of projects I worked on in class.  Me and my classmates worked in teams and demonstrated on many occasions that we were good at producing quality projects.  Are projects are available for you to see whenever you want. I would just need to get you a copy.

Youre free to call me at work, but please don’t call my work number.  I will stop whatever I’m doing at work to take your call.  I look forward to working for you and someday helping your company.

Please call me ASAP,

Joe Blow

GOOD COVER LETTER

To Whom It May Concern (or the actual person’s name:  Mr./Ms. Johnson),

I am currently a student majoring in Digital Media Arts at the California State University Dominguez Hills.  I will be graduating in May of 20?? with a Bachelor of Arts degree in (Audio Recording/Television Arts/Music Technology) and would like to apply for an internship in your (Choose which you want:  Production, Broadcast Operations,  Development, Programming, Post Production, Casting, etc.) department.

When given the chance to intern at your company, I have no doubt that I will learn more fully how the entertainment industry functions.  I hope to gain “real world” experience and become more confident in my abilities as a future professional by understanding how (Write what you want:  a television show is developed from concept to distribution, or how TV shows are edited or sweetened).  I look forward to working with professionals who can help guide me in my future career goal in the industry.

I am proficient in (Choose some:  Microsoft Office, Avid, Final Cut Studio, After Effects, Photoshop, Encore, DVD Studio, ProTools, Tasman, Reason, Digital Performer, Flash, etc.) programs. I have plenty of college-level reading experience and plenty of research and writing experience.  In the past year, I have produced a (Choose some:  Public Service Announcement on “Water Conservation”; a short drama feature with ADR, foley, and original music score; and a music video for the band, “Tiffany” on an interactive DVD complete with bonus material photo gallery, interviews, and behind-the-scenes documentary footage.). I learn fast, work hard, and have great discipline when it comes to punctuality and meeting project deadlines.

An interview at your company would allow me the opportunity to show you my portfolio and convince you that I am committed to serving an internship at your company. You can reach me at (333) 555-5555 or jblow@gmail.com to schedule an interview.  Thank you in advance for considering my application.

Sincerely, Joe Blow