When responding to employment opportunities and submitting resumes to potential employers, never send your resume without a cover letter. The cover letter "introduces" you to employers and highlights the skills, experiences and education you have to offer them. This letter should never be a "form" letter, it should be directed to a specific person, if possible, in application for a specific position. If a specific position is not available, you may still send a resume and cover letter requesting that the organization considers you for future openings.
The cover letter should consist of an introductory paragraph explaining how you heard about the job opening or the organization; a second paragraph briefly describing your skills and interests and what you can offer to the organization; and a final paragraph requesting an interview and describing how you will follow-up on your correspondence, if you can.
Always make sure that your cover letter is proofread by a variety of "reviewers." Do bring your cover letter to Career Services for a critique as well.
Download our Cover Letter Guide for more information and a variety of samples. Don't forget that you also need to send "thank you" letters to employers after interviews as well! Thank you, Acceptance, and Rejection of Offer Letters are also included in this guide. You may also pick up a copy at Career Services.
