COVER LETTERS

A cover letter introduces you and your qualifications to prospective employers. Next to your resume,
the cover letter is the most important document in your job search. Contact the career development office
for assistance in creating and perfecting your cover letter.

Cover letters should answer the following questions:

What position are you seeking, and how did you hear about the position?
Why are you interested in the position and organization?
What skills or attributes do you bring?
What specific skills / knowledge / experiences make you a good match for the position?

Cover Letter Checklist

Personalize each letter to the position and organization. If you do not know the name of the person to
whom your letter should be addressed, call the organization and ask the receptionist.
Use paper, font style and font size to match your resume.
Keep the letter short. Three to five paragraphs on one page will help hold the employer’s interest.
Explain how you can fill the company’s needs, not what the company can do for you.
Vary your sentence structures (i.e., don’t start all of your sentences with “I”).
Do not close the letter without identifying what you will do next. Request an interview. Show initiative
by offering to call.
Sign the letter and keep copies of all correspondence.
Proofread. Bring your letter to the career development office to have someone else proofread it.
If you are sending the resume and cover letter by e-mail, you can either attach both the cover letter and
resume to the e-mail, or you can treat the body of the e-mail as your cover letter. Delete the address
block, and keep the letter brief and professional. You do not need to sign e-mailed cover letters.

Cover Letter Outline

First Paragraph

State the reason for writing

Name the specific position or type of work for which you are applying
Indicate from which resource (career development office, website, personal contact, etc.) you learned
of the opening

Middle Paragraph(s)

Highlight related experience, education and activities

Use specific examples to emphasize accomplishments and relevant skills
Present a direct match between your qualifications and the job description requirements

Closing Paragraph

Reiterate that you are a strong or qualified candidate for the position
Refer to your enclosed resume if you have not already
Indicate your interest in an interview
Include a statement expressing your appreciation for the employer’s time and consideration

Calvin College Career Development . (616) 526-6485 . career @calvin.edu . www.calvin.edu/career . Revised May 20105/24/2010
SAMPLE COVER LETTER

3201 Burton Street SE

Grand Rapids, MI 49546

July 30, 2009

Mr. Philip Carter, Manager of Human Resources

Carter Industries, Inc.
1882 Orange Street
Coulee, WI 50000

Dear Mr. Carter:

Please accept the attached resume for the systems analyst position that was advertised on Calvin
College’s online job posting system. My education and experience have prepared me to succeed in this
position.

Being a systems analyst requires experience in computer systems, financial applications software and
end-user consulting. With a major in economics and a minor in computer science, I have skills using a
wide variety of software programs and applications. Experience in my college’s computer center as a
programmer and student consultant gave me valuable exposure to complex computer operations.
Additionally, I worked as an intern in computing operations for a large bank where I gained knowledge
of financial systems. These experiences, coupled with my strong analytical and quantitative skills, make
me an excellent candidate for your position.

I will contact you within seven days to further discuss this position and the possibility of an interview. If
you have any questions, please contact me at (616) 526-4444 or jelgar@gmail.com. Thank you in
advance for your consideration of my qualifications.

Sincerely,

[handwritten signature if submitting a hard copy]

Jim Elgar

Calvin College Career Development . (616) 526-6485 . career @calvin.edu . www.calvin.edu/career . Revised May 20105/24/2010
SAMPLE COVER LETTER
Adding bullet points or other formatting features is acceptable if you want to change the visual appearance of your
letter. The letter below includes bullet points to make it easier for an employer to quickly skim.

April 21, 2009

Forest View Hospital

1055 Medical Park Dr. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

To Whom It May Concern:

Please consider the attached resume for the case manager position that was advertised in The Grand
Rapids Press. The position is a good fit with my education, experience and career interests, and your
agency comes very highly recommended to me by your staff and community partners.
The case manager position requires strong interpersonal skills, direct counseling experience, a
background with motivational interviewing, and the ability to work effectively and efficiently as a team
member. Several opportunities and experiences have prepared me to excel in these areas:
As a social work intern in an urban hospice agency in downtown Chicago, I have experience
establishing rapport with, counseling and supporting bereaved families and individuals through their
grief process using cognitive behavioral therapy and a task-centered approach. Many of my clientele
also suffer from severe and persistent mental illness and/or substance abuse.
I am a former student and facilitator of an interviewing and basic counseling course for upper-level
social work majors at Calvin College that focuses on empathic listening and a non-judgmental frame
of reference. The framework of the course is based upon the strengths-perspective and utilizes
solution-focused techniques.
I have four years of experience working as a productive, organized, responsible and valuable
member in a teamwork setting.
These experiences, combined with my passion and commitment to enhancing and improving the
psychiatric well-being for individuals with severe and persistent mental illnesses, make me an excellent
candidate for your position at Forest View.
I look forward to the possibility of an interview. I will contact you within the next week to follow up.
Thank you very much for your consideration.
Sincerely,

[handwritten signature if submitting a hard copy]

Leslie Brown

Calvin College Career Development . (616) 526-6485 . career @calvin.edu . www.calvin.edu/career . Revised May 20105/24/2010
SAMPLE COVER LETTER

2200 Meadowbrook St. SE

Grand Rapids, MI 49546

March 23, 2010

Ms. Michelle DeHaan

Cascade Township Library
2870 Jack Smith Ave. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Dear Ms. DeHaan:

I am writing to express my interest in the Youth Services Librarian position at Cascade Township
Library, which I heard about from a library employee, Cheryl Jones. My experience and education
make me an excellent candidate for this position.

My past work experience, in both private and public libraries, has given me the knowledge and desire to
succeed in your position. Working at Calvin College’s Hekman Library for the past four years, I have
become adept at assisting patrons who have requests and questions. In addition, my volunteer work in
various branches of the Kent District Library system has prepared me to navigate myself efficiently in
library settings. I have enjoyed serving my community and enriching the lives of others with the
plethora of library materials available, and I hope to be able to do this at Cascade Township Library as
well.

With a bachelor’s degree in English, my educational background also fits well with this position. Not
only do I have effective oral and written communication skills, but I also have strong knowledge of
literature after earning a bachelor’s degree in English from Calvin College. I have extensive experience
working successfully with computers, and I am comfortable with and quick at learning new computer
programs.

I look forward to further discussing this position with you and how I can contribute my skills and
experiences to Cascade Township Library. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

[handwritten signature if submitting a hard copy]

Kathleen Johnson
616.555.1234
kjohnson@gmail.com

Calvin College Career Development . (616) 526-6485 . career @calvin.edu . www.calvin.edu/career . Revised May 20105/24/2010