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COVER
LETTER MODEL
(also
referred to as an application letter)
Current
Street Address
Your City, State and Zip Code
Today's Date
Individual's
Name
Title
Employer Name or Company
Street Address
City, State, Zip Code
Dear
Individual’s Name: (Use either Mr. or Ms., if
you do not know if the individual is a woman or
man use both, i.e., Dear Mr. or Ms.)
FIRST
PARAGRAPH.
The
initial paragraph needs to capture the attention
of the reader and compel him/her to read
further. Answer the question “why am I writing
this letter? One way to accomplish this goal is
to open the letter with a topic of importance to
the employer. This topic should be linked to job
requirements or expected accomplishments of a
person in the kind of job you are seeking. An
alternative method of capturing the employer’s
attention is to display knowledge of the
organization and its reputation or goals. In
either case, it is important to link your
qualifications to the employer’s needs, either
in the first paragraph or later on.
Other
approaches include: mentioning the name of a
person who referred you to the employer or
stating your reason for writing (to inquire
about or apply for a specific type of position).
If you use the latter approach in an application
letter, state how you learned of the position.
Whatever
your approach to the first paragraph (and the
rest of the letter, for that matter), make it
interesting and original. “I am writing to
apply for. . .” is not very
interesting.
MIDDLE
PARAGRAPH(S).
Here is your opportunity, in one to three
paragraphs, to convince the employer that you
can make a unique contribution to the
organization. Highlight your relevant skills,
experience, knowledge, personal qualities,
academic background, and accomplishments. Link
these positive features to ways you can be of
benefit to the employer. It is always best to
use an example or two to support claims you make
about yourself. Try to tie your strengths into
the attention getting topic you discussed in the
first paragraph.
LAST
PARAGRAPH.
Conclude by restating your candidacy for the
position you are applying for or express
your interest in working with the organization
(if you did not do so in the first paragraph).
Use this paragraph to state your desire to meet
with the employer for an interview. Refer to
your enclosed résumé and/or other supporting
documents (applications, references. and
transcripts). Give a phone number where you can
be reached or where a message can be left for
you.
Sincerely,
Rebecca
Roberts
Enc.
(this denotes that your résumé, application
form, and/or references have been enclosed)
Note:
Paragraphs #2 and #3 can be combined if
very short.
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