Reading About Cover Letters

Last updated
Save as PDF

Page ID: 186372

\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

Reading About Cover Letters

Since you now have a first draft of a resume done, you have a really good idea of both your strengths and your weaknesses as you head into the job market. A cover letter is the way you take your application a step further.

If you have weaknesses in your resume, the cover letter is a place to explain those weaknesses and turn them into positives for your application. If you already have a strong resume with good experience, the cover letter is the place to sell your strongest features. It’s truly persuasive writing in its purest form and you’re selling yourself!

Take a moment and read the article below, again from the magazine Career World, titled "Writing a Cover Letter." It explains exactly what to do in writing a strong cover letter. Be sure you take note of the formula they provide for a strong cover letter. You'll be using it next!

Also take a moment to review the example cover letters below. Do they follow the formula? What elements of these cover letters could you imitate?