This document provides guidance on writing an effective cover letter. It explains that a cover letter highlights skills and experiences from one's resume and connects them to the specific position being applied for. The cover letter should reference the job description to demonstrate how the applicant is qualified. An outline is then provided for writing the cover letter, including comparing one's background to the job requirements, selecting the most relevant experiences, and relating those experiences back to the position. A sample cover letter format is also included, with headings for an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.

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Guide to
Student Cover Letters
February 2011

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What is a Cover Letter?
A cover letter is a way to expand on what is included on your resume: highlighting
skills gained, attributes utilized, and passions developed, and then connecting
them to a specific job or type of job. The cover letter illustrates how you are
prepared, qualified, and motivated to take on the position. Therefore, you must
always relate your experiences back to the position description to which you are
applying.
Cover Letter Toolkit
Before beginning to write your cover letter, make sure that you have the following in
front of you:
• Your resume
• Job/position description
• Company/organization description
• Any additional research you are able to conduct about the company and
position, including information gathered from a current employee whom you
can reference in your letter
Writing a Cover Letter
With all of your tools in hand, you are now ready to write your cover letter. To begin,
carefully read the job description and do the following:
• Highlight specific elements of the job description that you have the skills
and/or experience to do
• Underline all qualifications and note how you have attained them or why you
would be able to develop them further
• Obtain the employer’s address and contact information. Be sure to follow the
application instructions explicitly (e.g., include personal references or salary
expectations if asked to do so).
Once you have a better understanding of the position and company, you may want to
tweak your resume to highlight different aspects of your background that are most
relevant. Consider the following when updating your resume for a specific position:
• Creating a new section: Depending on the job description, you can always
consider adding a new section if you think it would be relevant to that
employer. For example, you might add a section on volunteer experience if
you’re looking for similar work now, and noting your language skills or travel
history might matter at some times but not others.
• Reality check: If the job description describes some task that you have done
before or some qualification that you definitely have, double-check your
resume. Is it on there? If not, make that change before sending out your
resume!
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3.
• Fine-tune existing sections: Your computer skills and interests section are
always smart to crosscheck against the job description. If the employer is
looking for a skill that you have, then it had better be listed on your resume! If
you have any hobbies or interests that are relevant to an employer based on the
job or industry, you absolutely want to mention those in your Interests section.
Now that you understand the position and organization better, you may begin writing
your cover letter. Create an outline by doing the following:
• Compare your resume to the job description, and then do some
brainstorming.
Write down a list of all the ways that your experiences and skills might connect
to that specific job description. This can require some creativity. If the
company is looking for someone with good multitasking skills, for example, you
really need to look over your experiences at work and school and think about
where you best showed that quality. A waitressing job is definitely a great one
to tout for multitasking, but you also could talk about juggling full-time school
with a part-time job. If the job calls for responsibility, then experience with
childcare or lifeguarding might deserve consideration.
• Once you’ve listed five or ten possible experiences and skills, pick the best
three to mention in your cover letter.
At this point, you need to look at your list more critically. Which of these skills
and experiences represent your strongest argument for getting hired? Which is
a characteristic that you possess that other job candidates might be less likely
to possess? For example, many teens could claim to have a good work ethic,
but do you have great proof of it because you worked incredibly long hours
doing tough work? That might be worth a mention. In general, hard skills—the
ability to use computers or to do bookkeeping—are more powerful to emphasize
than soft skills, when possible.
• Select experiences from your resume that highlight your interest in and
passion for the organization’s mission and work.
Organizations want to hire people that will be good fits for their culture, and
they also want employees who are as passionate about their work as they are.
Making a connection between a past volunteer experience at a hospital and a
paying position in a doctor’s office would be smart, for example. Spending time
creating web pages or fixing the family computer might be good to mention if
you’re looking for technology-related work or with a company that values
computer skills.
When you have identified three compelling skills or experiences that hopefully
differentiate you from other job seekers, then you’ve created what will become the
heart of your cover letter. By a wide margin, this is the most important element that
your cover letter will include. After a brief introductory paragraph, you’re going to
help the employer connect the dots between what you can do and what they need to
get done.
The following page shows the format for an effective cover letter.
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Cover Letter Format
Date April 1, 2011
Employer’s name, Employer’s title Ms. Employer, Employer’s title
Organization’s name ABC Company
1 Employer Street
Employer’s address
Boston, MA 01234
Employer’s city, state, zip
Dear Ms. Employer,
Dear Mr. or Ms. _________
I am writing in response to your posting on idealist.org for
Paragraph I (3‐5 sentences) the Health Intern position. In June 2011, I will graduate from
• State your reason for writing and how Boston Latin Academy and plan to undertake a healthcare‐
you heard about the position. Identify the related internship for the summer.
position or type of work that you are
applying for. Because of my interest and demonstrated academic
excellence in the natural sciences, I plan to follow a pre‐med
track in college. I hope that my internship experience will
Paragraph II‐III (3‐4 sentences each) allow me to contribute to a local organization while building
• State why you want to work for this my knowledge of this field.
employer or in this field, providing
relevant examples of your interest and Your job description indicates that you are seeking someone
qualification. with excellent communication skills, an ability to coordinate
• Always relate your experience back to the multiple tasks, and the interpersonal skills needed to build
position and mention each qualification relationships with volunteers. Last spring, I coordinated a
from the position description. health fair on campus in which 20 organizations participated.
This project gave me hands‐on experience and a better
understanding of the needs of healthcare organizations.
Additionally, my knowledge of biology, combined with the
excellent writing skills acquired through my coursework, will
help me to prepare interesting and informative programs and
publications. Your agency plays a vital role in securing both
professional and financial resources to help alleviate the
suffering of others, and I would be proud to be a part of that
mission.
Paragraph IV (2‐3 sentences) In my desire to make a difference in the Greater Boston
community, I would welcome the opportunity to meet with
• Thank them and indicate next steps.
you to discuss the intern position. I will call you next week to
Provide contact info. follow up on my application. Meanwhile, I may be reached at
(617) 123‐4567 or via email at student@email.com. Thank
you in advance for your consideration.
Sincerely, Sincerely,
Student name Student name
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