2. Two key questions you MUST
address in your letter:
1) Why are you sending your resume?
2) What value can you offer?

3. Format
I. First paragraph: what job are you
applying for?
II. Why are you UNIQUELY qualified?
III. Where can s/he find more
information about you?
IV. Good-bye

4. DOs
• DO get to the point QUICKLY!
• DO focus on YOUR value and how it
relates to the employer’s needs.
• DO make it short. No longer than 200
words.

5. Don’ts
• DON’T oversell yourself (“I am the
BEST!”)
• DON’T be cheesy (“Your search is
over…”)
• DON’T ramble. Get to the point!

6. Samples: Opening
I am writing to apply for the position of Financial
Editor/Blogger that you are currently advertising on
behalf of your client. My background in financial
journalism at both CNN International and CNBC
Asia, financial services at E*TRADE in the Silicon
Valley and fluency in Mandarin Chinese are all
ideally suited to meet the challenges of this position.

7. Samples: Body
I have lived, studied and worked extensively
throughout North Asia and Greater China in
particular. As a journalist in both traditional and
new media, I have covered the region’s financial
markets and economics for many years. I also did
extensive research on the subject of Chinese
economic development and international relations
during my 2004 graduate studies at the University of
Hong Kong.

8. Samples: Close
Thank you in advance for your consideration of my
candidacy for this exciting position. For more
information about my background, including
samples of my past work, I have an
online portfolio available at www.ericolander.com.
I look forward to talking with you soon.