Writing a Cover Letter

Writing an effective Cover Letter

Debbie-Ann Hall

OBJECTIVES

At the end of this lesson students should be able to:

• State three main purposes of a cover letter.

• Discuss three guidelines of writing an effective cover letter.

• Outline the main structure of a cover letter.

• Develop an effective cover letter.

The Cover Letter

The cover letter accompanies your resume and its purposes are to:

demonstrate a match between the employer's needs and your qualities;

demonstrate your knowledge of the organization and why you would be a good "fit" if hired; and,

showcase your communication skills, writing ability, and writing style.

Cover Letter Guidelines

• Single space your letter; double space between paragraphs.

• Use a business letter format.

• Keep your paragraphs brief and relevant.

• Tailor your letter to the position and company.

• Show how your qualifications match the job duties and company goals.

• Proofread your letter carefully and ask one or two others to proofread it as well. 

Cover Letter Structure

• The opening paragraph: catch the employer's attention and state what position you are applying for and why. 

• The middle paragraph: develop your theme by providing specific examples of your qualifications.

• The last paragraph: close by requesting an interview and providing contact information.

Writing an effective

Cover Letter

General Tips & Sample Letter

Cover Letter Sample

References

• Pinterest. (2020). Cover Letter Job Application. Retrieved from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/417357090468144691/

• Resume Genius. (2020). Front Desk Cover Letter Example. Retrieved from https://resumegenius.com/cover-letter-examples/front-desk-cover-letter-sample

• Study.com (2020). The Cover Letter: Importance, Details and Format. Retrieved from https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-cover-letter-importance-details-format.html

• The Balance Careers. (n.d.) Top 10 Cover Letter Writing Tips – Advice for Writing a Top Notch Cover Letter for a Job. Retrieved from https://www.thebalancecareers.com/top-cover-letter-writing-tips-2060304

Multiple Choice

The Cover Letter accompanies your ______________.

• application letter

• resume

• telephone call

• job advertisement

Multiple Choice

True or False

Your cover letter shows whether or not you are a good fit for the organization.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

True or False

The cover letter showcases your personal style.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

True or False

One of the main purposes of a cover letter is to demonstrate a match between the employer's needs and your wants.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Open Ended

Complete the following:

Three guidelines in writing an effective cover letter are

__________________________________________________________.

Multiple Select

Check all that apply.

The main parts of a cover letter are:

• Opening Paragraph

• Middle Paragraph

• Closing Paragraph

• Body

• Content

Fill in the Blank

Complete the following sentence:

In the _____________________ you develop your theme by providing specific examples of your qualifications.

Open Ended

Open a new tab in your browser and type the following link.

shorturl.at/jpANS

If you are unable to open a new tab, you may write the link in your notebook and type it in the new tab after you have completed this lesson.

N.B. Do not complete the form during this assessment.

After you have typed the link in a new tab or written it in your notebook, type DONE in the space below.