The sample letters that follow arc designed to give you a basis for your own customized letters. (The names and addresses of those sending these letters have been changed for confidentiality.) You should also write a very general, boilerplate letter to send to blind box or P.O. box ads, which list only a box number and no company name. A letter sent to a blind box or P.O. box can be specific about your skills but docs not need to be specific about the employing company or organization.

Simple block-style letters have no indents or tabs. You can center your name and address on the page to give the appearance of personalized stationery.

Overall, your cover letter should contain only positive aspects of your background and no negatives. Exceptions can be made if you have a specific aspect about your past that must be explained to employers before requesting an interview. For example, you might include reasons for having held several short-term jobs within a one- or two-year period, but only if this happened because of relocation, major company downswings, layoffs, or your company going out of business, and only if you’re otherwise having trouble getting interviews. If you haw served time in prison, be sure to see the cover letter example covering that circumstance. Always be sure to highlight the skills you can currently provide; mention but don’t dwell on your past.

Never speak badly of your previous employers, either in your letter or during an interview. Instead, try to stale that you left your former position because you were looking for new job challenges, better pay, better hours or working conditions, or greater career advancement.

Also avoid listing your salary history or references in your cover letter. These items belong on separate salary history or reference sheets. (For an explanation of this item, see the Guide to Basic Resume Writing or similar books.) You may state your most recent wages or salary requirements in your cover letter only if it is requested in an advertisement or by the employer. If you must list salary information, use only ranges: “mid- to upper J40s per year” or “lower S30s per year.” Most important, your materials must read well, with authority and impact. Don’t oversell or undersell your qualifications. Be sure to use direct, no-nonsense, easy-to-understand language.

Remember that cover letters and resumes are designed to gel your Toot in the door for an interview with an employer so you can present your total qualifications. The interview process is where the details of salary should be discussed.

When listing a state as part of your return address, use the appropriate postal code rather than the entire state name; for example, use IN for Indiana,

Keep your sentences short and to the point. It’s hard to digest run-on or rambling sentences with little or no punctuation. Use one sentence for each key thought, and then simply begin another sentence with a related thought. The letter must be light and easy to read, yet still have impact and present important information to the reader Again, nuke sure to proofread all your writing carefully before mailing. Have others read it, too. If you find yourself rushing to get something in the mail, take a moment to slow down and make sure you arc sending out high-quality information. Your career is in your hands!

cover letter writing

Your cover letter can follow any of the general formats, but most important, it must always include the following elements:

1. Cover letter. Who you are: Your name, address, telephone number with area code, and E-mail address, if available.

2. Cover letter. Why you’re sending the employer the cover letter. State clearly your intention in sending the letter and the actual title of the job you’re seeking (or the general type of work you’re looking for), such as Warehouse Operations, Shipping/Receiving, Accounting or Bookkeeping, or Sales/Marketing). Use the advertisement or job description whenever possible to help write this portion. If that’s unavailable, use A more general approach, such as, “I am seeking a position in which 1 may better utilize my experience in …”

3. Cover letter. A short summary of major accomplishments and achievements at various companies or nonprofit organizations, when appropriate, or an outline of your most important training and education. List key skills, abilities, or training that applies to the position at hand, such as “experienced in the setup of warehouse fixtures,” or “skilled in inventory control and stocking on computer systems,” or “have a strong aptitude for figures and utilize 10-key calculators,” or “have successful experience in new business development and account management.”

4. Cover letter. A short but detailed review or sample of what you know about the company or industry: its products, customers, markets, and way of doing business. Mention that you want to work specifically for that company.

5. Cover letter. Whether you arc willing to travel or relocate, if this is a requirement of the position, as in outside sales or driving. You may omit this if it is not requested, or if you are not willing to travel or relocate.

6. Cover letter. Other specifics about yourself or the job. If someone at the company suggested you send your application, mention that person’s name.

If the ad asks to admit salary demands and not a salary history you can give them a wanted salary range and keep off a particular number. For instance, you might write “512-15 per hour, negotiable.” You may include this in a letter; however, if both salary requirements and salary history are requested, include them on a separate salary history sheet, and end the page by writing, “Salary requirements are open to negotiation.”

7. Cover letter. Thank readers for their time and consideration; let them know that you look forward to a response.