5.2 Cover Letter

Cover letters are an often overlooked part of the job-hunting process. Many of us think they’re not necessary or that hiring managers don’t read them. However, an eye-catching cover letter can make the difference between your job application going in the interview pile or the rejection pile. A well-written cover letter will entice a potential employer to take a closer look at your resume.

• Traditional Cover Letter If you’re submitting a printed copy of your cover letter, you should use the format of a traditional business letter. Don’t forget to add a handwritten signature and note that you’re enclosing a copy of your resume.

• Email Cover Letter If you’re submitting your cover letter in the body of an email, you don’t need to include address information at the top or use the enclosure notation to indicate that your resume is attached to the message.

Example: School Teacher

While an email letter is more informal, you should still write your email in a professional tone.

Example: Project Manager