Cover Letter

When you are sending your resume electronically, it is good to attach a cover letter or a brief note giving the reader clues about who you are. A cover letter provides you with a chance to make an impression by talking to the reader in conversational language, highlighting some of your special qualifications or career accomplishments. A good cover letter should set the stage for ongoing communication. It offers you opportunities to form positive impressions, and to be persuasive about your skills and qualifications. In the cover letter you may discuss your personal traits, like your ability to learn easily, to take initiative, to follow instructions and so on.

One way to develop a resume and cover letter that are memorable and persuasive is to look at our samples or other resume resources available online or in print. Be sure that the samples you use as a guide reflect your career level - roughly the equivalent number of employment history and equivalent educational background. It is not necessary to use samples that describe the same career background or objectives as yours.

Review resumes and cover letters to compare and contrast the different approaches to expressing professional experience, and decide which elements you like and which you don't like. When writing your resume or cover letter, however, use your own thoughts and words, and don't try to fit your background into someone else's format.