The document provides tips for writing an effective cover letter using "The Triple Why" approach. This involves answering why you want to do this type of work, why you want to work for this particular employer, and why the employer should hire you. Specifically, it advises addressing your purpose and motivations for the career, what attracts you to the employer's mission and culture, and how your skills and experience add value and relate to the job duties. The cover letter helps provide insight into who you are beyond just your qualifications on your resume.

1. Writing a Cover Letter that
Matters: "The Triple Why"​
BY: RUSSELL ABBATIELLO, M.ED. 8/2022

2. I. The Cover Letter: Tips
The most effective cover letter answers three
WHY’s:
 1. WHY: at all?
• Why do this kind of work? Why did you choose this
profession? What drove you to this career? Why is doing this
profession important to you? What’s the point? Why be a xxxxxx at
all? This answer usually involves some overarching beliefs about
“purpose,” your worldview, and personal experiences. It gives the
employer some important context about your ultimate intentions.
Addressing this question also humanizes your application.

3.  2. WHY: here?
• You could be a xxxxxx in a variety of settings, why are
you choosing THIS particular employer/setting? What
is it about this company’s culture, mission, reputation,
or accomplishments? Employers want to believe that
you are applying to them “on purpose.”

4. 2. WHY: here? continued
• Try to avoid giving a self-serving reason (s). Employers
don’t want to know how working for them will help YOUR
career.
• Rather than merely referring to an organization’s mission
statement, refer instead to press releases, internal
newsletters, or recent news posted on their social media
profiles or “press” links.
• Hook the reader in by mentioning a connection with the

5. 3. WHY: me?
 What will be your “value-add?” How will taking a chance on you,
benefit them? What achievements from your
education/certifications, internships, work experience, volunteer
experience, awards/honors, research experience, supervisor
reviews, language-technology-clinical skills will serve as evidence
of your ability to add value to the employer? Which achievements
relate to the deliverables of the job?

6. WHY: me? continued
 What will be your “value-add?” How will taking a chance on you,
benefit them? What achievements from your
education/certifications, internships, work experience, volunteer
experience, awards/honors, research experience, supervisor reviews,
language-technology-clinical skills will serve as evidence of your
ability to add value to the employer? Which achievements relate to
the deliverables of the job?

7. Resume = your WHAT
Cover Letter + Recommendations = your
WHO
 *If we consider your resume to be a snapshot of your WHAT, we
then define your cover letter as a snapshot of your WHO.
• The cover letter provides information beyond the confines of the
resume — personal traits, motivations and work habits, and even a
reference to feedback from a previous manager. Your cover letter is
all about TONE and evoking a good emotion.
• Be purposeful about the information you include. Each sentence
should have a reason for being there; no wasted words.