A cover letter highlights your qualifications for a position, expresses interest, and shows how you can benefit the company. Research the company to understand their needs. Make a list of why you are the ideal candidate by matching your skills to the job requirements. In the letter, address someone by name, state interest in the position and why you are qualified. Provide examples from your experience of how your achievements could benefit the company. Close by requesting an interview and including contact information.

1. Writing a Cover Letter

3. Expresses your interest in a position.

5. Review websites to find about the company.

8. Avoid writing more than one page.

9. The point of the cover letter is to flesh out your resume’s selling points and not to repeat the same things that appear in your resume.

10. Never state how you will benefit by working for the company. Stay focused on the company’s needs not yours.

12. Immediately note the position that you are applying for and where you found out about it, including date of publication and page number when possible.

13. State that you are interested in the position and qualified.

15. Refer employers to certain points in your resume.

16. Emphasize your strongest qualifications.

17. Show how these qualifications will benefit the company.

18. Provide examples of your achievements that have benefited previous companies

20. Provide possible times and dates.

21. Include specific contact information: email address and phone number.

22. Close actively. Tell them you will contact them in a few days.

23. Be genuine and thank them for their time.