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Cover Letters

Sample Cover Letters (PDF)
Cover Letter Worksheet (PDF)

• This may be a newspaper posting, an online listing or a position that you hear about from someone in your network.

• For each skill, think of an example of a time you demonstrated that skill either in work, school, volunteer settings or your internship.

• Surf their website paying special attention to what they do, their mission and recent news articles about the company.
• Take notes or print off pages to save for reference (to prep for your interview).
• If you cannot find the company online, check library resources or visit career services for assistance.
• If you do not know the company name because the job posting doesn’t give you that information, that’s ok, you will just write about your qualifications.

• Look at both your brainstorm list (step 2) and your company research (step 3) and determine which things are most important from each list to include in your letter.
• In your first paragraph, you will let them know what position you are applying for, how you found out about this position and express your interest in working for their organization.
• In the middle of the letter (sometimes the second or second and third paragraphs), explain your qualifications. This is a good place to add your examples.
• In your final paragraph, close by expressing your interest in an interview and let them know how they can contact you.
• Then type “Sincerely,” leave a space to sign your name, and when the letter is printed, sign your name in the blank space.