Page 176 - digitalliteracy

8.2 Writing an Effective Cover Letter

Strategies for Success:
Other Do’s and Don’ts for Cover Letter Preparation

Read the following additional guidelines to help you prepare a professional cover letter.
Do:

• Print your letter on a good-quality white or cream 20- or 24-pound bond or linen-finish
paper with a smooth finish, if you are submitting it in person. Matching your résumé is
excellent, but not required. For electronic submissions, complete all online information
carefully, cutting and pasting from your proofread résumé if possible, and adjusting the
formatting if necessary.
• Reread submission guidelines carefully and double-check e-mail or web addresses
before you submit. If you send your cover letter and résumé to the wrong mailbox, the
wrong person, or make someone’s job more difficult, your résumé may not garner the
most positive reception.
• Research the organization online to get a feel for the culture of the company, its mission
and values, and what language it uses. Incorporate some of the vocabulary from the
company’s website in your cover letter.
• Be concise; keep your cover letter to one page.
• Keep your letter professional but friendly.
• Check and recheck spelling, grammar, and punctuation before you submit the cover
letter, and keep a copy for yourself.
• Follow up with a phone call to the company after 1 week if you do not receive
notification that your application has been received (as long as the company does not
say “Do not call” on the job posting).
Don’t:

• Don’t write about the benefits you will receive by obtaining the job. Make the letter
about the company and how you can meet its needs.
• Don’t explain all the information in your résumé, but emphasize elements of your
professional background or education that are important to the position you are
seeking. Feel free to include an example, if it is brief and makes your point clear. Also,
be sure to emphasize how the company will benefit from hiring you.
• Don’t squeeze in information or narrow the margins to make the content fit on one
page. Instead, edit to shorten paragraphs and omit unnecessary information.
• Don’t try to use humor; it can fall flat.
• Don’t try to flatter the reviewer or overly praise the company. Be businesslike in your
approach.
Reflection Questions

1. What do you find are the easiest and most difficult parts of writing cover letters?
2. What strategies can you use to overcome the difficulties of letter writing?
3. What did you learn from this module that you think will help you prepare a cover
letter?

160