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Employment Cover Letters

Below you will find our advice regarding how to write the following employment cover letters:

  • Letter of Inquiry - a letter written to an employer to inquire about possible employment opportunities.

  • Letter of Application - a letter written to an employer to apply for a position that has been advertised.

Letter of Inquiry  Example: HTML version   MS Word version

Use this type of letter when you want to contact an employer to inquire about employment.  This letter is commonly used when no advertised employment notice (i.e. help wanted ad) has been published by the employer.

See the example above, and try to incorporate the following features when writing your letter:

  • Use left-margin alignment.

  • Second paragraph - highlight your qualifications.

  • Address your letter to a specific person, either the Director of Human Resources or an individual within the company. Never address your letter to "To whom it may concern." If needed, call the company to get the correct name.
     

  • First paragraph - clearly state your employment interests and goals.

  • Third paragraph - inform the reader that your resume is enclosed.

  • Fourth paragraph - invite the reader to call or email, and inform the reader that you will call to follow up your letter.  This demonstrates you're proactive!
     

  • Always check your spelling and grammar!

Letter of Application  Example: HTML version   MS Word version

Use this type of letter when you want to contact an employer to apply for a position that you have seen advertised, or when you have heard that a position is open.

See the example above, and try to incorporate the following features when writing your letter:

  • Use left-margin alignment.

  • Second paragraph - highlight your qualifications as they apply to the advertised qualifications.

  • Address your letter to a specific person, either the Director of Human Resources or an individual within the company. Never address your letter to "To whom it may concern." If needed, call the company to get the correct name.
     

  • First paragraph - clearly state the title of the desired job and when and where it was advertised.

  • Third paragraph - highlight any additional qualifications.
  • Fourth paragraph - inform the reader that your resume is enclosed.

  • Fifth paragraph - invite the reader to call or email and offer several convenient dates and times. Inform the reader that the you will call to follow up your letter.  This demonstrates you're proactive!
     

  • Always check your spelling and grammar!

 

 

Additional sources
of information on
employment cover
letters:

Cover Letters at About.com
 

Minnesota
Department of
Education
 

Monster.com
Career Advice
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Last revised 1.3.2006