How To Write Your First Cover Letter (With Sample)

A resume without a cover letter is like a plane without wings, it just won’t fly.

If you have not previously been in the civilian workforce, if you are just finishing school or military service, then you will need to develop both a resume and a first cover letter.

Why You Need A Cover Letter

The purpose of a resume is to provide a brief, accurate and dull accounting of dates, accomplishments and references, a checklist to date of who you are and what you’ve been doing.

That’s fine and appropriate, and it’s also necessary because resumes are important to employers. Resumes provide a way to quickly sort through job candidates, to narrow the field.

You want to be part of that smaller group of candidates — but you also want to shine.

A resume is incomplete. It tells us something about you in a historical sense, but it doesn’t say much about interests, values, motivations or perspectives. It doesn’t say why you want the job or why you’re better than the next person. If a resume by itself gets you an interview that’s great, but that’s not enough.

In a tough, competitive world you have to stand out. As adults we keep score and there are penalties for not competing. Going for a job is not the time to be shy, embarrassed, uncertain or unsure. While a resume documents your details, a cover letter let’s you shine.

How To Write A First Cover Letter

Step 1: Find the right person to contact. The right person may be someone in human resources, a company official or the supervisor who is looking for a new employee. No matter. You have to get the right name with the right spelling. You need the right address including the correct ZIP code.

If you know the person to contact, so much the better. You can often check names and spelling online. With big companies, the company operator (dial “0″ if there’s a phone tree) can often be helpful.

In other cases you can call the company and simply ask for the name of the person who heads human resources. Then call back and ask for the individual’s mailing address — remember, it may be different than the company’s main office or work site.

Be aware that in some cases companies do not want to give out specific names. The reasons usually concerns privacy and security. This is a problem in the sense that you do not want to send a letter to a blind address if it can be avoided. The solution is to call the human resources office and ask if you can address your letter to a specific individual — sometimes staff members will be helpful. Alternatively, you can try the back door and look up the human relations department online to see if any names show up. If yes, call the company and ask if Smith still works there. If the name is complex, ask how to spell it.

Step 2: Educate yourself. Find out about the company with an online search. What are their latest products and services? Where do they have offices and facilities? What does their web site say about them and their self-perceptions? Do they have interests in charities? Local community events? A unique tradition?

Step 3: Once you have a name you then need to write a letter with a proper business format. The attached PDF shows how a model cover letter should be written and organized.

Normally you want to use only one page for a first cover letter. At the top of the letter you want your contact information, the date, the recipient’s contact information and the salutation (Dear…).

Step 4: Once the format is set up you then want to write the body of your letter. In writing this material remember these rules:

• Write in sentences and paragraphs with proper spelling and grammar.
• Write short sentences and paragraphs, otherwise the page will be a huge gray blur that’s uninviting and difficult to read.
• Write in simple language with words that most people use in everyday conversation. Example: Don’t say that all real estate is nonhomogeneic when you mean that all real estate is different. Both expressions are correct, but the first term is ridiculous.
• Avoid clichés. No one “gives 110 percent.” Why? No one has 110 percent to give. And, no, nobody cares whether or not you can get your “arms around the problem.”
• Try not to use the same word twice in a sentence. If you need an alternative, try Thesaurus.com

A typical body for a first cover letter might look like this:

I am now completing my business degree from Jones University (or finishing my tour of duty with the United States Army, or completing my technical training, etc.) and in the process of looking for my first job. While I was in school (or the service, etc.) I had an opportunity to consider many fields and professions, but what interested me most was the combination of technology and sales (or healthcare, or teaching, or accounting, or engineering, etc.)

In researching career options on the Internet, I discovered that Smith Technology and Logistics has an innovative sales program. I also learned that your company is both growing and well-regarded, and that your new product line for the airline industry has received widespread and positive reviews.

By way of background, I expect to graduate (complete my tour of duty, etc.) on July 15th. I have worked as a sales intern with a local company, Blatchford, Inc., and I have also worked in the college admissions office. During the summers I worked at a local bakery selling an assortment of store goods, interacting with customers and operating a cash register.

I am a graduate of the John F Kennedy High School in Glompus, NY and its Leadership Training Institute. In high school I was a member of the National Honor Society and participated in more than 500 hours of community service.

Thank you for your attention and for taking the time to consider this letter. I can be reached by cell phone (240-555-5555 ) or by e-mail at peter@jobtoe.com.  My resume is attached for your records.

I look forward to hearing from you and would welcome the opportunity to meet and discuss any position which might be available.
 
Sincerely,

Peter G. Miller

Notice that the model letter does not mention any particular job or specific salary. Instead, it gives the writer — and the employer — some wiggle room, some things to discuss once everyone has a better chance to know one another.

Also, the letter functions as a quickie bio. It tells where the writer is today, when the writer will graduate or leave the service, mentions some work history and discusses the recipient’s company in positive terms.

Step 5: Once you have your letter written, you want to use a spell checker to assure that everything is properly spelled. Then you want to print out your letter and read it out loud.

Does the letter sound like something a national television anchor might say? Where is the wording rough? Where can sentences be improved? Are there better words to include.

Rewrite and rewrite you letter until it sparkles and says exactly what you want to say. Put in the time to make it right.

Once your draft is complete then ask other people to read it — out loud. Can they read it easily? Does everything sound right?

Make your corrections and repeat Step 5. Remember the goal here is not to hurry, it’s to market yourself in the best way possible.

When you’re satisfied with your first cover letter be sure to again spell check the material to assure that it’s right.

That’s it. You now have your first cover letter. Good hunting.

To see a model cover letter, please press here.
 

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