HOW TO WRITE A COVER LETTER

G.Bayarmaa. J.FS01

OUTLINE

Cover letter & its goal Layout Structure Enclosure Example Reference

THE COVER LETTER

is the document that accompanies your CV when you are applying for a job.

is short (200-250 words), with a quite rigid structure and has the layout of a letter.

is to introduce the CV, to bring to attention aspects of your activity that can help your application and are not listed or not presented in the proper light in the CV.

is to answer the recruiter’s question:”Why should I hire this person?”

GOAL

LAYOUT (IS THAT OF A FORMAL BUSINESS LETTER)

Your address and contact details come under your name, in the upper right corner of the page.

SALLY B. DOE

7124 S. DeCoto StreetAny Town, Any State 36254Telephone: (815) 879-2680

Underneaths, aligned left, the name, function, organization and address of the person you are writing to. (It’s a lot better to know the name of the person who is going to read your letter. You should address the letter directly to him or her.)

Mr. Smith - Dir. of Human ResourcesRaymond Kate Associates524 Fair Lane StreetAny City, State 78194

Under receiver’s address, but aligned right write the date of the day when you are writing the letter. (You should spell the name of the month and use 4 digits for the year . December 2, 2008)

January 30, 2010

If you know the name of the addressee, start with Dear Mr, Ms, Mrs, Dr, without full stop that you might expect to follow the abbreviation, and the surname of the addressee, followed by comma (Dear Dr Smith,). In this case, you should end the letter with the salutation “Yours sincerely”.

Dear Mr. Smith:

If you do not know the name of the addressee, start with Dear Sirs, or Dear Sir or Madam and close with “Yours faithfully”. (In American business correspondence, “Yours truly” is acceptable in both

cases.)

Do not start the body of the mail with a capital letter, since it follows a comma.

STRUCTURE (NO MORE THAN FOUR PARAGRAPHS.)

The goal of the first paragraph is to specify what you are applying for and how did you find out about the opportunity.

I am responding to your advertisement in The City Tribune (dated 1/20/00), regarding the Pharmaceutical Representative position.  Please find enclosed my resume showing my education, experience, and background.

The second paragraph should list your skills and qualifications that make you the right person for the position you are applying for. (Read carefully the announcement, identify the requirements and see how your skills match those required.)

Do not simply state that you have them, prove it.

I have over 7 years experience in the sales and marketing field, and 3 years experience as an LPN staff nurse.

You should start from your experience and show that how you have developed those qualifications by doing what you have been doing/learning.

The second paragraph should show why you are good for the job.

The third paragraph should point out why you want it. You should outline your interest for the skills you are going to learn if you get the job. The impression left should be that you could make a genuine contribution to the company’s operations, while simultaneously deriving satisfaction from your work.

The last paragraph outlines your availability for an interview, suggesting in this way a concrete follow-up for your application.

May I arrange an interview to further discuss my qualifications? I am available for an interview at a mutually convenient time. Thank you for your time and consideration.

After the fourth (last) paragraph leave a blank space, same as you should do in the beginning, after the salutation (Dear..).

Write the proper closing (Yours..) and your name.

Leave a blank space between the closing and your name and to sign the letter in that space. Yours sincerely,

Sally B. Doe

ENCLOSURE

Mention enclosure, or write curriculum vitae under the heading enclosure at the end of the letter.

Print the letter on A4 white paper same as that on which your CV was printed, and put both documents in an A4 envelope of matching color. (If you are emailing it request a notification that yoour documents have been received.)

Wait at least 2 weeks since the day you sent your application or after the deadline before writing again in the case you did not get any answer.

COVER LETTER FORMAT

Cover Letter Format

Your Contact Information

Name Address City, State, Zip Code

Phone Number

Email Address

Date Employer Contact Information (if you have it)

Name Title CompanyAddress City, State, Zip Code

Salutation

Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name, (leave out if you don't have a contact)

Body of Cover Letter

The body of your cover letter lets the employer know what position you are applying for, why the employer should select you for an

interview, and how you will follow-up.

First Paragraph

The first paragraph of your letter should include information on why you are writing. Mention the position you are applying for and where

you found the job listing. Include the name of a mutual contact, if you have one.

Middle Paragraph(s)

The next section of your cover letter should describe what you have to offer the employer. Mention specifically how your qualifications

match the job you are applying for. Remember, you are interpreting your resume, not repeating it.

Final Paragraph

Conclude your cover letter by thanking the employer for considering you for the position. Include information on how you will follow-up.

Complimentary Close

Respectfully yours,

Signature

Handwritten Signature (for a mailed letter)

Typed Signature

Bibaatar BOLORMAABayangol District ,

4th microdistrictApt 25-3, 403

(976)95693966Jamyanmyadag, Director  Mobicom CorporationSukhbaatar SquareChingeltei District, UB

 27th March 2008   Dear Mr. Jamyanmyadag, I am writing this letter regarding your announcement in the . . . . . . I graduated from the Information Management class in ITIE that will allow me to provide as my career in

your corporation. If your corporation is looking for a manager who can manage others and organize works well, please review included resume. 

For the past 3 years, I have been studying in MUST and graduated with high score. I had chosen Information Manager’s career because I think I am good at organizing and working with people. My goal is to work in this branch which allows me to work by my interest. And also I am confident that my skills are appropriate to this branch. 

I am available at any time if you want to discuss my CV with you. I can be reached at the address and phone below. I am looking forward to hearing from you. 

Yours truly,  Bibaatar BOLORMAA

REFERENCE1. www.earcmn.org2. www.eastchance.com3. http://www.clpgh.org/locations/pccenter/

helpsheets/Office2007/Word/CoverLetterExercise2007.pdf

4. http://www.faculty.english.vt.edu/Collier/3764/assign/exercises.htm

5. http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Cover-Letter6. http://www.slideshare.net/amymiddleton/prepare-a-

cover-letter-using-a-job-description7. http://alumni.umich.edu/jobs/job-resource-center/

cover-letters8. http://www.suite101.com/search.cfm?

q=cover+letter&Submit.x=0&Submit.y=0&Submit=Find

9. http://www.freebusinessformsandtemplates.com/10. http://tefltips.blogspot.com/2008/01/writing-

teaching-cover-letter.html11. http://www.career.vt.edu/JobSearchGuide/

CoverLetterSamples.html 12. http://jobsearch.about.com/od/

coverlettersamples/a/coverformat.htm13. http://jobsearch.about.com/od/

coverlettersamples/a/cover-letter-layout.htm14. http://www.collegegrad.com/coverletter/

coverletterexample.shtml15. http://jobsearch.about.com/od/coverletters/

Cover_Letters.htm16. http://www.careercc.com/resumpr.shtml#Two

%20Types%20of%20Cover%20Letters%20Specific%20and%20General%20Examples