Introduction to Cover Letters Answers

Cover letters are important because they introduce the applicant personally, explain how the applicant’s skills and experience match the employer’s needs, show interest and enthusiasm for the specific position, highlight qualifications that may not be obvious from the résumé, and demonstrate professional writing and communication skills.

Use the job advertisement, the employer’s website, company reports or publications, professional networking contacts, and reliable industry or news sources. Gather the correct contact person’s name and title, the position’s duties and required qualifications, the organization’s products or services and goals, its workplace culture, and information that can help connect the applicant’s experience to the employer’s needs.

Heading: gives the applicant’s and employer’s contact information and the date. Introduction: identifies the job and introduces the applicant. Argument: explains the applicant’s relevant skills, experience, and qualifications. Closing: thanks the employer, requests an interview, and provides a professional sign-off.

The three formats are: a paragraph letter, which explains qualifications in paragraphs; a T-letter, which compares the employer’s requirements with the applicant’s matching experience; and a bullet letter, which uses bullets to emphasize specific skills and accomplishments.

Use a professional 10- to 12-point font; keep the letter to one page; use standard margins of about one inch; left-align the text and use consistent formatting; include clear paragraph breaks and adequate white space; and proofread carefully for spelling, grammar, and typing errors.

The heading gives the applicant’s contact information, the date, and the employer’s contact information. The introduction identifies the position and explains why the applicant is writing. The argument connects the applicant’s skills and experience to the employer’s needs and supports the applicant’s qualifications. The closing thanks the reader, expresses interest in an interview or follow-up, and ends with a professional sign-off.

The argument section can be formatted in three common ways: as paragraphs that explain qualifications in a narrative; as a bullet list that highlights relevant skills and accomplishments; or as a T-letter, which places the employer’s requirements beside the applicant’s matching experience or qualifications.

Cover letters introduce you to a potential employer, explain how your skills and experience match the position, and encourage the employer to read your résumé and invite you to an interview. They also provide an opportunity to show your communication skills and explain information that may not be clear from your résumé.

Use the employer’s website, the job advertisement, professional networking sites, and reliable news or industry sources. Find out the organization’s mission, products or services, values, recent developments, and workplace or industry context. From the job posting, identify the position’s duties, required skills, qualifications, and the employer’s priorities; also try to find the hiring manager’s name and title so you can address the letter appropriately.

1. Use a professional business-letter format. 2. Keep the letter to one page. 3. Choose a clear, professional font in a readable size. 4. Use consistent margins and left-align the text. 5. Proofread carefully for spelling, grammar, and typing errors.