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Cover Letters
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
The preliminary application for a professional
position generally consists of two documents: a cover letter
and a resume. This handout describes the cover letter; the
resume is described in a separate Writi ng Center handout.
While the resume is a somewhat generic advertisement for
yourself, which you may send unaltered to scores of different
companies, the cover letter allows you to tailor your
application to each specific job. Although the thrust of your
v arious letters may remain the same, with the assorted
text-processing options available at RPI--options that include
find-and-replace and merging capabilities--there is really no
reason to have a single, generic cover letter.
Each of your cover letters sho uld bear the
name and address of the company to which you are applying and
should address by name the specific individual who will
process your application. Each letter should also make
specific references to the company and indicate your knowledge
of and interest in the work the company is currently doing.
In addition to tailoring your application to a
specific job, the cover letter also allows you to highlight
the most important and relevant accomplishments, skills, and
experience listed in your resume. And it is where (if
appropriate) you specifically request an interview.
Finally, remember that your cover letter is,
in a very real sense, a schematic of yourself. It reflects
your personality, your attention to detail, your communication
skills, your ent husiasm, and your intellect. Your cover
letter and resume are usually all a prospective employer has
to decide whether or not you will reach the next phase in the
application process--the interview.
In the very first paragraph of your letter,
you should state what job you are applying for and how you
learned about it. If you have any personal contacts in or with
the company, you may want to mention them here. You should
also state your general qualifications for the job. This
paragraph should be brief, perhaps two or three sentences. The
body of your letter should consist of one to three longer
paragraphs in which you expand upon your qualifications for
the position. Pick out the most relevant qualifications listed
in your resum e and discuss them in detail, demonstrating how
your background and experience qualify you for the job. Be as
specific as possible, and refer the reader to your resume for
additional details.
In the concluding paragraph of your letter,
you should request an interview (or some other response, if
appropriate). State where and when you can be reached, and
express your willingness to come to an interview or supply
further information. Close by thanking your reader for his or
her time and consideration.
The two attached samples illustrate the
conventional format of a cover letter. These samples should
also give you a better idea of the content and function of a
cover letter. The entire text of your letter should, of
course, be letter-perfect.
Sample Cover Letter
1234 15th Street
Troy, New York 12180
January 30, 1987
Mr. John M. Curtis
Recruiting Coordinator
HAL Corporation
55 Washington Avenue
New York, New York 10081
Dear Mr. Curtis:
As an experienced computer programmer who is
presently pursuing a master's degree in electrical engineering
at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, I am writing to request
information about possible summer employment opportunities
with HAL. I am interested in a position that will allow me to
combine th e talents I have developed in both computer
programming and electrical engineering. However, as you can
see from the attached resume, I have extensive experience in
many related fields, and I always enjoy new challenges.
I feel that it is important for me to maintain
a practical, real-world perspective while developing my
academic abilities. I am proud of the fact that I have
financed my entire education through scholarships and summer
jobs related to my field of study. This work experience has
enhanced my appreciation for the education I am pursuing. I
find that I learn as much from my summer jobs as I do from my
academic studies. For example, during the summer of 1986,
while working for IBM in Boca Raton, Florida, I gained a great
deal of practical experi ence in the field of electronic
circuit logic and driver design. When I returned to school in
the fall and took Computer Hardware Design, I found that my
experience with IBM had thoroughly prepared me for the
subject.
Having said all this, I realize that y our
first consideration in hiring an applicant must not be the
potential educational experience HAL can provide, but the
skills and services the applicant has to offer. I hope the
experience and education described in my resume suggest how I
might be of s ervice to HAL.
I welcome the opportunity to discuss with you
how I might best assist HAL in fulfilling its present
corporate needs. I will be available for employment from May
14 through August 31, 1987. Please let me know what summer
employment opportunit ies are available at HAL for someone
with my education, experience, and interests. You can reach me
at the above address or by phone at (518) 271-0000.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely yours,
Joan Doe
Sample Cover Letter
34 Second Street
Troy, New York 12180
October 4, 1986
Mr. James Roberts
Recruiting Coordinator
Department DRR 1201
Database Corporation
Princeton, New Jersey 05876
Dear Mr. Roberts:
Your advertisement for software engineers in
the January issue of the IEEE caught my attention. I was drawn
to the ad by my strong interest in both software design and
Database. \par I have worked with a CALMA system in developing
VLSI circuits, and I also have substantial experience in the
design of interactive CAD software. Because o f this
experience, I can make a direct and immediate contribution to
your department. I have enclosed a copy of my resume, which
details my qualifications and suggests how I might be of
service to Database.
I would like very much to meet with you to
discuss your open positions for software engineers. If you
wish to arrange an interview, please contact me at the above
address or by telephone at (518) 271-9999.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely yours,
Joseph Smith
