Cover Letter Guide
Why Write a Cover Letter?
The cover letter accompanies your résumé to potential employers and provides you the opportunity to
introduce yourself. Cover letters are comprised of at least 3 – 4 paragraphs and should be written in a
manner that highlights the skills, abilities and accomplishments listed on your résumé. Additionally, the
overall tone of your cover letter should be conversational and professional while relaying your enthusiasm
for the organization. Your goal is to motivate the employer to read your résumé and invite you for an
interview.
relates to the requirements for the job or internship for which you are applying. Be sure to use transitional
words to segue from one thought and paragraph to another, and review the company’s website so you’re
able to customize the letter to the position and organization. Below are the essentials of a cover letter.
Jane Jones
1234 Main Street
Pembroke, NC 28372
January 5, 2017
Brenda Clark, Director
Employment Solutions, Inc.
Pembroke, NC 28372
Dear Ms. Clark,
I am writing to express my interest in the Career Advisor position with Employment Solutions, Inc. that is
currently posted your website. I have been seeking an opportunity to work for your organization for quite
some time and am exc
ited about the possibil
ity of serving in
this position. I have
seen firsthand the impact o
f
ESI’s emphasis on assisting community members with their employment searches and would enjoy
contributing my career counseling and teaching skills to this position.
My interest in career counseling began in high school when I volunteered for the Cumberland County Schools
job fairs as an adminis
trative assistant. Wh
ile in college at UNC Pe
mbroke, I further ex
plored my passion for
serving as a Hawk Assistant at my university career center. During my final semester, I even served as a Hawk
Assistant Leader. In this position, I was able to fine tune my skills in programming and marketing while
working under tight deadlines.
In addition to my experience with UNC Pembroke, I completed an internship at the NC Department of
Commerce. The opportunity to connect my personal passion for providing tools and information for
employment seeking individuals allowed my work to shine. I worked on more than 60 job applicant caseloads,
and facilitated several workshops on career decisions and networking. This internship required me to work
closely with the workforce solutions team on a daily basis, which allowed me to advance my verbal
communication, teamwork, and attention to detail skills.
I am confident that my professional experience and educational background would serve me well as Career
Advisor for Employment Solutions, Inc. It would be my pleasure to work with the ESI staff at such a well-
respected organization. I look forward to the opportunity to interview with you to allow us to further discuss
my qualifications for the position. If you have any questions or would like me to provide any additional
Thank you for your time in considering my resume.
Sincerely,
Jane Jones
Paragraph 1: Intro
Should include:
Purpose of the letter
Name of the organization
Job title for which you are
applying
Where you found the job
advertisement
What makes you a fit for the
organization?
(Optional: If a current
employee referred you to this
position, state that and their
name here)