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Jobs & Internships
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How to Write
a Cover Letter
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“A cover letter allows you to personalize your resume when it
is mailed to prospective employers in response to advertisements or
to inquire about possible interviews.”
The letter's main purpose is to advertise your strengths and assets
in a way that would interest employers in interviewing you. It is
also useful in that it can save valuable time by enabling you to visit
only the most promising prospects or helping you avoid places where
there is no interest in you as a prospective employee.
To attract the reader's ATTENTION, the cover letter must look good
and be easy to read. Use of quality 8 1/2" X 11" paper,
correct English, spelling, spacing, paragraphing, margins and above
all, flawless typing is a must. Address it to a particular person
by name, making sure that the spelling and title of the individual
are correct. The person addressed should hold an influential position
in the company. A good cover letter is not too long, so try to limit
yours to only part of a single page.
The first paragraph should arouse the reader's INTEREST. This can
be done by stating some particular knowledge you have of the reader's
business, by a comment on some "timely" issue relating to
the company's operation or by an impersonal statement of some outstanding
fact relating to your ability that would probably appeal to the employer.
The body of the cover letter should make the employer DESIRE to interview
you by explaining what you can do for his/her company. Put yourself
in the employer's position as you write and present facts that will
both be interesting and accurately describe your assets and qualifications.
Your prospective employer will be interested in your ability to make
and/or save money, to conserve time, to effectively assume and discharge
responsibility and to produce results more rapidly and economically
than anyone else. Do not stress your bad points, such as lack of experience
or unemployment.
The last paragraph should request ACTION. Ask directly for an interview
stating specific times and dates when you will call to arrange an
interview. In all circumstances be courteous but use a direct approach.
The letter should end with the formal salutation, "Sincerely
yours." Below the salutation, type your name and then add your
signature. Remember the use of AIDA (ATTENTION, INTEREST, DESIRE,
ACTION) will result in a cover letter that is both pleasing to read
and effective.
Cover Letter Outline
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Your Address
City, State, Zip
Date |
(Ms. or Mr.) Personnel Manager
Name of Company
Company Address
City, State, Zip
Dear (Ms. or Mr.) Hiring: |
Your opening paragraph should arouse interest
on the part of the reader. Tell the employer why you are writing
the letter. Do not say in the first paragraph that you are looking
for a job. Give information to show your specific interest in
the company.
Your middle paragraphs should create desire. Give details of
your background that will show the reader why one should consider
you as a candidate. Be as specific as possible about the kind
of a job you want. Don't make the reader try to guess what you
would be interested in.
Refer the reader to your general qualifications on your enclosed
resume or other material. Use as much space as you need to tell
your story but keep it brief and to the point.
In your closing paragraph you ask for action. Ask for an appointment
suggesting a time when you will contact the individual. You
may now list your dates of availability.
Sincerely yours,
[Your Signature]
Type your name here
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Sample Cover Letter
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349-Jahnagir Street
Lahore, Pak. 54500
January 19, 2005 |
Dr. Muhammad Ahmad
Punjab University
P.O. Box 746
Lahore, Pak. 54500
Dear Dr. Ahmad:
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I am presently a Cooperative Education student
in the Punjab University Hellay College of Commerce. I have
had experiences in programming in Pascal, FORTRAN, "C"
language and am familiar with the DEC-VAX System. As a native
of Pakistan, I know that my language skills would prove useful
to your company. I would be most interested in obtaining a cooperative
education assignment with Punjab University for the summer and
fall 2005.
I am currently completing a course in computer electronics and
am working on a project revising a system for radio communications.
Additionally, I am working at a local Radio Shack franchise
selling electronic equipment. As you can see, my course work
and experience would be appropriate in your environment.
My resume is enclosed for your review and consideration. I will
telephone you during the week of June 3rd to discuss the possibility
of setting up an interview. I will be available for full-time
cooperative education employment from June 25, 2005 through
December 31, 2005.
I look forward to speaking with you soon.
Sincerely yours,
[Signature]
Naeem Saleem.
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