I guess the question you want to ask yourself is "do you really want the job?" If the answer to that is "yes" then yes, you need to write a cover letter.
Don't start moaning and groaning on me. They are not that bad to write. Once you've written one, they are a lot easier to write, tweak, and send out to the next employer. However, please, please, please - do not send the same cover letter to every employer, only changing the contact information.
Yes, you need to tailor your cover letter to each employer/position to which you are applying. Yes, that takes time. However, if you spend two seconds just changing the contact information and such, you may 1 - accidentally forget to change something and 2 - will more than likely never receive a call back. Instead, if you spend the 10 minutes it takes to really tailor the cover letter to the position, you will be sure that you are sending a great product AND you will probably get more interest from employers.
Here are some quick tips on cover letters:
1. They should be one page (or less). I have seen some that are longer, and really, just like with resumes, it may depend on the position, but no one really wants to read a 5-page cover letter. Keep it concise, but interesting.
2. Use the job description for the position to which you are applying for "clues" on what to put in your cover letter. What are the requirements for the position? What makes you think you are a good fit for that position? Emphasize how you have the qualifications, skills, and experience needed and how you demonstrated those skills.
3. Give a specific example without repeating your resume. Think of the cover letter as a "teaser" for your resume. They should be reading this first, and so you want them to read this and think "I NEED to look at this person's resume!" Include a specific example from an experience that talks about how you demonstrated whatever skill set that you are referring to. For instance, "Your position requires experience in working with international students. I have over 3 years of experience working with international students gained from my position at University of Illinois. For instance, while serving as an advisor, I worked with international students from China and Japan and assisted them in obtaining internships, along with CPT." (You get the idea.) Don't just talk generally about the skills and experiences that you have, give an example! Everyone can say they have the experiences, but show them that you have them!
4. Use "confident" language. Avoid saying "I feel" or "I believe" or "I think." This makes it sound like you aren't 100% sure if you are a good fit for the position. Yes, you want to be humble, but you also want to come across as confident. If you aren't sure if you are a good fit, how can they be sure? TIP: I have a habit of saying "I feel" a lot in cover letters. I often just let myself write like that, without paying too much attention. I then go back and look for these phrases and replace them with "I am confident that" or just take out the "feel" and instead of saying "I feel like I am a good fit" I say "I am a good fit for this position because...." Make sense?
5. Keep it concise! Again, while you want to give examples, you don't need to write a novel. Your resume will provide more details on those examples. You want them to want to read your resume and also talk to you in person.
Those are just some quick tips. As far as the format of a cover letter:
1. Include your contact information first. You can left justify this or you can use your same header from your resume.
2. Include the date next, a couple of spaces down.
3. Include their contact information. This includes the name of the person you are sending it to. If you don't have a specific name, try to get it. If you can't find it, then use the position title at least. Never say "To whom it may concern" or "Dear Sir/Madam."
4. Start out with Dear Mr./Ms. [last name]:
5. The first paragraph should tell them what position you are applying for and where/how you heard about the position.
6. The second/third paragraphs (can be 1 or 2 paragraphs) should be the part where you really detail why you are a good fit for the position, using the tips mentioned above.
7. The third/last paragraph should refer them to your enclosed resume, as well as thank them for their consideration and tell them you are looking forward to speaking with them soon.
8. Sign it.
If you are e-mailing your documents, you can copy this into the body of the e-mail and then also attach a hard copy to the e-mail, along with your resume.
Cover letters are also a sample of your writing, so be sure to have someone else look over it to make sure you didn't have any typographical or grammatical errors, or any spelling errors. Also double check your contact information and the person's contact information to which you are sending it!
There you have it. Cover letters can be a pain, but once you get the hang of them, they are really not that bad. In fact, if you don't have a ton of related experience that is evident from your resume, this is a great time to explain why you are making a switch to a different field. Use cover letters to your advantage, even if they are only "optional."
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