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Let's See Your Best Cover Letter! Cover Letter Samples
Cover Letter Template
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Reading cover letter samples is a great way to learn how to write a good one for your job search. That's why I invited readers to post their best cover letters — so that we all learn what works... and what doesn't.
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Jump to the 14 Best Cover Letter Samples from this group of 40+ letters. Also see 50 cover letter examples.
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Sharing Cover Letter Samples I've written lots of articles on how to write a cover letter. In this article, instead of me doing all the talking, I suggested we put our heads together to come up with cover letter samples that help each other right here on the website.
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I asked readers to post your letters (below in the comments section) and tell us why they thought their letters were good. If they had questions, they could ask. Then, someone in the group would give his or her two cents. The goal was to have a nice give-and-take. As you see, it worked pretty well. The sample cover letters that folks submitted (below) are filled with ideas (some good, some not so good) and the comments, I hope, are useful in learning how to write a good letter.
Send Me Your Cover Letter If you'd like to send me your cover letter, you can copy and paste it into my contact form. I can't promise to respond to all letters sent to me, but if I have the time, I'll get back to you.
The Best of the Best Cover Letters If you're short on time and can't read through them all, you can skip to this list of the best of the cover letters that were sent in. Some of them are really good, so don't miss them. Jump to the14 Best Cover Letter Samples from this group of 40+ letters.
Don't Have a Great Cover Letter? Check out my Ready-Made Resume Builder. It has a lot of cover letter templates and wording to help you write a really good letter... maybe your best cover letter ever! Filed under: Job Lounge > Job Search Letters > All About Cover Letters > Let's See Your Best Cover Letter! Cover Letter Samples
91 thoughts on “Let's See Your Best Cover Letter! Cover Letter Samples”
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R. Price says: March 5, 2012 at 10:11 am
The job listing on your website for a Medical Social Worker caught my attention, as I have an extensive background in geriatric home health care and have geriatric medical social work experience. My experience coupled with my qualifications, which include a Master’s degree in Social Work and an Associate’s degree in Gerontology, is a perfect match for this position.
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I am a caring, tenacious, resourceful, flexible, highly motivated person with strong interpersonal and patient relationship building skills. In addition, my verbal and written communication is impressive and am highly capable of making concise decisions. I am committed to serving all people and am dedicated to helping geriatric and disabled individuals. As my resume details my vocation in social work, these experiences have convinced me of the important role that social workers have in the area of home health care. I welcome the opportunity to discuss with you, Ms. Brown, how my skills and strengths can best serve your organization and how we can successfully work together. I can be reached at (333) 123-4567 and look forward to meeting with you. Thank you for your time and consideration. Respectfully,
Christy Seawall says:
Cover Letter Sample: Director of Workforce Development
March 5, 2012 at 11:35 am
R. Price, 7 Examples of Resumes With Certification Sections
You have a very nice start to your cover letter. I get a good sense for your passion and commitment as it relates to your career, as well as how your education supports your career objective.
Chronological Resume Sample: Director, Workforce Development
I would strengthen your cover letter by adding 3-5 bullet points that highlight how your experience matches what they are looking for in an ideal candidate. In order to determine what is most important, I suggest you do a thorough analysis of the job posting. What do you think are the most important requirements to the hiring manager?
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Use your cover letter as a bridge between the job posting and your resume to paint a clear picture to the hiring manager that you have not only the passion, education and personality to do the job, but that you also have the work experience, supported by achievements, to do the job.
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The other thing I encourage my clients to do is to take ownership for the follow-up. Rather than saying “I look forward to hearing from you…”, say, “I will call you next week to set up a time when we can discuss how my skills and experience can help you meet your goals.” However, if you do this, you MUST follow through and call at the time you said you will call. This also requires that you do your research in advance to determine who your cover letter will be going to so that you are able to follow up when the time comes.
Resume Book by Susan Ireland
Susan Ireland says: March 5, 2012 at 1:50 pm
Introducing Christy Seawall Christy Seawall left the last comment in response to R. Price’s cover letter. Christy is a member of my team of professional resume writers. If you are interested in working with Christy on your resume and/or cover letter, please contact her directly by clicking on her name above her comment. Thank you, Christy!
amanda says: August 6, 2012 at 4:15 am
Hi, I’ve just sent out my first ever cover letter. I would love to recieve feedback and opinions on it. Any constructive critiscm will be happily taken! Dear Sir/Madam, Research Executive I am applying for the Research Executive role at your social media research company. This role will enable me to further practice within a commercial context the experience and skills I have developed, and I believe that there are few greater opportunities available at entry-level for an individual such as myself to perform such a variety of tasks. The importance and impact of social media has been something which I have followed closely and been fascinated by in both an academic capacity and on a personal level and the opportunity to continue this as a career excites me immensely. It is clear from my research that Wave Matrix is a unique market research company and the company philosophy and working style mirrors my own personal approach to tasks. For example, it has been recognised that I understand the importance of combining qualitative and quantitative data to gain a true insightful understanding of something, and strive to constantly challenge myself. Furthermore, I am also often asked whether I am reading a law degree because of my analytical approach to reading documents, and the importance I place on focusing on the detail in addition to the larger picture. My various experiences within academia and also outside of it have exposed me to a diverse range of challenges which have provided me with the skills to be a suitable candidate. For example, presenting at a British Council conference for the Afritwin charity and running workshops when I was a member of the Executive Committee of the University Sailing Club have improved my presentation skills. Whilst working at Vodaphone, managing client accounts was a central part of my role, and working to challenging and tight deadlines was an almost daily necessity at Arte television. Additionally, I trust that my CV illustrates my ambitious attitude towards life and capacity to adapt to any environment, whether that be from the fact I spent one year studying not only in a foreign language but also within a society with different cultural values, or volunteering at Emmaus, or working at Arte television in a foreign language and where on a daily basis within team meetings my contributions and ideas were considered as valuable as those of the chief executive. I hope that, on consideration of my CV, you will be persuaded of my potential to perform well in this role and make a real contribution as a member of your organisation. I can be available for interview at any time and look forward to hearing from you. Yours faithfully, Amanda Riley
Susan Ireland says: August 8, 2012 at 8:07 am
Hello Amanda, Congratulations on your first cover letter! I think you’ve done a great job of getting your thoughts on “paper.” Now it needs a little editing to make it a more concise and a little easier to read. Here are a pointers: – Start with “Dear Manager” or “Dear Director.” – I think you can delete the second paragraph completely. You’ve captured all that in your next few paragraphs. – In the 3rd paragraph, you could either delete the sentence about being a lawyer or rewrite it so it’s clear how it relates to your objective. (I vote for deleting it.) – Try to reconstruct the 4th and 5th paragraphs so your experiences are in bullet points. – Look at each sentence in your letter to see if it can be tightened up. You have a few common cover letter mistakes (such as run-on sentences) and there are some extra words (such as “various” and “additionally”) that can be removed without losing any meaning. You might also find it helpful to look at this cover letter template, just to see how brief a good cover letter can be. Thanks for letting us see your letter, Amanda. I hope my comments are helpful and that you land that Research Executive job you’re looking for.
Eve says: August 10, 2012 at 10:51 pm
To whom it may concern, RE: APPLICATION FOR FINANCE ASSISTANT ROLE I would like to express my interest in the finance assistant role that you have available. I am interested in this role as I have valuable working experience within the banking and financial sector and I am looking for a varied and challenging role to help further advance my career. I look forward to being part of a company that offers continuous learning opportunities that will help me improve as an individual while still being able to contribute to the company the essential business skills I have already acquired and also put my ‘can do attitude’ to use My most recent role to date has been that of a discharge officer at Perpetual Lenders Mortgage Services. In this role I was responsible for the end to end processing of discharge settlements for our then major client, ANZ Bank. My responsibilities included but were not limited to obtaining reviews of security packets and the preparation and issuance of settlement instructions. In this role I had varying levels of KPIs to meet each day, ones which I was able meet in a timely manner, without any processing errors. As and when required, I also provided assistance with the daily updating and banking of settlement funds received at the end of each day. The experience and skills I have gained through this role and my previous roles are what would make me suitable for this role. I am capable of prioritizing work according to team and business requirements and I have always shown a great deal of enthusiasm regarding the development of best practice solutions to increase effectiveness and efficiency throughout the business. Prior to working at Perpetual I was employed by Westpac Banking Corporation as a customer loans representative and a settlements booking liaison. The business lending originations department presents a fast paced environment. My role involved liaising with solicitors, conveyancers, other lending institutes as well as Westpac relationship managers across the country to provide customers an excellent first class loan settlement experience. On a day to day basis I made outbound calls to solicitors and conveyancers to organize loan settlements for mutual clients and I also received in- bound calls from the same clientele regarding queries about loan settlement processes. Through this role I have gained excellent verbal and written communication skills, outstanding time management and organizational skills and a strong desire to provide the highest level of service to our clients. I aspire to be part of a team that values its members, recognizes achievement and strives to delight customers at any given chance. As a means of gaining entry level experience within the financial sector I was employed at the ANZ Bank working as a customer registration officer following the completion of my undergraduate degree. This role was characterized by the use of a variety of databases and online systems which I have been required to use to perform numerous administrative duties. Through this back-of-house administrative role I have developed an eye for detail which goes well with my conscientious and diligent nature. I am capable of working efficiently and effectively and have developed the confidence needed to succeed in competitive and pressurized environments. Due to the nature of my previous roles, I have often been required to work as part of a team and this has allowed me to show initiative, think outside the box and take ownership of my role. I completed my tertiary studies at Deakin University and have a Bachelors Degree in Commerce in which I specialized in finance and business management. My courses in equities and investments, finance and business management have given me a solid base upon which I plan to build my career. This is not only a fine opportunity, but also a place where my qualifications can make a difference. This role contains the challenges to keep me on my toes and that is the kind of job I anticipate every morning. The working experiences I have gained from working in the banking and finance sector have allowed me to appreciate the intricacies related to the upkeep and effective management of any organization and has further strengthened my work ethic. Through these roles I have been able to work autonomously in order to meet and exceed set goals and objectives as well as fulfill given SLAs. Gaining familiarity within a corporate finance and banking environment has further fueled my fervency for banking and financial operations and delivering excellence to the people I work for and the general public. I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you in person to further discuss my qualifications and work experience. I look forward to your response Sincerely,
Susan Ireland says: August 12, 2012 at 9:10 am
Hello Eve, I think you have a really good start. With a little more work, you’ll have a good cover letter. Here are my suggestions: – Replace “To whom it may concern” with “Dear Manager” or “Dear Recruiter,” whichever is appropriate. – Place “RE: APPLICATION FOR FINANCE ASSISTANT ROLE” above “Dear Manager.” – Try to make your letter more employer-oriented and less “I”-centered. Do some research to understand what the company is working on and how you will add value to that goal. – Where you have long dense paragraphs, break them into bullet point statements so the letter is easier to read. If you can make you entire letter shorter it will help a lot. Remember, you are sending your resume along with your letter, so there’s no need to summarize your entire resume in the letter. Instead, pick only a few of your very best assets and focus on them. Write about them in terms of how the employer will benefit from those assets. Best of luck with your application!
zoey says: August 14, 2012 at 10:23 am
Re: Software Engineer Dear Hiring Manager: Thank you for your correspondence regarding the position of Software Engineer at your company. I am a recent graduate of the Master of Science program in Computer Science and Information Systems at xxx with a GPA of 3.5/4.0 Through coursework and practical training during various internships, I have acquired exemplary competence in the various aspects of the software development cycle including understanding user requirements and translating those requirements into design and implementation. I have proficiency in HTML, PHP, CSS, JavaScript and SQL and have used these skills to build various applications during internships and personal projects. Also, using my knowledge of Java, I developed a Java program to generate J2ME code for building mobile applications targeted for the African context; the development has been published in the IEEE (Institute of Electrical Electronics Engineers) Website. Beyond the classroom, I tutor 1st year through 4th year students at the University of xxx in various computer science concepts, from basics in programming to management science and the various Microsoft Office Suite. These various coaching sessions have not only enabled me share my knowledge in these areas but also allowed me widen my knowledge, connect with more students and strengthen my ability to communicate with people across different levels of technical knowledge. I possess ability to work well others and I believe my demonstrated passion for information science and technology coupled with hands on experience and willingness to learn make me a great addition to xxx. I am therefore very excited to present my candidacy for employment consideration. Thank you for your time and consideration. I will be contacting you via email as requested to follow up on this application. Sincerely,
Susan Ireland says: August 16, 2012 at 4:12 pm
Hello Zoey, Your cover letter is one of the better ones I’ve seen lately. Thank you for sharing it with us. My overall suggestion is for you to edit some of your sentences so they become less wordy. For example, please see how I shortened the following sentence. I think my version holds all the meaning yours did, but it’s quite a bit shorter, and therefore more inviting to read. Yours: Through coursework and practical training during various internships, I have acquired exemplary competence in the various aspects of the software development cycle including understanding user requirements and translating those requirements into design and implementation Mine: Through coursework and internships, I have gained competence in several aspects of the software development cycle, including how user requirements inform software design and implementation. While you’re in editing mode, go over each sentence carefully to see that it’s correct. I see some that have missing words. For example, in this sentence, “These various coaching sessions have not only enabled me share my knowledge…” you’re missing the word “to” after “enable me.” I also think you could delete the word “various” and not lose a beat. With just a little tweaking, you’re going to have a good cover letter, Zoey. Thanks again for sharing it!
Rahul says: August 26, 2012 at 1:24 pm
Dear Hiring Manager, Ever since my advent with technology, xyz has been one of the inspiring companies I wanted to apply for my career. Coming to USA for pursuing my Masters in Computer and Information Science at yyy, influenced and inspired me even more to apply for the xxx position. Throughout my professional life and my student career at yyy I have tackled challenges and participated in projects towards which I have made meaningful contributions. I have an experience of two years ranging from working for Telecom giant aaa to co-founding a startup zzz. I feel that I have the perfect blend of work experience due to the variance in working style and my role in both the companies. I consistently push myself to develop ideas that help others and provide value to the institutions in which I work. As a student of Computer and Information Science, I value the importance of seeing the past in order to envision alternative futures. Moreover, with a trained engineering mind, I am comfortable both finding and interpreting complex data. The confluence of my past work in a company and the class-room has enabled me to become deft at identifying roots and causes of problems, harnessing information and processing it into useful written or visual forms. Both academically and professionally, I thrive in situations that require of me intense analysis, problem-solving, and clear writing. My education at yyy acts as a catalyst to my overall personality, and I feel it adds a whole new dimension to my thought process. I feel I can add an asset to your office and at the same time the position would be the ideal setting in which I could substantially utilize my interpersonal and critical thinking skills in order to build software which can provide the best possible strategies to further the company’s goal of improving human life and achieving excellence. Also my entrepreneurial skills developed at zzz can be a huge boon in situations which require such experience. I would be looking forward to have the opportunity to further discuss the xxx position with you at the earliest convenience. Sincerely, P.S. Thank you in advance for your consideration, I look forward to meeting you shortly.
Susan Ireland says: August 27, 2012 at 8:40 am
Rahul, Thank you for sharing your cover letter with us. Here are a few things I especially liked about it: – You’ve given insight into your mindset as an IT professional. I liked learning about your personal style of working. – I liked the P.S. It’s very common to say something like “Thank you in advance for your consideration. I look forward to meeting you shortly.” and because it’s so common it often gets overlooked. But it’s not common to put it in a P.S. at the end of a letter, and that’s what makes it stands out. Here are a few ways I think your letter can be improved: – I think it can be a lot shorter. See my 3-Point Cover Letter Template to see how you can cut it down. – Ask a friend (or hire a pro) to review your letter for wording and grammar. There are some bumps that need smoothing out (too much for me to do in this format). I wish you much luck in your job search. And thank you again for posting your cover letter.
Nathan says: November 15, 2012 at 7:43 am
Here’s a cover letter I drafted up to see what a short and “to the point cover letter would look like”. I think it offers a very quick and easy answer to the employers needs, and doesn’t leave them reading a 10 minute cover letter that answers questions that a resume or interview could answer. Let me know what you think, and if you have any suggestions. Thank you! Keep in mind that I know the name of the HR Manager who will be reviewing the cover letter and resume. Dear Mr. XXXX, I am writing in response to the Project Engineer Career Start Program posted on your company’s career page. I can offer you one year of experience as a project engineer for a top tier general contractor, excellent project-management skills, and a great eye for detail, all of which should make me an ideal candidate for this opening. I have attached my resume for your review and would welcome the chance to speak with you sometime. Best regards, XXXX XXXXX
Susan Ireland says: November 21, 2012 at 9:39 pm
Hi Nathan, I think you have a good start to your letter. It would be great if you could speak to the company’s goals, challenges, and projects in enough detail that it’s clear you know what the company does and how you fit in. What you have is good, but (forgive me to say), it’s all about you. Try to change the focus to the company and then to how you will help the company. So, even when you talk about yourself, it’s in regards to achieving the company’s goals. Make sense? I hope so.
Andrew Kemokai Jr. says: December 19, 2012 at 8:12 am
Hello Miss Susan, this is what my first cover letter look like; Dear Sir/Madam: With this covering letter and attached resume… This letter has been moved to A Formal Cover Letter Sample.
Susan Ireland says: December 19, 2012 at 9:15 am
Hello Andrew, I really like the polite tone of your cover letter. This comment has been moved to A Formal Cover Letter Sample.
Andrew Kemokai Jr. says: December 19, 2012 at 9:21 am
Thank you very much Miss Susan. I appreciate your kind and good work. I will adhere to all your corrections as I’m just about to send in some unsolicited letters of application. I hope it will make a difference, Once again, I say thank you.
Susan Ireland says: December 19, 2012 at 9:53 am
You’re welcome, Andrew. I wish you good luck with your applications!
Andrew Kemokai Jr. says: December 20, 2012 at 1:27 am
This is how my new letter appear now compared to the previous one above. I love it so much. Thanks Miss Susan, I just believe I’m going to have the job. This comment has been moved to A Formal Cover Letter Sample.
Susan Ireland says: December 20, 2012 at 7:42 am
Hello again, Andrew. If I may, here’s your cover letter with a few more edits: This letter and comment has been moved to A Formal Cover Letter Sample.
Evan Sullivan says: December 31, 2012 at 11:21 am
Dear Chief of xxxx: This letter is to express an interest in joining the Office of Assemblyman xxxx xxxxxxx as a Legislative Aide. My educational background in Political Science and Economics combined with the experience I have gained in public policy would make me a strong asset in furthering the Assemblyman’s legislative agenda. My experience comes through my time on the State Relations team at the xxxx and as a Legislative Analyst with the xxxx. In both roles, I have conducted in-depth legislative research and analysis that has been crucial in developing policy positions and recommendations at the State and Local level. In 2011 to address the devastation in Albany County left by Hurricane Irene I developed a legislative proposal for the xxxx to deal with the anachronistic zoning standard in New York State that led to the destruction of many waterways that feed the Hudson River. I was able to develop a zoning standard that will foster environmental sustainability in the watershed region with little fiscal impact on tax payers. In my role at the xxxx I have been responsible for analyzing budget documents from the State of New York in order to assist in the creation of the xxxx in New York State’s budget proposal for 2013. In addition to the legislative experience that I’ve gained, I have also been a small business owner since 2008 and understand the challenges that face business in today’s economic climate. Through my experience at the xxxx and at the xxxx, I have shown the ability to advance wide range of policy issues and have gained the essential qualifications you are looking for in a Legislative Aide. I also have immediate housing available to me in New York City and would be eager and willing to relocate. I would appreciate the opportunity to further discuss my qualifications with you in person. Thank you for your time and consideration, I look forward to hearing from you.
Susan Ireland says: January 4, 2013 at 7:34 am
Hello Evan, Thank you for sharing your cover letter. It’s very good. I have just a few comments, which may improve it a bit. – In the sentence: “In 2011 to address the devastation in Albany County left by Hurricane Irene I developed…” a comma after “2011” and another after “Irene” would make it read more smoothly. Also, that sentence is quite long. Perhaps you could break it into two. – The second paragraph is quite long. Perhaps you could start a new one at “In my role at the xxxx I have been responsible for analyzing…”. And then another one at “In addition to the legislative experience…” If that doesn’t look or feel right, maybe figure out a way to put your second para points in bullet point format with one sentence intros to each of your three sets of bullet points. – You need a space before your closing para that starts “I would appreciate the opportunity to further discuss…” And I suggest deleting the word “further” as you haven’t really discussed it with him/her yet. I hope my points are helpful. Good luck with your application!
Mulugeta Berihun says: January 5, 2013 at 7:43 am
To: The Health Support Organization (THESO) South Sudan, Juba Dear Hiring manager, I hope you will consider me for the position of Program manager based to Juba. I have over thirteen years of work experiences with strong public health and clinical background in save the children UK, World health organization Ethiapia and Amhara regional health Bureau Providing quality health and humanitarian service is a major focus of my present position as Senior Project Manager for Save the Children on Integrated community case management of common childhood illness (ICCM) Amhara region, Ethiopia. I have achieved significant result from the ignition point of project life to date. So far, 430,000 children under five accessed ICCM service for malnutrition, pneumonia and diarrhea in our interventions area. Managing MNCH service under health and HIV/AIDS project in five intervention districts sharpened my transferable skills in all direction to realize primary health care services for communities In general I do have the following versatile competencies (1) Remarkable experience in health and nutrition program planning and implementation using project cycle management tools ( 2) Have outstanding exposure to a wide range of leadership, managing resources , capacity building for staff and partners on maternal and child health service (IMNCI ,EPI ,CMAM, Malaria, pneumonia and diarrhea management) (3) Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships. (4) Document best practice, develop proposals, concept notes and produce up to standard report for donors and excellent data management using Epi-info and SPSS statically packages (5) Ability to use sound judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve range of complex issue. I am confident that my strong academic back ground and experience would make me an ideal candidate for the post. I can assure you that to function up to the standard and to the best interest of THESO. All I need is a chance to prove my interest, professionalism and hard work. Thank you for your time and consideration Yours sincerely, Mulugeta Berihun, ICCM senior project manager Save the Children,Dessie Ethiopia Tele-0911805470(cell) Email:
[email protected]
Susan Ireland says: January 5, 2013 at 10:48 am
Ah, Mulugeta, your letter has a special need that I often see in cover letters from job seekers when English is not their first language. It would be good if you could work with someone (perhaps a friend or colleague) who writes well in English to edit and smooth out your sentences. I’m sorry that I can’t do that for you in this forum. If you can get someone to help you edit it, I would be happy to look at your new version and give you comments. Thank you! Susan Ireland
Eliza says: January 9, 2013 at 3:24 am
I’m trying to put together a cover letter for the child care sector and am having trouble. If you’re still active on this thread I’d appreciate any advice. Dear Sir/Madam, I am applying for the post of nursery assistant at Oxford Waterways as advertised on Indeed.co.uk. I have five years experience as a live out nanny and babysitter and have worked as a teacher and teaching assistant. I have been responsible for groups of up to seventeen children at a time including at playtimes, meal times and nap times. I have experience offering entertainment at the appropriate levels and ensuring health and safety is applied during any activities. As a nanny I have been in charge of young children who need help with personal hygiene and have experience with changing nappies, bath time and help with bathroom needs. I have been responsible for dealing with parents and carers, keeping them up to date with their children’s progress and answering questions or helping them find someone more suited to answering. I have been in posts where it is necessary to complete and file paper work and have worked with a strict policy and curriculum and find the frame work easy to work with. I have some experience with health and safety though I am untrained. I worked within a team of teachers and as part of a sales team in past jobs and have been told I am a good team player. I work under own initiative though I have respect for the boundaries of authority and policy. In customer service roles I have developed my communication skills and within my child care positions I have learnt how to communicate with young people. Through my own research and work with children I have become familiar with EYFS. With my experience and personal qualities I think I would be an asset to your team, please consider my CV (attached), I look forward to hearing from you, yours faithfully,
Susan Ireland says: January 9, 2013 at 2:02 pm
Eliza, my husband is a nursery school teacher so this is all quite familiar to me. Thank you for showing us your letter. I like it a lot. Here’s a thought: Because your paragraphs are quite long, try breaking them up. Start with an intro sentence that leads into a few bullet point statements. For example: I have five years experience as a nanny and babysitter and have worked as a teacher and teaching assistant. I have been responsible for: – Groups of up to seventeen children at a time including at playtimes, meal times and nap times. – Offering entertainment at the appropriate levels and ensuring health and safety is applied during any activities. – Young children who need help with personal hygiene (changing nappies, bath time and help with bathroom needs). See how that makes your text more inviting to read? You might do the same elsewhere in the letter if it seems to work. Also, ask someone to proofread your letter for you. You have a few typos (for example, you need to cap “Yours faithfully,” at the end. Good luck with your new career in childcare!
yudi yudistira says: January 17, 2013 at 5:45 pm
Hi everyone, please find my cover letter… This comment has been turned into the post, Kia Ora! Take a Peek at This Professional Cover Letter Sample. Susan Ireland says: January 18, 2013 at 8:15 am
My response to Yudi’s sample cover letter has been moved to Kia Ora! Take a Peek at This Professional Cover Letter Sample.
Vijay Thakur says: January 18, 2013 at 5:08 am
Cover letter Having 23 years of working experience in Journalism & Mass Communications, PR , presently working with ERICSSON-TELINDIA, New Delhi as Chief (Corporate Communications and Business Development).Have working experience with State Govt to Central Govt of India, Ministries, Departments to International organizations, right from PRO to Director, Public Relations and Commercial Publicity .Also served Govt of India’s top post as Officer On Special Duty(Press & Govt Liaise)with Indian Telecom Minister, Secretary, DOT & Minister of Telecommunications and IT, New Delhi which include the prime duties to maintain top liaise with PMO, President House of India, All Central/State Govt’s Ministers, Chief Ministers , NGO’s, PSU’s, Media’s and public/private’s organizations of repute. Because of my experiences and qualifications, Emirates Airlines has also offered/selected me a s Chief Operations Officer, Malaysia . Being PhD Scholar in Management from Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, Topper of University with Gold Medalist in Mass Communications and Journalism, Punjab University and MBA(Marketing and Operations) can easily handle and tackle any drastic situation, risk management while discharging my own duties, rgds Vijay Thakur
Susan Ireland says: January 18, 2013 at 8:28 am
Hello Vijay, Thank you for showing us your cover letter. Rather than trying to edit your letter, I think these two points will get you headed in the right direction. 1. Your sentence structures are not complete. I suggest you work with someone who has good English skills to rewrite them so they are correct. That will be a big step toward having a good cover letter draft. 2. Please use your finished draft only as a starting point for each cover letter you send out. As it is (or will be) the draft is all about YOU. Your cover letter should be mostly about the employer, the company’s goals and projects. Do research about each company you apply to and, in your letter, show that you know what the company is about and you really want to work there. Yes, that means each letter will be different and therefore much better. Good luck with your job search! Susan
Vijay Thakur says: January 18, 2013 at 10:57 pm
thanks a lot for your guidance Susan
Thu says: January 20, 2013 at 7:50 pm
Please help me with this cover. Thank you a lot for your time. Dear Ms.Thuy Hanh, I am really interested in applying for the position of Business Development Associate as an intern for Development Department in Operation Smile in Vietnam. I believe I have the academic background, skills and work experiences you seek for the position. Being trained at an active and intensive university environment, with the frequent researches, reports and presentations worked in group or individual, my soft skills are significantly improved. This also helps me being able to handle multiple tasks in different intensive working environments effectively. At present, I am a core volunteer in charge of the fundraising duty for a charity group called Children Smile. As a volunteer for SJ Vietnam by 2011, I have a lot of opportunities to practice my English by sharing workloads and exchanging cultures when working with international volunteers. Moreover, being privileged to be in charge of evaluating some projects of Institute for Social Studies as a collaborator since 2011, I had chances to communicate with different people, particularly the one at the grass-roots level. This is showed in the sense of sensitivity, openness, empathy and adaptability to different situations and new environments. Besides, I used to be in charge of managing a column in the online bulletin of ISS. Then I hope this skill would be helpful when I am in charge of your technical communication activities. Noticeably, with a dream of being an excellent global worker, helping the poor and disadvantaged, especially the children, I believe the acceptance of working for Operation Smile in Vietnam is one of the important stairs helping me reaching my dream. I am young, eager to learn new things and ready to face up to challenges. It would be an honor to contribute to Operation Smile in Vietnam through an internship. I have attached my resume and look forward to discussing the position and my qualifications in greater detail. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Duong Thi Thu
Susan Ireland says: January 23, 2013 at 2:59 pm
Hello Thu, Thank you for posting your sample cover letter for an intern in business development job for a non-profit. It seems that the group you’d like to work for is committed to a good cause. I’m sure that being a part of that effort would be rewarding. For your cover letter, I have some thoughts: – It is very long and dense. I suggest breaking it up where you can, using bullet point statements. Perhaps you can see how to do that by looking at some of the other cover letters in this post where we’ve used bullet points. – In the last part of your letter you made a good effort to connect with the nonprofit. I think it would be helpful to move some of that “passion for the cause” toward the beginning. Of course, your hard skills are key, but your heart is also valued. See if you can use some of that passion for helping the poor as part of your intro. – Your letter is in English, which I believe is not your native language. Please find someone who is a good English writer and ask them to edit your letter. The content is good. The sentence structure needs help. Again, thank you for showing us your intern cover letter. I hope you get the job and are able to do this good work you have in mind. Susan
Anshu says: January 20, 2013 at 10:10 pm
Please help me out with my first cover letter. Dear Recruiter, I am writing in response to the opening for the Job ID:xxxx , Job Title:xxxx I am a fresher and I won’t waste your time inflating my credentials. The truth is I don’t have a perfect GPA, but I do have unbelievable communication skills along with a business mind and will work hard for you. I possess the ability to work well with others and I believe that my passion for Information science and Technology coupled with management skills and willingness to learn will make me a great addition to your company. I am therefore very excited to present my candidacy for the employment consideration. I have attached my resume for your review and would welcome the chance to speak with you sometime. Sincerely, Anshu Ishan P.S. Thank you in advance for your consideration, I look forward to meeting you shortly.
Susan Ireland says: January 23, 2013 at 3:20 pm
Hello Anshu, I really like your cover letter. It has a great spirit, which the right recruiter will like. Of course I have some ideas to improve it. – Because you have written your cover letter to a recruiter, you need to word a few lines differently. If you get this job, you will not be working for the recruiter. You’ll be working for the company. So “…will work hard for you” should be “…will work hard for your client” or “… for the company.” Likewise, later in your letter, “…great addition to your company” works only if the recruiter is working inside the company you are sending your resume to. Make sense? – I very much like your opening where you lay out your less-than-perfect GPA. It gives your letter a sense of your personality. I like that. – Please work with someone on your sentence structure as here and there it needs some help. – At the end, I suggest deleting the word “sometime.” I’ve seen this before in cover letters and think it sounds weak, almost like it doesn’t matter if it’s six months or a year from now. I think it’s best if you simply stop your sentence with “…speak with you.” – Bravo on the P.S. Although if you’re sending this as an email, it might not get read. Thanks again for sharing your cover letter with us. I hope I’ve given you a few good ideas. Susan
Anshu says: January 25, 2013 at 12:13 pm
thank you susan
u r a life saver
Susan Ireland says: January 25, 2013 at 1:30 pm
You’re very welcome, Anshu. It’s kind of you to take the time to thank me. Many times I don’t hear back from folks and I wonder if they got the help they were looking for. So thank you for dropping us your note. Best, Susan
Matthew says: January 22, 2013 at 5:29 pm
Hi Ms. Ireland, Your website is really helpful and I would love some feedback on my cover letter. Thanks so much! Dear Hiring Manager, Your Research Coordinator position in the [city] office caught my attention immediately, as I have a passion for, and experience, with all aspects of this position. My education in environmental sciences coupled with my experiences with nonprofits, fundraising, and research would allow me to excel at [organization name]. Specifically: • Strong research and organization skills would allow me to analyze current donors • Well-practiced communications skills that enable me to effectively work with a wide range of people • Experience with and understanding of non-profits and environmentally-focused organizations to be a valuable part of your organization Equally important, my underlying passion for the work [organization name] does gives me a drive to excel at my job. I look forward to meeting in person and further discussing how my knowledge can contribute to [organization name] and, as Research Coordinator, I can help continue the great work your organization is doing. I am easiest to reach via email or cell phone during the afternoons. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Matthew
Susan Ireland says: January 23, 2013 at 3:37 pm
Mathew, What a good cover letter for a non-profit job! Thank you for sending it to us. There are a few bumps in the road, but not many. Here’s the biggest of those bumps: Your bullet point statements need to be parallel. Read them out loud, starting each one with the same pronoun (even though you don’t and shouldn’t write that pronoun in the letter itself). So the first statement would read: “[My] Strong research and organization skills would allow me to analyze current donors.” That works! Now read the second statement with the same pronoun: “[My] Well-practiced communications skills that enable me to effectively work with a wide range of people.” See how that doesn’t work? But if you delete the word “that,” it works. Like that, go through each of your bullet points to see how you can make them work with the same “silent pronoun.” If you prefer, you could use “I have” instead of “My” to see how that alters your statements. Which ever pronoun you choose, use the same one for all your statements. That will make them parallel. Also, ask a friend who’s a good writer to review your whole letter to be sure your grammar is at its best. You have a few bumps in that dept. as well. Happy job hunting!
Matthew says: January 23, 2013 at 8:32 pm
Thank you so much for our feedback, I really appreciate it!
NOLI says: January 23, 2013 at 12:31 pm
Dear Hiring Manager: I am responding to your posting for a Brand Advocate. My career experience includes retail & small business sales, event planning, marketing, account management, market analysis, and customer service. My professional and academic accomplishments make me a strong candidate for this position. I have over ten years sales and marketing experience. My track record of success includes: A year to date AT&T Customer Experience survey satisfaction average of 98%; numerous sales awards detailed throughout my resume, Securing financial support & sponsorship from vendors such as Ford Automotive, Smirnoff, Moet Chandon, Pro Keds athletics and various others. I am proficient with Microsoft Office applications, have a passion for emerging technologies, available to work flexible hours and have reliable transportation. I believe my experience managing customers & sponsor relations would prove to be a valuable asset to your team. BA in Business Management form Hampton University. I welcome the opportunity to meet with you personally to further discuss my qualifications and what I have to bring to the Brand Advocate position. My resume is enclosed. I can be contacted at (404) XXX-XXXX. Sincerely,
Susan Ireland says: January 23, 2013 at 3:53 pm
Hello Noli, I can see that you’ve taken a bit of time to write your cover letter for a brand advocate job. Thank you for sharing it with us. Even though many of our readers may not work in your line of work, your sample cover letter will be helpful in learning one key thing about cover letter writing. It’s something I’ve written about in this comments section, so you might want to scroll around to read more. A good cover letter is more about the employer than it is about the job seeker. In your letter you’ve detailed your qualifications. What’s missing is anything about the employer. Could this be because you’re trying to write ONE cover letter for all employers you send your resume to? If so, I suggest you take a new approach. Start each letter with a different opening paragraph. One that addresses the employer. targets his or her company, and shows that you know who you’re writing to and know how you might fit in. Unless you target your letters, you’ll be sending something that sounds like a form letter… because it IS a form letter. Success rates are much lower with form letters compared to target cover letters. So please research each company you write to, and tailor your cover letter to that employer. You’ll find yourself spending more time on each one, but you’ll have a higher rate of return on your investment. Good luck with your new cover letter for a brand advocate for that special company! Susan
Nikita says: January 25, 2013 at 10:30 am
Dear Ms. Ireland, I would really appreciate any feedback you can provide on my cover letter, I am trying to transition into a career in the health promotion and education sector, please see below, thank you very much for your time !! : Dear Hiring Manager, This letter is in regard to my strong interest in the (name of Agency-company here) and my desire to contribute to its success. I have taken the liberty of enclosing my CV in the hope that my skills and abilities match an opening you have. My personal interest in the health care field stems from a family history of cancer and heart disease, two chronic afflictions for which Public Health interventions can be developed which influence lifestyle choices and ecological factors thus potentially reducing their burden. This is why I decided to pursue my Masters degree in Health Promotion and Education so that I could become part of these health initiatives through supporting prevention efforts, conducting research, planning, designing and evaluating programmes and advocating for public policy that produces a social and physical environment conducive to achieving a healthier Caribbean. This is what immediately attracted me to the mission and objectives of the (agency here). Relevant school projects for which I have received distinctions include conducting needs assessments, planning and designing mock health interventions, researching and analysing current health programmes as well as designing logic models for process and impact evaluations. Among my other strengths that will help me contribute substantively to (company), you will find that I am a resourceful individual with a proven ability to problem solve and perform a top-notch job. I have developed competencies in diverse areas including: passion helping and motivating others to action as well as working with people from a diversity of backgrounds having volunteered and worked in several countries – experience which would help me to build and manage relationships liaising with people from different divisions within the agency; strong research and analytical capabilities as well as excellent communication skills: all considerable components of my previous work opportunities – such skills would serve me well in identifying and prioritizing health improvement projects, conducting critical reviews and planning. I possess a strong sense of organization and aptitude for details with a proven track record of effectively prioritizing multiple tasks in fast paced work environments and computer proficiency in all Microsoft office applications. I am equally comfortable working independently to meet objectives, as well as collaboratively as part of a team. I am proud to say that I am fluent in Spanish and also have a DELF B2 qualification from the French Ministry of Education certifying an upper intermediate command of the French language. I believe I can best serve the Agency in the Behaviour Change Information/Education and Communication Division or the Research Policy Development and Evaluation Division but would enjoy an opportunity to talk with you to see where my skill set would be of the greatest benefit to you. My online degree programme provides me with the flexibility to be available right away for employment. I can be reached at —–.com or 555-4505. Thank you in advance for consideration of my application.
Marie says: January 25, 2013 at 11:38 am
Dear Ms Ireland, i am thinking of applying for a position of a social worker with immigrants.I would appreciate any feedback considering my motivation letter. Dear Ms, I am interested for the position of social worker. My reasons for applying are multifold. Firstly, my interest in participating in the your mission lies not only due to my undergraduate studies(international relations),but from my awareness of humanitarian concerns in various countries and being engaged as an EVS volunteer in Bosnia and participating in short ngo summer projects around the world. In Bosnia but also latter in my current position in Serbia, I gained an exposure to community issues and the role that NGOs plays .I had the opportunity to involve myself in various projects and to gain valuable skills and knowledge. Same time, I had the opportunity to meet with representatives from international and local organizations as well as local community leaders. Furthermore, my duties in my latest work involved extensive social work with vulnerable and socially marginalized groups, especially with roma kids and women from rural areas. Concerning the roma kids I was responsible to form and implement a short term project which was aiming in raising the social skills and capacities and raise the self esteem of the roma kids I was working with .At the same time I have served as a liaison between the roma kids and all others concerned and make recommendations for future actions that could be taken.As far as the rural women concerned , I assisted in organizing several trainings aiming in encouraging the self initiative of women from rural areas and at the same time help them develop and improve practical skills in lobbying and advocacy. Through these, I developed my ability to work under pressure and create success by reaching program goals under budgetary and time constraints. My long immersion in the Bosnian and Serbian life (but also my shortest working periods in countries (as Azerbaijan,Ethiopia) challenged my cultural awareness to a great extent and allowed me to be communicative within my local environment. Although i dont hold a social studies diploma from those experiences I know I am able to live and work in difficult conditions and carry out succesfully my activities. As an enthusiastic, informed and adaptable person, I am convinced that I would be able to contribute to the working environment in a constructive manner. Please do not hesitate to contact me and my references will be available upon request. I thank you for your time and I am looking forward to hearing from you
Anonymous says: January 29, 2013 at 5:20 pm
If you have a moment to look over my cover letter, I would really appreciate it!! I’m afraid it does focus a little too much on me, but I’m not sure of the best way to turn it around into being about the company, so if you have any suggestions about that, that would be great. Dear Hiring Manager, I recently graduated from the University of XXX with a degree in psychology, and I am seeking a position where I can apply the knowledge and skills that I have acquired over the course of my education, while further developing my abilities in the field of psychology. Working as a XXX would be a wonderful opportunity for me to accomplish these goals. Cognitive psychology is a fascinating area of study, and I believe that there is much to learn and many possible advances to make within this field. I took a number of courses related to cognitive psychology throughout my college education, including my senior capstone cognitive psychology course in which I was required to design and carry out my own research. My education and work experience have taught me to be organized, efficient, and creative, and I have learned how to effectively collaborate with others in group settings. In addition, I believe that my very strong work ethic, demonstrated in part by my accomplishment of graduating magna cum laude from a distinguished academic institution, would make me an excellent candidate for the XXX position at XXX. I would appreciate your consideration. Sincerely, XXX
Susan Ireland says: January 31, 2013 at 9:44 am
Hello Anonymous, As a new grad, looking for your first job in psychology is a big step. I’m happy to help! Let’s look at just your first paragraph. You’re right, it does focus on you and doesn’t mention the employer at all. I have a feeling you didn’t have an employer in mind when you wrote this. Am I right? So I suggest you take a step back. Find an employer you would LOVE to work for. Find out as much as you can about that organization. What is its mission statement? Who do they serve? What methods of treatment do they promote? How are they making a difference? All this should tell you more about why you want to work for them. How you see yourself fitting in. Then write your first paragraph again. Start with a sentence that’s all about the employer and does not start with the word “I.” For example, “Your mission statement inspired me to…” “The focus of your work at ABC org…” Let that employer be the center of your world for this letter. It has to be sincere. People can sense a “phony” a mile away so be sure to write from your heart. Once you’ve written your first paragraph, you’ll be able to rewrite the rest of your letter. Best of luck with your new career in psychology!
Anonymous says: February 2, 2013 at 9:26 am
Thank you so much!
anonymous says: February 15, 2013 at 5:11 am
Please check this cover letter for me. Is it perfect or not. Thank you. Dear sir/ Madam, As requested, I am attaching with this cover letter, a copy of my detailed resume for your perusal. The opportunity presented in this listing.(SUPPLY CHAIN) is very interesting and I believe that my educational experience and my skills will make me a very competitive candidate for this position. The key strengths that I posses for success in this position include: · I am highly customer centric with high interpersonal and communication skills. · I strive for continued excellence. . I have passion for quality and success. With a B.Sc degree in Geology, a professional training in health Safety and Environment (HSE) and also a professional training in Entrepreneurship, I have a full understanding of Supply Chain. Please see my resume for additional information on my experience and competences. I can be reached anytime on my cell phone,********** Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to speaking with you about this employment opportunity. Sincerely,
Susan Ireland says: February 15, 2013 at 7:15 am
Hello anonymous, Thank you for showing us your cover letter sample. It seems you intend to send this cover letter to many employers, which makes it a form cover letter. Unfortunately, form letters are not nearly as effective as targeted cover letters. Please scroll up just one comment to see the advice I gave the other “anonymous.” Take those steps of finding an employer you would LOVE to work for and write a personalized cover letter to that employer. This will help get you pointed down the path of writing good individual cover letters (plural) for your job search. Best to you in your job hunt!
Rajesh says: February 17, 2013 at 1:44 am
Hi Susan, Had a look at your comments on how a cover letter ought to be. They are excellent. You hit the nail on the head.
and says: March 5, 2013 at 5:08 am
This cover letter sample has been moved to Almost Perfect Cover Letter Sample.
Susan Ireland says: March 6, 2013 at 11:50 am
My comment about this cover letter sample has been moved to Almost Perfect Cover Letter Sample.
Tom says: March 5, 2013 at 11:26 am
Hello could you please check this cover letter for me. I am not a native English speaker so any help would be appreciated.Thanks a lot. Dear Sir / Madam,(Honorable) Concerning: application for the position of … With this letter I would like to respond to your vacancy of 14/02/2013 on the website …. I would like to apply for the position of German teacher at your school. After having studied in Italy for two years where I worked as a German teacher, I am now back in the Netherlands and teach Dutch lessons in Germany. Living in different countries has given me a way with words. I am fluent in Dutch, Italian, German and English. During and after my conservatory training, I also worked as a guitar teacher. During my studies at the conservatory, I learned about different educational methods. I consider myself a patient teacher with a lot of empathy. In 2010 I moved to Perugia, Italy where I taught German lessons in an interactive way to preschoolers at several schools. Through combining music, games and language I succeeded in teaching the principles of the German language. I currently teach Dutch at a community college in Germany. I work with a class of adults. The course is called “Niederlaendisch auffrischung” and has as main objective the refreshment of previous acquired knowledge. What really appeals to me in education are the dynamics and contact with students. It is a great satisfaction to me seeing students grow and develop during a school. Through my international and diverse experiences as a teacher, I have a strong cultural awareness and I am aware of the efforts and inspiration which come into play during the acquisition of a new language. Your school appeals to me because of its international character and because your appreciation of high quality of education and progress. I would like to further explain my application in a personal conversation. Sincerely,
Susan Ireland says: March 6, 2013 at 12:01 pm
Hello Tom, I like your sample cover letter for a teaching position a lot. It’s friendly, tells a story, and gives lots of hints about your teaching style. You’ve already broken the ice by the time the reader finishes your cover letter. Bravo! Just a few points: – You cover letter starts on a rather formal note, which is okay for an Education job but maybe a sentence less formal would match the rest of your letter better. Even if you deleted “With this letter,” that would help. – I’m hoping that you will put spaces between your paragraphs, whether you send this as an email cover note or hardcopy cover letter. That will make it much more inviting to read. – Please ask a friend who writes English well to review your letter. Some of the phrases are a little off and can be improved with a few edits. Thank you for sharing your letter with us. I think it’s going to work well for your job search once you polish it a bit.
Dawn says: March 7, 2013 at 2:01 pm
Hello, can you please review this cover letter for me? Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Dear Hiring Manager, This letter is to express my interest in the Help Desk Analyst position. I welcome the opportunity to speak with you about this role and I believe that my experience and education will make me a competitive candidate for this position. I possess excellent interpersonal skills, and have the ability to work independently and as part of a team. In addition, I am able to multi-task and prioritize multiple projects. I am confident that I would be a great addition to your organization. My enthusiasm and commitment to excellence have served me well. I have extensive experience with supporting and maintaining Learning Management Systems, having had the chance to significantly develop my problem solving skills while working as a Learning Operations Specialist at XYZ. My skill-set is extensive and well balanced. During my time at XYZ and ABC, I succeeded in providing the best available learning in a cost efficient manner by supporting policies and programs aligned with business and learning strategies. Please take the time to review my resume. I believe that I am an excellent candidate for the position and could provide value to you and your customers. I can be reached anytime via my cell phone, xxx-xxxxxxx. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to speaking with you about this employment opportunity. Sincerely,
Susan Ireland says: March 11, 2013 at 9:09 am
Hello Dawn, You have a good foundation for a letter so let’s keep it and work from there. I suggest you try to make it sound a little more like YOU. Show some personality. As is, it sounds like a formal letter that has been stripped down so it fits all situations. I’d like it much better (and I think an employer would, too) if it gave us some hints as to what it would be like to speak with you in person. Relax your writing some and use a few phrases that let a little of the real YOU shine! For starters, I suggest you delete this part completely. It’s the kind of stuff everyone says, and no one even listens to anymore (even though it may be true for you). “I possess excellent interpersonal skills, and have the ability to work independently and as part of a team. In addition, I am able to multi-task and prioritize multiple projects. I am confident that I would be a great addition to your organization.” If you really want to make those points, then say it in a way that no one else would say it. Otherwise, you’re better off not having it in your letter at all. I like the way you started your second paragraph. That sounds sincere. Good luck with the rewrite!
AH says: March 13, 2013 at 5:56 am
Dear Ms. Am: Please accept this letter in application for the Clerk V position in the International Center as advertised on Monster. To supplement my skills, I recently completed an online course in Effective Business Writing at ED2Go through Monty Tech and received a certificate for completing the course. Since 2012, I have been doing temporary assignments at Harvard University through Randstad where I got to work with employees and students from diverse backgrounds. My resume demonstrates the following highlights that I bring to the Clerk V position: •Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. •Well-trained in Microsoft Office programs including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook; novice knowledge in Microsoft Access. •As the Client Service Coordinator at H&R Block, I comprehended on what clients were telling me on the phone and put their messages in writing. •An achievement of an organizational skill: completed foreign trip reports three months ahead of targeted deadline. Thank you for your time and consideration. My qualifications make me an excellent applicant for the Clerk V position. It would be an honor to meet with you to discuss how I meet the requirements for the position. If you have any questions for me, please feel free to contact me. Sincerely, XXX
Susan Ireland says: March 13, 2013 at 1:53 pm
Hello AH, It’s funny, even though you’re writing to a specific organization for a specific job, your letter sounds a bit like a form letter. Almost as if you had a template and just filled in the blanks for those two pieces of info. Please scroll up to some of the other comments I’ve made in this post about cover letters. Ask yourself those questions to help dig up something that rings true for why you want to work for the Center. Once you have a handle on your “passion” for this job, you’ll be able to write a more interesting message in your letter — one that helps you stand out as a job seeker with a true desire and ability to work there. That’s what the reader of your cover letter is looking for. And it’s your job as a cover letter writer to make that clear. Also, please ask a friend who writes well in English to proofread and edit your letter. There are a few misused words and mix-ups. I wish you the best with your job search!
AH says: March 18, 2013 at 6:36 am
Susan, When applying for a position at a certain company, how I do include the name of the person that I am connected to on LinkedIn who has a contact at the company? Do I include their name in the beginning of the cover letter or in the P.S. section? Most of my LinkedIn connections are strangers. Here is one of my examples that I have included in my cover letters: You and I both connected to the following individual on LinkedIn: Paul Rescigno. I have not met Paul in person.
Susan Ireland says: May 7, 2013 at 8:10 am
HI AH, You could just say, “You and I are both connected to Paul Rescigno on LinkedIn.” And then go on to say a little about how you know him or what the three of you have in common.
ABCD says: March 22, 2013 at 3:53 am
RESPECTED SIRS/MADAMS KINDLY TAKE A LOOK AT MY COVER AND ADVISE…. I NEED IT A BIT URGENT HENCE I WILL REALLY APPRECIATE IF YOU COULD MAKE IT A BIT FAST REGARDS Respected Sir/Madam, I am keenly interested to work with a Dynamic, Devoted, Determent, Challenging and Reliable Like XXX. The way this Organization has met all its challenges and passed all the barriers on its way to successes by creating new landmarks opportunities, Determination, Dedication and reliability makes me even more interested to be a part of this esteemed organization. Working with XXX, for me is a dream come true as I always wanted to Work in the dynamic work environment of a Global Player to improve my over all skills, knowledge and understanding. I have taken the liberty of enclosing my CV in the hope that my skills and abilities might match with Position of XXXX. I consider myself suitable for this Position as I have been working with an XXX Based company who is Involved in Import of Food Commodities, Beverages and FMCG products to XXXX for more than 15 years. I am involved in the Supply Chain and Procurement Department for last 8 years and have successfully maintained Supply Chain and Procurement of all Products Imported by my Organization. During the 8 years of Experience I have successfully Procured and managed Import of the Following Commodities From Different Parts of World. LIST OF PRODUCTS IMPORTED FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES As Instructed, I am attaching with this cover letter, a copy of my detailed resume for your perusal. Please do not hesitate to contact me and my references will be available upon request. Many Thanks for your time and I am looking forward to hearing fro Regards, ABCD
Susan Ireland says: March 22, 2013 at 5:29 pm
Hello ABCD, Forgive me for saying this: your letter needs a lot of work. It’s more than I can provide here in this forum. I suggest you ask a friend who is very good at writing in English to help you. Or you might hire a professional writer to rewrite it. Best to you!
ganesh says: April 5, 2013 at 4:38 am
Please see this covering letter which I attached below and reply whether its is sufficient or need to add more in this. Thanks in advance Sir/Madam, I , Ganesh, Came to know that there are (some openings in your Organization) or (opening for test engineer or jr software engineer ) For frshers. As yours is reputed organization and I believe that your company can provide me with all the fuels to boost up my career I am very much interested in starting my professional life with you organization. I am sending my CV as an attachment along with this mail. Please provide me with an opportunity to work with your Company. Thanking you Sir/madam,
Susan Ireland says: April 5, 2013 at 10:24 am
Hello Ganesh, To help you with your cover letter, I have a few questions for you: – What sort of job are you looking for? – Is the employer in the U.S.? If not, where is it?
Tuleleni says: April 8, 2013 at 1:49 am
Hi! Susan Can you please help me create an interesting cover .
Susan Ireland says: April 13, 2013 at 5:24 am
Hi there, Tuleleni, I’d be happy to help with your cover letter writing. Here’s my 4 Steps: How to Write a Cover Letter or Cover Email.
Kate says: April 14, 2013 at 2:42 pm
Hi Susan, Would greatly appreciate your help with my cover letter as I have been searching for a job for months with no success. Thanks! Read Kate”s letter in this post: Targeted Cover Letter Sample for a Nonprofit
Susan Ireland says: April 17, 2013 at 6:42 am
Read my response to Kate”s letter in this post: Targeted Cover Letter Sample for a Nonprofit
Stuart says: April 24, 2013 at 2:01 pm
Hi Susan, I have attached what I feel is my best Cover Letter, which in fact got me to be one of the finalists for the position. It unfortunately did work out, but I am interested to hear some of your comments. Thank you! See Stuart’s letter and my comments: Sample Cover Letter for an Environmental Scientist Susan Ireland says: April 28, 2013 at 2:19 pm
Please see Stuart’s letter and my comments: Sample Cover Letter for an Environmental Scientist
Vlad says: April 26, 2013 at 6:47 am
Hi Susan, I’d love to hear a interesting opinion about my cover letter See Vlad’s cover letter and my comments: Cover Letter Example for an IT Professional Susan Ireland says: April 28, 2013 at 2:32 pm
Dear Vlad, I like your cover letter sample very much. Full of good stuff for your IT reader. I have just a few comments. See my comments: Cover Letter Example for an IT Professional
Vlad says: April 30, 2013 at 1:34 am
Dear Susan, Thank you for your feedback. Regarding your comment, I find them very useful, but I have also some marks about them: 1. The HR people they usually have the bad habit to talk really fast, Therefore I find myself in the position that I can not understand a good part of the dialog. That is why I put that issue(asset) in the cover letter. As a hands up. 2. Usually I use this sentence when I a have a drawback for the specific position, “Sentence”, event though… 3. My intention is to express my excitement regarding that position. I know its extremely obvious.
winnie says: April 27, 2013 at 6:42 am
Hi Susan, this is my cover letter and I hope that you could look through it and provide feedbacks. For this following cover letter, as it is from a recruitment agency and hence, I am unable to find information of employer. Thus, I am unable to include any information about it but I did try to be enthusiastic about this job. I would be so glad that you could provides remarks on it. Thank you. This sample cover letter has been moved to Sample Cover Letter to a Recruiter. Don’t Know the Employer’s Name. Susan Ireland says: April 28, 2013 at 2:42 pm
Please see my response at Sample Cover Letter to a Recruiter. Don’t Know the Employer’s Name.
Aks says: May 2, 2013 at 10:40 am
This sample cover letter has been moved to Gutsy Cover Letter Sample for Sales and Business Development. Susan Ireland says: May 3, 2013 at 8:29 am
My response to this sample cover letter has been moved to Gutsy Cover Letter Sample for Sales and Business Development.
Aks says: May 3, 2013 at 9:08 am
Hi Susan, Thanks for sharing your views. I’ll take my chances and see what wonders can this cover letter do. Will keep you posted
Laurie says: May 3, 2013 at 9:56 pm
Hi Susan, I would really like to have your feedback on my form cover letter that I personalize for individual employer I’ve sent my resume to: Laurie’s form cover letter sample has been moved to Example of a Good Form Cover Letter. Susan Ireland says: May 7, 2013 at 8:00 am
Hello again, Laurie, This is such a good cover letter. Really well done! There’s just one thing I suggest changing… This comment has been moved to Example of a Good Form Cover Letter.
Xi Chen says: May 7, 2013 at 9:42 am
Hello Susan, I just received my Master’s degree in Food Science, with a focus on improving food safety in institutional environments. Now I am looking for positions like university extension educators. Following is an example of my cover letter. I’ve sent it out along with my cv but did not have a single interview yet so I feel kinda frustrated… Could you please take a look and possibly give me some suggestions? Thank you very much! Dear Mr. Simmons: I am interested in improving the well being of families and youth by assisting South Carolina citizens and businesses with utilizing research-based knowledge in their lives and business operations through the position of Area Food Safety Extension Agent – Upstate Region (Job ID: 12336) at the Clemson University Extension Service. I am confident that this position would allow me to further advance my career in using scientifically based information to meet the diverse needs and interests of local residents and businesses. I feel my strong ability in communicating with a variety of audiences coupled with my experiences in leading educational programs for various audiences on public health issues such as food safety have prepared me successfully fulfill the needs of this position. Highlights of my professional career include the following: • Strong interest in educating about food safety and improving family and children’s quality of life: o Received a Master of Science Degree in Food Science at Clemson University with a focus on promoting healthy environment for children and adults by improving food safety and hygiene practices in childcare facilities, schools, and other institutional environment. o Certified as ServSafe Manager o Certified in Digital Photography Data Collection in the Cafeteria Setting that will facilitate future grant seeking. o Volunteered in a School Plate Waste pilot study to capture and measure children’s food intake. • Supervisor: Dr. Vivian Haley-Zitlin; contact information: (864) 656-7716 o Currently volunteering at Clemson Area Food Exchange (CAFÉ) with promoting local fresh produce to Clemson citizens. • Supervisor: Elian Evans; contact information: (864) 372-9004 o Currently volunteering as 4-H middle manager in Pickens County in South Carolina (supervisor: Janine Sutter; contact information: 864-878-1394), with major responsibilities as: • Identify and recruit new leaders in the community; • Train new leaders or ensure new leaders receive proper training; • Communicate with volunteers on a monthly bases; • Communicate activities and events with volunteer leaders, and; • Communicate with Extension Agent and Extension staff about club needs and concerns. • Success in providing leadership in community based adult education programs: o Planned and organized a one-day cooking demonstration event for Clemson University freshmen community to promote healthy diet via assessing the dietary needs of the target audience, selecting cooking themes that would interest that audience, event location scheduling, and event publicity. o Planned and organized a sustainable health promotion program for proper hygiene practices in Clemson University dining halls via conducting community needs assessment, audient analysis and program evaluation. • Skilled in assessing the health literacy of populations served as well as applying communication and group dynamic strategies in interactions with individuals and groups. o Supervisor: Dr. Karyn O. Jones; Contact information: (864) 656-1567 • Conducted content analysis of Horizon Oil Spill related news articles on major news websites (e.g., CNN, MSNBC, FOX). • Conducted formative research and audience analysis to collect information about the impact of spilled oil and dispersant on human health and needs of local fishermen. • Utilized communication theories and frameworks to assist with developing a health campaign for target audience. • Proposed an evaluation program for assessing the effectiveness of proposed health campaign. • Skilled in evaluating educational programs: o Performed needs assessments in Clemson freshmen community via survey instrument to collect information about preferences of formats of health promotion programs (i.e., hand washing). • Supervisor: Dr. Ye Luo; contact information: (864) 656-4209 o Evaluated recently implemented educational programs such as comparing knowledge of target audiences before and after program participation using survey instruments. • Strong written communication skills: o Co-authored a set of 40 fact sheets (available at: website address) for childcare workers and health professional on food safety and hygiene practices. o Revised speech points for an Atlanta 4-H Club teaching program regarding human Norovirus and food safety. o Developed training materials (PowerPoint slides) and trained Michigan State University Extension Agents on research protocols. o Lead author of one abstract, one poster, and one research paper. o Co-authored one poster, three abstracts and two research papers. o Currently taking courses in grant writing • Strong Oral communication skills: o Presented research results at 2012 National Environmental Health Association Annual Conference, and o Presented research results at 2012 American Public Health Association Annual Conference. o Fluent in Cantonese, Chinese, and English. • Proficient in Microsoft Office, Excel, PowerPoint, SAS, SPSS, Outlook, videoediting software (e.g., iMovie), and social media (e.g., YouTube, Facebook, and Blogspot). o Established a food preparation blog to share food safety tips and food preparation skills: (website address) Dear Mr. Simmons, I believe you will find my experience, dedication, and personal attributes to be a valuable asset for the Clemson University Extension Service. Thank you for your time and consideration for this position. I look forward to talking to you soon. Sincerely, Xi Chen
Susan Ireland says: May 7, 2013 at 6:25 pm
Hello Xi, I think your cover letter is way, way too long. You need to reduce the number of bullet points so you have just the most relevant for the job you seek. Try to have no more than five or six. After you cut it back, post it for us to see and we’ll take it from there. Happy cover letter writing!
Tim says: May 15, 2013 at 10:46 am
Hi Susan, I’m not fantastic at writing cover letters; so if you or anyone else wouldn’t mind offering some feedback/input it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Cheers! Tim’s letter has been moved to: Great Cover Letter Sample for an Advertising Account Manager. Susan Ireland says: May 15, 2013 at 7:46 pm
Tim, I’m blown away by how well written your cover letter is. It’s very long, but it’s so good I read every word of it… and I think a hiring manager or recruiter will too. I wonder if it might give a little boost if you put your three terms in title caps: Teamwork-oriented, Innovative and Motivated. It might highlight the TIM. Here’s what I especially love about your letter: You started only a few sentences with the word “I.” So even though the letter is about you, it doesn’t seem egotistical. Well done! Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful cover letter with us.
gregorian says: May 15, 2013 at 2:16 pm
This letter has been moved to Sample Cover Letter for a University Administrative Assistant. Susan Ireland says: May 15, 2013 at 7:54 pm
My comment has been moved to Sample Cover Letter for a University Administrative Assistant.
Liz says: May 15, 2013 at 11:17 pm
Hi Susan Im happy to present my Cover Lettter and advise me accordingly.Thank you This cover letter sample has been moved to Cover Letter Example for a Human Resources Job. Susan Ireland says: May 17, 2013 at 8:55 am
My comment and rewrite of this cover letter sample has been moved to Cover Letter Example for a Human Resources Job.
JOSEPHINE says: May 18, 2013 at 5:32 am
HI SUSAN. I WOULD REALY APPRECIATE YOUR ADVICE IN MY APPLICATION. QUESTION, IF NO EMAIL ADD HAS BEEN GIVEN OF THE COMPANY IS IT OKAY TO SEND WITHOUT ONE? NAME P. O. Box xxxxxxxxx, ABC -kenya Tel.No. +xxxxxxx E-mail: xxxx.com 9th May 2013 Dear Recruiter , RE: APPLICATION FOR THE TWENTY 20 TALENT PROGRAMM Regarding the Management Development Program currently advertised on xxxxxx, please find a copy of my resume for your consideration. I have recently completed a degree in Bachelor of Purchasing and Supplies Management at J and awaiting the graduation which is scheduled for later this year. I would like to mention specifically that your strong emphasis on high quality products has not only set a benchmark in the industry but is also my main interest of working at Bata After browsing through the internet over your website for more details I am eager to apply for this position and be a part of your team. During my four years of study, I have put my theoretical knowledge into practice in a variety of ways, most effectively as a procurement intern at Panari Hotel and later as an Acting Procurement Officer. During this time, I gained extensive knowledge pertaining to the purchasing of a diverse range of materials and other goods directly and indirectly from the supplier’s. This furnished me with a deeper and greater understanding of the procurement function and in extension, the stores function. Through this experience i have also developed strong leadership skills and the ability to perform effectively and efficiently in an extremely dynamic environment. Among my other strengths that will help me contribute substantively to Bata, you will find that I am a resourceful and dependable individual with a proven ability to problem solve and perform a top-notch job. I can assure you that as a member of your team, I would bring these attributes to your firm. I would welcome the challenge of working for such a high profile institution and would uphold your commitment to quality customer service. Being a multinational company, I believe your management development programm will help me build a broad portfolio of technical, professional and interpersonal skills. I will highly appreciate a favorable response and the opportunity for an interview. Thanking you in advance. Yours faithfully, xxxxxxx
Susan Ireland says: May 21, 2013 at 7:27 am
Hello Josephine, Thank you for showing us your cover letter sample. It is very polite and business-like. For my taste, it’s a bit too formal, but perhaps this is what your new employer is looking for. If you have a friend who is good a written English, please ask him or her to look it over to do a little fine tuning. Best of luck with your job application!
kendra says: May 21, 2013 at 4:04 pm
Please review: Dear Manager, I submit my Curriculum Vitae (CV) for your perusal and consideration for the captioned vacancy posted on xxxx website on 2012/06/29 for a Human Resource Assistant within xxxx. I believe that I will make an excellent candidate for this position because of my qualifications, strong technical and analytical skills, as well as being an organized individual and possessing excellent communication and interpersonal skills. As an employee in your organization, my experience combined with personal qualities would give me the capability to excel and play a significant role within the company. I am a reliable and responsible individual who has the ability to work unsupervised or in a team scenario and meet deadlines. I am also a hard working individual who would strive to my best to excel in the position that I am in. I would appreciate an interview with you to discuss how my qualifications and skill set could contribute to the successful day-to-day running of your company. I can be contacted at your convenience using the details provided above and I look forward to speaking with you soon. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, xxxxxxxxxx
Susan Ireland says: May 21, 2013 at 4:32 pm
Dear Kendra, I’m afraid your cover letter needs quite a bit of work. I suggest you read through the comments after this post to see how I’ve advised folks to: – Talk about the employer rather than yourself. – Write in shorter sentences and paragraphs. – Use bullet points to break up dense text. – Show personality rather than writing in stilted language. And please look at the letters that I’ve said were really good ones. They are excellent models for the kind of letter you can write. Thank you for sharing your cover letter. Best of luck with your rewrite and job search!
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