Cover Letters
Ensure you have a great cover letter by getting it critiqued! Available daily in 198 McNeal Hall during drop in hours.
“It makes my selection process easier
when I get really good cover letters!”
Online Workshops
Related Handouts
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Online Workshops
Related Handouts
Related Links
— U of M 2005/2006 Employer Survey
A cover letter (sometimes called a letter of introduction or application letter) is a 1 page document that introduces your resume. The cover letter typically follows the below format. To get more detailed structure and a sample, click on the Cover Letter Handout (pdf) under related handouts.
Paragraph 1:
State the job you are applying for, how you heard about the position and mention specific things that interest you about the company based on your research.
Paragraphs 2 & 3:
Highlight your top two to three qualifications for this specific position and give brief examples to illustrate these skills.
Paragraph 4
Close by reiterating your interest in the position, emphasizing some qualities that make you a good fit and stating when you will contact them to follow up.
Other Critical Tips
- A cover letter should be grammatically perfect and free of errors.
- Tailor it to the company and position – if you can use it for several different jobs you aren’t being specific enough.
- Don’t explain what you will learn on the job or through the internship.
Academic Cover Letters
An academic cover letter often explains your accomplishments in graduate school in a bit more detail including research projects and teaching experience. Therefore, the typical academic cover letter is 1.5 to 2 pages in length. For more information click on the Academic Cover Letters Article under related links.