- Put yourself in the employer’s shoes – if you were hiring for the position, what skills, interests, and experiences might you be looking for in the cover letter?
- Look carefully at the qualifications and responsibilities in the job description; be sure to highlight the experiences that you have had that best match the position.
- Communicate your enthusiasm, but keep sentences short and clear. Use active, not passive, verbs. For example, use “arranged”, “devised”, “evaluated” instead of “was responsible for arranging, devising, or evaluating” (see the Resume Guide for an extensive list of action verbs).
- Begin the second paragraph with a topic sentence. Consider the main points you wish to make and then create a sentence that introduces those ideas.
- Avoid starting every sentence with “I.” Turn some of your sentences around to spice up the letter. For example, say “At the Audubon Society, my effective communication skills were tested _____.”
- Don’t copy another person’s letter. Your letter should reflect who you are and your writing ability. The samples in this guide reflect a variety of writing styles; use them only as a starting point. There is no “right way” or specific writing style for a cover letter.
- ALWAYS have someone proofread your letter to ensure that it is error free. One typo or misspelled word may be the only excuse needed to disregard your application.
