In this posting, we will be looking at cover letters or cover emails. If you are emailing your application, your cover letter will be in the body of your email. So what is a cover letter?
A cover letter is a letter of introduction to an employer, which is used to formally submit a resume or CV for employer review. As with the resume and CVs, I have provided some samples for you to use in the Resource Center website for this book. The purpose of the cover letter is to identify your intent to “apply for” or “seek out” a specific position within a company. It also formally presents you as an available candidate for a job position or range of positions within a company.

Most importantly, the cover letter is an opportunity to quickly introduce yourself and grab the employer’s attention. I always tell people to use it as another chance to market yourself to the hiring manager, promoting that they read your resume and ultimately grant a job interview. A cover letter is a critical part of the job search process. It allows you the first opportunity to gain some interest from the employer. In my time sending applications, I have yet to find one company that doesn’t recommend sending a cover letter with every resume that you submit.

As you review the cover letter examples, notice that it formally introduces you and your experiences. It shows how you can benefit the company and how you meet the requirements they are seeking. This allows you to put your resume or CV in a story format. You can go in more in depth about topics that you should on a resume. You can tailor your letter to the specific job posted and not be so generic. It also provides the school a sample of your writing ability, and written communication skills, which is vital in online education. Keep these ideas in mind when writing your cover letter and, once again, please review the samples provided in the Resource Center website for this book. Happy writing!