Guest Blogger: Does That Letter Have You Covered?
Editor’s Note: October is Careers in Student Affairs month. In recognition of that, Ellen Heffernan of The Spelman & Johnson Group is acting as a guest blogger and offering advice applicable throughout job search process. In this post she covers, well, cover letters. You can read about resumes here.
Cover letters are exercises in marketing and remember the basic concept of marketing: The ability to identify your audience and reach out to them with your message! So, when you create a cover letter for a position you MUST consider your audience.
Your cover letter should be specific to the institution and the position and as you craft your letter you should ask yourself what does the institution/division need in this position? What are their challenges? What, specifically, do I bring to the table that might interest them or get them excited about my application?
The mechanics of the cover letter include:
- The Four Basic Paragraphs: 1)State the purpose; 2) Summarize your skill and knowledge areas – highlight some solid, measurable accomplishments; 3) Briefly state what you know about the institution/position; 4) Indicate why you are a good match for institution/position
- Speak to the position description/advertisement
- Speak to any special situations that you may have
- Personalize your letter! (use the web to look things up)
- Proofread, don’t just spell check. Ask a friend to read the letter. Sometimes it helps to read it backwards so you ensure you have included every word.
A good cover letter should not be more than two pages in length; it does not rehash what is in your resume, and it indicates that you have knowledge of the institution to which you are applying as well as the position you are applying for!
For more tips on crafting a strong cover letter visit the SJG website! For questions on your cover letter, just e-mail us!
