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One of the most common forms of professional correspondence is the cover letter, which employers typically request with your resume when you apply for a position. This page provides guidance on writing a cover letter.

School of Information Studies Cover Letter Template:

The Cover Letter: Format & Content

The cover letter is your personal introduction to a prospective employer that outlines your interest in the position and the organization and expresses why you are qualified. While your resume lists all of your relevant experiences and associated skills and accomplishments, your cover letter makes an explicit connection between the 2-3 most relevant skills you have that match the skills an employer is looking for as listed in the position description.

Each cover letter should be tailored to a specific job description and organization. Demonstrate what you know about the organization/industry and why you are a good fit. Show how you meet the required qualifications for that particular job by emphasizing your 2-3 strongest skills; where possible, make a direct connection between those skills and how you could use them to accomplish what is required for the position. Use confident language, write in an active voice, and, except in rare circumstances, limit your letter to one page.

Cover Letter Format

• Same font as your resume, sized within 1pt (larger, not smaller)
• One page in length, left justified, margins ideally 1”
• For consistency, consider using the same header on your cover letter that you use on your resume
• Top of letter: date, employer name, contact information (if you are short on space, remove the employer name/contact info and only include the date)
• Formal salutation (person's name, if possible)
• End of the letter: your name and contact information (your contact information is not necessary if you include it in the header)

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