Cover Letter Template Contact Information The first section of your cover letter should include information on how the employer can contact you. If you have contact information for the employer, include that. Otherwise, just list your information. Your Name Your Address Your City, State, Zip Code Your Phone Number Your Email Address Date Employer Contact Information Name Title Organization Address City, State, Zip Code Salutation Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name: Body of Cover Letter The body of your cover letter lets the employer know what position you are applying for, why the employer should select you for an interview, and how you will follow-up. First Paragraph: The first paragraph of your letter should include information on why you are writing. Mention the position you are applying for. Include the name of a mutual contact, if you have one. Be clear and concise regarding your request. Middle Paragraphs: The next section of your cover letter should describe what you have to offer the employer. Convince the reader that they should grant the interview or appointment you requested in the first paragraph. Make strong connections between your abilities and their needs. Mention specifically how your skills and experience match the job you are applying for. Remember, you are interpreting your resume, not repeating it. Try to support each statement you make with a piece of evidence. Use several shorter paragraphs or bullets rather than one large block of text. Final Paragraph: Conclude your cover letter by thanking the employer for considering you for the position. Include information on how you will follow-up. State that you will do so and indicate when (one
week's time is typical). You may want to reduce the time between sending out your resume and follow up if you fax or e-mail it. Complimentary Close: Respectfully yours, Signature: Handwritten Signature (for a mailed letter) Typed Signature Enclosure
Sample Cover Letter - Programmer Analyst Your Name Your Address Your City, State, Zip Code Your Phone Number Your Email Date Company Name Address City, State, Zip Code Dear Hiring Manager: This letter is to express my interest in discussing the Senior Programmer Analyst position posted on the Company web site. The opportunity presented in this listing is very appealing, and I believe that my strong technical experience and education will make me a very competitive candidate for this position. The key strengths that I possess for success in this position include but are not limited to the following:
I have successfully designed, developed, and supported live use applications I am a self-starter Eager to learn new things Strive for continued excellence Provide exceptional contributions to customer service for all customers.
With a MS degree in Information Systems Management, I have a full understanding of the full life cycle of a software development project. I also have experience in learning and excelling at new technologies as needed. My experience includes but is not limited to:
Customer service and support Programming both new applications and maintenance work Problem isolation and analysis Software quality testing Application and requirement analysis Process improvement and documentation
Please see my resume for additional information on my experience. I can be reached anytime via my cell phone, 555-555-5555. If I do not hear from you by October 16th, I will contact your office to follow up on the position. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to speaking with you about this employment opportunity. Sincerely, First Name Last Name Enclosure