Addressing the Cover Letter: Get the exact name of the person to whom you are writing. This makes your approach personal.
Date
Exact Name of Person
Title or Position
Name of Company
Address (no., street)
Address (city, street, zip)
First Paragraph: This explains why you are writing.
Dear Exact Name of Person: (or Dear Sir or Madam if answering a blind ad). With the enclosed resume, I would like to make you aware of my interest in exploring employment opportunities with your organization.
Second Paragraph: You have a chance to talk about whatever you feel is your most distinguishing feature.
As you will see from my resume, I am currently excelling as Customer Service Director of Habitat for Humanity. My major responsibilities include preparing annual operating budgets, budgets for new projects, and budgets for construction while monitoring funds expensed in multiple simultaneous projects. I supervise three staff persons and assure compliance with regulations, including HUD and VA, related to housing ownership. In addition to determining eligibility of applicants and verifying family income as well as criminal records, I approve payment agreements and audit homeowner's compliance with HUD regulations.
Third Paragraph: You bring up your next most distinguishing qualities and try to sell yourself.
You will notice that I have excelled in a track record of promotion with Habitat for Humanity. After graduating with a B.S. in Finance from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I began employment with Habitat as a Project Manager, was promoted to Acting Executive Director and then to Director of Occupancy, and subsequently to Customer Service Director.
Fourth Paragraph: Here you have another opportunity to reveal qualities or achievements which will impress your future employer.
I am comfortable operating within the unique financial constraints of a nonprofit organization, and I offer a proven ability to manage financial resources for maximum effectiveness. I am respected as a professional who deals effectively with people at all levels, from the top-level HUD official and sophisticated bankers, to relatively unsophisticated applicants for housing.
Final Paragraph: She asks the employer to contact her. Make sure your reader knows what the "next step" is.
I hope you call or write me soon to suggest a time convenient for us to meet to discuss your current and future needs. Thank you in advance for your time.
Sincerely yours,
Cecelia McCormick
Alternate Final Paragraph: It's more aggressive (but not too aggressive) to let the employer know that you will be calling him or her. Don't be afraid to be persistent.
Alternate last paragraph:
I hope you will welcome my call soon to arrange a brief meeting when we might meet to discuss your needs and goals and how my background might serve them. I can provide outstanding references at the appropriate time.
Another "Letter of Interest" example.
This accomplished professional is responding to an advertisement. She analyzed the job vacancy opening very closely and she has made sure that she has tailored her letter of interest to the areas mentioned in the vacancy announcement.
Date
Exact Name of Person
Exact Title
Exact Name of Company
Address
City, Street, Zip
Dear Exact Name of Person (or Dear Sir or Madam if answering a blind ad):
With the enclosed resume, I would like to make you aware of my interest in exploring employment opportunities with your organization. I am responding to your recent advertisement for a Patient Servies Coordinator.
As you will see from my resume, I have worked for the Shawnee County Health Department since 1995, and I have excelled in a track record of promotion to my current position as Supervisor of the Women's and Children's Health Program. While working within the county's health department, I have become accustomed to interacting with multiple clinics and multiple programs. In my current position, I hire, train, and manage up to 25 individuals while planning and administering multiple budgets totaling more than $2.5 million. I have earned a reputation as a caring individual who is skilled at building consensus and inspiring others to work toward common goals.
An outgoing and energetic individual, I take great pride in the multiple accomplishments of the county's health department, and I have played a key role in many important programs. I co-developed the Shawnee County Healthy Living Program which provided preventative health screening services to the county's 2,000 employees. I have also played a key role in the Pregnant Living Program which has reduced the incidence of teen pregnancies. In addition to organizing numerous projects related to breast cancer awareness and other areas, I developed the Childhood Poison Prevention Program and the Heart Control Program.
While serving the health care needs of the county's indigent population, my main "hobby" has been gaining advanced knowledge through earning additional academic credentials. In addition to earning my L.P.N. and R.N. credentials, I received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master's in Public Health degree. I am proficient with numerous software programs which I have utilized in my job in order to prepare budgets, track expenditures, and control the funding of multiple programs.
I can provide outstanding personal and professional references at the appropriate time, but I would ask that you not contact the Shawnee County Health Department until after we have a chance to discuss your needs. Since I am in a key management role, I wish my interest in your organization to remain confidential at this time. Thank you in advance for your consideration and professional courtesies.
Sincerely yours,
Lavina Cleveland