SAMPLE COVER LETTERS
We've pulled together some of the best samples cover letters
from around the web to help you as you work on your own letter.
Do you even need a cover letter? I'm often asked when a cover letter is necessary. The honest
answer is sometimes yes, and sometimes no. Some hiring managers
and recruiters read cover letters carefully before deciding whether
or not to review the resume. Others don't even look at them. Of
course, the catch is that you have no idea who will fall into which
category.
Writing a fabulous cover letter is essential. At best, it could
be the deciding factor that secures you an interview. At worst,
it won't hurt. If you're new to cover letter writing, check out What
is a Cover Letter. This article explains how cover letters
are used and what you need to include.
For
detailed instructions on cover letter writing, read Writing
Cover Letters That Get Results. This article explains how
you can use a well-known sales formula to write a cover
letter that really grabs attention and makes the phone ring.
Sample Cover Letters
Then, when you're ready
to start writing, use these sample cover letters to spark ideas.
- Quintcareers has a nice selection of sample
cover letters, including cover letters for internships,
military transitions and career change. They also have a variety
of cover letters for different situations, such as cold contacts
versus job applications.
- Resume
Resource.com contains several sample cover letters. Just
scroll down the page.
- Jobstar.org also
contains some nice cover letter examples for different situations.
- The sample cover letters at Vault.com are
skewed a little more towards senior positions - some of them
are very specific (such as the sample cover letter for a
position on Capital Hill) but the samples will help you see
how a strong
cover letter is constructed.
- Distinctive Documents is a professional resume
writing service and there are 3 nice senior-level cover letter
samples on their site here.
- California
State University's career center has some nice examples
of graduate/entry-level cover letters for those who are just
starting their careers.
- For career changers, Monster.com has a nice
sample cover letter. I also like this
one, which I found on a Microsoft website (warning -
magnifying glass needed!)
The bottom-line when writing a cover letter is that
you must make it personalized and relevant to your situation. Use
these letters to generate ideas and then go write a letter
that truly shows employers why you are the right person to fill
that vacancy.
I should also mention that my book, The
Complete Guide to Resume Writing comes with an in-depth
guide to creating winning cover letters.
Louise Fletcher is the President of Blue
Sky Resumes, and author of the eBook, The
Complete Guide to Resume Writing. Louise is also Managing
Editor and Co-founder of the preeminent careers blog, Career
Hub. She is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and many of
her resumes have been published in the JIST "Expert Resumes" series.
She has contributed to many online publications including About.com,
Monster.com, The Ladders, and Net Temps.
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