Cover Letter Checklist

Basics

• Maintain all cover letters to a single page.
• Address the letter to a person and check for spelling of the person's name and the exact title.
• Tailor the letter to the reader to show that you are interested in and have researched the organization.
• Use your own words.
• Demonstrate energy and enthusiasm.
• Emphasize what you offer the employer.
• Give concrete examples of your skills.
• Use direct, positive language.
• Keep a balance between professionalism and friendliness.
• Include information relevant to the job you are applying for.
• Clearly ask for the next step in the process.

Writting Style

• Keep your average sentence ten to twenty words.
• Keep every paragraph under five lines.
• Make sure your sentences begin with or contain powerful action verbs.
• Make effective use of "white space", making your letter easy to read.

Contact Information

• Your personal data should be on every page.
• Omit your business number.
• If your letter is more than one page long, each page should be numbered and all the pages should be bound together.

Objectives

• Clearly state why you are writing.
• If you have the details, tie the letter specifically to the target organization and job.
• Demonstrate that you have researched the company by including some information in one or more of your sentences.
• Address points of relevance, such as applicable skills from the job description.
• Include references to some of your personality or behavioral traits that are crucial to success in your field.
• Avoid wasting more space than required with employer names and addresses.
• Omit any reference to reasons for leaving a particular job.
• Omit any references to past, current, or desired salaries.
• Avoid listing irrelevant responsibilities or job titles.
• Sell yourself: mention your achievements and the problems you have successfully solved during your career.
• Avoid vagueness.
• Leave out lists of references and only mention the availability of references.

Correspondence Tips

• Always send a letter with a resume, never a resume alone.
• Proofread for poor grammar, spelling, and typos.
• Type all letters.
• Make paragraphs approximately the same length.
• Keep a copy of the cover letter for your records.