CHARTING A COURSE FOR SUCCESS : EFFECTIVE COVER LETTERS

Writing effective cover letters is critical to a successful job search. A well-written cover letter lets you express your interest in a position and your qualifications. A cover letter also allows you to elaborate upon your educational and professional experience and provide concrete examples of your accomplishments. Ultimately, your cover letter should entice an employer to want to interview you.

When writing your cover letter, it is important to keep in mind it is, in some sense, a writing sample. Express yourself clearly. Obviously, typographical errors and spelling errors are unacceptable. Most word processing systems have a spell check capability; this should not be a problem. Language and sentence structure must be kept simple and clean. The bottom line is your cover letter gives an employer its first impression of you. Make it a positive one.

If your letter is too general, an employer may not sense a "good fit." Therefore, you should focus attention on the skills and experience for which you think the employer is looking.

It is important to emphasize what you can bring to a job; too often, cover letters emphasize what a candidate is hoping to get out of the position. While it is acceptable to indicate why a position appeals to you, you must be able to communicate what you can contribute to the employer. Be specific when you can.

Salutation

Always address your cover letters to a particular person (e.g. the hiring attorney or recruitment coordinator). Never write "To Whom it May Concern" or Dear "Hiring Attorney." You should always find out who the hiring contact is and personalize your letter.

Introduction

Your first paragraph should introduce yourself and explain why you are writing to the employer: "I am a second year student at Suffolk University Law School and wish to apply for a summer associate position." If you were referred to the employer by a mutual acquaintance, be sure to use that person's name in your introductory paragraph: "At the suggestion of Douglas Stevens, I am writing to you in application for an associate position with Hogan and Hartson." You may also include in your first paragraph how you learned about the employer: "I recently attended the Careers in Tax Law program at Suffolk University Law School where you discussed opportunities with the Internal Revenue Service."

Supporting Paragraph(s)

In your supporting paragraph(s), you should briefly elaborate upon the experience outlined on your resume that you think is most relevant to the employer/position. You may require more than one paragraph to do this, depending on your level of experience, but be brief.

Conclusion

You should indicate your availability for an interview (especially if you are visiting the city where the employer is located during a specific time frame) and express whether you will contact the employer or wait for the employer to contact you. Some employers feel that letters informing them that the candidate will contact them are too aggressive. The best approach is to indicate that you look forward to hearing from the employer soon (call the employer after a reasonable period if you have not heard back). Finally, always thank the employer for considering your application.

Do's

Address your letter to a particular person.

Include the name of a mutual acquaintance.

Be brief.

Provide examples.

Relate your experiences to the employer's needs.

Use clear language.

Sound confident.

Use transitional phrases.

Use 3-5 sentences per paragraph.

Use quality bond paper.

Don'ts

Send your letter "To Whom it May Concern".

Forget to mention the name of a mutual acquaintance.

Ramble on.

Be vague.

Generalize.

Use convoluted language.

Sound arrogant.

Use "I" to start every sentence.

Use too few or too many sentences.

Use ordinary copy paper.

Before you seal the envelope, ask yourself:

Does my cover letter say enough to get me past the initial screening process?
Does it focus on my skills as they relate to the employer's needs?
Does it clearly state the reason for my interest in the firm/position?
Did I thank the employer for considering my application?
Did I perform a thorough spell check?

If the answer to these questions is "yes," go ahead and mail it out!

Writing an effective cover letter is not always easy. Here are a number of helpful phrases that may help you get started:

"I wish to apply for a summer position with ______________." (name of firm)

"Bill Clinton suggested I contact you for information regarding a position with ________________." (name of firm)

"I have a background in ______________ and I am seeking a position in _________________." (specialization/practice area)

"I wish to be considered for a _______________." (job title: judicial clerkship, law clerk position, summer internship)

"My experience in _______________ may be of interest to you." (indicate background)

"I can contribute my extensive experience in _______________ to your organization." (indicate background)

"Prior to attending law school, I was a _________________ (paralegal, engineer, accountant) and developed a specialization in _________________." (indicate area of expertise)

"I am seeking a position that would enable me to utilize my background in _______________ (indicate background) and strong ______________ skills." (skill type: advocacy, analytical, writing)

"I recently completed a course in _____________ (indicate class) and have become very interested in the practice of _____________." (type of law)

"I am very interested in ________________ and would like the opportunity to gain further exposure to ______________." (practice area)

"I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss my qualifications for a position."

"I look forward to hearing from you soon." "I am available to meet with you at your convenience."

"I will be in ___________ (city) during the week of ____________ (dates). I can be reached at ________________ (telephone number) to make arrangements to meet with you."