Cover Letter Tips

A cover letter should always accompany anything mailed to an employer. As with a resume, the letter must be correct in all aspects. Poor spelling, grammatical errors and incorrect format are all indications of poor work. These send clear signals to employers.

Experienced job seekers should never submit the first draft of a letter. After editing it thoroughly take a break for an hour or so. Re-reading the letter will usually result in needed changes and modifications that were not obvious in the initial draft. You may want to read the letter aloud or ask another party to read it.

All letters should follow a standard business format and usually contain three brief paragraphs:

• The first paragraph explains why the letter is being sent.
• The second paragraph outlines specific skills or matters of particular interest. This paragraph should be concise, avoiding unnecessary flattery and overuse of vocabulary.
• The last paragraph expresses what action the writer wishes from the employer (e.g., "I will contact you next week to arrange a personal interview.").

Be certain of the correct spelling of all names, titles and addresses. When responding to an individual be certain of gender. Many given names - such as Pat - are gender neutral. Please address the letter to Hiring Manager, University of Kansas Medical Center. Do not use salutations like, To Whom It May Concern, Gentlemen, or Dear Personnel, etc.