1

Table of Contents


What is a cover letter? ....2

Why is a good cover letter so important?...2

Getting Started....2

The S.T.A.R.S. Technique.3

Cover Letter Outline..4

Cover Letter Samples..5-8
In Response to an Advertised Opening5
In Response to a Classified Advertisement.6
Cover Letter Based on a Referral.7
Unsolicited Cover Letter to a Potential Employer8

Cover Letter Presentation & How to Send..9







OFFICE OF CAREER DEVELOPMENT
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floor
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Serving Students and Alumni of:
The New School for General Studies
Eugene Lang College The New School for Liberal Arts
The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music
Mannes College The New School for Music
2
WHAT IS A COVER LETTER?
A cover letter is your first written communication with the employer. It expresses
your interest in the position and the organization, as well as highlights your
relevant skills, experience and qualities. It always accompanies your resume
when you are applying for a position, even if it is not specifically called for in the
job posting.

WHY IS A GOOD COVER LETTER SO IMPORTANT?
A good cover letter gives you a chance to emphasize the skills and personal
qualities that match what a potential employer/organization is seeking.

It is an opportunity to expand upon and highlight the most important
aspects of your resume while adding a personal touch.

It motivates the employer to read your resume and subsequently invite you
to an interview.

Those candidates who DO NOT submit a cover letter along with their resume
may be viewed as unprofessional and/or as not being serious about the
position for which they are applying.


GETTING STARTED
To begin the cover letter writing process you MUST collect these pieces of
information:
1. The full name and title of the person to whom you will write, the
organizations name, and full address.
2. The title of the position.
3. The name of the person who referred you, website address, newspaper and
date of newspaper issue, or other information regarding how you know
about the position.
4. Information that impresses you about the company. The best cover letters
demonstrate your familiarity and interest in the organization. You can
research the organization by reviewing company literature, newspapers, or
web sites.
5. Your specific training, skills, achievements, and qualifications as they apply
to the position.
The S.T.A.R.S. Method
The best approach to preparing to write your cover letter is to apply the S.T.A.R.S.
Method when constructing your Success Stories. Success Stories are examples
from your work, school, or life which match the requirements of an employer,
and/or when you demonstrated initiative, leadership or teamwork skills to solve a
problem or make a decision. It is also very useful in preparing for an interview.
Complete the following exercise based on the example:

3
S (SITUATION: Describe what happened; organization; its climate; how big,
interesting or otherwise impressive; timing; interpersonal situations. Ex: Both
cashiers called in sick and I was asked if I would handle the cash register even
though I had not been trained in its use.)





T (TASK: The objective, assignment or problem to be solved. Ex: I agreed and
was assigned to the cash register for the entire day. )







A (ACTION: How YOU accomplished the task. Ex: I had a very brief emergency
training session from the manager and handled all sales until the evening cashier
came in.)








R (RESULTS: Use numbers and tell what the result means for the organization or
you. Ex: When they corrupted the totals at the end of the day, they found that I
hadnt made any errors. The manager was impressed and eventually moved me
from the stock room to the cashiers desk.)






S (Skills/Attributes illustrated: The story can show your skills and attributes
without having to list them directly. It is more interesting to read a story
than a list.)
4
COVER LETTER OUTLINE

Jacqueline Jobhunter
70 West 11
th
Street, Apt. 2D New York, NY 10011 (212)867-5309 jobhunter@gmail.com




June 7, 2006


Ms. Jane R. Employer
Human Resource Manager
QRS Widgets, Ltd.
1221 Hornswaggle Avenue
Nowhere, NY 10002


Dear Ms. Employer:

First Paragraph: Grab the reader's attention. Identify why you are writing, the position for which you
are applying and where you heard of it or the organization. If you are writing a letter from a networking
contact, insert your contact's name. Display your specific knowledge about the organization obtained
from researchmake sure this information is something that impresses you about them and something
that makes you want to be a part of their organization. Express your connection with the organization.

In no more than two paragraphs: Briefly describe your academic and professional qualifications. The
S.T.A.R.S. technique is useful in writing this paragraph. Be descriptive and explicit but concise. Use
action verbs and numbers. Cite examples of your qualifications for the position sought. Highlight
important ideas in your resume. Detail why you should be considered for the position. Give them a
brief synopsis of the most highly relevant parts of your resume.

Final Paragraph: Reiterate your interest in the position. Request an interview and inform the employer
that they may call or write to set up an interview. Thank the employer for their time and consideration.


Sincerely,

Jacqueline Jobhunter

Jacqueline Jobhunter


Enclosure


Your heading should
match that of your
resume
Be sure to use the persons appropriate
title. AVOID Dear Sir or Madam or
To Whom it May Concern.
If you dont have a persons name you can
address the letter to his or her job title.
See our sample section for examples.
Four spaces are standard between the
closing and your typed name. Always sign
hard copies of your cover letters. It is
optional to type in your name in script in
an electronic copy.
It is optional to type Enclosure or Attachment at
the end of the letter to let the reader know that
your resume is included.

2 lines
2 lines
5
Cover Letter Samples

IN RESPONSE TO AN ADVERTISED OPENING ONLINE


JANE SWIFT
1 Central Park Road, Sugar Hill, NY 11111, jane.swift@hotmail.com, 708-908-2562

November 13, 2006


Human Resources Director
Bank Street School Program
745 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10001


Dear Human Resources Director:

I noted with interest the job posting on the Human Resources website for a Grade 2 Teacher. I
have first-hand knowledge of The Bank Street School Program through extensive volunteer
activities and believe I am an excellent candidate for this position.

I understand that you need someone who is self-directed and who possesses the necessary
qualifications for managing another teachers class. I have worked closely with students of
Bank Street School Program through various programs including intramural sports and
reading. These programs cultivated my development of professional flexibility, good humor,
rapport with parents, familiarity with the school culture, and the ability to go beyond the lesson
plans in accordance with meeting the current needs. At this point, I would welcome the
challenge to continue making a positive impact on the minds of elementary school aged
children. I am committed to achieving this goal through ongoing professional development to
learn the latest effective teaching methods.

I have attached my resume to provide more information on my strengths and educational
achievements. I would welcome the opportunity to further discuss with you how I might make
significant contributions to your school. Thank you for your consideration; I look forward to
hearing from you.

Sincerely,




Jane Swift
6
IN RESPONSE TO A CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENT

Patricia Clark
23 E. 13
th
Street, Apt. 3C New York, NY 10011 (212) 479-7990 clarkp@newschool.edu


September 30, 2008


Ms. Pat Cummings
Director
Family Services, Inc.
1140 Main Street
Northridge, CA 91324


Dear Ms. Cummings:

In response to your advertisement in the summer edition of the Social Justice Journal, I would
like to express my interest in the Social Work Intern position. I am impressed by the mission of
Family Services, Inc. and your commitment to working with families and children to help them
reach their personal goals and achievement a happy life.

I possess diverse and applicable experience both within and outside of the classroom. As
stated in my resume, I am pursuing my bachelors degree in both psychology and sociology at
Eugene Lang College The New School for Liberal Arts, in New York City. Throughout the past
two semesters, I have worked with children in a volunteer program, called New York Cares, in
which I interact with children in housing projects through recreational activities. Last semester,
I also visited a day-care program to study the psychology behind childrens drawings for my
Sociology of Culture course. I have completed additional courses in the field including
Sociology of New York City, Introduction to Sociology, and Economic Anthropology.

Attached to this email is my resume for further evidence of my qualifications for this position. I
would welcome the opportunity to discuss this position and my credentials within a personal
interview. Thank you for your consideration and I look very forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,




Patricia Clark



Attachment

7
COVER LETTER BASED ON A NETWORKING CONTACT/REFERRAL

JEROMY P. ROME
23 E. 13
th
Street, Apt. 3C, New York, NY 10011
(212) 479-7990 romej@newschool.edu


February 13, 2008



Ms. Katherine Flaterion
Head Curator
The Musuem of Modern Art
42 West 53
rd
Street
New York, NY 10001


Dear Ms. Flaterion:

Ryan Taylor suggested I contact you regarding employment opportunities at the Museum of Modern
Art. I am interested in the entry-level curator training program. I am enthusiastic about the opportunity
to train with the curators of the worlds foremost collection of modern and contemporary art.

Enclosed is my resume for your review. I have worked in and out of the classroom to develop a solid
academic foundation in sociology, history and the analytical skills necessary to succeed in this field.
Two internships have honed these skills and given me first-hand knowledge of museum curatorship.
One of the more significant projects I have worked on was an in-depth historical analysis of 17
th
century
journals for The New York Historical Society. I attained many communication and leadership skills
from these experiences which are essential in this industry.

While maintaining this commitment to academics, I simultaneously focused on my dramatic pursuits.
As the president of a rapidly-growing drama club, I have developed strong leadership qualities,
including the ability to motivate and collaborate with different people to achieve group goals.

I am confident that I can make a positive contribution and would welcome the opportunity to discuss my
qualifications with you further. Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,


Jeromy P. Rome

8
UNSOLICITED COVER LETTER TO A POTENTIAL EMPLOYER

DINA SMITH
444 Fulton Street, Apt. 2J New York, NY 11078 212-586-3265 Smithd124@newschool.edu


October 20, 2006


Ms. Shauna Bell
Human Resource Manager
Dime Media, Inc.
50 South Street
Los Angeles, CA 93876


Dear Ms. Bell:

Recently I have been researching the leading local companies in media communications. My search has
been for companies that are respected in the field, and who provide ongoing training programs. Dime
Media continues to appear as a top company.

I am an experienced public relations and brand communication specialist with a substantial background
in both Adobe products and media & culture studies. If you have an opening for someone in this area,
you will see that my resume demonstrates a person of tremendous dedication, efficiency, and drive.

My experience and achievements include:
Complete redesign of a data communications network, projected to increase user efficiency by
some 12 percent;
The installation and copy of the www.lang.edu website for a cable network and flash users.

I have enclosed a copy of my resume, and look forward to examining any of the ways you feel my
background and skills would benefit Dime Media. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,




Dina Smith



9
COVER LETTER PRESENTATION & HOW TO SEND


Via regular mail
Always print your resume, cover letter, and reference list on high-quality paper or resume
paper (boxes of this are usually marked as such). Use white, ivory, or something similar to
maintain readability.
You can attach your resume behind the cover letter using a paperclip at the top left corner.
We suggest using a large 8 ! x 11 envelope so as not to crease your resume or cover
letter.
When using a printer, be sure to let the ink dry before putting your documents in an
envelope.
Type out the mailing and return addresses on either the envelope or mailing labels.
To ensure delivery, you can go to the post office and send the letter with a return receipt.
This will cost a few dollars more than regular shipping.
Always bring a few copies of your resume, cover letter, and reference list with
you, printed on resume paper, to the interview.

Via fax
Create a professional looking fax cover sheet. There is a template for this in Microsoft Word.
Be sure to include the number of pages you are sending INCLUDING your fax cover sheet,
along with your phone number, in case the employer needs to inform you of missing
documents.
You should also send a hard copy via regular mail to ensure delivery and maintain
professionalism.

Via E-mail
Since this is your first written communication with an organization, it is perfectly acceptable
to cut and paste your entire cover letter in business letter format into the body of your
email. You can then attach your resume to the email. It is also acceptable to attach both
your cover letter and resume and write in the body of the email, Please see attached.
To ensure delivery, we suggest selecting the return receipt option when you send the
email.
You should also send a hard copy via regular mail to ensure delivery and maintain
professionalism.

Via Online Application
Try your best to fill in all of the required information and cut and paste information from
your resume as best as possible. Dont be discouraged that your spacing may be off. Do
your best to make your document aesthetically pleasing throughout the application
template.