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Job Seekers' Guide

Suggestions and strategies to get the most out of your job search

Strategies for Writing a Cover Letter

Cover letters communicate your willingness to work for a potential employer and can be used to demonstrate why you and your skills are the best fit. Effective cover letters can help you land interviews. 

Suggestions for Writing Your Cover Letters:

  • Tailor a cover letter for each position you apply to
  • Keep your cover letter brief
  • Write about a situation or experience that demonstrates you have the skills to be successful 
  • Read the job description carefully looking for keywords to incorporate into your letter
  • Explore the company's web page and find recent news about the company looking for keywords or issues that you can relate to your experience
  • Follow the employer's instructions about submission guidelines and supported file types
  • Use a San Serif fonts such as Calibri, Garamond, Helvitica, and Verdana, which are easier to read and ATS friendly (doesn't have tails)
  • Include your name in the file name so it's easy for the hiring professional to find your files ex: johnqpublic_coverletter.docx

Helpful links

Suggested EBook Resources

Check out Hoopla Digital with your BPL library card or eCard to find books on Cover Letter Writing

A few titles include: