Career Development Center · Hemisphere Building · 167 Angell Street · Box 1907 · Providence, RI · 02912
401.863.3326 · www.careerdevelopment.brown.edu · careerdevelopment@brown.edu
Great resumes may never be read if the cover letter is sub-par. Your cover letter should provide a “hook” - something that will
make the reader want to learn more about you and your skills/experience. A cover letter is also the first writing sample that an
employer will see from you; make sure to demonstrate your best work.
Cover Letters
Before you start to write your letter:
Research the job and organization
Identify the key elements of the job – what skills, knowledge, and qualities are needed for the job
Identify your most relevant skills and competencies
Know how to illustrate your skills by writing about experiences that provide evidence of your ability
to perform the job
Research the culture of the organization
GETTING STARTED
Tailor the letter to each individual position and employer which will demonstrate that you have done
research, and also tells the employer that you are truly interested in them
Write the letter in your voice – writing that sounds like it came from a book, or writing in the same voice
as every other student is boring
Address the letter to a person; spell names correctly!
Center your letter on the page
Keep your letter concise – only one page! Be clear and avoid using flowery overly-boastful language
Complement your resume with your cover letter; don’t just repeat information
NEVER be negative. Don’t apologize for not yet possessing a skill they would like to see
Proofread, proofread, proofread!!! Typos can signal a lack of attention to detail
Visit the Career Development Center for a cover letter critique
WRITING THE LETTER
Use bonded 8.5x11 paper – the same paper as your resume
Font: 10 to 12 point using a standard font (Times Roman, Garamond, Veranda, Helvetica, Arial, etc.)
Spacing: Text centered on a page. Margins can be 1‖ all around
Heading: Use busines