What You Need to Know about Cover Letters

Enclose a covering letter whenever you send your resume to a prospective employer. While it rarely gives any information that is not included in your resume, the letter is an act of courtesy and a sign of a serious and professional approach to job hunting. It gives each employer a feeling of personal attention.

It makes no difference whether you send the resume in answer to an ad or as part of your direct mail campaign. The covering letter always follows the same simple rules. It should be brief-limited to one page and no more than four paragraphs. Unlike the resume, it should never be reproduced. It should be neatly typed and conform to the standards of business correspondence.


Whenever possible, address the letter to a particular individual in the firm. If you cannot ascertain the name, address the letter to the partner in charge of hiring, or, by title, to the head of the department that you are hoping to work in. In answering an ad, however, address your letter as the ad indicates. If this is nothing more than a box number, don't try to guess the title of the person who will be seeing your resume.

The first paragraph of your covering letter should tell why you are writing to that particular firm. If it is in answer to an ad, then give the name and date of the publication where the ad appeared. If a friend who is an employee of the firm has suggested you apply, give the name, title or job category, and department where employed. If writing as part of your mail campaign, explain in two or three lines why work with that company interests you.

The following one or two paragraphs should point out salient features of your resume that could be of interest to your correspondent. These could be items in your educational background or your work history. In certain circumstances, elaborate slightly on one or two details in your resume. However, whatever is said should be said briefly.

The last paragraph should be a closing, indicating your hope that you have created interest in yourself and suggesting further communication to arrange an interview.

Since your covering letter highlights certain aspects of your resume, tailor it to stress your most appropriate skills and talents, and gear it to each particular company that will be the recipient of your resume. Not only does this call immediate attention to your assets, but it personalizes the letter. We believe that a covering letter accompanying a resume gets more attention from recruiters and personnel people than an unaccompanied resume, so be sure to always use one in your job search.

See 6 Things Attorneys and Law Students Need to Remove from Their Resumes ASAP If They Want to Get Jobs with the Most Prestigious Law Firms for more information.