Writing Your Cover Letter By: Cyrus, Editor in Chief National Edition November 17, 1999 Why write a cover letter, anyway? No one reads those things, do they? Maybe some employers don't read letters carefully anymore (simply for lack of time!), but some definitely do, and you have no way of knowing which ones are which. So, you must write them, and write them well. The first step is to do a little research about the position for which you wish to interview. You wouldn't want to advertise the wrong set of skills in your letter. You need to find out the responsibilities, educational prerequisites, and other details about the job so you can address at least the major ones in the text of your letter. Again, just like with your resume, editing is of the utmost importance. Make sure that at least two people edit everything you intend to send to a prospective employer! Spelling, grammar, punctuation and usage must all be perfect. Avoid using contractions, such as "won't". Try to vary your sentence structure so that most do not begin with "I". Also, use paper that matches your resume if possible, and use the best printer to which you have access. If you must use a typewriter, type slowly so you do not have to correct errors. Do not hand write any job-related correspondence. When actually writing the letter, introduce yourself first, and then identify the position you seek. Then, in the rest of the letter, describe how your skills match with the responsibilities of the job. For instance, if the job requires management experience, point out that you have led a group of volunteers in building a house for Habitat for Humanity. You don't have to repeat your resume word for word, but touch on the main points and focus on your most impressive skills. Finally, sign off with "sincerely". That is the only proper way to end a business letter to someone with whom you have never before had contact. Sign your name neatly, in black ink. Do not photocopy a generic letter that already has your signature on it! Address each letter to an individual if you have a name, or the Director of Human Resources. Write a new letter for each company and put your return address as well as the company's address at the top - follow a standard business format. Your English teacher can help you with that if you're not sure. Good luck!