Excerpted from an Access article by
Roberta G. Hoskins, RDH, BHSE

Part 3:
Cover Letters

The cover letter is usually your first contact with a prospective employer, and your best chance to make an excellent first impression! Cover letters and resumes should be attractive, well-written, and highly professional. They should be well thought-out, and not written in haste; therefore, it is a good idea to write a cover letter and resume before you need it. You can always make revisions later.

A cover letter gives you the opportunity to highlight your experience and qualifications, and allows some of your personality to shine through. It should spark interest in your resume, and make it stand out among others the employee may have received.

Your introductory paragraph should explain briefly why you are writing, the position in which you are interested, and how you found out about the opening. The body of the letter should contain positive statements about your experience and skills, as well as any special qualifications you may have. It is not necessary or advisable to include details in your cover letter; those are more appropriately covered in a personal interview. It should, however, contain enough information that a prospective employer would want to interview you. A closing paragraph should refer to your enclosed resume, and request a personal interview (see a sample cover letter). You should include a telephone number and time of day when you can be reached.
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Part 1 Preparing For the Search
Part 2 Where to Look
Part 3 Cover Letters
Part 4 Resumes
Part 5 Walking in the Door
Part 6 Finding a Good Fit
Part 7 Good Luck!


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