Cover letters

A cover letter accompanies your resume and tells the employer which position you’re seeking, why you are interested in the organization, and exactly how you are qualified for that specific position. It is not a place to simply restate your resume. Instead, your cover letter serves to draw out themes from your resume, outlining the strongest and most relevant skills and qualifications you have to contribute to this position and to the organization.

Just as you will do with your resume, you should use the job posting's position description to brainstorm the examples you use in your cover letter, so that you demonstrate alignment with their requirements. A standout cover letter is tailored, specific, clearly outlines your future contributions, and lists tangible, quantified examples of your skills and previous experiences. It helps the reader learn more about the candidate than what they already knew from reading their resume.

Check out our cover letter guide to get started.