How Do I Write A Cover Letter?

If you’re like me you’re starting to stress yourself out.

It’s march.

You’re halfway through another semester, one step closer to another summer vacation, meaning one thing

… Internships.

That eleven-letter word is haunting you like the six-month cold you got as a freshman.

Over winter break you decided that you were going to be productive.

You researched many internships, fantasized about working for a big company in a big city. Then you realized, that’s a lot of cover letters.

When it comes to cover letters it’s simple… right?

You address the employer, explain the BEST things about yourself, talk about how they’re great, give your contact information, and sign off.

Well, that’s "what they say" at least.

You think about this, and sit down to write one.

You panic as you look at your resume and say to yourself “why do I need to write about all this stuff that I’ve already written out in a nice, aesthetically pleasing list?”

Think of it like this: as an employer, you’re going to see hundreds and thousands of these beautiful detailed lists, maybe every day. A cover letter is what’s going to show a little more of your personality and your character.

Here’s how:

First, you must address them. Try to find a direct contact for the company you are applying to that would be recruiting interns. If you can’t find this, don’t be discouraged. Especially if it’s a larger company, they might not have it listed. Just address it to wherever they have listed on the application.

Then, start to talk about yourself. This is where you should elaborate on those cool, impressive experiences you couldn’t quite describe on your resume. Try to pick something that will be relevant to the job you’re applying for. Try to choose two very strong examples. These examples should show different skills that complement each other in a way that makes you suitable for the position. Just remember, these are your experiences, so be confident in what you say. Keep these examples clear and concise, but don’t be afraid to show a little of your personality.

To finish off, make sure you talk about how you and this company will be compatible. Talk about how you will help them and what makes you a great candidate for this position.

(Basically, just tell them they’re awesome and you’re pretty great too!)

Lastly, keep it short. Like your resume, no cover letter should be longer than one page. It’s like when you get assigned a reading for that class that you’re only a little interested in, and you open it and it’s a 12-page journal… you probably wouldn’t read it. This is the same with employers, if it is longer than a page, it won’t get read. A cover letter is not meant to be a biography. Employers are reading it to see if they want to talk to you more in person.

If the only thing between you staring wide- eyed at an amazing job opportunity and you hitting the submit button is a cover letter, don’t let it get to you. Just be professional, be confident in your abilities, and be yourself, and it will show in your writing.