What is a cover letter?

What should I include in my cover letter?

How can I learn what will impress prospective employers?

How do I read a job advertisement carefully?

How can I learn what my qualifications are?

What if I don't have a qualification the employer is seeking?

Why is it important to learn about companies before preparing my cover letter?

How do I format my cover letter?

How do I organize my cover letter?

What do I include in my heading?

To whom should I address my letter?

What do I write in my introduction?

How do I approach writing my argument?

What should I include in my argument?

In my argument, should I show off my knowledge of the company?

What do I include in my closing?

Is there anything I should do before sending my cover letter to potential employers?

What if I don't have a qualification the employer is seeking?

Job applicants often decide not to apply for jobs because they feel they do not have an important qualification. While one should be realistic in a job search, we encourage you to apply for all positions you desire, because job searches are routinely unpredictable.

Consider the following scenario. You apply for two positions at the same time, thinking yourself an excellent candidate for one position, but a lesser candidate for the other. After submitting employment documents for both jobs, you receive an interview for the position you thought difficult to obtain, but received no response from the other employer. This scenario is common among job seekers, revealing that you should apply for any job you want, within reason.

It is also typical for people to think they don't have a specific qualification their employer desires, when in fact they do. Before deciding you do not have an important qualification, carefully consider your past accomplishments and employment history, with the intention of discovering what skills your have used at a previous place of employment that you can utilize at your next place of employment.

For example, your potential employer may desire someone with retail experience, but you've never held a retail job. This should not discourage you, because you may possess skills someone with retail experience would have. Consider what kinds of skills and personality traits a person who has held a retail job would have, and then think about your past experiences to see if you have comparable skills, as demonstrated by your own work and academic history.

One skill a person with retail experience might have is oral communications. You may not think you have oral communications skills, but before deciding this, reflect on ways in which you have communicated with others in the past. Focus on teamwork experience, presentations you've given, or any other experience that proves you can communicate verbally. After you think carefully about your past, you are likely to find you have skills you did not realize you had.