Harvard Resume and Cover Letter
Your cover letter is a writing sample and a part of the screening process. By putting your best foot forward, you can increase your chances of being interviewed. A good way to create a response-producing cover letter is to highlight your skills or experiences that are most applicable to the job or industry and to tailor the letter to the specific organization you are applying to.
Some general rules about letters:
- Address your letters to a specific person if you can.
- Tailor your letters to specific situations or organizations by doing research before writing your letters.
- Keep letters concise and factual, no more than a single page. Avoid flowery language.
- Give specific examples that support your skills and qualifications.
- Put yourself in the reader’s shoes. What can you write that will convince the reader that you are ready and able to do the job?
- Don’t overuse the pronoun “I”.