COVER LETTERS

Cover Letter Writing

MAKING A STRONG IMPRESSION

Does the thought of writing a cover letter make you feel like this? Don’t worry, you are not alone! Many students cringe when they learn that they must write a cover letter to apply for a job or internship. “I don’t know where to start”, “I don’t want to sound like I’m bragging about myself”, “Nobody will even bother to read my cover letter”…these are all common complaints. Regardless of how you feel about cover letters, they can be an extremely important part of the job application process, for a number of reasons. First, your cover letter demonstrates your interest in the position you are applying for and gives you the opportunity to explain how you can benefit the organization. Second, it represents the first writing sample that the employer is receiving from you. No matter what type of a position you are applying for, strong written communication skills are important. And finally, a cover letter can help the employer get to know you better, because it gives you the opportunity to highlight transferrable and/or soft skills that are not specifically listed on your resume. In the end, you MUST spend quality time perfecting your letters. Use the following tips to help guide you.

GENERAL TIPS

 Tailor each letter you send out to a specific company and/or position. Customize your letter by conducting research on the company that you are applying to and highlighting the skills and qualifications for which they are looking.  Whenever possible, the letter should be addressed to a specific person. If a name is not listed on the posting, call or email to find out who is the recruiter or hiring manager for the position. Make sure that the individual’s name is spelled correctly and you refer to them with the appropriate gender identifiers.

Always use “Ms.” instead of “Mrs.” when addressing a female.  Use active, not passive, verbs. For example, use "arranged...", "devised...", "evaluated...", instead of "was responsible for 'arranging...', 'devising...', 'evaluating...'".  Do not overuse the word "I". Starting every sentence with "I" can give the wrong impression, and you may come across as self-centered. Rather than starting with "I", turn some of your sentences around. It is better to give examples of how you did something than to say, "I did this or that...".  Keep your cover letter to one page — no more than four paragraphs.  Keep in mind that the professional image you want to give to a prospective employer includes a neatly formatted, grammatically correct cover letter (NO TYPOS!).

Cover Letter Writing

MAKING A STRONG IMPRESSION

HEADER AND SALUTATION

Your Street Address City, State, Zip Code

Current Date 175 Forest Street, Box #1234 Waltham, MA 02452

September 1, 2015

Patriot Wealth Advisors Attn: Janet Smith, Recruiting Coordinator 5678 Main Street, Suite 2 Waltham, MA 02452

Dear Ms. Smith:

Company Name Company Contact, Title Street Address City, State, Zip Code

Dear Mr. / Ms. ----:

If you are unable to find a specific person to address your cover letter to, you may use “Attn: Hiring Manager” or “Attn: HR Representative”. Use “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear HR Representative” as the salutation.

FIRST PARAGRAPH

 Why are you writing? What position are you applying to and how did you find it? If someone referred you, mention the person’s name and connection.  Who are you? State your year at Bentley University and major / minor.  Optional: Why do you want to work for this firm? Find something about the company that speaks to you…but not something generic, such as “your firm is one of the largest, most prominent firms in the industry”.  What are you bringing to the table? Why are you in a position to benefit the organization? Highlight what you are going to discuss in the second and third paragraphs (for example: previous internship experience, coursework at Bentley, community service involvement, on-campus activities, athletics). I am writing to express my sincere interest in the Investment Research Associate position at Patriot Wealth Advisors [as advertised on the Handshake website] OR [as mentioned to me by a Managing Partner at your firm, Bob Jones]. I am a senior at Bentley University, majoring in Finance with a minor in Entrepreneurship. Patriot Wealth Advisors’ focus on sustainable investing is aligned with my personal values, and the prospect of making an impact in this field truly excites me. I believe my previous internship experience and involvement in on-campus activities have provided me with skills that will allow me to make a valuable contribution to Patriot Wealth Advisors.

Cover Letter Writing

SECOND PARAGRAPH

 Use this paragraph to begin to explain how you meet the criteria outlined in the job description.  Identify relevant achievements, skills and/or experience, giving concrete examples.  Don’t be afraid to highlight what is on your resume – but be careful not to simply repeat everything that is on it!  Explain how you intend to help the employer and contribute to the organization. Show how you would “fit” with the position and organization.  Make sure that the examples you use in this paragraph are consistent with what you mentioned in the last sentence of the first paragraph. For example, if you mention previous internship experience and extracurriculars in the first paragraph, those are the examples you should be using in your supporting paragraphs!

THIRD PARAGRAPH

 Use this paragraph to continue explaining how you meet the criteria outlined in the job description.  Consider addressing some of the “softer” skills highlighted in the job description (think teamwork, leadership, communication, attention to detail, time management, ability to prioritize and work well under pressure).  Again, make sure that the examples you use in this paragraph are consistent with what you mentioned in the last sentence of the first paragraph.

MAKING A STRONG IMPRESSION

My previous internship experience and my involvement with the Bentley Investment Group (BIG) position me to excel as an Investment Research Associate. As a Research Intern at Fenway Asset Management, I researched and analyzed potential portfolio companies within the context of the firm’s proprietary Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) framework. In this role, I developed the belief that socially responsible investing can generate superior returns, which is aligned with Patriot Wealth Advisors’ philosophy. At Bentley University, I am an Assistant Team Leader for the Healthcare Sector of the Bentley Investment Group. I supervise a team of analysts in preparing stock pitches for BIG’s general members. The team conducts research using Bloomberg, FactSet, and Capital IQ, constructs DCF models and prepares comparable companies analysis. These skills would be greatly beneficial at Patriot Wealth Advisors.

I understand that a successful Investment Research Associate should be adept at time management, capable of working well under pressure, and have strong communication skills. As a member of the Women’s Varsity Soccer Team at Bentley, I devote up to 25 hours per week to practices, games and team meetings. My ability to prioritize has allowed me to balance my commitment to soccer and other extracurricular activities with my commitment to my coursework, as evidenced by my strong GPA. As the team’s captain for the upcoming year, it is critical that I communicate well with my team members and coaches to be an effective leader. I am eager to apply these skills as an Investment Research Associate.

Cover Letter Writing

CONCLUSION

 Indicate that your resume is attached or enclosed.  State your interest in arranging an interview.  Let the employer know how to reach you.  Thank the employer and mention that you are looking forward to meeting with or hearing from him/her.

SIGN OFF

Sincerely,

Your Full Name

cc: Name of Referrer (if applicable)

Attachment: Resume (optional)

MAKING A STRONG IMPRESSION

Attached please find my resume. I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you in person to further discuss my qualifications and interest in the position. I can be reached at sbrady@bentley.edu or (781) 891-1234. Thank you in advance for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Samantha Brady

cc: Bob Jones, Managing Partner

Attachment: Resume