Sample Approach Letter

You’re interested in a potential employer, but you need to introduce yourself and tell them what you can do for the company. Writing an approach letter can help you get your point across. View a sample approach letter from Monster.com (.pdf) for some tips.

8 Rules for Cover Letters

Regardless of what kind of letter you’re writing, use this advice from recruiters to guide your efforts and maximize your chances for success:

  1. Remember Your Purpose: “Candidates need to ask themselves why they’re writing to the recruiter in the first place,” Anderson says. “Are you answering an ad? Introducing yourself? Or just spamming some generic letter out, which is never going to be very effective.”
  2. Be

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Cover Letter Tips

Paragraph I: Express interest in the profession, industry, company, or organization.

Why do you want to work for them? (or work in that profession and/or industry, if an informational interview)

I am writing to you because I am very interested in XYZ organization, a leader in the field of ABC.

Paragraph II: Refer to your resume.
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Cover Letters to Recruiters

In the world of recruiters and executive search firms, resumes rule. But this doesn’t mean you should ignore or forgo sending cover letters. So what do recruiters look for in a cover letter? It depends on which of three scenarios you fall into:

  1. Ad-Response Cover Letters: If a search firm is handling a job opening, gear your cover letter to the desired qualifications the ad

… [ Read more ]

How to Submit a Cover Letter When Applying via Email

If you don’t know the employer’s preferences for receiving resumes, paste your plain text (ASCII) cover letter and resume in the body of the e-mail message and attach the (virus-free) Word doc of your resume.

Write a Thank-You Letter That Helps Clinch an Offer

Don’t think of a thank-you letter as a thank-you letter. That’s the last thing it is. Instead, view it as an interviewing tool that will increase your chances of winning the offer. If you write and send your thank-you letter immediately after the meeting, you’ll reinforce the qualifications you discussed with the interviewer and rise above other applicants—perhaps to the top of the list.

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Job Acceptance Letter

Writing an acceptance letter is a good policy for any job seeker who’s decided to take a job offer. For one thing, it reinforces your professional approach. It also gives you the chance to document a few key things about your new job, such as your title, supervisor, salary and benefits. In the vast majority of cases, you’ll never need to rely on this documentation. … [ Read more ]

Sample Letter to send to a hiring manager

[date]

Mr./Ms. [first name] [last name]

[title]

[company name]

[street address]

[city], [state] [zip code]

Dear Mr./Ms. [last name],

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me on [date] to discuss the [name of position] opening. I enjoyed talking with you and [taking a tour of the office, seeing the computer room, or … [ Read more ]

Sample Letter to potential colleague on the same level

[date]

Mr./Ms. [first name] [last name]

[title]

[company name]

[street address]

[city], [state] [zip code]

Dear [you can use a first name if the interview was informal],

Thank you for taking the time to talk with me the other day [or use the specific date] while I was visiting [company name]. I enjoyed my time … [ Read more ]

Sample Letter to the HR director

[date]

Mr./Ms. [first name] [last name]

[title]

[company name]

[street address]

[city], [state] [zip code]

Dear Mr./Ms. [last name],

Thank you for setting up my interviews [or conducting the interviews] when I visited [company name] on [date]. I enjoyed meeting you and [names of people you also interviewed with]. I appreciate the time that the staff … [ Read more ]

Cover Letter Format

  • First Paragraph
    It is essential that your first paragraph captures the employer’s attention, provides detailed information about the benefits the employer will receive from you, and, of course, helps you stand out from the competition. It is a good idea to include one or two key selling points or benefits you can offer the employer that other job-seekers cannot. It is also important to

… [ Read more ]