[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":3,"doc-seo-254549-105":53,"doc-detail-254549-en":126},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,14,19,24,29,34,39,44,49],{"id":8,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":11,"show_sort_weight":12,"slug":13},11,1,"Template","Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":15,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":16,"show_sort_weight":17,"slug":18},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":20,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":21,"show_sort_weight":22,"slug":23},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":25,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":26,"show_sort_weight":27,"slug":28},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":30,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":31,"show_sort_weight":32,"slug":33},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":35,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":36,"show_sort_weight":37,"slug":38},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":40,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":41,"show_sort_weight":42,"slug":43},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":45,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":46,"show_sort_weight":47,"slug":48},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":50,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":51,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":52},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":54,"data":55},"ok",{"site_id":56,"language":57,"slug":58,"title":59,"keywords":60,"description":61,"schema_data":62,"social_meta":119,"head_meta":121,"extra_data":123,"updated_unix":125},105,"en","career-services-cover-letter-handout-2019","Career Services Cover Letter Handout 2019","","A practical guide for writing effective cover letters for job applications, emphasizing a concise, job-specific “sales pitch” that complements a resume. It outlines purpose and messaging, using action verbs and simple language, avoiding sexist wording, and tailoring content to job posting qualifications. The handout provides a full cover letter structure—header, salutation, four key paragraphs, enclosure—and includes a model letter plus guidance on personalization, research, and follow-up for securing an interview.",{"@graph":63,"@context":118},[64,80,101],{"@type":65,"itemListElement":66},"BreadcrumbList",[67,71,74,77],{"item":68,"name":69,"@type":70,"position":9},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":72,"name":10,"@type":70,"position":73},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/",2,{"item":75,"name":41,"@type":70,"position":76},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/letters/",3,{"item":78,"name":59,"@type":70,"position":79},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/career-services-cover-letter-handout-2019/254549/",4,{"url":78,"name":59,"@type":81,"image":82,"author":87,"headline":59,"publisher":90,"fileFormat":93,"inLanguage":57,"description":61,"dateModified":94,"datePublished":95,"encodingFormat":93,"isAccessibleForFree":96,"interactionStatistic":97},"DigitalDocument",{"url":83,"@type":84,"width":85,"height":86},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/career-services-cover-letter-handout-2019/254549.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":88,"@type":89},"Franzy","Person",{"url":68,"name":91,"@type":92},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-28","2026-09-13",true,{"@type":98,"interactionType":99,"userInteractionCount":40},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":100},"ViewAction",{"@type":102,"mainEntity":103},"FAQPage",[104,110,114],{"name":105,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":107},"What is the main purpose of a cover letter in a job application?","Question",{"text":108,"@type":109},"A cover letter introduces you to a potential employer and highlights key points that align with your resume and relevant experience, education, and skills.","Answer",{"name":111,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":112},"What should a cover letter include to match a specific job posting?",{"text":113,"@type":109},"It should be job-specific and address the requirements directly, using keywords from the job description, speaking to how you can contribute, and tailoring qualifications to the role.",{"name":115,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":116},"How should the cover letter be structured and how should it end?",{"text":117,"@type":109},"Use a header and salutation, then write four paragraphs: why you’re writing, your qualifications, company fit and contributions, and a confident close requesting an interview. Follow up is emphasized, and the letter is personally signed.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":78,"og:type":120,"og:title":59,"og:site_name":91,"og:description":61},"article",{"robots":122,"canonical":78},"index,follow",{"doc_id":124,"site_id":56},254549,1789279384,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":127},{"doc_id":124,"user_id":128,"nickname":88,"user_avatar":129,"doc_module":9,"category_id":40,"category_name":41,"doc_title":59,"doc_description":61,"doc_content":130,"file_id":131,"file_url":132,"file_type":133,"file_size":134,"view_count":40,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":9,"is_downloadable":9,"audit_status":9,"page_count":76,"language":135,"language_code":57,"site_id":56,"html_lang":57,"table_of_contents":136,"faqs":137,"seo_title":138,"seo_description":61,"update_tm":125,"read_time":9},2336478945519,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_085a072bc5b1113ac321206ff7593b45","WRITING COVER LETTERS Career Services  \nWest Campus \\#2420  \nA cover letter serves as a letter of introduction to a potential employer. It should grab the employer’s attention and summarize, with key points, your resume. Your cover letter should serve as your “sales pitch”, while your resume covers the facts about you and your experience, education and skills and talents. If possible, use as many keywords as possible that cover the requirements/qualifications stated in the job posting/job description. A cover letter should be to the point and job specific.  \nThings to remember when writing a cover letter:  \n- Use action verbs  \n- Keep it brief  \n- Use simple language – eliminate any unnecessary words  \n- Make sure that someone proofreads your cover letter  \n- Personalize – address your letter to a named individual  \n- Avoid sexist language  \n- Speak to the requirements of a job  \n- Tell the employer how you can contribute to their company  \n- Answer the question,“Why should I hire this person?”  \n- Sell yourself – be positive!  \n- Request an interview, let them know you’ll follow-up and then do it!  \n- Personally sign the letter  \nCover Letter structure:  \nReturn Address or “Header” from Resume  \nDate  \nAddress  \nSalutation  \nTry to address the letter to a specific person (Dear Mr. Johnson), or at least to a title (Dear Human Resource Director) . If you cannot get this information then you can address it as “To Whom It May Concern” but avoid this if at all possible.  \nFirst Paragraph  \nExplain why you are writing and grab the employer’s attention right away. Speak to your strengths and be concise. (If there was an actual job posting reference where you found it. )  \nSecond and Third Paragraph  \nBriefly describe your professional and/or academic qualifications. If you are responding to a specific ad address the requirements of the job.  \nDo your homework! Impress them by researching the company and making reference to it. Relate yourself to the company and why you would be a good fit. Let them know what you can do for them and why you would be an asset to the company.  \nFourth Paragraph  \nClose with confidence! Be assertive and request action. Ask for an interview appointment and make sure that you follow through with this request. Follow-up is very important – make sure that you do what you promise to do.  \nEnclosure  \nAdditional Resources:  \nArticles with tips on cover letters (as well as resumes, job search, interviewing, etc. )– [www.careermag.com](www.careermag.com)[ ](www.careermag.com)Cover letter articles, samples and more – [http://resume.monster.com/articles/storeletter/](http://resume.monster.com/articles/storeletter/)  \nCover letter samples-[http://jobsearch.about.com/b/a/178444.htm](http://jobsearch.about.com/b/a/178444.htm)  \nVisit our website:  \n[http://www.century.edu/currentstudents/careerservices/default.aspx](http://www.century.edu/currentstudents/careerservices/default.aspx)  \nFor more information contact:  \nCarrie Hageman  \nCareer Services Director  \n651-779-5774 or [carrie.hageman@century.edu](carrie.hageman@century.edu)  \nTracy Jones  \n3300 Century Ave. N 651-555-1234  \nWhite Bear Lake, MN 55110 [tracyjones@hotmail.com](tracyjones@hotmail.com)  \nJanuary 3, 2012  \nMounds View School District Human Resources  \n350 HWY 96 WShoreview, MN  \nDear Hiring Manager,  \nI am writing to express my interest in the recently advertised Paraprofessional role at Mounds View School District. I believe I could bring valuable skills and experience to Mounds View School District that would make me an ideal fit for this position.  \nAt the present time I am assisting instructors and students at Century College. This position enables me to provide the students with help learning Basic English skills and the instructors help with their daily tasks. I am challenged to be creative, encouraging and most of all, patient. In addition, I am pursuing my general education credits at Century with intent to transfer to the University of Min","cbCaipLop3J4l97v","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaipLop3J4l97v","pdf",121949,"English","# Cover Letter Purpose and Key Principles\n## Cover Letter Structure\n## Sample Cover Letter (Tracy Jones)","[{\"question\":\"What is the main purpose of a cover letter in a job application?\",\"answer\":\"A cover letter introduces you to a potential employer and highlights key points that align with your resume and relevant experience, education, and skills.\"},{\"question\":\"What should a cover letter include to match a specific job posting?\",\"answer\":\"It should be job-specific and address the requirements directly, using keywords from the job description, speaking to how you can contribute, and tailoring qualifications to the role.\"},{\"question\":\"How should the cover letter be structured and how should it end?\",\"answer\":\"Use a header and salutation, then write four paragraphs: why you’re writing, your qualifications, company fit and contributions, and a confident close requesting an interview. Follow up is emphasized, and the letter is personally signed.\"}]","Career Services Cover Letter Handout 2019 | PDF"]