[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-255770-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":81,"doc-detail-255770-en":126},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","cover-letter-guide-how-to-write-a-strong-cover-letter","Cover Letter Guide - How to Write a Strong Cover Letter","","Cover letter guide explaining how to structure a compelling job application letter. It specifies what to include in each section: the resume header, date and address block, the “To whom it may concern” greeting, and guidance for the first paragraph (position sought, where found, academic background and school year, and job type). It then outlines what to cover in the second and third paragraphs (skills matched to job description, bullet formatting, motivation for the employer, and self-selling for unsolicited cases).",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/","Template",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/letters/","Letters",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/cover-letter-guide-how-to-write-a-strong-cover-letter/255770/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/cover-letter-guide-how-to-write-a-strong-cover-letter/255770.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Fez","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-24","2026-09-13",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",14,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What should the first paragraph of a solicited cover letter include?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"It should state the position being applied for and where it was found, include academic background and school year, and clarify the type of position sought (internship, part-time, or full-time).","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"How should the second paragraph be written?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"It should demonstrate matching skills and experiences to the job description (for solicited letters), use bullets for readability, and highlight key skills and abilities—especially when no job description is available (unsolicited letters).",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What should the closing section contain?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"It should thank the employer for their time and attention and mention following up within a specified number of days, followed by “Sincerely,” and the applicant’s name.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},255770,1790082693,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,89,94,98,103,108,113,117,122],{"id":85,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":86,"show_sort_weight":87,"slug":88},11,"Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":90,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":91,"show_sort_weight":92,"slug":93},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":55,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":95,"show_sort_weight":96,"slug":97},"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":99,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":100,"show_sort_weight":101,"slug":102},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":104,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":105,"show_sort_weight":106,"slug":107},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":109,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":110,"show_sort_weight":111,"slug":112},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":114,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":115,"slug":116},18,30,"letters",{"id":118,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":119,"show_sort_weight":120,"slug":121},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":123,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":124,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":125},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":127},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":128,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":129,"doc_module":22,"category_id":114,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":130,"file_id":131,"file_url":132,"file_type":133,"file_size":134,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":26,"language":135,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":136,"faqs":137,"seo_title":138,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":139,"read_time":22},2336478940794,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_9964176cb1d06d4a9deccf72a44ae3dc","COVER LETTER GUIDE  \nINSERT RESUME HEADING  \nDate  \nCompany Address  \nTo whom it may concern,  \nFirst paragraph should include:  \n􀁸 The name of the position you are applying for and where you found it. (solicited only)  \n􀁸 Your academic background and year in school, i. e., junior marketing major with a professional writing certificate also if you were referred by a specific person-family member, friend from school, etc.  \n􀁸 What type of position you are looking for: an internship, a part-time professional position, a full-time position.  \n(unsolicited only)  \nSecond paragraph should include:  \n􀁸 A demonstration of how you possess the skills and experiences they are looking for-match to what is listed in the job description. (solicited only)  \n􀁸 Use bullets to make it easier to read.  \n􀁸 What your key skills and abilities are. Since you don’t have a job description to match this section to, you need to identify your most developed skills and also think of the top skills this employer may be looking for. (unsolicited only)  \nThird paragraph should include:  \n􀁸 Why you want to work for that particular employer. Has it been a long-term goal? Are you a loyal customer who buys/uses their product? You are looking for an opportunity to work with an employer who is seen as a leader in their industry. (solicited only)  \n􀁸 Since there might not be a position available, you really need to sell yourself to the employer. Why should they give you an opportunity with them? Mention things similar to the solicited cover letter: it has been a long-term goal to work for them, you are a loyal customer familiar with their products, believe in their new initiatives, etc.  \n(unsolicited only)  \nLast paragraph should include:  \n􀁸 Thank them for their time and attention. Mention that you will be following up with them in x number of days.  \nSincerely,  \nName  \nJANE DOE  \n[Ojd093@pitt.edu](Ojd093@pitt.edu | 456-896-9689 | 7589)[ |](Ojd093@pitt.edu | 456-896-9689 | 7589)[ 456-896-9689](Ojd093@pitt.edu | 456-896-9689 | 7589)[ |](Ojd093@pitt.edu | 456-896-9689 | 7589)[ 7589](Ojd093@pitt.edu | 456-896-9689 | 7589) Pittsburgh Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15678  \nSeptember 05, 2018  \nPNC Financial Services Group  \n249 Fifth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222  \nTo whom it may concern,  \nMy name is Jane Doe and I am a junior at the University of Pittsburgh College of Business Administration double majoring in Human Resources and Marketing while pursuing a Certificate in Leadership and Ethics. I am submitting my strong interest for the Summer 2018 Human Resources Internship Program.  \nThrough my coursework at the University, I am completing the staffing and development course and will be working directly with PNC as a PNC EBL project member to develop a recruiting and staffing system to be used for future hiring needs. Aside from academics, this fall I will be working as a Talent Acquisition Extern at UPMC and will be helping with the recruitment process by attending recruitment events, reaching out to candidates, and helping to prepare final interviews.  \nAdditionally, I have had exposure and experience with human resources management in my past internship as well as my leadership position on the executive board for Women in Business. This past summer, I interned at the Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence as a Marketing and Program Development Intern. It was my responsibility to reach out to past participants of the consulting firm, schedule interviews with them, and facilitate those interviews with the questions that I wrote. I am also the VP of Marketing and Member Relations for Women in Business at the University, and it is my job to plan and organize recruitment events as well as plan and lead social events throughout the semester.  \nBecause I am studying ethics, company culture is important to me. PNC’s values of integrity, teamwork, and diversity are three that stand out to me. I try to live every day with honesty and strong moral principles through the work I d","cbCaihBfu97QirRw","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaihBfu97QirRw","pdf",395101,"English","# Cover Letter Structure\n## Resume Heading and Contact Block\n## Paragraph Content Requirements\n## Closing and Signature","[{\"question\":\"What should the first paragraph of a solicited cover letter include?\",\"answer\":\"It should state the position being applied for and where it was found, include academic background and school year, and clarify the type of position sought (internship, part-time, or full-time).\"},{\"question\":\"How should the second paragraph be written?\",\"answer\":\"It should demonstrate matching skills and experiences to the job description (for solicited letters), use bullets for readability, and highlight key skills and abilities—especially when no job description is available (unsolicited letters).\"},{\"question\":\"What should the closing section contain?\",\"answer\":\"It should thank the employer for their time and attention and mention following up within a specified number of days, followed by “Sincerely,” and the applicant’s name.\"}]","Cover Letter Guide - How to Write a Strong Cover Letter | PDF",1789292902]