[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":3,"doc-seo-255591-105":53,"doc-detail-255591-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","cover-letter-guide-purpose-format-and-content","Cover Letter Guide - Purpose, Format, and Content","","Cover Letter Guide provides practical, career-focused instructions for writing an effective cover letter to accompany a resume for known job openings or outreach efforts. It explains appropriate length and paragraph structure, emphasizes tailoring and personalization to reflect the employer’s work, and highlights clarity, correctness, and error-free writing. The guide details what to include in each section: reasons for applying, interest in the employer, qualifications and fit, interview availability, and proper addressing and business formatting.",{"@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/cover-letter-guide-purpose-format-and-content/255591/",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/cover-letter-guide-purpose-format-and-content/255591.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":88,"@type":89},"Margaret","Person",{"url":68,"name":91,"@type":92},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-29","2026-09-13",true,{"@type":98,"interactionType":99,"userInteractionCount":45},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":100},"ViewAction",{"@type":102,"mainEntity":103},"FAQPage",[104,110,114],{"name":105,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":107},"What is the purpose of a cover letter in a job application?","Question",{"text":108,"@type":109},"A cover letter accompanies a resume and explains why the applicant is applying, why the employer should hire them, relevant background, and interview availability. It also adds information not covered in the resume and highlights key strengths.","Answer",{"name":111,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":112},"How long should a cover letter be and how should it be structured?",{"text":113,"@type":109},"Keep the cover letter to no more than one page and three to four short paragraphs. Use the limited space to make a strong impact.",{"name":115,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":116},"What content should a cover letter include in the final paragraph?",{"text":117,"@type":109},"Restate interest in the employer, indicate when you are available for interviews, and thank the employer for their time and consideration.","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},255591,1790021147,{"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":45,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":9,"is_downloadable":9,"audit_status":9,"page_count":8,"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":139,"read_time":79},137451207643,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_3d24733baf745e90a7e4bdd5f77d97b2","Cover Letter Guide  \nCareer Development Office 1150 Eck Hall | Phone: 574-631-7542 | Fax: 574-631-4789 Email: [lawjobs@nd.edu ](lawjobs@nd.edu | Website:)[| Website:](lawjobs@nd.edu | Website:) [law.nd.edu/careers](law.nd.edu/careers)[ ](law.nd.edu/careers)[Facebook: NDLawCareers | Twitter: @NDLawCareers](Facebook: NDLawCareers | Twitter: @NDLawCareers)  \nPURPOSE AND FORMAT  \nA cover letter should accompany your resume whenever you submit it in response to a known job opening or as part of broader-based canvassing. The cover letter is an important supplement to your resume. It should indicate your reasons for applying, the reasons the employer should hire you, some background information about yourself that is unique or of particular interest to the employer, and your availability for interviews. In addition, it should cover any pertinent information not presented in your resume and/or highlight an aspect of your resume to which you wish to draw the reader’s attention (e.g., you have strong ties to the employer’s geographic area) .  \nThe cover letter itself should be no longer than one page and no more than three (3) or four (4) short paragraphs. Use that limited space to make as strong an impact as possible. A cover letter allows for flexibility, tailoring, and amplification which are not always possible in a resume. Personalizing each cover letter and making reference to the employer’s work lends credibility to your request for consideration, reflects the time you have spent in learning about the employer, and states how your skills fit with the employer’s practice.  \nA cover letter must be well-written and error-free. It is an example of your writing capabilities and should be succinct and to the point. No letter that contains an error should ever be sent. Pay special attention to grammatical and spelling accuracy. If printing your letter, white resume paper is considered the most professional. A standard business format should be followed which means you need to use a colon to punctuate the salutation. Examples of cover letters are included at the end of this booklet.  \nAvoid mass-producing your cover letters. Better results are achieved if a specific letter is tailored for each employer in which you are interested. Portions of both the first and second paragraph should change in order to make the letter specific to a particular employer. In the first paragraph, indicate why you are applying and how you learned about the opportunity (e.g., if you were referred to the employer by a contact, note the person who referred you) . In the second paragraph, indicate why the employer should hire you and why you are qualified for the job that is available. Elaborate on items in your resume without restating information verbatim. Emphasize coursework or experiences that relate to the position  \nfor which you are applying. Include additional information about yourself that is relevant to the specific employer but not otherwise included in your resume. In some cases, a third paragraph expanding on your interest in the employer and their work may be appropriate. This is particularly true with public interest employers. Following these suggestions strengthens your message and distinguishes your cover letter from the literally hundreds of other cover letters the employer receives. In your final paragraph, restate your interest in the employer and indicate the times when you are available to interview. Be sure to close by thanking the employer for their time and consideration.  \nIf multiple letters are sent using the same form, be certain that all the employers in a mailing practice the same type of law, have approximately the same number of attorneys and practice in the same geographic area. Write your letter to one specific employer and then make any adjustments necessary to make your letter appropriate for all other similarly-situated employers. Remember that mass-produced letters neither impress the employers nor encourage special cons","cbCaieu6o3bdOLQC","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaieu6o3bdOLQC","pdf",164262,"English","# PURPOSE AND FORMAT\n## Length and structure\n## Tailoring and personalization\n# CONTENT\n## What to state in order\n## Writing style and addressing","[{\"question\":\"What is the purpose of a cover letter in a job application?\",\"answer\":\"A cover letter accompanies a resume and explains why the applicant is applying, why the employer should hire them, relevant background, and interview availability. It also adds information not covered in the resume and highlights key strengths.\"},{\"question\":\"How long should a cover letter be and how should it be structured?\",\"answer\":\"Keep the cover letter to no more than one page and three to four short paragraphs. Use the limited space to make a strong impact.\"},{\"question\":\"What content should a cover letter include in the final paragraph?\",\"answer\":\"Restate interest in the employer, indicate when you are available for interviews, and thank the employer for their time and consideration.\"}]","Cover Letter Guide - Purpose, Format, and Content | PDF",1789290937]