[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-254854-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":81,"doc-detail-254854-en":127},{"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","Cover Letter - Guide","","A comprehensive guide to writing an effective cover letter that introduces candidates to prospective employers and supports a résumé. It explains the role of the letter as a marketing tool to spark interest, present qualifications, and secure an interview. The guide compares common cover letter types, specifies business-letter formatting and typical length, and breaks down opening, middle, and closing paragraph purposes. It also provides sample content and practical tips.",{"@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/254854/",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/254854.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Alex Sinclair","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-18","2026-09-13",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",9,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What is the purpose of a cover letter in a job application?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"A cover letter introduces the candidate to potential employers, highlights strengths, and helps initiate contact. It aims to capture the employer’s interest, demonstrate credentials, and secure an interview.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"What types of cover letters are commonly used?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"The guide describes prospecting/introductory letters for inquiring about opportunities and application letters sent in response to specific job or internship postings.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What structure and length should a cover letter follow?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"It should use a business letter format, be no longer than one page, and consist of three to five paragraphs, including an opening, middle qualifications, and a closing.","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},254854,1790173230,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,89,94,99,104,109,114,118,123],{"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":95,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":96,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":98},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":100,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":101,"show_sort_weight":102,"slug":103},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":105,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":106,"show_sort_weight":107,"slug":108},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":110,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":111,"show_sort_weight":112,"slug":113},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":115,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":116,"slug":117},18,30,"letters",{"id":119,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":120,"show_sort_weight":121,"slug":122},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":124,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":126},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":128},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":129,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":130,"doc_module":22,"category_id":115,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":131,"file_id":132,"file_url":133,"file_type":134,"file_size":135,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":30,"language":136,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":137,"faqs":138,"seo_title":139,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":140,"read_time":22},1099523882182,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_6f874abed73319feea01a86fa6f0fab8","Cover Letter   \nthe cover letter introduces you to potential employers and should always accompany arésumé . A cover letter is an important marketing tool that clearly highlights the strengths of your [candidacy. it](candidacy. it) is used to initiate contact with an employer, capture the employer’s interest, demonstrate your credentials, and ultimately to secure an interview.  \nTypes of Cover Letters  \nProsPeCting/introDUCtorY Letter  \nthis type of letter is used to inform the employer of your interest and to inquire about available opportunities.  \naPPLiCation Letter  \nthis type of letter is the most common and is sent to an employer in response to a specific job or internship posting.  \nCover Letter Content  \nCover letters are written in a business letter format. A cover letter should not exceed one page in length and should consist of three to five paragraphs.  \noPening ParagraPH  \nuse the opening paragraph to introduce yourself. state your reason for writing and how you learned about the organization and/or position. if someone referred you, include the person’s name and affiliation with that employer. Also, include two to three sentences demonstrating your level of interest and knowledge about the organization.  \nmiDDLe ParagraPH(s)  \nuse the middle paragraph(s) to emphasize and elaborate on your strongest qualifications and key experiences relevant to the position for which you are applying. Address any specific qualifications the employer may have listed in the job description. Use your résumé and cover letter to convey the complete picture of what you want the employer to know about you.  \nSample Cover Letters  \nMarie Hough  \nSlivka Hall ∙ 2332 Campus Drive ∙ Evanston, IL 60201 ∙ (309) 555-2323 ∙ [Mariehough@northwestern.edu](Mariehough@northwestern.edu)  \nJanuary 18, 2013  \nPenguin Group (USA) Human Resources Department Attn: Internship Coordinator  \n375 Hudson Street New York, NY 10014  \nDear Internship Coordinator:  \nI am a junior majoring in Comparative Literature with a minor in Public Health. Yet, to the librarian at home in New York, I am still the kid who bribes her friends for library cards each summer in order to evade the 30-books-per-week-limit. I was also the one who secretly hoped for rainy days in elementary school – it meant spending recess in the library.  \nNow that I am at Northwestern University, I have had the ability to branch out in my passion for reading. I have become interested in the legal processes of the literary world, and I am eager to see how a powerhouse publishing company responds to changes such as the rise in e-books. Since publishing is a field closed off to most students, I am eager to explore each Penguin Group department in both the Young Readers and Adult divisions, and was excited to find the posting on CareerCat. I would like to be considered a candidate foryour summer internships in the following areas: contracts, editorial and subsidiary rights.  \nMy interest in the publishing process began with forays in journalism. During my freshman year, I joined the copy desk of The Daily Northwestern and studied investigative reporting by editing articles. The following year, I used what I learned and began working on short clips, an activity culminating in my own investigative article about late-night dining options in Evanston. I then contacted the editor of Newsday newspaper and he invited me to join their copy desk that summer as their first undergraduate intern. Although the newspaper industry is a different type of print publishing, it was fantastic being part of the group revision process . I would walk out of the office each night with my nose stuck happily in a copy of the next morning’s paper.  \nAn internship with Penguin Group would introduce me to a new area of the publishing industry– one without which, story pitching and writing would be void. Working in the newsrooms has given me a wider view of research and writing than any class could have offered. Furthermore, it ","cbCaipm76whI8icD","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaipm76whI8icD","pdf",828561,"English","# Types of Cover Letters\n## Prospecting/Introductory Letter\n## Application Letter\n# Cover Letter Content\n## Opening Paragraph\n## Middle Paragraph(s)\n## Closing Paragraph\n# Sample Cover Letter\n# Cover Letter Tips","[{\"question\":\"What is the purpose of a cover letter in a job application?\",\"answer\":\"A cover letter introduces the candidate to potential employers, highlights strengths, and helps initiate contact. It aims to capture the employer’s interest, demonstrate credentials, and secure an interview.\"},{\"question\":\"What types of cover letters are commonly used?\",\"answer\":\"The guide describes prospecting/introductory letters for inquiring about opportunities and application letters sent in response to specific job or internship postings.\"},{\"question\":\"What structure and length should a cover letter follow?\",\"answer\":\"It should use a business letter format, be no longer than one page, and consist of three to five paragraphs, including an opening, middle qualifications, and a closing.\"}]","Cover Letter - Guide | PDF",1789282514]