[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-255753-105":3,"doc-detail-255753-en":81,"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":98},{"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-writing-guide-255753","Cover Letter Writing Guide","","A practical cover letter writing guide focused on helping candidates craft compelling letters that support, not repeat, resume content. It explains what a cover letter is, its purpose for initiating contact, capturing interest, and securing interviews, and provides core requirements such as length, paragraph structure, and error-free presentation. It also details a standard cover letter format and supplies templates and multiple sample letters to demonstrate openings, body content, and closing requests.",{"@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-writing-guide-255753/255753/",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-writing-guide-255753/255753.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":42,"@type":43},"McQueen","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",12,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What is the purpose of a cover letter?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"A cover letter initiates contact, captures the reader’s interest, invites the recipient to review the resume in depth, and helps secure an interview for employment or information purposes.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"What basic guidelines should a cover letter follow?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"Keep it to one page with 3–4 paragraphs, use a standard cover letter format, address a specific person when possible, and ensure the letter is completely error-free after proofreading.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What sections should a standard cover letter include?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"It should include your contact information, date, employer contact information, an introduction paragraph, body paragraphs describing what you can offer, and a closing paragraph requesting the next step such as an interview or follow-up.","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},255753,1790026586,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",{"doc_id":79,"user_id":84,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":85,"doc_module":22,"category_id":86,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":87,"file_id":88,"file_url":89,"file_type":90,"file_size":91,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":92,"language":93,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":94,"faqs":95,"seo_title":96,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":97,"read_time":30},5909890329169,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_9964176cb1d06d4a9deccf72a44ae3dc",18,"COVER LETTER WRITING GUIDE  \nContents:  \n􀀀 Cover Letter Guidelines, p.2  \n􀀀 Standard Cover Letter Format, p.3  \n􀀀 Cover Letter Template, p.4  \n􀀀 Sample Cover Letter, p.5  \n􀀀 Sample Prospecting Letter, p.6  \n􀀀 Sample Personal Contact Letter, p.7  \n􀀀 Sample Thank You Letter, p.8  \n􀀀 Sample Networking Emails, p.9  \nWHAT IS A COVER LETTER?  \nA cover letter is a letter that should accompany each resume sent to an employer, networking contact or person assisting you with your job/internship/co-op search. Your cover letter is viewed as your first “writing sample” and should complement (not just repeat) the information on your resume.  \nPURPOSE OF A COVER LETTER:  \n Initiate contact with:  \no an employer to introduce yourself and inquire about job or internship possibilities  \no an employer to apply for an actual position  \no an alumnus, family or friend to ask for an informational interview  \no a professor or former supervisor to request a letter of recommendation  \n Capture the employer's (or reader's) interest   \n Invite the recipient to read the resume in depth   \n Secure an interview (for information or employment purposes)   \nBASIC GUIDELINES FOR YOUR COVER LETTER:  \n One page  \n 3-4 paragraphs  \n In a standard cover letter format (see samples)  \n On high-quality paper that matches your resume  \n Addressed to a SPECIFIC person, rather than “To whom it may concern.”(Do your best to find out who the hiring manager is. If you cannot, address the letter to “Dear Sir or Madam” or “To the Director of Human Resources”)  \n Completely error free – have The Career Management Center and your friends/family proofread the letter  \nSTANDARD FORMAT OF THE COVER LETTER (see samples):  \nYour contact information  \nDate  \nEmployer’s contact information  \nFirst Paragraph - Introduction: Use this paragraph to state your reason for writing and explain how you learned of the position. For example,“Please accept my enclosed resume in application for the position of Senior Analyst at  \nSmith and Company. I learned of this opportunity through your online posting at [eRecruiting.com](eRecruiting.com) and feel my qualifications are an excellent match for the responsibilities of the position.”  \nBody Paragraphs – What you can offer them: Use this paragraph to emphasize and elaborate upon your strongest qualifications and be certain to address the specific qualifications the employer may have listed in the job description. If it seems that the position requires leadership skills, be sure to highlight your own leadership skills and demonstrate how your own skills and what the employer is seeking is a good match. You may also want to address why you want to work for them: Almost every employer will ask the question,“Why are you interested in this position?” or “Why are you interested in this company?” You can explain this in your cover letter if you wish.  \nLast Paragraph – Closing: Generally this section is used to thank the reader for his/her consideration and request an opportunity to discuss the position further. You should also use this paragraph to indicate to the employer how he/she can reach you. Alternately, you may indicate that you will contact the employer to follow up. If you do this, make sure you actually follow up!  \nIIT Stuart School of Business 2 Cover Letter Writing Guide  \nStandard Cover Letter Format  \nYour Name  \nYour Street Address • Chicago, IL 60000  \n[youremail@stuart.iit.edu](youremail@stuart.iit.edu) • 312.555.5050  \nFebruary 12, 2014  \nMs./Mr./Dr. First and Last Name of the Individual Title  \nCompany Name Street Address City, ST Zip Code  \nDear Ms./Mr./Dr. Last Name,  \nIntroduction: Explain who you are and why you are writing. Also mention how you learned  \nabout the opportunity (the Career Management Center, company website, newspaper ad, friend, employment service, etc.) .  \nBody: (One to three brief paragraphs) . Describe why you are interested in this position/company and how you developed this interest. You may also mention wh","cbCaiqRV8yBPpXee","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiqRV8yBPpXee","pdf",344676,9,"English","# Cover Letter Guidelines\n## What is a Cover Letter?\n## Purpose of a Cover Letter\n## Basic Guidelines for Your Cover Letter\n# Standard Cover Letter Format\n## Cover Letter Template\n## Sample Cover Letter\n## Sample Prospecting Letter\n## Sample Personal Contact Letter\n## Sample Thank You Letter\n## Sample Networking Emails","[{\"question\":\"What is the purpose of a cover letter?\",\"answer\":\"A cover letter initiates contact, captures the reader’s interest, invites the recipient to review the resume in depth, and helps secure an interview for employment or information purposes.\"},{\"question\":\"What basic guidelines should a cover letter follow?\",\"answer\":\"Keep it to one page with 3–4 paragraphs, use a standard cover letter format, address a specific person when possible, and ensure the letter is completely error-free after proofreading.\"},{\"question\":\"What sections should a standard cover letter include?\",\"answer\":\"It should include your contact information, date, employer contact information, an introduction paragraph, body paragraphs describing what you can offer, and a closing paragraph requesting the next step such as an interview or follow-up.\"}]","Cover Letter Writing Guide | PDF",1789292750,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":99},[100,105,109,114,119,124,129,132,137],{"id":101,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":102,"show_sort_weight":103,"slug":104},11,"Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":55,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":106,"show_sort_weight":107,"slug":108},"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":110,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":111,"show_sort_weight":112,"slug":113},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":115,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":116,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":118},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":120,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":121,"show_sort_weight":122,"slug":123},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":125,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":126,"show_sort_weight":127,"slug":128},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":86,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":130,"slug":131},30,"letters",{"id":133,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":134,"show_sort_weight":135,"slug":136},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":138,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":139,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":140},158,"General","general-158"]