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The guide clarifies typical one-page structure and four-paragraph logic, then provides a five-question planning framework to overcome writer’s block. 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It gives the reader a taste of what’s to come – not by simply summarizing the resume, but by highlighting the aspects of your background that will be most relevant to the reader. A cover letter also demonstrates that you can organize your thoughts and express yourself clearly and appropriately; in other words, it reflects your communication skills and, to some extent, your personality.  \nCover letters are typically one page documents, not longer. Like lots of things in life, they have a beginning, middle and end: usually an introduction saying who you are and why you’re writing, followed by a sales pitch of what you have to offer and a genuine explanation of why you would like to work for that company, and finally a closing in which you propose steps for further action. These four components often amount to four paragraphs, but there are no hard and fast rules about exactly how you break up the information.  \nFive Things to Think about Before Writing  \nIf you find yourself struck by writer’s block after you write: “Dear Mr. Or Ms. So-and-So”, then you probably need to take a step back and put some more thought into your cover letter before diving into it. Asking yourself the following five questions will help you build a foundation for your letter and will make the actual writing go much more smoothly.  \n1. What does the prospective employer need? Which skills, knowledge and experience would be an asset in the job you are targeting? Closely examine the job description to ascertain this important information.  \n2. What are your objectives? Are you applying for a specific job, trying to get an interview or simply hoping to get someone to spend 10 or 15 minutes on the phone with you discussing opportunities in general at that organization? Make sure to clearly state your objective in the first paragraph.  \n3. What are three to five qualities that you would bring to this employer or this job? If you’re responding to a job listing or classified, then choose qualities that match the job requirements mentioned in the ad. It is recommended to reference skills, tasks and responsibilities using language / words that are similar to those mentioned in the job posting. If you’re not applying for a specific job opening but are inquiring about opportunities at the company, then think of which skills, knowledge and experience would typically be valued. Visiting the company’s website may help you determine these qualities.  \n4. How can you match your experience to the job? What are at least two specific accomplishments, projects or jobs you can mention which give credence to the qualities you identified in question number 3.  \n5. Why do you want to work for this particular organization or person? What do you know about them? What is it about their products or services, philosophy, mission, organizational culture, goals and needs that relates to your own background, values and objectives? Has the company been in the news lately or completed a project that matches something you have studied? If yes, mention that connection with the cover letter.  \nAddressing the Letter: Contact Information  \nYou should always use a contact name both in the address of the cover letter as well as in your salutation. The salutation should never include a first name, but should read as follows: “Dear Mr. Smith:” or “Dear Ms. Smith:” Use “Ms.” because it applie","cbCaiiOZLOsiOL6I","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiiOZLOsiOL6I","pdf",244901,9,"English","# What is a Cover Letter?\n## Five Things to Think about Before Writing\n## Addressing the Letter: Contact Information\n## Anatomy of a Cover Letter\n### The Opening","[{\"question\":\"What is the purpose of a cover letter?\",\"answer\":\"A cover letter serves as an introduction, a sales pitch, and a proposal for further action. It highlights the most relevant aspects of your background and shows clear, appropriate communication.\"},{\"question\":\"How should you structure a typical cover letter?\",\"answer\":\"Cover letters are usually one page and follow a beginning, middle, and end. They commonly map to four components—introduction, sales pitch, explanation of fit, and a closing with next steps.\"},{\"question\":\"What should you do if you cannot find a contact name for the salutation?\",\"answer\":\"Use the CDC Business Card database or ask a CDC staff member for help. You can also try locating a department head or hiring manager via the company website or LinkedIn, or consult Hoover’s Company Profile and other options like the HR team or CEO.\"}]","Cover Letters and Thank You Notes - Cover Letter Writing Guide | PDF"]