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It’s important to make a good impression. The OWL also gives the following points about the cover letter’s importance:\u003Cbr>• “A good cover letter will explain your experiences in more detail than your resume.”\u003Cbr>• “A good cover letter will show that you are writing to a specific job. It will be individualized for the organization. It should not look like it’s a form letter.”\u003Cbr>• “A good cover letter will reflect positively on your written communication skills.” |\n| --- | --- |\n| Why to Write a Cover Letter | Writing a cover letter demonstrates that you are a serious job seeker. To not write one implies that you are just randomly applying to a lot of opportunities whether you are a good fit for them or not. A cover letter also allows you to demonstrate your enthusiasm for the position and will provide a glimpse into your personality. |\n| Preparing to Write a Cover Letter | Before writing your cover letter, review the position description. Make a list of the skills, qualifications, and traits described in it and make notes about how you fit these examples from previous experiences.\u003Cbr>• Remember, an experience can be paid or unpaid.\u003Cbr>• An experience can be job, and internship, or volunteer work.\u003Cbr>• Your accomplishments from being involved in a campus organization can be used.\u003Cbr>A good position description will give you some information about the organization’s culture. If this information isn’t readily available, research the company website. Look for key words that are repeated on the website. These will let you know what is important to the company. Does this company value innovation or service to the community? Is the environment fast paced or laid back? Make notes of these company descriptors and reflect upon how you fit in with the culture. |\n| Identify Your Strengths | • If you have taken the Clifton Strengths Assessment, you already know your top five strengths. Address how you use these strengths and how they can be helpful to the company. You may identify strengths matches from position descriptions.\u003Cbr>• For example, if the position description outlines the need for a self-starter and one of your strengths is Activator, then there is a clear match to your strengths and their needs. You may write a something like this in your cover letter:\u003Cbr>o “From the position description, I note that you seek someone who is a self-starter. One of my strengths is my ability to quickly turn thoughts into action. As a member of student government, I established a bike rental program on campus that had been discussed with no action for two years. Within, 6 weeks of accepting my role, we had the program up and running.” |\n\nScroll to the next page for cover letter formatting and more information    \n\n| Parts of a Cover Letter | Explanations & Suggestions | Examples |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Heading | The heading should include your contact information, the company contact information, and the date you are writing the letter. For a traditional format , single space the information within each section and leave a space between each section as shown. Alignment should be left justified.\u003Cbr>Whenever possible the company contact should be a specific person. If this information is not available use “Hiring Manager”or “Hiring Committee” as the contact. Avoid using the phrase“To Whom it May Concern.”\u003Cbr>When addressing a specific person, it is best to be gender neutral, such as “Devon Smith,” instead of “Mr. Devon Smith” or“Ms. Devon Smith.” | Sandy Shark\u003Cbr>123 Tsunami Drive Bluffton, SC 29902 843-208-5432\u003Cbr>April 15, 2024\u003Cbr>Devon Smith\u003Cbr>Director of Human Resources ","cbCaiiinnhNKtq25","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiiinnhNKtq25","pdf",193076,"English","# What is a Cover Letter\n# Why to Write a Cover Letter\n# Preparing to Write a Cover Letter\n# Identify Your Strengths\n# Parts of a Cover Letter\n## Heading\n## Introduction","[{\"question\":\"What is the purpose of a cover letter?\",\"answer\":\"A cover letter introduces you and your resume to potential employers, and it is often seen before the resume. 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