[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-255781-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":81,"doc-detail-255781-en":126},{"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","creating-your-job-search-tools-cover-letters","Creating Your Job Search Tools - Cover Letters","","Cover letters as formal business correspondence that serves as a first point of contact with prospective employers, introducing relevant experience and expressing enthusiasm for a specific role. Guidance explains how to tailor each letter to the target employer, choose appropriate salutation and avoid informal or generic greetings, and assemble a complete structure including contact block, opening, body, and closing. Sample letters illustrate strong action language, company research, quantified accomplishments, interview requests, and clear contact details.",{"@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/creating-your-job-search-tools-cover-letters/255781/",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/creating-your-job-search-tools-cover-letters/255781.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Finn","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-24","2026-09-13",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",18,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What is the main purpose of a cover letter in a job search?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"A cover letter is a formal business letter that introduces you to a prospective employer, highlights relevant experience, and explains your enthusiasm for the position.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"How should a cover letter be addressed if the contact name is unknown?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"If the name is unknown, use “Hiring Manager.” Avoid generic salutations like “To Whom it May Concern” or “Dear Sir/Madam.”",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What should be included in the body of a cover letter?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"The body should include critical content such as knowledge of the company, acknowledgment of the skills required, and specific strengths with examples and quantified accomplishments that connect to the job.","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},255781,1789292986,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,89,94,99,104,109,114,117,122],{"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":55,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":115,"slug":116},30,"letters",{"id":118,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":119,"show_sort_weight":120,"slug":121},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":123,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":124,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":125},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":127},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":128,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":129,"doc_module":22,"category_id":55,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":130,"file_id":131,"file_url":132,"file_type":133,"file_size":134,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":30,"language":135,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":136,"faqs":137,"seo_title":138,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":80,"read_time":22},34359740700684,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/1f400023980c374ae676?_k=1777273430885731487","| CREATING YOUR JOB SEARCH TOOLS |  |  |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Cover Letters\u003Cbr>The cover letter is a formal business letter that is often the first contact with a prospective employer. It serves as an introduction of you and your experience. It allows you to express your enthusiasm for the position and why you want to work for their company. Tailor each letter to specific employers. |  |  |\n| You might use this formal format if you are attaching the letter with your resume in the email. If you plan to use the cover letter as the body of the email, thereis no need to include those addresses.\u003Cbr>Avoid using To Whom it May Concern or Dear Sir/Madam.\u003Cbr>lt is best to use\u003Cbr>Hiring Manager if name is unknown. Use professional pronouns if known. Otherwise, refrain from using binary salutation; instead write out their full name — Dear Miriam Lopez,\u003Cbr>Create your signature as a jpeg and insert above your typed name. |  | \u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>Your Name\u003Cbr>Your Address\u003Cbr>City, State, Zip Code\u003Cbr>Date\u003Cbr>Name of Contact Person, Title Organization/Company Street Address\u003Cbr>City, State, Zip\u003Cbr>Dear (Contact Person): Mr. , Ms. , Dr. or Hiring Manager, if unknown\u003Cbr>Opening Paragraph: Make it brief.\u003Cbr>• Establish tone in the first sentence to make the reader want to continue reading.\u003Cbr>• Name the job for which you are applying. Tell how you learned about it.\u003Cbr>• Mention the name of the person (if any) who referred you to the organization and vacancy.\u003Cbr>Body Paragraph: This is the critical content section. It can be one or two paragraphs.\u003Cbr>• Knowledge of organization/company is important. Do research! (Why them?)\u003Cbr>• Acknowledge the skills required for the open position.\u003Cbr>• State the most relevant skills/strengths you will bring to the job that parallel those needed to fulfill the position.\u003Cbr>• Give examples of select skills and work experience—quantified results, accomplishments and achievements and how they will transfer to the job.\u003Cbr>• You may want to build this section from several short paragraphs that separate and emphasize your skills and strengths.\u003Cbr>• No need to rehash the entire resume.\u003Cbr>Closing Paragraph: Request an interview.\u003Cbr>• Refer to documents enclosed or available, such as your portfolio with resume, reference letters, a reference sheet and, if applicable, writing samples.\u003Cbr>• Assert yourself by telling the contact person you will call him/her on a designated date to set up an interview. Alternatively, state you are available for a personal interview at his/her convenience.\u003Cbr>• Make it very easy for the person to contact you. List your best phone number and email as well as days and times when you can be reached. Yes, even though it’s on the resume, state it again.\u003Cbr>Sincerely,(Signature) Typed Name |\n| \u003Cbr>23 | Tip:\u003Cbr>Many employers ask candidates to apply online at the company website; these sites do not always require cover letters. |  |\n\n\n| CREATING YOUR JOB SEARCH TOOLS |  |\n| --- | --- |\n| Sample Cover Letter \\#1—Employment |  |\n| Use this format only if attaching your cover letter to an email.\u003Cbr>lndicate where you heard about the position.\u003Cbr>Mention some information about the company to show that you have taken the time todo research.\u003Cbr>Use strong action words to describe your experiencesand achievements. | \u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>M. Mudd\u003Cbr>340 Foothill Blvd.\u003Cbr>Claremont, CA 91711\u003Cbr>March 6, 20XX\u003Cbr>Mr. John Bowman, Vice President California Federal Credit\u003Cbr>800 Travis Avenue, Suite 1404 Houston, TX 77002\u003Cbr>Dear Mr. Bowman:\u003Cbr>I am interested in applying for a position in your organization’s management training program, where I can strengthen my knowledge and exposure of the consumer finance industry. Your organization attended the Career Fair at Harvey Mudd College. I enjoyed talking to Jose Hernandez about your organization.\u003Cbr>I plan to pursue a career in financial management and would like to begin my career in banking and consumer finance. I can see from your website that your management program offers a","cbCail8iCmlnmkYm","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCail8iCmlnmkYm","pdf",126145,"English","# Cover Letters\n## Purpose and tailoring\n## Formal format and addressing\n## Signature and contact block\n## Opening paragraph\n## Body paragraph\n## Closing paragraph\n## Tip: when online applications may omit cover letters\n## Sample Cover Letter #1—Employment\n## Sample Cover Letter #2—Employment","[{\"question\":\"What is the main purpose of a cover letter in a job search?\",\"answer\":\"A cover letter is a formal business letter that introduces you to a prospective employer, highlights relevant experience, and explains your enthusiasm for the position.\"},{\"question\":\"How should a cover letter be addressed if the contact name is unknown?\",\"answer\":\"If the name is unknown, use “Hiring Manager.” Avoid generic salutations like “To Whom it May Concern” or “Dear Sir/Madam.”\"},{\"question\":\"What should be included in the body of a cover letter?\",\"answer\":\"The body should include critical content such as knowledge of the company, acknowledgment of the skills required, and specific strengths with examples and quantified accomplishments that connect to the job.\"}]","Creating Your Job Search Tools - Cover Letters | PDF"]