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Just like your resume, your cover letter should be tailored to your desired position. Employers view a cover letter as an example of your written work, so it should be flawless. Here are the steps to creating a great cover letter.  \nSTEP 1: FORMAT YOUR LETTER  \n• Limit your cover letter to one page in length. Also, construct your letter in a way that it attracts attention, entices the recipient into reading your resume, and encourages the recipient to invite you for an interview.  \n• Use standard business letter formatting when writing a cover letter. Start at the top of the page with your mailing address. Then skip a line and include the date on which you are sending the letter. Skip another line and then list the contact information for your recipient. This should include the name of the individual who will read the letter plus any appropriate honorific (for example, Dr.), the individual’s job title, the name of the company and the mailing address of that company. Skip another line and begin the letter with a formal greeting.  \n• Address the greeting of your cover letter to a specific person by last name and include the appropriate honorific with his/her name– for example: “Dear Dr. Parker” Always end your greeting with a colon. If you are uncertain of the recipient’s gender, you may use both first and last name, for example “Dear Taylor Parker:” If you are unsure of the recipient’s name, you may call the company to find out who is managing the hiring for the position for which you are applying. If you cannot find out the name, skip the greeting as a last resort.  \n• Cover letters should be laser printed on high-quality bond paper that matches your resume. If you include a cover letter with an email, either upload the entire document as an attachment or paste the entire document, including mailing addresses and the date, into the body of the email. Additionally, do not write in informal or texting language when sending the cover letter as an email. Always use professional business language. Convert your letter to a PDF before attaching it to an email or uploading it to a website.  \nSTEP 2: DETERMINE YOUR MOST RELATED SKILLS  \n• Review your skills and experiences listed on your resume. Expand upon entries that relate to the position for which you are applying. For example, if you had an internship, job or volunteer experience where you worked on a special project or went beyond your duties, this is the place to highlight those experiences in your cover letter. Be sure to emphasize soft skills (communication, teamwork, courteousness, etc.) that maybe listed in the job description.  \nSTEP 3: WRITE YOUR OPENING PARAGRAPH  \n• Cover letters generally have four main paragraphs. Additional paragraphs can be added as necessary. Skip lines between the greeting and the first paragraph, between paragraphs within the body of the letter, and between the final paragraph and the closing.  \n• The first paragraph should grab the prospective employer’s attention. In this paragraph, explain why you are writing by identifying the position for which you are applying and how you learned about the job opening. Additionally, summarize your strongest qualifications for the position, such as your educational background or an interest in the services or mission of the organization.  \nSTEP 4: WRITE THE BODY PARAGRAPHS  \n• The second paragraph should describe your strongest qualifications in more detail. If possible, use a copy of the job description or advertisement to write this paragraph and match your qualifications to the position’s requirements.  \n• Use key words from the job description wh","cbCaibkCYrGVyn8A","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaibkCYrGVyn8A","pdf",571275,7,"English","# Cover Letters\n## Five Steps to Writing a Cover Letter\n## Step 1: Format Your Letter\n## Step 2: Determine Your Most Related Skills\n## Step 3: Write Your Opening Paragraph\n## Step 4: Write the Body Paragraphs\n## Step 5: Close\n## Sample Cover Letter","[{\"question\":\"How long should a cover letter be and how should it be structured?\",\"answer\":\"Keep the cover letter to one page and structure it to attract attention, encourage the recipient to read the resume, and support an interview request. Use standard business letter formatting with addresses, date, recipient contact information, a formal greeting, and clear paragraph spacing.\"},{\"question\":\"What should you include in the opening paragraph?\",\"answer\":\"Explain why you are writing by stating the position you are applying for and how you learned about the job opening. Summarize your strongest qualifications, such as your educational background or interest in the organization’s services or mission.\"},{\"question\":\"How should you write the body paragraphs?\",\"answer\":\"Describe your strongest qualifications in more detail, matching them to the job description when possible and using key words from it. Provide specific examples from work experience or education, avoid simply repeating the resume, and show company knowledge by aligning your values and goals with the organization.\"}]","University of Memphis Cover Letter Guide - Five Steps to Writing a Cover Letter | PDF",1789290415]