[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":3,"doc-seo-255132-105":53,"doc-detail-255132-en":126},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,14,19,24,29,34,39,44,49],{"id":8,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":11,"show_sort_weight":12,"slug":13},11,1,"Template","Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":15,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":16,"show_sort_weight":17,"slug":18},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":20,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":21,"show_sort_weight":22,"slug":23},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":25,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":26,"show_sort_weight":27,"slug":28},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":30,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":31,"show_sort_weight":32,"slug":33},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":35,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":36,"show_sort_weight":37,"slug":38},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":40,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":41,"show_sort_weight":42,"slug":43},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":45,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":46,"show_sort_weight":47,"slug":48},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":50,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":51,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":52},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":54,"data":55},"ok",{"site_id":56,"language":57,"slug":58,"title":59,"keywords":60,"description":61,"schema_data":62,"social_meta":119,"head_meta":121,"extra_data":123,"updated_unix":125},105,"en","writing-effective-cover-letters-career-development-guides","Writing Effective Cover Letters - Career Development Guides","","Writing Effective Cover Letters provides career-focused guidance on crafting a cover letter that complements a resume and strengthens a candidate’s fit for a specific employer. The guide explains how to keep letters concise, highlight accomplishments rather than repeating resume details, and align content with market research and the job description. It details business-letter formatting, options for electronic and hard-copy submission, and key structure elements such as headings, greetings, and paragraph objectives.",{"@graph":63,"@context":118},[64,80,101],{"@type":65,"itemListElement":66},"BreadcrumbList",[67,71,74,77],{"item":68,"name":69,"@type":70,"position":9},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":72,"name":10,"@type":70,"position":73},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/",2,{"item":75,"name":41,"@type":70,"position":76},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/letters/",3,{"item":78,"name":59,"@type":70,"position":79},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/writing-effective-cover-letters-career-development-guides/255132/",4,{"url":78,"name":59,"@type":81,"image":82,"author":87,"headline":59,"publisher":90,"fileFormat":93,"inLanguage":57,"description":61,"dateModified":94,"datePublished":95,"encodingFormat":93,"isAccessibleForFree":96,"interactionStatistic":97},"DigitalDocument",{"url":83,"@type":84,"width":85,"height":86},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/writing-effective-cover-letters-career-development-guides/255132.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":88,"@type":89},"Đào","Person",{"url":68,"name":91,"@type":92},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-22","2026-09-13",true,{"@type":98,"interactionType":99,"userInteractionCount":40},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":100},"ViewAction",{"@type":102,"mainEntity":103},"FAQPage",[104,110,114],{"name":105,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":107},"What is the purpose of a cover letter in relation to a resume?","Question",{"text":108,"@type":109},"A cover letter highlights qualifications to an employer and demonstrates writing ability, how well candidates articulate fit, and familiarity with the organization’s needs.","Answer",{"name":111,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":112},"How long should an effective cover letter be?",{"text":113,"@type":109},"An effective cover letter should not exceed one page, using a concise style to communicate clearly.",{"name":115,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":116},"What should the first paragraph of a cover letter include?",{"text":117,"@type":109},"It should be 2–3 sentences that explain why the applicant is writing, who they are in relation to the role, and why they are interested in the position and organization.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":78,"og:type":120,"og:title":59,"og:site_name":91,"og:description":61},"article",{"robots":122,"canonical":78},"index,follow",{"doc_id":124,"site_id":56},255132,1789286230,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":127},{"doc_id":124,"user_id":128,"nickname":88,"user_avatar":129,"doc_module":9,"category_id":40,"category_name":41,"doc_title":59,"doc_description":61,"doc_content":130,"file_id":131,"file_url":132,"file_type":133,"file_size":134,"view_count":40,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":9,"is_downloadable":9,"audit_status":9,"page_count":79,"language":135,"language_code":57,"site_id":56,"html_lang":57,"table_of_contents":136,"faqs":137,"seo_title":138,"seo_description":61,"update_tm":125,"read_time":73},1374402968488,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_29158cc5080c5b710cf443261637dec0","CAREER DEVELOPMENT GUIDES  \nWriting Effective Cover Letters  \nThis guide provides an overview of the key components of a cover letter. Students are encouraged to schedule an appointment in HarrisLink to have their cover letter(s) reviewed by a Career Development Office (CDO) counselor. However, be sure to plan ahead and give yourself time to make necessary changes well in advance of any deadlines.  \nINTRODUCTION  \nThe cover letter is a supplemental document to the resume that highlights a candidate’s qualifications to an employer. The letter serves as a measure of your writing skills, ability to articulate your qualifications for the target position, and familiarity with the organization’s needs.  \nPREPARING EFFECTIVE COVER LETTER CONTENT  \nStep 1: Highlight Key Accomplishments from Your Resume  \nCover letters should not exceed one page. A concise letter demonstrates your focus and ability to communicate succinctly. Do not simply restate the information in your resume. Instead, cite particular accomplishments and attributes that would be of special interest to the employer. Illustrate that you have the skills, knowledge, and experience an employer seeks.  \nIf transitioning to a new field as a graduate student, the cover letter provides an additional opportunity to highlight your transferable skill sets. Assess your most proficient skills, interests, and industry-specific knowledge. If you have not already done so, complete and review the Skill Identification Booklet with a CDO counselor. You may have gained valuable and relevant experiences in a variety of settings—academic, personal, professional, and extracurricular—and your goal is to convey this information persuasively to a prospective employer.  \nStep 2: Conduct Market Research  \nOnce you have assessed your interests and skills, it is critical to conduct industry research. Employers are seeking individuals who fit their organization and culture well, and who can express an understanding of how this organization is part of a larger market or community. Your letter should demonstrate a thorough understanding of the position and the needs of the employer.  \nStep 3: Analyze the Job Description  \nNow that you have a thorough understanding of your skills and target market, review the position posting thoughtfully. Employers usually enumerate qualifications in order of importance. Use the primary information listed under “Responsibilities & Qualifications” in the job description to guide the theme(s) of your cover letter, and use the vocabulary and tone of the job posting to describe you skills and experience.  \n1.  Format: Follow basic business-letter format in composing your letters.  \n2.  Electronic Submittals: Submit the cover letter as a PDF attachment. This will ensure that formatting and/or text is not lost through electronic submission. In certain circumstances, you can use your email as the cover letter with your resume as an attachment.  \n3. Hard copies: If providing a hard copy of your cover letter, use high-quality matching bond paper for your resume, cover letter, and envelopes in white or ivory.  \nA 1155 East 60th Street, Chicago, Illinois, [60637 |](60637 | P 773.834.9082 | W harris.uchicago.edu/career-development | E career-development@uchicago.edu)[ P](60637 | P 773.834.9082 | W harris.uchicago.edu/career-development | E career-development@uchicago.edu)[ 773.834.9082 |](60637 | P 773.834.9082 | W harris.uchicago.edu/career-development | E career-development@uchicago.edu)[ W](60637 | P 773.834.9082 | W harris.uchicago.edu/career-development | E career-development@uchicago.edu)[ harris.uchicago.edu/career-development |](60637 | P 773.834.9082 | W harris.uchicago.edu/career-development | E career-development@uchicago.edu)[ E](60637 | P 773.834.9082 | W harris.uchicago.edu/career-development | E career-development@uchicago.edu)[ career-development@uchicago.edu](60637 | P 773.834.9082 | W harris.uchicago.edu/career-development | E career-development@uchicago.edu)  \n","cbCaiqvEE67aNqU4","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiqvEE67aNqU4","pdf",80454,"English","# INTRODUCTION\n# PREPARING EFFECTIVE COVER LETTER CONTENT\n## Step 1: Highlight Key Accomplishments from Your Resume\n## Step 2: Conduct Market Research\n## Step 3: Analyze the Job Description\n# COVER LETTER STRUCTURE\n## Date and Return Address\n## Recipient’s Address and Greeting\n## First Paragraph: Introduce Yourself (Briefly)\n## Body of the Letter","[{\"question\":\"What is the purpose of a cover letter in relation to a resume?\",\"answer\":\"A cover letter highlights qualifications to an employer and demonstrates writing ability, how well candidates articulate fit, and familiarity with the organization’s needs.\"},{\"question\":\"How long should an effective cover letter be?\",\"answer\":\"An effective cover letter should not exceed one page, using a concise style to communicate clearly.\"},{\"question\":\"What should the first paragraph of a cover letter include?\",\"answer\":\"It should be 2–3 sentences that explain why the applicant is writing, who they are in relation to the role, and why they are interested in the position and organization.\"}]","Writing Effective Cover Letters - Career Development Guides | PDF"]