The worst thing you can do when writing an cover letter after you’ve been unemployed for some time is to lie.

Why?  Because eventually, the lies you tell in the cover letter will come home to roost at some point in the interview process, meaning you’ll just end up having wasted everyone’s time.

Having said that, if there are some less-than-attractive reasons for your unemployment, don’t make those reasons the focus of your cover letter. You want to keep it positive.

It’s okay to admit fault in certain situations if you can show that you’ve have learned from the tough times and have changed for the better as a result of these struggles.

Transition to focusing on your skills and abilities, and more importantly, your passion and desire for re-entering the workforce. If you have experience from your past that will clearly add value to this new position, than don’t be afraid to clearly demonstrate the connection.

And if you spent your time being unemployed trying to better yourself (for example, taking a class or volunteering), then shift the focus to that.

No job? No problem. Use this sample to help you write a cover letter when you’re unemployed.

David Brentwood
(555) 555-5555 | [email protected] | PO Box 222 | Sometown, MA 55555

[Date]

Hannah Jones
VP Purchasing
XYZ Company
15 Main St.
Sometown, MA 55555

Dear Ms. Jones:

As an accomplished purchasing specialist with extensive healthcare industry experience, I was very interested to learn about your purchasing specialist opening. I offer eight years of experience working for ABC Company, a national home healthcare company and a billion-dollar leader in the industry. As the company’s corporate purchasing specialist, I managed:

• Purchasing functions for 115 locations.
• 75 major contracts in areas including medications, supplies, equipment, furniture, uniforms, distribution and vending machines.
• A 15-member team of contractors, buyers, analysts and support staff.

Consistently recognized for outstanding performance, I saved ABC Company more than $5.3 million in 2007 alone. An expert in contract negotiations, vendor management and global sourcing, I repeatedly reduced expenditures, cost-of-sales (COS) and cost-of-goods (COG), as well as assisted with major system implementations of inventory, purchasing and tracking systems.

In 2011, ABC Company experienced a significant workforce reduction and my position was eliminated. Since then, I have remained active in the American Purchasing Society and completed courses in business ethics, contract law, the art of negotiation and supply chain management. I plan on sitting for the Certified Professional Purchasing Manager (CPPM) exam later this year.

I am confident that my ongoing studies combined with successful experience in the field will enable me to aggressively pursue cost-reduction opportunities and improve return on investment (ROI) for your company. If you agree that my skills and experience would benefit your operation, please call me at (555) 555-5555 or email [email protected] to arrange an interview. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to speaking with you.

Sincerely,

David Brentwood
Enclosure: Resume

How to Write a Curriculum Vitae (CV) for a Job

The Cover Letters That Make Hiring Managers Smile (Then Call You)

The only really distinguishing feature of this type of cover letter is that the opening paragraph generally includes a statement such as “I’m responding to your advertisement I saw in the…”

The rest of the cover letter generally follows the principles of other successful cover letters.  However, if you find yourself going through the classifieds in your local newspaper and simply sending off cover letters to whomever has an ad posted, do make sure that you do some research on the company before you send out your cover letter.

Sending one cover letter out for multiple advertisements is a good way to ensure that you won’t be getting too many interviews in the coming days or weeks.

Download as: PDF or Word Doc

The Cover Letters That Make Hiring Managers Smile (Then Call You)

How to Write a Curriculum Vitae (CV) for a Job

A direct mail cover letter is similar to a cold call cover letter, the main difference being you are not applying to a single company with a single position in mind.  Instead, you are “blanketing” as many companies you can at once and therefore trying to send out a general cover letter that can work for them all.

Because of this, we don’t recommend this strategy to our students.  It is generally pretty ineffective and a waste of your time or resources.

There is rarely a time when “tailoring” your resume to a specific company and position is not the most effective strategy.  However, if you are really short on time (and possibly ambition), here is an example of a direct mail cover letter you can reference.

Dear [INSERT HIRING MANAGER’S NAME],

Regarding the [INSERT JOB TITLE] position currently advertised on Monster.ca , please find attached a copy of my resume for your consideration.I’m looking to gain practical experience within [INSERT INDUSTRY SECTOR] and feel that a part-time position within your company would help me to demonstrate the abilities I have.

INCLUDE IF YOU HAVE UNDERTAKEN WORK EXPERIENCE
I have been studying [INSERT RELEVANT DEGREE] and have already gained some experience as a [INSERT JOB TITLE] at [INSERT COMPANY NAME] where I [INSERT KEY RESPONSIBILITY OR ACHIEVEMENT].

I believe my skills in [INSERT KEY SKILLS] would make me a positive addition to your team. If you would like to get in touch to discuss my application and to arrange an interview, you can contact me via [INSERT PHONE NUMBER OR EMAIL ADDRESS].

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,
[INSERT NAME]

The Cover Letters That Make Hiring Managers Smile (Then Call You)

How to Write a Curriculum Vitae (CV) for a Job

There really isn’t a huge difference between writing a cover letter for an internship and writing a cover letter for a job opening.  You still need to list your qualifications, skills and abilities.  You still need to explain how you add value to the company.  You still want to sell yourself.

But one thing you want to keep in mind, is even though this internship might be a springboard to YOUR career or education, you don’t want this to be the focus of your cover letter.

The name of the game is still to put the company’s needs ahead of your own.

You’re not their first intern and you won’t be their last, so don’t write your cover letter thinking that their concern is how the internship will help with your placement in your next opportunity.

Add value. Period.  This is what they really want to hear from you in your cover letter.

Dear [INSERT HIRING MANAGER’S NAME],

Regarding the [INSERT JOB TITLE] position currently advertised on Monster.ca , please find attached a copy of my resume for your consideration.I’m looking to gain practical experience within [INSERT INDUSTRY SECTOR] and feel that a part-time position within your company would help me to demonstrate the abilities I have.

INCLUDE IF YOU HAVE UNDERTAKEN WORK EXPERIENCE
I have been studying [INSERT RELEVANT DEGREE] and have already gained some experience as a [INSERT JOB TITLE] at [INSERT COMPANY NAME] where I [INSERT KEY RESPONSIBILITY OR ACHIEVEMENT].

I believe my skills in [INSERT KEY SKILLS] would make me a positive addition to your team. If you would like to get in touch to discuss my application and to arrange an interview, you can contact me via [INSERT PHONE NUMBER OR EMAIL ADDRESS].

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,
[INSERT NAME]

The Cover Letters That Make Hiring Managers Smile (Then Call You)

How to Write a Curriculum Vitae (CV) for a Job

The trick with an academic cover letter is to avoid rambling on and on and on about everything you’ve accomplished.  The reality is, you still need to fall within the “one-page rule” (although some institutions will allow for a second page, you better make darn sure that this is the case!), so the trick is to be clear and concise and highlight your accomplishments without coming across as an encyclopedia.

One other thing to consider is the nature of any research you have done and how you want to convey that in your cover letter.

Quite often people spend too much time talking about what it is they study or plan on studying without ever getting into the “why” of it all.

Be specific about your intentions and don’t assume that the person on the other end of your cover letter is an expert in your field.

Academic Cover Letter Example #1

Date
Dr. Firstname Lastname
Chair, English Department Search Committee
XYZ College
Charlotte, NC, 28213

Dear Dr. Firstname Lastname,

I am writing to apply for the position of assistant professor of English with an emphasis in nineteenth-century American literature that you advertised in the February 20XX MLA Job Information List. I am a Dean’s Fellow and Ph.D. candidate at XYZ University, currently revising the final chapter of my dissertation, and expecting to graduate in May 20XX. I am confident that my teaching experience and my research interests make me an ideal candidate for your open position.

Over the past five years, I have taught a variety English courses. I have taught a number of American literature survey courses, as well as writing courses, including technical writing and first-year writing.  I have extensive experience working with ESL students, as well as students with a variety of learning disabilities, including dyslexia and dysgraphia, and disabilities like ADD and ADHD. I pride myself in creating a classroom environment that accommodates the needs of my individual students while still promoting a high level of critical thought and writing skills. Some of my most satisfying experiences as a teacher have come from helping struggling students to grasp difficult concepts, through a combination of individual conferences, class activities, and group discussion. I know I would thrive as a teacher in your college, due to your belief in small classroom size and individualized support for students.

Not only does my teaching experience suit the needs of your school and department, but my research interests also fit perfectly with your description of the ideal candidate. My dissertation project, “Ferns and Leaves: Nineteenth-Century Female Authorial Space,” examines the rise and development of American female authors in the 1840s and 1850s, with a particular focus on patterns of magazine publication. I argue that, rather than being submissive to the requirements of the editor or publisher, female authors in fact developed a more transparently reciprocal relationship between themselves and their readers than previously has been assumed. I apply recent print-culture and book-history theory to my readings of novels, magazine articles, letters, and diary entries by various female authors, with a particularly focus on Sara Willis (known by her pseudonym Fanny Fern). I plan to develop my dissertation into a book manuscript, and continue to research the role of female writers in antebellum magazine culture, with a particular focus on the rise and influence of female magazine editors on literary culture.

My research interests have both shaped and been shaped by my recent teaching experiences. Last spring, I developed and taught a course on the history of print culture in America. I combined readings on theory and literature that addressed issues of print with visits to local historical museums and archives. My students conducted in-depth studies on particular texts (magazines, newspapers, novels) for their final papers. I believe my interdisciplinary teaching style, particularly my emphasis on material culture, would fit in well with the interdisciplinary nature of your English department.

I am therefore confident that my teaching experience, my skill in working with ESL and LD students, and my research interests all make me an excellent candidate for the assistant professor of English position at ABC College. I have attached my curriculum vitae and the two requested sample publications. I would be happy to send you any additional materials such as letters of reference, teaching evaluations, and past and proposed course syllabi. I will be available to meet with you at either the MLA or C19 conference, or anywhere else at your convenience. Thank you so much for your consideration; I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Your Signature (hard copy letter)

Firstname Lastname
Your Address
Your City, State, Zip Code
Your Phone Number
Your Email

The Cover Letters That Make Hiring Managers Smile (Then Call You)

How to Write a Curriculum Vitae (CV) for a Job

Recruiters are no different than hiring managers, in that they are essentially looking for the same things from your cover letters.  What impresses a recruiter the most is when you take the time to tailor your cover letter to a specific posting rather than simply sending them a general letter inquiring about “miscellaneous opportunities”.

The Cover Letters That Make Hiring Managers Smile (Then Call You)

How to Write a Curriculum Vitae (CV) for a Job