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Writing your cover letter |
Tips as you prepare to write:
Emphasize your contributions to the employer rather than what the job will do for you
Identify and include keywords from the job posting
There is no set number of Decide how many body paragraphs you can to include or and how to organize them – it's up to you to decide what approach there is no set number, so choose the approach that best communicates your suitability best
Avoid using clichés or generic phrases as they are overused and have less impact
Proofread your document and, if possible, ask someone for feedback on it
Avoid repeating exactly what’s contained in any portion of your résumé. Use this opportunity to elaborate further on relevant points
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Introductory paragraph |
As the name suggests, you’re introducing what interests you about the role you’re applying to, your career motivations and what makes you a good fit for the role. You want your introduction to engage the reader and hook them in so that they keep reading right to the end!
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The position, employer and the norms of the sector
How you want to introduce yourself
Final sentence of your introduction
There are many options available to you. Consider finishing the introductory paragraph with either:
A summarizing sentence that outlines the information you plan on sharing in the body paragraphs. Knowing what's coming can make your reader’s job much easier, as they’ll know what to expect.
Example:
I plan to convey to you the ways in which how my skills, qualifications and values are a good fit for the student advisor position with the Co-operative and Experiential Education department at the University of Waterloo.
OR
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Example:
I welcome the opportunity to use my marketing and design skills to promote the protection of an environmentally sensitive area as a design lead with the xyz Environmental group.
Introductory paragraph - Different approaches and examples
The following is a list of approaches available to you. Reviewing them may help you begin thinking creatively about how you'd like to begin your cover letter. There may be an approach that you like but don’t feel comfortable using , for whatever reason. Some approaches might better reflect your personality.
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Choose an approach that you feel authentically conveys you in an authentic way and introduces you in the most advantageous light to the target employer and role. |
Expand the following content for more information.
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Demonstrate your commitment to an organizations’ core mission and values by highlighting a particular motivation for dedicating yourself to the target role and/or sector. Example: I believe strongly in the value of co-operative education in preparing students for the transition to future workplaces. I want to support students to leverage strengths, skills and values gleaned from their personal and academic experiences to co-op positions and future careers more broadly. I plan to convey to you the ways in which my skills, qualifications and values are a good fit for the student advisor position with the Co-operative and Experiential Education department at University of Waterloo. |
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For those who feel confident about articulating an accomplishment or using a skill set and identifying how they can do so again for the target organization or team, this is the option for you! You’ll need to determine which contribution would be highly valued by the employer and connect it to something you’ve successfully delivered on in the past. Example: I am writing to express my keen interest in a marketing position within your reputable organization. My two years of professional and volunteer experience in public relations and record of success in delivering quality customer service make me an ideal candidate for the position. I offer solid knowledge of sound, image, text and video communication design. Since ABC Inc. is a leader in designing, developing and offering broadband communications to all world markets, I feel strongly that your area of specialization would benefit from my skills and experience. |
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Body paragraphs |
Body paragraphs are those paragraphs that appear between the introductory and concluding paragraph.
The job of the body paragraphs
Your body paragraphs provide concrete evidence for the claims you make in your résumé. They highlight your qualifications and achievements in relation to the position and integrate keywords from the job posting.
There is no set number of body paragraphs you can include or how to organize them – it's up to you to decide what approach communicates your suitability best.
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To see an example of how to develop the content and structure for your cover letter, go to the “How do I prepare to start writing my cover letter?” section and follow the steps. |
Common ways to structure body paragraphs
There is no one right way to structure the content in your cover letter. Having said that, you should find out if your target sector or organization has strong preferences in terms of structure (as well as style, integrating common industry terms etc.) and consider how you might integrate them.
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The contexts for each experience (e.g., employment, volunteer work, co-op, graduate research) appear in bold below:
Expand the following content for more information.
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If you’ve had one or more experiences identical to or with lots of overlap or similarity to the job requirements and that you think will impress the employer, you could devote an entire paragraph to each experience describing associated skills, competencies etc. Example: As a student at the University of Waterloo, I am pursuing a degree in Social Development Studies focused on early childhood education due to my love of working with children. For the past seven years, I have served as a babysitter to numerous families—for which I am happy to provide references—including children from infancy through age 11. From preparing healthy snacks and changing diapers to playing at the park and building forts, I am enthusiastic and supportive in every aspect of caring for children. Additionally, I have experience helping young children through separation anxiety situations, using distraction and refocusing techniques to help kids through those tough emotions. My previous experience also includes an ongoing summer camp counsellor position at the local YMCA for four consecutive summers, providing support and guidance to elementary-aged children in the areas of sports, swimming, nature walks, cooking and social group interactions. Example: Last summer I worked as a marketing representative, creating video advertisements for a new line of innovative telecommunication products. Our team met on a daily basis to produce a digital mock-up advertisement to present to potential clients and internal service users. In order to produce the ad, we completed a comprehensive demographics/market analysis to determine the appropriate audience so that we could target potential customers accordingly. This project allowed me to demonstrate my solid technical savvy and my excellent written and oral communication skills as well. In addition, I have volunteered within a public relations role for a popular on-campus club known as Entrepreneurs Association of the University of Waterloo. I developed new marketing literature as part of a marketing team and communicated club events both externally and internally through presentations. I have also completed complex school projects in digital design and electronic imaging, which complement my courses in marketing, human resources and cultural management. |
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Another approach that can work well is to group experiences thematically, being sure to make a clear connection between the themes highlighted and the job requirements. The following are some possible organizational themes to consider.
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Final paragraph |
The final paragraph provides an opportunity to
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Your excitement to take on the role
Your alignment with the company’s mission and values
Your expected contribution in the role
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- Next: Cover letter template
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References |
Cervania, A. (2023, March 18) How to End a Cover Letter. Rezi. https://www.rezi.ai/posts/how-to-end-a-cover-letter
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