Alumni Share Advice on Writing a Cover Letter

Writing a cover letter can cause great anxiety for many potential job seekers. Once you’ve outlined all of your job experience and crafted your resume to make yourself the best possible candidate for the position, your self-promotional tank may feel empty. Yet, as alumni can attest, cover letters are a crucial component to receiving an interview and possibly a new career path. Here are a few tips for creating a lasting impression with your cover letter.

Jess Smith ’94, director of B2B Apothecary Products, explained that the cover letter is where your first impression happens. Employers read this introductory page to find a reason to view your resume.

“Try finding something in the market impacting their business,” said Smith. “Explain how you see the impact to them (opportunity, risk) and what you can bring to the table to help them achieve success.”

Adding to the notion of showcasing what you can do for their business or corporation, Kathy Koch ’89, customer service director at Portland Water Bureau, noted that the cover letter should complement and not repeat your resume.

“Outlining involvement in particular projects or summarizing a success can help the recruiter see how you might fit in with their company,” said Carol Pott ’86, editorial director at Editorial Girl. “Since resumes are shorter, a cover letter is an ideal place to list accomplishments, awards, and recognition and also to talk about volunteer work or other related skills and experience that is not on your resume.”

While it is important to outline how you will benefit the company by explaining your specific skills that relate to the position, Pott also mentioned making sure your resume and cover letter are unique to each job application.

“Taking a tailored approach to both your resume and cover letter is a necessity,” said Pott.

Are you interested in learning more about cover letters or adding to the discussion? Visit the Pacific University page on LinkedIn.