Cover Letter Tips

Showing 38 articles

The Best Cover Letter Examples That Will Help You Get Hired

By Jamie Thork and Venus Gentile

If you're wondering how to write a cover letter, you're in the right place! We have some of the best cover letter examples to help you create your own. It doesn't matter what industry you're in or what level you're at in your career—to get noticed by potential employers, your professional cover letter has to knock their socks off. Writing a good...

Write a Letter of Interest for Your Dream Job

By Martina Mascali, Monster Contributor

In our competitive job market, job seekers constantly look for new creative ways to stand out from the crowd and get potential employers to notice them. One of these strategies is to send a letter of interest to a company or organization you want to work for, even when there are no current job openings available. A letter of interest for a job, ...

Sample Cover Letter for an Internship

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

If you have limited job experience, an internship can be a crucial steppingstone to landing a full-time job in your chosen industry. In addition to the possibility of getting a job offer, internships allow you to explore different career paths so you can make more informed decisions about your future. So, how will you stand out in a highly competit...

How to Write a Cover Letter

By Jamie Thork, Monster contributor

Why do you need to know how to write a cover letter? Picture this: You've found the perfect job, hit the "apply" button, and started the process with your engines revved and ready. But wait! Slam the brakes! They want a cover letter. Don't let this request derail you. This article will show you how to write a cover letter by using our easy-to...

What to Include in a Cover Letter

By Caroline Zaayer Kaufman, Monster contributor

Many jobs ask you to file a cover letter along with your other application materials, but even if a cover letter is optional, you might take the opportunity to send one along. To make the effort worth your while, you need to know what to include in a cover letter. The goal is to express your knowledge, applicable skills, and passion for the job in ...

How to Write a Cover Letter With No Experience

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

Landing your first job is no small feat. One reason it can be challenging is because you need to write a resume and cover letter, but you don’t have much to put on those two important piece of paper. You may be wondering how to write a cover letter with no experience to back you up. Don’t panic—it’s just the situation you’re in when you’re fresh ou...

What Goes in a Cover Letter?

By Jamie Thork, Monster contributor

Many job seekers struggle to understand what goes in a cover letter, as well as cover letter format, but this skill can be learned and perfected. You don't need to go rifling through cover letter examples in the hopes of finding the secret formula. You simply need to convey what makes you appropriate for the job, the value you could bring to the co...

Tricky Cover Letter Mistakes to Avoid

By Kim Isaacs, Monster Resume Expert

Cover letter mistakes trip up even the most seasoned professionals. But don't panic. Think of your cover letter like a handshake—it's how you introduce yourself to employers when you apply for a job. Like a good handshake, you want your cover letter to be strong, succinct, and make a great first impression. This isn't a part of the job application ...

Recent Graduate Cover Letter Sample

By Jamie Thork, Monster contributor

After toiling away in classrooms for four (or more) years, getting a job right out of college is a natural goal. But composing a recent graduate cover letter can feel like a kind of catch 22. On one hand, you don't have much material to work with; on the other, you need a strong resume and cover letter to get you in the door. Why would you even ...

How to Make a Good Cover Letter That Sells Your Skills

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

Learning how to make a good cover letter and resume may seem to you to be little more than a paperwork exercise, but the truth is, those are two very valuable marketing tools. Great marketing has the power to persuade, and that's exactly what you're trying to do: Convince a hiring manager to call you in for an interview. Like a great resume, a well...

How to open and close your cover letter

By Helen Cunningham and Brenda Greene, Monster contributors

In a tight job market flooded with resumes and cover letters, it’s a given that your documents and messages need to be error-free. So how else can you distinguish your communications? Appropriate openings and closings that convey professionalism and polish. Use our tips below on how to start your cover letter with a proper greeting and sign off ...

Ask Vicki: If a job ad doesn't ask for a cover letter, should I send one anyway?

By Vicki Salemi, Monster career expert

Each week, Monster’s career expert Vicki Salemi—a former recruiter who utilizes 15-plus years of experience in recruiting and human resources to empower job seekers—answers user questions on Quora. We’ll be republishing the answers here. If you have a question for Vicki, send it to socialmedia@monster.com. Q. If a job ad doesn't ask for a cover ...

How to close your cover letter properly

By Lily Martis, Monster staff

Goodbyes can be hard, both in person and in writing. Do you get stiff and uncomfortably formal in your cover letter closing statements, or do you like to keep them super light-hearted to the point where it’s almost comedic? Maybe you just avoid the closer altogether? But there has to be a right way to finish strong, especially when it comes to know...

The recipe for a perfect cover letter

By Mack Gelber, Monster staff

Great food is all about great recipes and great ingredients. Whether you're preparing an apple pie or beef Wellington, you can't just toss in a bunch of processed junk in any old order and expect it to taste good. That's equally true of cover letters: The best ones are carefully crafted with just the right mix of information, following just the ...

Sample approach cover letter

By Kim Isaacs, Monster contributor

You're interested in a potential employer, but you need to introduce yourself and convey what you can do for the company. Writing an approach letter can help you get your point across. It should demonstrate your skills and experience, as well as your passion for your work. For writing tips, view this sample approach cover letter, or download the sa...

Ask Vicki: What do recruiters look for in a cover letter?

By Vicki Salemi, Monster career expert

Each week, Monster’s career expert Vicki Salemi—a former recruiter who utilizes 15-plus years of experience in recruiting and human resources to empower job seekers—answers user questions on Quora. We’ll be republishing the answers here. If you have a question for Vicki, send it to socialmedia@monster.com. Q. What do recruiters look for in a...

Is the cover letter finally dead?

By Isabel Thottam

You’ve surely been in this scenario: You’ve poured your blood, sweat and tears into crafting the perfect resume, and just as you’re ready to attach it to your job application and click send, you come across this line: Cover letter (optional). Ergh. Talk about a pull-your-hair-out kind of moment. You’re wondering: “Do I really need to submit one? Do...

5 ways your cover letter might be hurting you

By Julia Gaynor, Monster staff

Next to online dating profiles, cover letters may just be the scariest things to write. And the stakes are equally high. “Countless smart job seekers have never heard back because their cover letters sabotaged them,” says Paul Freiberger, a career coach based in San Mateo, California and author of When Can You Start? Ace the Job Interview and Ge...

Cover letter tips for finance professionals

By Kim Isaacs, Monster Resume Expert

If you’re searching for a finance job or want to be prepared just in case, you will need a dynamic cover letter to grab the hiring managers’ attention. Follow the advice of these career experts to make sure your letter measures up. Quickly state your case Judy Friedler, principal of CareerPro International and a specialist in career marketing...

8 tips for better email cover letters

By Larry Buhl, Monster contributor

As the saying goes, you don't get a second chance to make a first impression. If you're doing a job search or resume submission via email, the first impression any employer will have is from your cover letter. When you're asked to email your job application to a company, you can either copy and paste your cover letter into the body of your email...

The Worst Things You Could Write in a Cover Letter

By Monster Contributor

By Dominique RodgersMonster Contributing Writer Cover letters are tricky. On one hand, you want to sell yourself and show how you’re better than other applicants. On the other hand, you can’t come across as too arrogant or you’ll be seen as a jerk. You want the hiring manager to know you’re excited about the position, but if you become too effusive...

Three attention-getting tactics for cover letters

By Charles Purdy, Monster Senior Editor

Hiring managers and recruiters can receive hundreds—or even thousands—of applications for each open job. Typically, they can spend only a few seconds scanning a candidate's cover letter before moving on to somebody else's. So if you're looking for a job, you need an attention-grabbing cover letter that makes the case for you right away. Accordin...

Unemployed job seeker sample cover letter

By Monster Contributor

If you’re currently unemployed and hoping to find a job, you might be feeling insecure about what to say to employers. You're likely thinking: How can you compete against people who currently have jobs? We hear you. The good news is that even though you're currently without a job, there are plenty of ways you can persuade a hiring manager to co...

Unemployed? Put your cover letter to work

By Kim Isaacs, Monster Resume Expert

For many of us, writing a cover letter is about as fun as having a root canal or being audited by the IRS. Add a period of unemployment to the mix, and the task can seem downright daunting. Don’t let time away from the workforce prevent you from writing a good cover letter. Try these expert tips. Keep it positive The purpose of a cover lette...

Cover Letters That Catch the Eye

By Monster Contributor

By Heather Boerner Throw away your form letter. These days, getting your cover letter noticed means getting creative. "A good cover letter can be the difference between getting a job and not getting a job," said Gretchen Hirsch, writing coach and author of Talking Your Way to the Top. "How you stand out, how you tell your story, is with cover...

How to handle sticky situations in your cover letter

By Kim Isaacs, Monster Resume Expert

Are you wondering how to deal with a sticky work history issue? Whether you were laid off from your last position, took time off to raise children, or are looking to change careers, the cover letter is the perfect place to address potential red flags. One caveat: Keep the explanation brief. Writing a cover letter is an exercise in selling your...

Cover letter etiquette: What should your cover letter say?

By Kim Isaacs, Monster Resume Expert

You found a great job on Monster—fantastic. Time to apply! While job seekers often spend countless hours developing their resumes, they tend to treat their cover letters as an afterthought. Don't make this critical mistake; the cover letter can help your resume get noticed. Think of the cover letter as your resume's cheerleading section. To make...

Healthcare Cover Letter Dos and Don'ts

By Megan Malugani, Monster Contributing Writer

First impressions count in the job search, and that's why a dynamite cover letter can mean the difference between success and failure in your healthcare job search. But what makes a dazzling healthcare cover letter? Several career experts share their advice. Get to the Point State the purpose of your letter in the first paragraph. Small talk ...

Nonprofit correspondence samples

By Monster Contributor

Need examples for how to correspond with a contact in the nonprofit sector? Check out these sample cover letters and sample interview thank-you notes (in PDF format) from Jobs and Careers with Non-Profit Organizations by Ron and Caryl Krannich. And if you need more tips, the experts at Monster's Resume Writing Service can help you craft a cover ...

How to Write a Career Change Cover Letter

By Camilla Andersson, Monster Contributor

Writing a career change cover letter poses a few challenges, but by focusing on your unique strengths and motivations, you can create a cover letter that sets you apart—even among candidates who have worked in your new field before. When you're actively pursuing a career change, it's not like you're abandoning your existing skills altogether. Yo...

Customize your cover letter to the job ad

By Kim Isaacs, Monster Resume Expert

Found the perfect job through an ad? Before you whisk off your resume and cover letter, study the ad to determine how your qualifications match the employer's requirements. Armed with this information, you can craft a cover letter that positions yourself as the ideal candidate. For example, look at this sample job ad: ______________________ ...

Avoid these killer cover letter mistakes

By Peter Vogt, Monster Senior Contributing Writer

The student's resume was impressive. The formatting was impeccable, the content was excellent, and he did a great job of focusing on accomplishments instead of job duties. If I were an employer, I would have been impressed. Then I looked at his cover letter and imagined the employer tossing that perfect resume into the trash bin. Many college...

Channel Your Cover Letter Feedback

By Kim Isaacs, Monster Resume Expert

Feeling overwhelmed by the cover letter feedback you've received? Not sure where to begin to make improvements? If you’ve had a cover letter critique and are now faced with harsh criticism, here's help from career professionals on what to do next. Prioritize the Feedback Most professional resume-writing firms also offer cover letter services...

New beginnings for your cover letter: example openings

By Kim Isaacs, Monster Resume Expert

Not sure how to start a cover letter? Don't worry, you're not alone. Cover letter openers are often pretty generic, but they don’t have to be. "Most cover letters begin with something like, 'In response to your job advertisement, I'm forwarding my resume for your review and consideration,'” says Abby Locke, speaker, writer and president of Washi...

Cover letter sample in response to a Monster job posting

By Kim Isaacs, Monster contributor

If you see a job posting online and it sounds exquisitely suited to you, you probably feel compelled to submit not only your resume but a customized cover letter as well. Good thinking! But if you're like most job seekers, you'll likely struggle with constructing an effective cover letter. What should it say? What shouldn't it say? How is it differ...

Sample cover letter to recruiters

By Kim Isaacs, Monster Resume Expert

In the world of head hunters and executive search firms, resumes rule. But this doesn't mean you should ignore or forgo sending a cover letter to recruiters. "If a candidate's resume is a good fit to what I'm looking for, then I'm going to take a look at the cover letter," says Dan Anderson, a partner in St. Paul-based executive search and recru...

Get a Cover Letter Critique in Three Easy Steps

By Kim Isaacs, Monster Resume Expert

A great cover letter can have as much impact as a great resume and increase your odds of landing an interview. If you're not sure your cover letter is effective, a critique can arm you with valuable information to make this essential document the best it can be. "The benefit of a cover letter critique is to not only catch blatant errors such as s...

Cover Letters Build the Case for Workers Over 50

By John Rossheim, Monster Senior Contributing Writer

"The cover letter is dead." You may have heard this pronouncement from friends or colleagues, who cite the trend toward electronic submission of resumes and the ever-shrinking attention span of application readers as reasons. But according to those who think deeply about the particular challenges facing job seekers age 50 and older, the statemen...