In order to make the best cover letter possible, you have to have an idea of what a great cover letter looks like. Format is a key element of presentation. And sample cover letters will show you this format. Examine the following cover letter samples and pay close attention to their similarities. While all good cover letters should have different and unique content, at a glance they should all look the same. The best online samples are at these websites:
-http://www.career.vt.edu/JOBSEARC/coversamples.htm
-http://jobstar.org/tools/resume/clet-ex.php
-http://www.quintcareers.com/cover_letter_samples.html
You should notice that all cover letters start out pretty much the same. At the least, they should definitely include the name and address of the hiring director at the company (or, if you can’t find his or her name, it should at least be addressed to their office). It should also include your name and address somewhere on the cover letter, along with the date.
The salutation is usually “Dear” and is followed by the name or title of the person who will be reading the cover letter. The salutation is followed by a colon, not a comma.
The paragraphs are all in block format, meaning there are no indentations. The content may differ, but the basic outline is this:
-The first paragraph is an introduction, and it explains how you found the job (a search engine, by word of mouth, etc.) and why you are interested in the position
-The second paragraph explains why you’d be the best candidate for the position, and details what you could do for the company.
-The third paragraph is the closing
Look over this format and make sure your cover letter appears in the same basic structure as the free samples. This will make you look professional, which will put you ahead of the pack when it comes to job applications.
