cover letter sample uiuc

Cover Letters

Cover letters serve as an introduction to accompany your resume. A well-written cover letter is often the first opportunity you have to communicate with a potential employer and is sometimes used as a screening device. Take time to carefully prepare and proofread your cover letter and customize it for the job you are applying to.

Even if a cover letter isn't specifically required in the job application process, it's typically a good idea to write one when you're applying for jobs. Why? Many recruiters use the cover letter as a screening tool (i.e., they are looking for reasons why they should consider your application!) and you may even be eliminated from consideration if you haven't submitted a cover letter.

Sample Cover Letter

Format and Content

How to address a cover letter.

Sometimes a job posting lists the name of the hiring manager, and in that case, you should address your letter to him or her.   If you are unsure whether the hiring manage is a male or female and/or do not know their preferred gender pronouns,  you can address it to their first name and last name (Dear Jordan Smith).  In cases where a name isn't listed, you should make an effort to find out the right person to whom to address your letter.  If you can't find his or her name by reviewing the company's corporate website,  you may use the address of the company and an alternative salutation, such as "Dear Hiring Manager."

First Paragraph

In the first paragraph of your cover letter, express your interest in both the job and the employer, mentioning the company by name. Cite the source where you discovered the job announcement. If you have a connection at the company who you know would support your candidacy, include their name as well.  (For example, "Barb White, Accounting Manager in your Chicago Office, speaks highly of your organization and has encouraged me to apply for this position.").   While you should definitely mention the name of your college and your major (especially if this is directly related to the job), your first paragraph shouldn't be a biography of your academic history.

Second and Third Paragraphs

Use one or two short paragraphs in the body of your cover letter to "sell" your candidacy to the employer. Try to persuasively demonstrate how your college studies, internships, temporary / seasonal work experiences, and / or extracurricular experiences have given you the primary qualifications listed on the employer's job posting.

• Use keywords. Take a careful look at the job description, noting any skills or experiences that the description indicates. Try to include some of those keywords in your cover letter. This will show the employer a connection between your experiences and the job.
• Focus on activities and responsibilities. In the body of your cover letter, emphasize the skills and experiences that make you a good candidate. Avoid focusing on your GPA or grades, or other metrics related to college. Instead, focus on activities you did, and the responsibilities you held. Maybe you had an internship or were a leader in a school organization. These examples go beyond showing that you were a good student. They show you have what it takes to be a good employee.
• Sell yourself. Avoid talking about how much you want the job; instead, focus on how you will help out the company. Emphasize ways that you can add value at the company, and why you are a good fit for them.
• Show your knowledge of the company. Research the company before writing the cover letter. If possible, explain what you know about the company (or the department the job is in). Perhaps you've read an article about the company's recent successes, or you've read and believed in the company's mission statement.

Final Paragraph

In the closing paragraph, refer the reader to the enclosed resume or application form, which summarizes your qualification, training, and experiences. Further, indicate your desire for a personal interview. Finally, close your letter with a statement that will encourage a response.

How to Send an Email Cover Letter

If the employer does not accept attachments—or they do not specify how to send your cover letter—it's best to simply copy and paste your cover letter into the body of the email. This way, the hiring manager will see your cover letter as soon as they open your email, instead of having to download an attachment to view it.

Once you've pasted your cover letter into the email body, remove the date and contact information from the top left-hand corner. Double check that your email displays properly since sometimes copying and pasting content from a Word or PDF document can skew email formatting. Use the default font and styling of your email program.

Don't forget to add the proper email signature to close your email and make it easy for the hiring manager to get in touch with you. Your email signature might look something like this:

First Name Last Name

Email address

Phone number

Make sure your cover letter is tailored to the position you are applying for.

Be Positive

Tell the employer about the experiences you have had that match the requirements of the position, don't highlight the qualifications you don't have.

Limit the cover letter to one page.

Don't embellish the accomplishments, skills or qualifications you have.

Many employers consider the cover letter to be a writing sample. Make sure you review your cover letter for spelling, grammatical and punctuation errors.

If emailing your application, the cover letter should be the body of the message while the résumé is attached in pdf format.

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Cover letters

A cover letter connects the experience on your resume to the specific needs of the employer. It conveys what a resume leaves out: your enthusiasm for a job, your fit for the organization, and your ability to write. Think of your experience as a giant pile of Lego. Your resume sorts those plastic pieces into smaller piles by size, color, functionality. Your cover letter draws from those piles to build a recognizable object: the person that the company wants to hire.

Here are some tips for getting started:

Download this recommended format to get familiar with the standard features of a formal cover letter, along with more detailed advice about the letter itself. Many elements of a cover letter derive from a pre-digital world where letters got physically mailed, but some employers still value adherence to these conventions.

A cover letter often serves as an informal writing sample, so proofread scrupulously.

Let the job ad tell you which aspects of your experience to emphasize in the cover letter. Your work or leadership experience will be of more interest to some employers than your major, GPA, and academic strengths. The list of “requirements” (sometimes headed “qualifications” or “successful applicants will have…” or similar language) in the job or internship posting will state the employer’s priorities, so make sure that your cover letter foregrounds them.

Writing cover letters can be challenging, even if you are well-qualified and enthusiastic about the positions. If you find yourself procrastinating or seeking out openings that don’t require cover letters, here are some tricks for getting started:

• Draft the letter in the third person (“Pat is…”), from the standpoint of someone who knows you and likes you and is writing about why you are a good fit for this position. Just be sure to revise it into the first person (“I am…”) before you send it!
• Write the cynical, snarky, self-deprecating version of the letter. Get it all out of your system. THEN write the real letter, the one that could actually get you an interview (because you do, after all, want that job).
• Think about the judgmental reader you’re imagining, who casts doubts on every sentence you write. Picture them in your mind, then add scales, talons, fangs, slime, horns…turn them into a monster. Then push that monster out an imaginary window. Replace the monster with someone kind and professional, who wants to see you succeed. Then write to THAT person.
• Forget about the letter format for a moment. Grab a blank sheet of paper, and try the Telling My Story: “Top Ten Reasons” or “Mind Mapping” brainstorming activities shared by the Peer Mentor team in the Lisnek LAS Hub. These get you thinking in big picture, creative ways, but also lead you to great content for the tricky core section of a cover letter.
• Describe your experience using the employer’s language. Use the job/internship posting to make a word-bank of terms that get repeated in the ad, phrases that convey the organization’s mission and priorities, and industry-specific language that is central to the role. Draw on that word-bank to describe your strengths and experience.
• Consider your audience. Employers for a research role will appreciate a factual, straightforward approach. Organizations hiring creatives or salespeople will respond well to a “pitch.” If you’re applying to a mission-driven nonprofit, it’s important for your commitment to that mission to come through. It’s okay to sound like yourself: excessive jargon and inflated language appeals to no one.
• Edit out “I feel,” “I believe,” “I think,” and similar formulations. They clutter up your sentences and convey a lack of confidence. The letter format already makes it clear that you are communicating your feelings, beliefs, and thoughts.
• Avoid slang, contractions, and abbreviations including the ones we use here every day like UIUC, LAS, ENGL, PSYC, and RSO.

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Cover Letters

The cover letter is more than a summary. You need to make a persuasive argument about your unique ability to contribute to the organization. Take this opportunity to tell your story by describing experiences, skills, and any other qualities needed to be successful in the role.

Cover Letter Format

Most cover letters follow a similar layout. Sample cover letters for nonacademic positions (PDF) can demonstrate the basic structure and format. Generally, you want to aim for one full page, but check for norms in your field as to whether going beyond one page is appropriate.

Styles vary, but in most cases, traditional professional letter format with the employers’ name and contact information listed at the top of the page is not necessary. Simply address the letter to the person named in the job listing if possible. Otherwise, use “Dear Hiring Manager:”

Cover Letter Content

Opening paragraph.

Grab the readers’ attention with an engaging introductory sentence. Tell them something about you that explains your interest in contributing to their work.

Include the specific position for which you are applying.

If you were referred to the position by a current employee, name them in the opening paragraph.

Compose a thesis statement, outlining reasons you are applying for this position and why you are an excellent candidate. Mention the specific qualities and experiences in the thesis statement that tells the reader what you will expand on in the letter.

Body paragraphs

Describe your achievements and distinct qualifications for the position using specific examples. You want the reader to visualize you doing the job.

Tell stories that demonstrate your key skills. Choose examples that represent the strongest overlap between your experience and the requirements of the role.

Examples should be brief and specific but more detailed than your resume.

Mirror language from the job description and demonstrate your knowledge of the company. Show that you have done your research but avoiding repeating exact information from an employer’s website.

Concluding paragraph

Use this paragraph to reinforce your interest, enthusiasm, and fit.

Echo your thesis statement to summarize your unique ability to succeed in the role.

Thank the reader for their consideration.

End with a professional closing such as “Sincerely” or “Kind Regards” and your name.

Cover Letter Tips

Show some personality. Tell the reader why you are excited about the position. This is a way for your letter to stand out amongst the stack of applicants.

Some overlap with your resume is necessary, but the letter should read as a narrative document. Avoid paragraphs with lists that repeat the same points in the resume.

Start by writing your example stories in modules. Write many cover letter stories then choose which ones you want to tell for specific applications.

If the job ad lists the cover letter as optional, send them a cover letter.

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Resume & Cover Letter

Home / Career Services / Resume & Cover Letter

Resume & Cover Letter Guidelines

Based on years of experience with recruiters, Career Services recommends the following guidelines for resumes and cover letters.

If you have questions or would like to review your resume with Career Services, contact Nell Madigan at [email protected] .

• Keep resume to one page, listing experience, education and leadership in reverse chronological order.
• Use one color and font throughout the document. To differentiate titles and headers, use different type treatments, but keep these to a minimum. Serif fonts are easier to read than sans-serif fonts in resumes. (Experiment with Times New Roman, Georgia, Garamond or Bookman Old Style. Font size will vary depending on font and size of your margin.)
• Keep indents and tabs to a minimum so your resume will better translate to document readers that employers use for online submissions.
• Start each bullet with an action verb such as accomplished, reviewed, initiated. Bullet points are not complete sentences, so periods are not needed. If you do choose to use them, be consistent throughout the document.
• Include your GPA. It’s not required, but recruiters often ask for it and will assume it’s not stellar if not included. It is fine to use your cumulative or major GPA’s as you wish, but be clear about what the number represents.
• Talk about the results of your actions rather than listing tasks. Use numbers, dollar amounts and concrete examples to illustrate specific accomplishments.
• Write out numbers ten and under. Use numerals only for larger numbers.
• Highlight skills that would transfer to a position in HR– recruiting, training, using Excel or other software to analyze statistics, handling confidential data, solving problems, managing programs, speaking another language.
• Emphasize your leadership skills. Show how you took initiative or influenced others through work experience or extracurricular activities – events you’ve planned, money you’ve raised, or teammates you’ve motivated.
• If you are an international student, include your work-authorization status to reduce confusion with prospective employers.
• Ask several people to proofread your document. Be aware that Microsoft Word spellcheck does not recognize words in all caps.
• Study our samples. “Sample 1” is a good example of a student with no “real” work experience highlighting leadership and campus roles. Note that “Sample 2” has multiple positions with the same organization, and combines into one entry for ease of reading. sample_resume . sample_resume_2 international_student
• Don’t include content that dates as far back as high school.
• Don’t include an “objective” – instead, consider a summary of qualifications or personal profile. Write in third person and highlight accomplishments that set you apart, for example: Personable and motivated entry-level human resources professional with experience in both union and nonunion environments. Skilled in project design and implementation. Efficient presentation and communication skills acquired through student leadership positions.
• Don’t use a huge amount of space for your degrees and honors. Combine where possible. If both degrees are from Illinois, combine as our samples above do. If you have a number of honors, include that under the appropriate degree. It’s more important to show accomplishments than lists of accolades.
• Don’t use acronyms for terms your reader may not know. If you worked at the ARC, spell out Activities and Recreation Center.
• Don’t use abbreviations or characters such as “etc.” and “&.” Spell the word instead.
• Don’t list basic software/technology skills such as Microsoft Office – it is assumed you have these skills.

Cover Letter

In many cases, you will have the opportunity to submit a cover letter when applying for a position.

• Write a separate cover letter for each employer, addressing its specific needs, culture, and the position for which you are applying.
• Don’t use the cover letter as an opportunity to rehash your resume. Highlight your specific competitive advantages relative to what you have learned about the company through your research.
• Don’t start each paragraph with the “I.”
• Address the letter to a specific person, not “To Whom it May Concern” or “Human Resources Department.” Research or network to find the appropriate contact when possible.
• If sending a hard copy, match font styles and paper type to your resume.
• Edit carefully for grammar and punctuation.
• This letter is a direct reflection of you and your skills, attitude, personality and ability. Make it action-oriented and enthusiastic.

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• 10-15 min in-person meeting with an undergraduate Career Services Paraprofessional (or sometimes Graduate Assistant/Career Coach)
• No appointment needed; first-come, first-served
• Must bring printed copy of document for review
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• Receive written feedback in 3-5 business days from an undergraduate Career Services Paraprofessional
• Does not include a meeting with the reviewer

Personal Statement Reviews

• Submit digital file (Word document only) online for review
• Receive written feedback in 3-5 business days from a professional career coach or graduate paraprofessional staff
• Does not automatically include a meeting with the reviewer; follow-up appointments available upon request.

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Title related resources.

• How to Write a Resume
• How to Write a Cover Letter
• Creating a LinkedIn Profile
• How to Write a Personal Statement
• Sample Resumes (pdf)
• Sample Cover Letter (pdf)
• LinkedIn Profile Checklist (pdf)
• Action Words (pdf)

• Contact ECS
• Schedule an appointment

Downloadable Resume Samples

Review the samples below to get an idea of what content to include and how to organize information on your resume. You can even download a sample and update it with your own content.

Important Notes:

• These samples are not exact representations of every potential role within an industry or engineering discipline.
• Do not plagiarize the sample content or ever include any false or exaggerated information on your resume.
• Contact Engineering Career Services if you need help identifying experiences to include on your resume.

Resume Samples:

• Business Process or Consulting Resume Sample
• Design or Manufacturing Resume Sample
• Researcher, Lab Tech or Scientist Resume Sample
• Programming, Software Engineering, Computation Resume Sample

Career Services

Resumes and cover letters.

The most effective resumes are not mass produced but written for a single employer with a particular position or goal in mind.

A strong resume and cover letter combination may be your only chance to land an interview. Most recruiters take only 30-60 seconds to review resumes and decide if they wish to go further with that candidate. So it's important to make your resume stand out!  

• Resume Quick Tips
• Resume Formats
• Sample Resumes
• Action Verbs

To ensure that your resume is in top condition, have it reviewed by one of our staff.

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• Wednesdays - 11am - 1pm
• Thursdays - 9am - 11am
• Make an appointment by calling 217-581-2412 or go schedule yourself on HANDSHAKE!

COVER LETTERS

If you send a resume, you must send a cover letter along with it.

A cover letter is either a formal letter or an email that is sent to an employer to introduce and highlight your resume. Use your cover letter to bring your resume to life and tell the employer why you are best candidate for the job.

• Cover Letter Quick Tips
• Cover Letter Formats
• Sample Cover Letters

To ensure that your cover letter is in top condition, have it reviewed by one of our staff. Attend one of our Drop-In Review Sessions listed above or make an appointment by calling 217-581-2412 or on Handshake .

ACCEPTANCE/REFUSAL LETTERS

• Acceptance/Refusal Letters  (samples)

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Career Services

Resumes, cvs, and cover letters.

What are Resumes, CVs, and Cover Letters?

A  resume  is a summary of your education, work history, and other accomplishments and skills. Resumes are the most common document requested of applicants in job applications.

A CV or curriculum vitae is a summary of your education, work history, and other accomplishment and skills and typically used when applying for international, academic, education, scientific, medical, or research positions or when applying for fellowships or grants.  CVs include more information than resumes with an emphasis on one’s academic background (e.g., teaching experience, degrees, research, awards, publications, presentations).

A cover letter  is a letter of introduction attached to, or accompanying another document such as a resume or CV (Source:  Wikipedia).

Learn more about developing these materials in the sections below.

Resource Table Heading link Copy link

Resume resources.

A resume is a document highlighting an individual’s strengths related to a field/job and is an essential component of virtually any job search.  Employers generally spend less than a minute scanning a resume to decide whether to give it a more thorough read so it is important to create an organized and easy to read document.

• Resume Writing Tips
• Resume Power or Action Verbs

Many employers use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), computer systems that manage the many resumes/cover letters they receive. An ATS will read a resume and then rank and score an individual’s qualifications versus a job description. Only applicants with high scores will be invited to participate in an interview.

• Ensure Your Resume is Read (ATS)

resumesamples

The following are resume samples based on industry/degree focus.

• Sample Resume-Business
• Sample Resume-Business Marketing
• Sample Resume-Biochemistry Research
• Sample Resume-Engineering
• Sample Resume-Hard Sciences
• Sample Resume-Science Education
• Sample Resume-Social Science
• Sample Resume-LAS Study Abroad
• Sample Resume-LAS Study Abroad 2
• Sample Resume-First-year Student
• Sample Resume-Masters Occupational Therapy
• Sample Resume-Applied Psychology
• Sample Resume-Kinesiology

A Curriculum Vitae, also known as a CV, is a detailed summary of an individual’s education and academic background. CVs are most commonly used for individuals seeking academic, scientific, and/or research positions.  A CV is lengthier than a resume and showcases thorough documentation of an individual’s professional history including publications and teaching and research experience.

• Writing CVs

coverletter

The following are different formats and/or approaches in cover letter writing.

• Sample Bulleted Cover Letter
• Sample Cover Letter for Unadvertised Internship
• Sample Cover Letter with Table Format
• Sample E-mail Cover Letter

Annual guide outlining/summarizing tips on career development activities, sample materials, upcoming career events, and general advice for students seeking employment and/or internships.

• UIC Career Planning Guide

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