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Cover Letter Resources

Strategies for crafting compelling cover letters .

Although some employers no longer require cover letters, most still expect you to submit one alongside your resume . Getting your cover letter right can be crucial to stand out in the application stage.

This one-page document allows you to communicate to potential future employers your:

• Qualifications
• Motivations

Sharing your relevant skills and experiences and tailoring them to the position, organization, and industry you're applying to helps hiring managers better understand who you are and why you’re the right candidate for the job.

Ways to get started

Self-guided career toolkits designed for ubc sauder students, access additional career toolkits on other career-related topics like how to set smart goals, resumes, and interviews on  cool ., cwl login is required to access all toolkits., additional resources.

Explore  Cover Letter Examples  for different industries and Cover Letter Basics on  Vault . Access more career prep resources from Vault by going to  COOL Resources  > Online Career Resources > Vault

LinkedIn Guys Masterclass: Bonus Resources

Interested in using  ChatGPT for your resumes and cover letters  but don't know where to start? Check out the  LinkedIn Guys Masterclass: Bonus Resources , which includes:

• "How to Use ChatGPT to Develop Tailored Application Materials"
• "ChatGPT for Job Applications Next Steps"

Access the LinkedIn Guys Masterclass for free from the BCC by enrolling, creating a new account and completing your purchase with a 100% discount coupon automatically applied at checkout.

Access Here  

LinkedIn Learning

Enhance your skills with LinkedIn Learning to help you achieve your goals. All degree-seeking UBC Vancouver students have access to LinkedIn Learning, where you can build skills, browse career ideas, and achieve your personal goals. Register to access over 16,000+ free courses covering topics such as writing an effective cover letter, different tools to help you write a cover letter, and more. Access Now

Have questions?

Stop by Drop-in to chat with the BCC’s team of  Career Peer Advisors .

When : Weekdays during the term, 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm

Where : CPA Hall, outside the BCC

Or, book a  coaching & advising  appointment on COOL for personalized 1:1 support.

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Navigate Your Career Journey

Trying to figure out what type of work interests you? Or maybe you’re wondering what resources can help you achieve your goals? No matter where you are in your unique career journey, you can use our career development model to help navigate your personal and professional goals at UBC Sauder and beyond. Learn More

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Resume tips from the bc public service.

OLC Admin Follow SFU Staff OLC Editor

There is one basic premise that drives the creation of a good resume and it is this: The resume is a tool to get you to the next stage of selection.

Your resume is merely what can get you in the door to be shortlisted and/or interviewed. Too many people make the assumption that an interview will happen and there they will be able to explain that 6-month gap while they backpacked through Spain or the complexity of the projects they led throughout their academic career.

Do not make this assumption. Until, or if, an interview happens, that one document contains all the information an employer knows about you, so you want to ensure that it clearly articulates why you are the perfect fit for their position. Here are some helpful hints to get you started on a great resume that sets you apart from the pack.

1. Customize

One resume does not work for all positions. While it is a good idea to have a generic resume handy for unexpected opportunities, you want to customize your resume for each position you apply for. It shows that you have done your research and are conscientious.

2. Know your Skills and Accomplishments

Maintain an ongoing inventory of these that you can draw on to customize your resume.

3. Research the Employer and the Position 

Informational interviews, research on the organization’s website, articles and profiles on the Online Learning Community…etc. An introductory understanding of what services the organization provides or the clients they serve are key to communicating how and what you would contribute.

4. Follow the Instructions on the Posting 

It sounds like a no-brainer but you would be surprised how many people proceed without following the instructions that appear on the posting. This does not reflect well on you and creates the impression that you are someone who does not follow instructions. Not the kind of first impression you want to make!

5. Your Resume Should Clearly Demonstrate that you Meet the Qualifications of the Posted Position

The qualifications are found in the body of the posting’s description and in the Job Description, typically, under the headings Selection Criteria and Education/ Experience. If managers are reviewing many resumes, you want yours to be crystal clear that you meet the qualifications they’ve requested.

6. Include Relevant Details

Include the most powerful, relevant statements and eliminate unnecessary information (while remembering to address each stated qualification, any relevant special accomplishments and any needs of the employer you have discovered during your research).

7. Utilize Action Verbs

Start sentences with past tense action verbs – be direct.

8. Showcase Behavioural Competencies

While writing a resume and preparing for an interview, pay special attention to the behavioural competencies listed in the job description. While many – but not all - managers screen resumes on education and experience and test on competencies during an interview, you want to consider the competencies they will be looking for while you are writing your resume.

9. References

Unless otherwise requested, it is recommended that you do not include these on a resume. However, a sentence at the bottom stating that they are available upon request is a good idea. Keep your references current and contact them prior to using them.

Ideally, the length of the resume should not exceed 2 - 3 pages using a 12 point font. However, if more pages are required to demonstrate your qualifications, include them!

11. Cover Letters

A cover letter may not be requested in the posting, but it is a good idea to include one as it demonstrates business etiquette and is an opportunity to demonstrate your writing skills.

Cover Letter Dos and Don’ts

DO use the language of the ad

DO research the organization or ministry/branch/program

DO make a list of the skills required

DO match your accomplishments and skills with those required

DO state what you can contribute

DO be available

DON’T summarize the resume

DON’T mention skills you lack

DON’T focus on your needs

12. Have it Critiqued

Ask a “neutral party” to review your resume for accuracy and completeness. Ask “How can I improve this?”

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"There's more to finding a job than surfing the net" These are the famous words career advisors state on a daily basis to current students and recent graduates. A well-rounded job search strategy is critical for career success and involves the 3 E’s for excelling: EXPLORE, EXPERIENCE and ENGAGE

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Writing a Compelling Cover Letter

Table of Contents

The best cover letters explain how your unique set of skills and experience make you the right person for the job. They also demonstrate your personality and passion for the position. Ideally, a carefully thought-out cover letter significantly increases your chances of being called for an interview.

Know Your Contact

Addressing your cover letter to the appropriate person is an essential (yet easily overlooked) first step. If a job listing includes only a post office box or reference number, call the company’s receptionist and explain that you’d like the name and title of the manager of the department so that you can send a letter.

Even if you know the hiring manager’s name ahead of time, it’s a good idea to double-check the spelling and the appropriate title. One misplaced letter can send the signal that you lack attention to detail.

Stick With the Basics

Your cover letter doesn’t need a clever or witty introduction to grab the reader’s attention; simply state the facts. First, mention the position for which you’re applying and how you learned about it. Next, say why you want the position and what you can offer the employer. A good opening might read: “I recently saw your advertisement in The Anytown News for an audit director and feel my 10 years of experience in the accounting industry makes me an ideal candidate for this position.”

If you’ve been advised by an acquaintance to contact a specific individual about a possible opening, make this connection clear right away. Dropping a name in your introduction will catch the hiring manager’s attention and prompt him or her to keep reading.

Be Brief But Thorough

In general, a cover letter should include two to four paragraphs and take up no more than one page, so you don’t have much room to get your message across. Avoid the impulse to detail your employment history — that information is already contained in your resume. Instead, focus on what a hiring manager really wants to know: how you can benefit the business.

Be as specific as possible by calling attention to one or two points on your resume that highlight past accomplishments. Try something like, “In three years as product manager for ABC Corp., I increased revenue by 30 percent through various cost-cutting initiatives. I feel I can use this experience to help your firm improve operational efficiencies, too.”

Target those issues that are of the greatest importance to the company by conducting in-depth research. Try visiting the firm’s website, scanning industry publications or performing a keyword search using the organization’s name can yield helpful information. For example, an article in the newspaper may focus on the company’s desire to expand operations in the near future. Armed with such specifics, you can tailor your cover letter to directly address the employer’s needs.

Remember to limit what you say about your personal attributes and accomplishments. Include this information only to the extent that it will help the hiring manager understand how you can contribute to the firm or department. End your cover letter strongly by detailing what you will do next. Rather than saying, “I hope to hear from you soon,” take a proactive approach, like “I will contact you later this week to answer questions you may have about my resume. In the meantime, please feel free to reach me at (555) 555-5555.”

Proofread Before You Send

Our company’s research has consistently shown that one or two typographical errors on your cover letter are enough to discourage a hiring manager from calling you back. Use your computer’s spell-check function and the help of friends and family to make sure your material is error-free before sending it.

If you’re emailing your cover letter, prepare the file in ASCII or plain text, a computer code that is universally compatible. Your document won’t feature formatting enhancements, like underline and boldface, but it can still look professional. Align the text with the left margin, replace bullets with asterisks or dashes and then check its overall appearance by sending the document to yourself prior to submission.

Some job seekers spend hours assembling a resume then quickly compile a cover letter. But by taking your time on this document, you’re more likely to distinguish yourself early in the hiring process. With the proper preparation, you can write a compelling cover letter that gets you one step closer to an interview.

Browse jobs by city and category and sign up for Job Alerts to receive email notifications about jobs that fit you.

Related to Writing a Compelling Cover Letter

• Cover Letters For Resumes – Making It Easy
• E-Mail Etiquette: Know the Rules
• Interview Advice

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Resumes & Cover Letters

Are you starting to search for a job? There are some important things you'll need to prepare to show yourself off to potential employers.

RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS

To apply for a job, you will need to submit a resume and cover letter. These documents explain your skills, qualifications, past experience and enthusiasm for the job you are seeking. They are extremely important for getting the job you want!

Resume building

A resume is a document that shows your experience and qualifications. It should include:

• Contact information – your full name, phone number and email address.
• Tip: use action words to describe your experience, for example: wrote, analyzed, explained, reported, organized, scheduled, aided, acted, operated. (Google “Resume Action Words).
• Don’t have much experience, yet? Don’t worry! Everyone has to start somewhere. Check out this resource for tips.
• Related skills – skills and certifications for specific jobs, computer skills and trades credentials.
• Tip: if you’re a recent high school graduate, give your graduation date and the courses you completed that are relevant to the job.
• Awards and achievements – work-related, academic and community awards.
• Memberships – in professional, business-related, school or community groups.
• References – people who will back up or vouch for your skills and speak positively about the quality of your work. Make sure you ask for permission from your references before including them.

To see examples of resumes for different types of jobs, check out the Simon Fraser University resume example page . Your resume should be related to the specific area you’re applying for. If you are building your resume now, check out this free resume builder .

Writing your cover letter

A cover letter is a letter you write to the hiring manager. In it, you explain how your experiences and skills make you qualified for the job. Be sure to look carefully at the job posting you are applying for when you write your cover letter. The posting will usually tell you the skills and experiences the employer is looking for. You will want to talk about how you have developed the skills they are seeking. The job posting may tell you who the hiring person is. If it does, you will want to address your cover letter to this person. If it does not, you can use “Dear Hiring Manager”.

Be short and to the point in your cover letter. They are usually less than a page long. Make sure you proofread what you write to help you fix any errors in spelling or grammar so you will give your employer a good impression of you. If you are building a cover letter now, check out this free cover letter template builder .

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Due to the high volume of requests since the implementation of Apostille , our response times are slower than normal.

Please be advised that your document will be authenticated between 30-45 business days. 

Apostille Convention

The Apostille Convention came into effect in Canada on January 11, 2024 . An authentication certificate called an "apostille" is attached to all documents that have been authenticated in B.C. on or after January 11, 2024. See Apostille Convention for details.

Note that all authentication requests must be sent by mail or by courier to the B.C. Authentication Program at the  Order in Council (OIC) Administration Office . Rush, walk-in, drop off and while-you-wait services are not available.

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• Determine what steps are needed
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Determine what steps are needed for your document(s):

Contact the embassy or consulate to determine exactly what is needed in the destination country. Only documents for use outside of Canada are authenticated.

Read all information on this website before submitting any documents for authentication. For example, does your document need to be translated and/or notarized before authentication?

If documents must be notarized, email [email protected] to find out which B.C. Notaries Public (B.C. lawyers or B.C. non-lawyers) are already on file with us.

• Prepare your document(s):

Follow all of the instructions on  Preparing your Documents for Authentication , including:

• If your document is over 40 pages in length, you must contact us before submitting the document for authentication.
• If a document does not require authentication, do not send it to us with your package, unless instructions on this website direct you to do so. We do not need to see your identification or supporting documents if they are not for authentication.

If you are submitting multiple documents for authentication:

• Clearly organize each document (staple or clip pages together) to show how they should be processed.
• The number, document type, first and last name on document, and destination country for each document is required and  must match what is listed on your request form.
• You can enter a maximum of 20 documents per request form. They will be authenticated separately and returned in a single return envelope. Please complete a new request form for each return envelope. 
• If you are submitting more than 20 documents for authentication, please complete a new form for each set of 20.

If you only pay for and list one document in the request form, this means that you are requesting that the set of pages you submit be authenticated once as a single, multi-page document.

Note that you are solely responsible for ensuring that the destination country will accept the documents in the format authenticated.

Prepare a B.C. Document Authentication Request form:

​ All authentication requests sent to our office must include a printed, signed and dated request form (the old cover letter is no longer accepted).

Complete the B.C. Document Authentication Request form online:

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If your authenticated document needs to be sent directly to a different address, you must provide the name, address and return mailing instructions (see Return Mail Service ).

Note that you are solely responsible for ensuring that the recipient will accept the document by mail.

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This information is required and  must match each document that you submit for authentication. If submitting multiple documents for authentication, please follow these instructions . 

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• If you did not pay online, include the authentication fee ($20 per document) with your signed and dated request form and document(s) for authentication. See Document Authentication Fee for information on accepted payment types.  
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