Cover Letters and Personal Statements

Jamie S. and Jennifer F., Writing Center tutors

Please keep in mind that these are only general guidelines; always defer to your professor's specifications for a given assignment. If you have any questions about the content represented here, please contact the Writing Centers so that we can address them for you.

Cover Letters

When beginning your job search, writing cover letters to accompany each application can seem daunting and at times tedious; however, the cover letter is your chance to sell yourself to an employer—be sure to make the most of this opportunity!  Don’t be shy when listing your academic and professional achievements:   this is persuasive writing.  Your main goal is to convince your reader to give you a job interview and the best way to do that is to highlight what, specifically, distinguishes you from the sea of other applicants.  Here are some important things to keep in mind when writing cover letters:

1. Keep your formatting simple.  Resist the temptation to use unusual fonts in an attempt to make your cover letter stand out visually.  Your writing should do this for you.
2. Explain why you’re sending your résumé.  Are you applying for a full-time job or summer internship?  Are you inquiring about future employment opportunities?   Be specific.
3. If applying for a specific position, let the employer know how you found out about the opening.  If you’ve been keeping an eye on their website for openings, this indicates an invested interest in the organization.  It is also appropriate to mention the name of someone within the organization who suggested you apply.
4.  Convince the reader to look at your résumé.  Your cover letter will be read first and generally if you don’t evoke an employer’s interest within the first few sentences, your application may be tossed aside without ever being seriously considered.  Target the specific needs of the employer and be sure to link your experience to them while also implicating that there is more information on your résumé—not found on your cover letter— in which they will be interested.
5. Reflect your attitude and skills.  Writing you have excellent written communication skills isn’t helpful if your cover letter is full of typos and stating that you’re enthusiastic isn’t going to be enough if it isn’t communicated effectively on the page.  Also consider giving a specific anecdote of a time that you successfully communicated in a job or class.  Anecdotes help show your personality as well as highlight what is on your résumé.   Don’t count on getting an interview to show an employer your personality: your cover letter is your first impression.
6. Indicate what you will do to follow-up.  If you plan to email or call, let the employer know.

Remember: tailor each cover letter to the needs of the employer and don’t be shy about discussing your positive attributes—it is expected that you do!  If you are stuck, check out The Only Resume and Cover Letter Book You Will Ever Need by Richard Walsh for examples of cover letters for almost any industry or any of the following websites:

http://www.writing-business-letters.com/cover-letter.html

Personal Statements

1. Prepare your materials!  Have your résumé, academic transcripts, letters or references and any other relevant information handy before you sit down to write.  In addition to any personal anecdotes you might wish to include in your personal statement, a discussion of your concrete achievements will help convince your reader that you have the experience necessary for the position for which you are applying.
2. Write a first draft.  Personal statements can be tricky because there are probably numerous experiences you could use to highlight your goals and qualifications.  Be sure to reread your essay and ask a friend or writing tutor to do the same to be sure you don’t go off track.
3. As mentioned before, the requirements for a personal statement can vary, but generally you want to stick to a clear format: Introduction, Supporting Body Paragraphs, and Conclusion.
1. Your introduction might open with a catchy anecdote that highlights one of the qualities that make you good for a job to draw in your reader.  From there, you can transition into how this experience connects to the job for which you are applying. 
2. The Supporting Body Paragraphs are your opportunity to demonstrate your qualifications.  If there are specific questions asked on the application, be sure to answer them here.  Connect your professional and academic experiences to the employer.
3. Tie together the main points of your essay in your Conclusion.  Refer back to your personal experiences and link them to your professional and academic achievements.  You might also reiterate how the position for which you are applying will help you in your long-term professional goals.

Your personal statement differs from a cover letter in that, simply stated, it is a bit more personal.  It can include experiences and personal attributes that are not necessarily 100% directly related to your academic and professional accomplishments.    For example, if you had to take on a leadership position as the captain of your soccer team, feel free to mention a specific anecdote that demonstrates your leadership ability within the context of a team.  Be sure to link any personal anecdotes to your professional goals.   If you’d like more tips, please feel free to visit any of the following websites:

A very clear, concise approach to the personal statement by UNI's Vince Gotera

Tips for writing personal statements from the Purdue OWL

Stand-out openings from applicants to Stanford University