COVER LETTERS

and OTHER EMPLOYMENT LETTERS

Durham College Career Services

hired.durhamcollege.ca

DO I REALLY NEED A COVER LETTER?

YES! Your cover letter:
Targets your resum to a specific position within a company;
Introduces and distinguishes you as a viable candidate;
Demonstrates your written communication and analytical skills; and
Asks for an interview.

COVER LETTER TIPS:

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Write a new cover letter each time you apply for a position.
Address your letter to the person who can hire you.
Check your spelling, grammar, punctuation, structure and style.
Identify in the opening sentence the position that you are seeking.
Show the employer that you are enthusiastic about the company and the position.
Show how your experiences relate to the job requirements.
Mention your availability to meet with the employer at their convenience.

BUILD A TAILORED COVER LETTER

Copy and paste the contact information header from your resum.
Date
Contact at company
Contacts job title
Company name
Address
City, province, postal code
Dear Mr. / Ms Last Name OR Attention Human Resources OR Attention Hiring Manager:
Re: Job title and companys competition number if applicable
1st paragraph
State job title youre interested in and where you heard about it (1 sentence)
State WHY youre interested in that job / company specifically (1 2 sentences)
2nd and 3rd paragraphs
It is very important to tailor your letter to each job.
Start by completing the following matching activity to organize your thoughts. (You will not have a
chart in the middle of your letter.)
Tip: divide your 2nd and 3rd paragraphs thematically (e.g. 2nd paragraph about technical skills and 3rd
about employability skills OR 2nd about school experiences and 3rd about work experiences etc.)
Job
List every skill/qualification required
List every duty required for the job
If you dont have a job description for the
position, you can still do this activity, but now
you need to do the research to fill in this side.
Hint: look for other similar postings and research
the companys website to find out what their
values, mission and vision are.

Me
How/where have you demonstrated the skill?
Match yourself up on this side point for point
with each skill and duty on the left
Draw on experiences from work, school,
volunteer opportunities, field placement etc.
Use the points on the right hand side to make
sentences for the 2nd and 3rd paragraphs
What youre doing is matching yourself directly
to their requirements to show that you fit

4th paragraph
Thank you the employer for their consideration and indicate the best way to reach you to schedule
an interview.
Sincerely,
Type your name (sign your name in ink if you will be submitting a paper copy)
4

CONSIDER THE COMPANY CULTURE

Why do I want to work for this organization? What do I know about them? What is it about their
products or services, values, mission, organizational culture, goals and needs that relate to my own
background, values and objectives? Employers will expect you to be able to discuss these things.

What are my values?

WHY SHOULD I COMPLETE THESE ACTIVITIES?

By matching your skills, experiences, and values to the job description you will:
Determine if you would fit within the company culture;
Assess whether you have the qualifications required for the position;
Decrease your odds of being screened out by Applicant Tracking Systems;
Use the job description as a basis for accomplishment statements and other
details such as relevant courses to include on your resum; and
Begin to prepare for an interview by collecting relevant stories to tell the
employer.

SUGGESTED SENTENCES OPENING PARAGRAPH

INTRODUCTORY SENTENCE
Please accept this letter and resum as my application for the position of
with____ .
My proven track record of successfully performing
for the
opportunity that you have advertised.
Please accept my application for the

makes me an ideal candidate

position advertised on

Please consider my resum for the position of

This letter is to express my interest in the

website.

position posted on the

I recently met with

from your organization, and he/she strongly recommended

that I send you my resum.

During your visit to Durham College last fall, I had the pleasure of learning about your organization
and the varied experiences offered to new graduates.
My recently completed education in

and my experience with

makes me a strong candidate for the position of

with

I recently graduated with a ____ / 5.00 GPA from the

program at Durham College

and am currently seeking entry level employment.

As a new Durham College graduate, I have been hoping to find the kind of position you have
recently posted on

In response to the advertised position on the

in your search for a
I was pleased to hear from

website, please consider my resum

.
that you will soon have a vacancy for a

Having recently read an article highlighting your company's plans for expansion, I am writing to
inquire if this will involve an increase in personnel.
I am writing to apply for the
Your company's

position advertised in the

opening is an excellent match to my qualifications. As a

recent graduate of Durham College with a major in

, I offer solid academic

credentials as well as industry experience gained from a field placement at

SECOND SENTENCE OF THE OPENING PARAGRAPH

Your company is truly a leader in
utilize my education to learn and grow in this area.

and I would welcome the opportunity to

I am excited by your mission and would be able to contribute by providing top notch
services to you and your team.
This position is an excellent fit for my
with you about the opening.

qualifications, and I am very interested in speaking

Profit minded and customer centered, I believe that the path to revenue goal attainment begins
with providing exemplary customer care.
Given the opportunity, I know that my strong
department, customers and the bottom line.
As a final year
my

foundation would benefit your

student at Durham College, I am seeking a position that will utilize

skills.

I am very interested in this position because

experience would be an asset to your company.

, and I think that my education and

SUGGESTED SENTENCES MIDDLE PARAGRAPH

In May, I will graduate from _______ with a diploma in __________. My courses have provided me
with a valuable educational background as well as thorough training in ____ and _________.
The attached resum summarizes my educational background and experience.
In addition to operating a __________, I can use a _________. I have also had training in/on
_________ and __________.
As a recent graduate in __________, I am qualified in the areas of ________.
My personality, experience and skills have prepared me well for this position. I would especially like
to point out my strengths that are most relevant (focus on job description/or responsibilities).
As you will see from my resum, I have gained extensive experience through my education and field
placements. Specifically
.
I am a dedicated employee with (experience/knowledge) as a __________.
I have always set high standards (or) strived for the top and consistently achieved my goals. For
example
.
I have skills in _________ (list skills pertinent to the position and give examples to demonstrate
knowledge).

SUGGESTED SENTENCES CLOSING PARAGRAPH

I hope that I may have the privilege of a personal interview. Thank you in advance for your
consideration.
I am free to travel and to take up residence without any geographic limitations. Please contact me
at ________ for an interview.
May I have the opportunity of an interview at a time suitable to you? My telephone number is
_________.
I would like to have the opportunity to talk with you about this position. I am available during the
day at (telephone number) or anytime by email at (professional email address).
I look forward to a positive reply to my application and the opportunity for a personal interview.
Thank you for your consideration of my application for employment with (company name).
I look forward to meeting you to discuss the employment opportunities with (company name). You
may reach me at (telephone number) or (professional email address).
Should you wish to contact me, you may reach me at ___________.

COVER LETTER SAMPLE RESPONSE TO POSTING

KELLY STEVENS
123 Main Street, Oshawa, ON L1H 1K0 905 555 1234 kstevens@gmail.com

December 29, 2014

Janet McMichael
Director, Business Development
ABC Assurance
1234 Main Street
Oshawa, ON L0L 1L0
Dear Ms McMichael:
Re: Marketing Assistant Competition # 4321
Please accept this application for the position of marketing assistant as recently advertised on the
Durham College Hired portal. While researching ABC Assurance, I found that the company is opening
up new operations internationally, and I would welcome the opportunity to put my education and
experience to work for you as the marketing assistant.
Recently, I completed the Business Administration Marketing Advanced Diploma program through
Durham College. I gained a strong interest in business development within the financial sector through
my involvement in a group project that highlighted the realities rewards and challenges within the
field. Having completed several marketing group projects and presentations, you will find my ability to
communicate effectively and to accomplish group tasks is excellent. As well, I may be counted upon to
work effectively independently while contributing to the overall strategic goals of the organization. In
addition, I have mastered the current social media marketing techniques that you require, allowing me
to become immediately productive within ABC Assurance.
While working in the hospitality sector, my customer service skills were demonstrated through
consistent customer satisfaction, while my interpersonal and selling skills allowed me to exceed sales
targets regularly. Additionally, I have proven organizational skills gained through scheduling 14 staff in
the retail environment.
With my fresh approach, experience and enthusiasm, I would be an effective marketing assistant within
ABC Assurance. Please contact me at 905 555 1234 to arrange an interview. Thank you for your time
and consideration.
Sincerely,
Kelly Stevens