Writing Winning

Cover Letters
WRITING WINNING COVER LETTERS
What is a Cover Letter?
Your cover letter works in partnership with your resume to convince an
employer that your skills and background make you a candidate worth
interviewing. Its your marketing tool!
A good cover letter will make you a more attractive candidate by
demonstrating
Knowledge about the !ob" the company" the industry
Efort in your !ob search" motivation" and enthusiasm #or the !ob
Proessionalis! and detail orientation
Writing skills
Organi"ed thinking
#nderstanding about yoursel#
Energ$ and %otivation
I!&ortant things to do 'eore $o( 'egin
$eview the !ob description in detail.
List the skills and attributes the employer is seeking.
Identi#y how your %uali&cations match the skills and attributes.
Choose three to &ve matching skills and attributes to use in your letter.
$esearch the employer to identi#y important #acts including products and
services
G(idelines when writing a )over letter
*+ Kee& It Short
'he ideal cover letter is about hal# a page long" and never e(ceeds one page. A
concise letter
demonstrates that you are #ocused and have strong communication skills. Aim
#or two to #our brie# paragraphs. )Anatomy can be #ound on page *
,+ State The Position
'he recruiter who reads your letter may be hiring #or several posts. While
candidates who e+mail their resumes o#ten include the !ob title in the sub!ect
line o# their e+mails" i# the recruiter prints a letter out be#ore reading it" such
in#ormation may be lost. Clearly state the !ob title in the &rst paragraph o# the
letter" pre#erably in the &rst sentence.
-+ E.&lain Wh$ /o( Want The 0o'
Candidates should always answer the %uestion" Why do I want to do this work,.
Ask yoursel# how the position &ts into your overall career plans and what you
&nd e(citing about the particular sector. A genuine show o# enthusiasm and
knowledge will set you apart #rom those sending generic #orm letters.
1+ Clearl$ 2es)ri'e Wa$s /o( Will Contri'(te
A#ter care#ully reading the !ob description" write a paragraph outlining one or
two speci&c e(amples o# how your skills and e(periences will &t the companys
needs.
3+ %at)h4 5(t 2on6t Reiterate4 /o(r Res(!e
'his is one point many !ob seekers &nd tricky. You should never claim
e(perience in your cover letter that isnt re-ected on your resume. At the same
time" your cover letter shouldnt simply restate your resume. When you e(plain
the ways you will contribute" re#er to an e(perience or skill on your resume to
show how you will add value to the company.
7+ 2on6t Sa$ /o(6re Not 8(ali9ed
.ven i# you think the position is out o# your reach" your !ob is to convince the
recruiter you are
%uali&ed. I# the recruiter thinks youre un%uali&ed" a con#essional letter is not
going to get you
interview. /eep the letter positive by #ocusing on your trans#erable skills and
unusual accomplishments.
:+ Kee& The Tone ;nd Content Proessional
0ont be a comedian" dont get really personal" and dont beg #or the !ob.
<+ Tell The Reader What /o(6re Going To 2o Ne.t
'oo many !ob seekers never #ollow up a#ter sending a resume. Clearly e(plain in
your letter the manner in which you will #ollow up and when you will do so. I#
the !ob post lists a phone number" indicate you will call within a speci&ed time
to arrange an interview. I# not" consider calling anyway" unless the post
speci&cally re%uests 1no calls.2 You may also consider a #ollow+up e+mail i# you
sent your resume electronically.
=+ Prooread
Again. 3sing a spell checker is not enough. 4any recruiters will dismiss even
the most %uali&ed candidate i# there is one typo in cover letter or resume.
$eread your letter two or three times" then give it to someone else who knows
a thing or two about good writing. .ven i# your letter is #ree o# typos" poor
grammar also makes a bad impression.
Note> 5ome employers will e(press a pre#erence between standard mail and
email" while others will accept either. 'here is no need #or both. When using
email" use the cover letter as the body o# an email and attach the resume as a
Word or 607 document. Another option is to simply cut and paste the resume
to the body o# the email. 'his may be pre#erable to employers who want to
avoid virus attachments. 8ust make sure the #ormatting on the resume stays
the same. Write a compelling sub!ect line.
Sample cover letter format guidelines:
(Hard copy: sender address and contact info at top. Your address and the date can be left-justified, or
centered.)
Your Street Address
City, State Zip Code
Telephone Number
E-mail Address
Month, Day, Year
Mr./Ms./Dr. irstName !astName
Title
Name o" #r$ani%ation
Street or &. #. 'o( Address
City, State Zip Code
Dear Mr./Ms./Dr. !astName)
#penin$ para$raph) State *hy you are *ritin$+ ho* you learned o" the or$ani%ation or position, and basi,
in"ormation about yoursel".
-nd para$raph) Tell *hy you are interested in the employer or type o" *or. the employer does /Simply statin$
that you are interested does not tell *hy, and ,an sound li.e a "orm letter0. Demonstrate that you .no* enou$h
about the employer or position to relate your ba,.$round to the employer or position. Mention spe,i"i,
1uali"i,ations *hi,h ma.e you a $ood "it "or the employer2s needs. /o,us on *hat you ,an do "or the employer,
not *hat the employer ,an do "or you.0 This is an opportunity to e(plain in more detail rele3ant items in your
resume. 4e"er to the "a,t that your resume is en,losed. Mention other en,losures i" su,h are re1uired to apply "or
a position.
5rd para$raph) 6ndi,ate that you *ould li.e the opportunity to inter3ie* "or a position or to tal. *ith the
employer to learn more about their opportunities or hirin$ plans. State *hat you *ill do to "ollo* up, su,h as
telephone the employer *ithin t*o *ee.s. 6" you *ill be in the employer2s lo,ation and ,ould o""er to s,hedule a
3isit, indi,ate *hen. State that you *ould be $lad to pro3ide the employer *ith any additional in"ormation
needed. Than. the employer "or her/his ,onsideration.
Sin,erely,
(Your handwritten signature [on hard copy])
Your name typed
(In case of e-mail, your full contact info appears elow your printed name [instead of at the top, as for hard
copy], and of course there is no handwritten signature)
En,losure/s0 /re"ers to resume, et,.0
(Note: the contents of your letter might best be arranged into four paragraphs. Consider what you
need to say and use good writing style. !ee the following e"amples for #ariations in organi$ation and
layout.)
Sample 1.1 Letter of application, hard copy version
E-- Apartment 7ei$hts Dr.
Amherst, MA 89885
/:950 ;:;-8989
ab,d<student.umass.edu
ebruary --, -899
Dr. Mi,helle 4hodes
&rin,ipal, =ol"trap Elementary S,hool
9-8; 'eulah 4oad
'oston, MA 8-99>
Dear Dr. 4hodes)
6 en?oyed our ,on3ersation on ebruary 9@th at the amily and Child De3elopment seminar on tea,hin$
elementary ,hildren and appre,iated your personal input about balan,in$ the needs o" ,hildren and the
,ommunity durin$ di""i,ult e,onomi, times. This letter is to "ollo*-up about the ourth Arade Tea,her position as
dis,ussed at the seminar. 6 *ill ,omplete my M.Ed. in Curri,ulum and 6nstru,tion at the Bni3ersity o"
Massa,husetts Amherst in May -899, and *ill be a3ailable "or employment as soon as needed "or the -899-9-
s,hool year.
My tea,her preparation pro$ram at the Bni3ersity o" Massa,husetts Amherst has in,luded a "ull a,ademi, year o"
student tea,hin$. !ast semester 6 tau$ht se,ond $rade and this semester am tea,hin$ "ourth $rade. These
3aluable e(perien,es ha3e a""orded me the opportunity to)
De3elop lesson plans on a *ide ran$e o" topi,s and 3aryin$ le3els o" a,ademi, ability,
=or. *ith emotionally and physi,ally ,hallen$ed students in a total in,lusion pro$ram,
#bser3e and parti,ipate in e""e,ti3e ,lassroom mana$ement approa,hes,
Assist *ith parent-tea,her ,on"eren,es, and
Complete in-ser3i,e sessions on di3ersity, math and readin$ s.ills, and ,ommunity relations.
My e(perien,e in,ludes *or. in a pri3ate day ,are "a,ility, 4ainbo* 4iders Child,are Center, and the Bni3ersity o"
Massa,husetts Amherst2s Child De3elopment !aboratory. 'oth these "a,ilities are NAEYC-a,,redited and adhere
to the hi$hest standards. At both lo,ations, 6 led small and lar$e $roup a,ti3ities, helped *ith lun,hes and
sna,.s, and implemented appropriate a,ti3ities. 'oth e(perien,es also pro3ided me *ith e(tensi3e e(posure to
the implementation o" de3elopmentally appropriate a,ti3ities and materials.
6 enthusiasti,ally loo. "or*ard to puttin$ my .no*led$e and e(perien,e into pra,ti,e in the publi, s,hool system.
Ne(t *ee. 6 *ill be in Cienna, and 6 plan to ,all you then to ans*er any 1uestions that you may ha3e. 6 ,an be
rea,hed be"ore then at /:950 ;;;-D>D8. Than. you 3ery mu,h "or your ,onsideration.
Sin,erely,
(handwritten signature)
Donna 7arrin$ton
En,losure
Sample 1.2 Letter of application, e-mail version
Sub?e,t line) (logical to recipient! Appli,ation "or sales representati3e "or mid-Atlanti, area
April 9:, -898
Mr. =illiam Ea,.son
Employment Mana$er
A,me &harma,euti,al Corporation
95D>: Ee""erson &ar.*ay
Ne* Yor., NY 9889-
?a,.son<a,mepharma,euti,al.,om
Dear Mr. Ea,.son)
rom the A,me *eb site 6 learned about your need "or a sales representati3e "or the Ne* Yor., Ne* Eersey, and
Massa,husetts areas. 6 am 3ery interested in this position *ith A,me &harma,euti,als, and belie3e that my
edu,ation and employment ba,.$round are appropriate "or the position.
You indi,ate that a re1uirement "or the position is a tra,. re,ord o" su,,ess in meetin$ sales $oals. 6 ha3e done
this. A"ter ,ompletion o" my '.S. in biolo$y, and prior to be$innin$ my master2s de$ree in mar.etin$, 6 *or.ed "or
t*o years as a sales representati3e *ith a re$ional *hole "oods ,ompany. My e""orts yielded su,,ess in ne*
business de3elopment, and my sales 3olume ,onsistently met or e(,eeded ,ompany $oals. 6 *ould li.e to repeat
that su,,ess in the pharma,euti,al industry, usin$ my a,ademi, ba,.$round in s,ien,e and business. 6 *ill
,omplete my M.S. in mar.etin$ in mid-May and *ill be a3ailable to be$in employment in early Eune.
Atta,hed is a ,opy o" my resume, *hi,h more "ully details my 1uali"i,ations "or the position.
6 loo. "or*ard to tal.in$ *ith you re$ardin$ sales opportunities *ith A,me &harma,euti,als. =ithin the ne(t *ee.
6 *ill ,onta,t you to ,on"irm that you re,ei3ed my e-mail and resume and to ans*er any 1uestions you may
ha3e.
Than. you 3ery .indly "or your ,onsideration.
Sin,erely,
!ayne A. Eohnson
;FD Massa,husetts A3e.
Amherst, MA 89885
/:950 ;:;-8989
la?ohnson<student.umass.edu
4esume atta,hed as MS =ord do,ument (assuming company we site instructed applicants to do this)
Sample 1.3 Letter of application, e-mail version
Sub?e,t line) (logical to recipient! Appli,ation "or mar.etin$ resear,h position G859-98-;-@
Mar,h 9:, -898
Ms. Charlene &rin,e
Dire,tor o" &ersonnel
!ar$e National 'an. Corporation
'oston, MA 8-99>
,prin,e<lar$eban..,om
Dear Ms. &rin,e)
As 6 indi,ated in our telephone ,on3ersation yesterday, 6 *ould li.e to apply "or the mar.etin$ resear,h position
/G859-98-;-@0 ad3ertised in the Mar,h 9-th %oano&e 'imes and (orld )ews. =ith my under$raduate resear,h
ba,.$round, my trainin$ in psy,holo$y and so,iolo$y, and my *or. e(perien,e, 6 belie3e 6 ,ould ma.e a 3aluable
,ontribution to !ar$e National 'an. Corporation in this position.
6n May 6 *ill ,omplete my '.S. in &sy,holo$y *ith a minor in So,iolo$y at the Bni3ersity o" Massa,husetts
Amherst. As part o" the re1uirements "or this de$ree, 6 am in3ol3ed in a senior mar.etin$ resear,h pro?e,t that
has $i3en me e(perien,e inter3ie*in$ and sur3eyin$ resear,h sub?e,ts and assistin$ *ith the analysis o" the data
,olle,ted. 6 also ha3e ,ompleted a ,ourse in statisti,s and resear,h methods.
My e(perien,e also in,ludes *or.in$ part-time as a boo..eeper in a small independent boo.store *ith an annual
bud$et o" appro(imately H9;8,888. 'e,ause o" the small si%e o" this business, 6 ha3e been e(posed to and
parti,ipated in most aspe,ts o" mana$in$ a business, in,ludin$ ad3ertisin$ and mar.etin$. As the boo..eeper, 6
produ,ed monthly sales reports that allo* the o*ner/buyer to pro?e,t seasonal in3entory needs. 6 also assisted
*ith the de3elopment o" ideas "or spe,ial promotional e3ents and ,al,ulated boo. sales pro,eeds a"ter ea,h e3ent
in order to e3aluate its su,,ess.
6 belie3e my ,ombination o" business e(perien,e and so,ial s,ien,e resear,h trainin$ is an e(,ellent mat,h "or
the mar.etin$ resear,h position you des,ribed. En,losed is a a ,opy o" my resume *ith additional in"ormation
about my 1uali"i,ations. Than. you 3ery mu,h "or your ,onsideration. 6 loo. "or*ard to re,ei3in$ your reply.
Sin,erely,
Ale( !a*ren,e
::: Minuteman Dri3e
Amherst, MA 89885
/:950 ;:;-8989
ale(.la*ren,e<student.umass.edu
4esume atta,hed as MS =ord do,ument
Sample 1.4 Letter of application, hard copy version
9888 Terra,e Cie* Apts.
Amherst, MA 89885
/:950 ;:;-:;-5
ste3emason<student.umass.edu
Mar,h -;, -898
Ms. Eani,e =ilson
&ersonnel Dire,tor
Anderson Constru,tion Company
5;8D 4o,.3ille &i.e
Ne* Yor., NY 9889-
Dear Ms. =ilson)
6 read in the Mar,h -:th (ashington *ost ,lassi"ied se,tion o" your need "or a Ci3il En$ineer or 'uildin$
Constru,tion $raduate "or one o" your =ashin$ton, DC, area sites. 6 *ill be returnin$ to the =ashin$ton area
a"ter $raduation in May and belie3e that 6 ha3e the ne,essary ,redentials "or the pro?e,t.
E3ery summer "or the last "i3e years 6 ha3e *or.ed at 3arious le3els in the ,onstru,tion industry. As indi,ated on
my en,losed resume, 6 ha3e *or.ed as a $eneral laborer, and mo3ed up to s.illed ,arpentry *or., and last
summer ser3ed as assistant ,onstru,tion mana$er on a t*o million dollar residential ,onstru,tion pro?e,t.
6n addition to this pra,ti,al e(perien,e, 6 *ill ,omplete re1uirements "or my '.S. in 'uildin$ Constru,tion in May.
As you may .no*, the Bni3ersity o" Massa,husetts is one o" the "e* uni3ersities in the ,ountry that o""ers su,h a
spe,iali%ed de$ree "or the ,onstru,tion industry. 6 am ,on"ident that my de$ree, alon$ *ith my years o"
,onstru,tion industry e(perien,e, ma.e me an e(,ellent ,andidate "or your ?ob.
The Anderson Constru,tion Company pro?e,ts are "amiliar to me, and my aspiration is to *or. "or a ,ompany
that has your e(,ellent reputation. 6 *ould *el,ome the opportunity to inter3ie* *ith you. 6 *ill be in the
=ashin$ton area durin$ the *ee. o" April 9-th and *ould be a3ailable to spea. *ith you at that time. 6n the ne(t
*ee. to ten days 6 *ill ,onta,t you to ans*er any 1uestions you may ha3e.
Than. you "or your ,onsideration.
Sin,erely,
/hand*ritten si$nature0
Eesse Mason
En,losure

Sample 1. Letter of in!uiry a"out employment possi"ilities, e-mail version
Sub?e,t) (logical to recipient! 6n1uiry about so"t*are en$ineerin$ position a"ter ,ompletion o" M.S. in
,omputer en$ineerin$
De,ember 9-, -88F
Mr. 4obert 'urns
&resident, Template Di3ision
MEAATEI Corporation
F@:; Te,hni,al =ay
'oston, MA 8-99>
burns<me$ate..,om
Dear Mr. 'urns)
Cia online resear,h in MinuteMen:7ire throu$h Career Ser3i,es at the Bni3ersity o" Massa,husetts, 6 learned o"
MEAATEI. Ne(t May 6 *ill ,omplete my master o" s,ien,e in ,omputer en$ineerin$. rom my resear,h on your
*eb site, 6 belie3e there *ould be a $ood "it bet*een my s.ills and interests and your needs. 6 am interested in a
so"t*are en$ineerin$ position upon ,ompletion o" my de$ree.
As a $raduate student, 6 am one o" si( members on a so"t*are de3elopment team in *hi,h *e are *ritin$ a
,omputer-aided air,ra"t desi$n pro$ram "or NASA. My responsibilities in,lude desi$nin$, ,odin$, and testin$ o" a
$raphi,al portion o" the pro$ram *hi,h re1uires the use o" ZJ-==A "or $raphi,s input and output. 6 ha3e a
stron$ ba,.$round in CAD, so"t*are de3elopment, and en$ineerin$, and belie3e that these s.ills *ould bene"it
the desi$nin$ and manu"a,turin$ aspe,ts o" template so"t*are. En,losed is my resume *ith "urther ba,.$round
in"ormation.
My 1uali"i,ations e1uip me to ma.e a ,ontribution to the pro?e,t areas in *hi,h your di3ision o" MEAATEI is
e(pandin$ e""orts. 6 *ould appre,iate the opportunity to dis,uss a position *ith you, and *ill ,onta,t you in a
*ee. or ten days to ans*er any 1uestions you may ha3e and to see i" you need any other in"ormation "rom me.
Than. you "or your ,onsideration.
Sin,erely,
Mor$an Ste3ens
9888 Main Street
Amherst, MA 89885
/:950 ;:;-8989
mste3ens<student.umass.edu
4esume atta,hed as MS =ord do,ument

Sample 1.# Letter of in!uiry a"out internship opportunities, hard copy version
-5:5 'lan.inship 4oad
Amherst, MA 89885
/:950 ;:;-:;-5
Sta,y!eeAimble<student.umass.edu
Eanuary 9-, -898
Ms. Syl3ia 4an$e
Spe,ial &ro$rams Assistant
Marion County amily Court =ilderness Challen$e
585 Center Street
'oston, MA 8-99>
Sub?) =ilderness Challen$e internship position
Dear Ms. 4an$e)
This semester 6 am a ?unior at BMass Amherst, *or.in$ to*ard my ba,helorKs de$ree in "amily and ,hild
de3elopment. 6 am see.in$ an internship "or this summer -898, and *hile resear,hin$ opportunities in the "ield
o" ,riminal ?usti,e and la*, 6 "ound that your pro$ram *or.s *ith ?u3enile delin1uents. 6 am *ritin$ to in1uire
about possible internship opportunities *ith the 7ampshire County amily Court =ilderness Challen$e.
My *or. ba,.$round and ,ourse*or. ha3e supplied me *ith many s.ills and an understandin$ o" dealin$ *ith
the adoles,ent ,ommunity+ "or e(ample)
98 hours per *ee. as a 3olunteer hotline assistant "or a lo,al inter3ention ,enter. A"ter a ;8-hour
trainin$ pro$ram, 6 ,ounseled teena$ers about personal ,on,erns and re"erred them, *hen ne,essary, to
appropriate pro"essional ser3i,es "or additional help.
4esiden,e hall assistant in my residen,e hall, *hi,h re1uires me to establish rapport *ith "i"ty residents
and ad3ise them on personal matters, as *ell as uni3ersity poli,ies. 6n addition, 6 de3elop so,ial and
edu,ational pro$rams and a,ti3ities ea,h semester "or up to -88 parti,ipants.
My en,losed resume pro3ides additional details about my ba,.$round.
6 *ill be in the 'oston area durin$ my sprin$ brea., Mar,h >-98. 6 *ill ,all you ne(t *ee. to see i" it *ould be
possible to meet *ith you in early Mar,h to dis,uss your pro$ram.
Than. you "or your ,onsideration.
Sin,erely,
/hand*ritten si$nature0
Sta,y !ee Aimble
En,l.
Sample 2.1 $nformation see%ing letter, hard copy version
-5 4oano.e Street
Amherst, MA 89885
/:950 ;:;-:;-5
I.=al.er<student.umass.edu
#,tober -5, -898
Mr. Eames A. =ebb
Delon 7ampton L Asso,iates
@88 I Street, N.=., Suite D-8
=ashin$ton, DC -8889-@888
Dear Mr. =ebb)
Ne(t May 6 *ill ,omplete my ba,helor2s de$ree in Ar,hite,ture at the Bni3ersity o" Massa,husetts Amherst, and
am resear,hin$ employment opportunities in the =ashin$ton area. 6 obtained your name "rom &ro"essor
/lastname0 *ho tea,hes my pro"essional seminar ,lass this semester. S/he indi,ated that you had 3olunteered to
pro3ide hi$hly moti3ated $raduatin$ students *ith ,areer ad3i,e, and 6 hope that your s,hedule *ill permit you
to allo* me to as. "or some o" your time and ad3i,e. 6 am parti,ularly interested in histori, preser3ation and
ha3e done resear,h on the D7A *ebsite to learn that your "irm does *or. in this area. 6 am also interested in
learnin$ ho* the ar,hite,ts in your "irm be$an their ,areers. My resume is en,losed simply to $i3e you some
in"ormation about my ba,.$round and pro?e,t *or..
=ithin t*o *ee.s 6 *ill ,all you to arran$e a time to spea. to you by telephone or perhaps 3isit your o""i,e i" that
*ould be ,on3enient. 6 *ill be in the =ashin$ton area durin$ the *ee. o" No3ember --. 6 3ery mu,h appre,iate
your time and ,onsideration o" my re1uest, and 6 loo. "or*ard to tal.in$ *ith you.
Sin,erely,
/hand*ritten si$nature0
Iristen =al.er
En,l.

Sample 3.2 &ollo'-up letter to information see%ing meeting, e-mail version
Sub?e,t) (logical to recipient! Than. you "or meetin$ Tuesday, No3. -5
No3ember ->, -898
Mr. Eames A. =ebb
Delon 7ampton L Asso,iates
@88 I Street, N.=., Suite D-8
Ne* Yor., NY 9889-
*ebb<delon.,om
Dear Mr. =ebb)
Than. you so mu,h "or ta.in$ time "rom your busy s,hedule to meet *ith me on Tuesday. 6t *as 3ery help"ul to
me to learn so mu,h about the ,urrent pro?e,ts o" Delon 7ampton L Asso,iates and the ,areer paths o" se3eral
o" your sta"". 6 appre,iate your re3ie*in$ my port"olio and en,oura$in$ my ,areer plans. 6 also en?oyed meetin$
'eth #rmond, and am $lad to ha3e her su$$estions on ho* 6 ,an ma.e the most produ,ti3e use o" my last
semester prior to $raduation.
'ased on *hat 6 learned "rom my 3isit to your "irm and other resear,h 6 ha3e done, 6 am 3ery interested in bein$
,onsidered "or employment *ith D7A in the "uture. 6 *ill be a3ailable to be$in *or. a"ter 6 $raduate in May -899.
As you sa* "rom my port"olio, 6 ha3e de3eloped stron$ s.ills in the area o" histori,al do,umentation and this is a
$ood mat,h "or the types o" pro?e,ts in *hi,h your "irm spe,iali%es. 6 ha3e en,losed a ,opy o" my resume to
ser3e as a reminder o" my ba,.$round, some o" *hi,h 6 dis,ussed *ith you *hen *e met.
Durin$ the ne(t "e* months 6 *ill stay in ,onta,t *ith you in hopes that there may be an opportunity to ?oin your
"irm. Than. you a$ain "or your $enerous help, and 6 hope you are en?oyin$ a pleasant holiday.
Sin,erely,
Iristin =al.er
-5 4oano.e Street
Amherst, MA 89885
/:950 ;:;-:;-5
.*al.er<student.umass.edu
(+-mail #ersion of course has no handwritten signature, and your signature loc& appears elow your name at
the close.)
58 A,ademy 4oad
Amherst, MA 89885
/:950 ;:;-:;-5
mnop<student.umass.edu
ebruary 9, -898
Ms. Eane 4oden
Bnited =ay
-588 E. 'road Street
'oston, MA 8-99>
Dear Ms. 4oden)
Than. you "or tal.in$ *ith me on =ednesday in response to my in1uiry about summer internship possibilities in
so,ial ser3i,es in the 'oston area. A"ter spea.in$ *ith you and another BMass alumnus *hose name 6 obtained
throu$h BMass Nation Net*or., 6 thin. 6 am mu,h better prepared to pursue internship opportunities.
#n your ad3i,e, 6 ha3e updated my resume, emphasi%in$ my re,ent hotline 3olunteer a,ti3ities. A ,opy is
en,losed "or you. 6 also plan to ,onta,t Deborah =arren as you su$$ested, and appre,iate your $i3in$ me her
name.
Than. you "or in3itin$ me to 3isit your o""i,e. 6 *ill be in 'oston durin$ sprin$ brea., so 6 *ill ,all your o""i,e t*o
*ee.s prior to see i" it *ould be ,on3enient to s,hedule a 3isit.
A$ain, than. you so mu,h "or your help and ad3i,e. 6 loo. "or*ard to meetin$ *ith you in Mar,h.
Sin,erely,
/your hand*ritten si$nature0
Mor$an Ee""ers
En,losure
Sample 4.1: &ollo'-up to telephone call

Sample 4.2: &ollo'-up letter to information see%ing meeting
Sub?e,t) (logical to recipient! Than. you "or meetin$ Tuesday, No3. -5
No3ember ->, -898
Mr. Eames A. =ebb
Delon 7ampton L Asso,iates
@88 I Street, N.=., Suite D-8
=ashin$ton, DC -8889-@888
*ebb<delon.,om
Dear Mr. =ebb)
Than. you so mu,h "or ta.in$ time "rom your busy s,hedule to meet *ith me on Tuesday. 6t
*as 3ery help"ul to me to learn so mu,h about the ,urrent pro?e,ts o" Delon 7ampton L
Asso,iates and the ,areer paths o" se3eral o" your sta"". 6 appre,iate your re3ie*in$ my
port"olio and en,oura$in$ my ,areer plans. 6 also en?oyed meetin$ 'eth #rmond, and am $lad
to ha3e her su$$estions on ho* 6 ,an ma.e the most produ,ti3e use o" my last semester prior
to $raduation.
'ased on *hat 6 learned "rom my 3isit to your "irm and other resear,h 6 ha3e done, 6 am 3ery
interested in bein$ ,onsidered "or employment *ith D7A in the "uture. 6 *ill be a3ailable to
be$in *or. a"ter 6 $raduate in May -899. As you sa* "rom my port"olio, 6 ha3e de3eloped
stron$ s.ills in the area o" histori,al do,umentation and this is a $ood mat,h "or the types o"
pro?e,ts in *hi,h your "irm spe,iali%es. 6 ha3e en,losed a ,opy o" my resume to ser3e as a
reminder o" my ba,.$round, some o" *hi,h 6 dis,ussed *ith you *hen *e met.
Durin$ the ne(t "e* months 6 *ill stay in ,onta,t *ith you in hopes that there may be an
opportunity to ?oin your "irm. Than. you a$ain "or your $enerous help, and 6 hope you are
en?oyin$ a pleasant holiday.
Sin,erely,
Iristin =al.er
-5 4oano.e Street
Amherst, MA 89885
/:950 ;:;-:;-5
.*al.er<student.umass.edu
(+-mail #ersion of course has no handwritten signature, and your signature loc& appears
elow your name at the close.)

Sample 4.3: &ollo'-up to personal contact
F8F &ri,es or. 4oad
Amherst, MA 89885