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Cover Letter Tips

It's Your Opportunity!

The first impression you make on an employer, a cover letter is a one-page explanation of why you would be an asset to the company and your opportunity to show how well you fit the position. 

Getting Started

Since every company and position is different, rewrite your cover letter for each position to which you apply. 

Tailor Your Letter to Each Position

  • Show how you align with the position
    • State the position to which you are applying.
    • Explain why you want to work at that particular company.
    • Demonstrate how your academic projects and previous work or internship experiences have prepared you for the responsibilities of the position you want.
    • Inclue how your accomplishments, personal qualities, work styles, or other factors demonstrate strengths relevant to the position you want.

  • Mention names
    • If you know the name of the hiring manager, address your letter to that person. (Otherwise, say Dear Hiring Manager, or Dear Recruiting Team)
    • If you met anyone from the company, say so. For example: "Having spoken with Ms. XX at Dartmouth’s recent Career Fair, I am eager to apply my project management skills to Company Z."

  • What if they don’t ask for a cover letter?

    Submit one anyway to bolster your application. It won’t do any harm and may do a lot of good, especially because it demonstrates your communication skills.

Be Mindful

  • How can I sell myself without sounding arrogant?

    There’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance. Here’s an example of the difference:

    • Arrogant: My education and experience make me a perfect fit for the job.
    • Confident: My education and experiences have prepared me well for the position.

  • I don’t like to brag, so how do I sell myself?

    Let your achievements speak for themselves. Explain your experiences and what you accomplished in each. If you earned recognition for a project, give details that reveal the real achievement.

    For example:

    • Too humble: My project work was recognized by the department.
    • Just right: The Department of Engineering at XX University awarded me the Outstanding Team Leadership Award for my perseverance and ability to manage complex engineering projects.

Pay Attention to Details

  • Layout and format
    • Length: 1 page
    • Margins: 0.5 –1"
    • Fonts: Use an easy-to-read font, such as Calibri or Times New Roman.
    • Body text size: 10–12 points
    • Heading size and style: Headings can be larger than the body text, ie. 12–16 points. To save space for more info, try bold type and upper case for headings.
    • Contact Info: Put your name, address, email, and phone number at the top of your letter (and resume)
    • Consistency: Make your cover letter and resume internally consistent and consistent with each other. Use the same fonts and styles.
    • Spell out: Names of institutions and words such as president, department, and international.

  • Don’ts
    • You don’t need to state your name in the body text because it’s in the header.
    • Don’t call attention to weakness or apologize for experiences or skills that you do not yet have (eg. "I have not used Matlab since last year"). You can say that you are always open to learning new skills.

  • Keep records
    • Keep a copy of all your cover letters.
    • Keep a record of all correspondence between you and the employer.

Follow-Ups

If you don’t receive a response to your cover letter and resume within 2–4 weeks, feel free to follow up by email, letter, or phone to:

  • Inquire about the status of your application;
  • Reiterate your interest in the position; and
  • Offer to provide additional information that may aid in the evaluation of your qualifications.

Use your cover letter to show how your experience and knowledge align with what the particular company is looking for.

Explain why you want to work for the company not just that you want to work somewhere that has smart people or a good reputation. Be specific, not generic.

Don’t say that you think you’re the perfect candidate or a good fit. You want the hiring team to read your description of your relevant experience and conclude for themselves that you’re the one to hire.

Emphasize what you can do for the company, not what the company can do for you.

References: Do not include a reference list with your resume unless requested by the employer. Guidelines for creating a list of references are available on Handshake.

Contact

For more help, Thayer Career Services is ready to help with resumes, cover letters, and more!

Schedule an appointment by logging into Handshake.

Rm 113, MacLean Engineering Sciences Center (ESC)
engineering.career.services@dartmouth.edu
+1 (603) 646-0630