How To Write a Cover Letter With Examples
Cover letters can help differentiate you from other job applicants and be the determining factor of landing your dream job. By taking the time to craft a custom cover letter, a single sheet of paper can help communicate all the human elements that a resume may fall short of capturing about yourself.
But what do employers and recruiters have to say about how to write a cover letter? What are the best tips they have to offer for graduate students who are writing a cover letter?
We asked 11 employers for their best cover letter tips. Here is what they had to share.
Let it Set the Stage
In many ways, cover letters should provide background information and context to your resume, while simultaneously addressing how that resume addresses the specific requirements of the job opportunity. The cover letter is your opportunity to "set the stage" and to convince the hiring manager why your specific set of skills, experiences and interests will provide value to their team and its objectives.
Andrew Horrigan '11 BSBA (Management Information Systems), Product Manager at Cisco
Research the Hiring Manager
If possible, find out who the hiring manager is and look them up on LinkedIn. Do your research on the company you're applying for. What's their mission statement and how do they portray their company culture? Hopefully what you're looking for in a job is reflected by those things. Make sure the hiring manager knows that and understands who you are and what drives you. A resume is often about as robotic as things can be. Make sure your cover letter is the opposite—personalize it and let yourself shine through.
Joshua Schlag ’05 BS (Computer Science) ’11 MBA, Digital Marketing Manager at Pyramid Analytics
Utilize Career Development Resources
The University of Arizona and Eller College of Management go to great lengths to make sure students are prepared for their impending career journey. Because cover letters are so important to getting your foot in the door, there are several career development resources online and on campus to take advantage of. The university’s cover letter builder serves as a nice template to get started. And of course, it never hurts to make an appointment with an Eller Career Coach through eSMS to have a professional review your letter before submission.
Brett Farmiloe, ’06 BSBA (Accounting), Founder, Featured
Discover Past Samples of the Position
Do your research on the company and personalize your cover letter to the role for which you are applying. Don't be afraid to Google, "How to write a good cover letter for X position." Seriously, it helps! There is so much information out there from various perspectives—applicants, hiring managers, etc. Most importantly be yourself and let your personality come through. And don't forget to spell check!
Mariam Nikola '17 MS MIS, Consultant at Point B
Highlight Your Soft Skills
When writing a professional cover letter, there are a couple things you can do to set yourself apart from the pack. First, make sure you tailor your letter to the specific position you are applying for. This should not be a general, "one size fits all" letter—be sure to discuss specific details surrounding the role or the company itself. Secondly, this is an opportunity for you to show a little bit of your personality. Obviously, you want to remain professional, but this is a great time to highlight some of your soft skills that might not be fully conveyed through your resume.
Brian Ellis ’17 BSBA (Management), Staffing Manager at Randstad Office and Administrative Professionals
Fill in the “Why” Gaps
As a talent advisor, I review a lot of applicants and agree that a cover letter can be a great way to stand apart, if it is done correctly. A great cover letter for me covers the ‘why’ that I cannot understand from just a resume alone. It should clearly state why you are interested in the role, what your goals are for utilizing your graduate degree (if recently graduated) and explain any career pivots reflected on your resume. If you answer those questions in a direct, concise manner it will add value to your application.
Monica Larson , ’11 BSBA (Marketing) ‘20 MBA, Talent Advisor
Tell Your Story
A cover letter is your opportunity to tell your story—tying your experience and personal interests into why you want a position and why you are the best candidate for it. Paint the picture of your journey and what about the position excites you personally and professionally. Similar to your resume, keep it short and sweet. No need to repeat what’s already on your resume. Recruiters and hiring managers don’t have time to comb through a novel, so you need to engage them with as few words as possible while also grabbing their attention.
Kelly Castoro, ’06 BA (Spanish, Portuguese), Project Manager at Squarespace
Tailor Each Cover Letter to the Position You Are Applying
Be sure to research the role and customize your cover letter for each position, relating your experience to the particular role you are applying for. Personalization is key—research who you are sending the cover letter to and address the letter to them directly. End your letter with a call to action, stating you will follow up by phone or email if you haven’t heard from anyone. Follow ups are very important!
Jessica Rosenzweig, ’15 BSBA (Business Management), Account Manager at PeopleWare Staffing
Communicate Bankability and Personality
Your cover letter answers two crucial questions; are you bankable and are you someone the company will enjoy working with? Communicate bankability with your knowledge of the company, industry and why your skills, capabilities and interests are a great fit. Share your passion for their mission, culture, brand—whatever excites you about becoming a member of their team.
When conveyed through a concise, well-formulated, well-worded cover letter, you demonstrate the ability to write an effective business case—communicating that you are a ready professional and worthy teammate who will hit the ground running.
Theresa L Garcia, ’83 BSBA (Human Resources), Senior Change Management and Organization Capability Consultant at Boeing
Keep it Concise but Compelling
A cover letter is your chance to speak directly to the hiring team and tell them why you are not only the best match for the position for which you are applying but also give them additional insight into yourself as an individual that is less visible from your experience.
A great cover letter should be attention grabbing and touch upon the qualities that make you stand out from others in the applicant pool, highlight both your recent and most distinguished accomplishments and drive home why you are the right person for the job. Professionalism is always important, but don’t be hesitant to put your voice into the letter to let your personality shine through. Research the company, understand where they currently are, where they are going and show why you are the right person to get them from point A to point B. Recruiters spend a lot of time reviewing applicants and making yourself stand apart from the crowd is key. Keep it concise but compelling!
Matt Reineberg, ’14 BSBA (Marketing), Senior Talent Acquisition Sourcer at Cox Enterprises
Highlight the “Why”
Why are you applying to this company? Why do you want this position? Your cover letter should aim to answer the why behind applying for the job. Conveying an interest and excitement for working specifically for this job at this company, rather than a desire to get any job anywhere that will give you money, can go a long way. Show the company that they should hire you and your passion over someone that might have the skills needed for the job, but doesn’t care about the work as much as you do.
Ryan Nouis, Trupath
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404-555-0155. [email protected]. Atlanta, Georgia May 4, 2023 Dear Hiring Manager, I'm writing to express my interest in the open position of Flight Attendant with Northwestern Superior Airlines. I'm a recent community college graduate with strong interpersonal skills and an avid interest in traveling and aviation.
Here's how to properly format your flight attendant cover letter. Set your cover letter margins at 1" to 1.5". Keep it straightforward and concise. The ideal cover letter length is 250-400 words. Choose a professional cover letter font and font size that are easy to read.
Make sure your cover letter is looking perfect. Make sure you send it to the correct email address, and to the appropriate person. Make sure your contact details are in the heading of the letter. Name the file with your name: NicoleSmith.pdf not just resume.pdf.
Why this cover letter works. Attention! That's exactly what this corporate flight attendant cover letter is trying to grab - the attention of recruiters. Time and again, you'll discover Luca's remarkable and measurable outcomes such as "improving our safety audit scores by 12%" and "achieving a 17% boost in positive feedback from passengers" - nudging the recruiters and ...
Writing a cover letter with no experience as a Flight Attendant can seem challenging, but it's all about focusing on the skills and experiences you do have that make you a strong candidate for the role. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to approach it: 1. Start with a Professional Greeting: Address the hiring manager by name if possible.
Continue reading: How to Choose the Right Cover Letter Format. 2. Create a Professional Flight Attendant Cover Letter Header. Include your name and address first, in the top left corner of the cover letter for flight attendant jobs. Add the date of writing below that, and use the full month name instead of numbers.
Cover Letter for Flight Attendant—Examples. Our first sample cover letter for a flight attendant job comes from Virginia, who has two years of experience working for a small airline company and is now looking to progress to a bigger one. Experienced Flight Attendant Cover Letter Example. Virginia A. Sease. Flight Attendant.
Flight Attendants should include the following elements in their cover letter: 1. Personal Information: Start with your name, address, contact number, and email address at the top of the letter. 2. Professional Greeting: Address the hiring manager by name, if possible.
Mr. Luke Walker — one of your airline's pilots — is my former flight safety instructor, provided me with your name and contact information to discuss this position further. 4. Describe your key skills and accomplishments as a flight attendant. Following your introduction are the body paragraphs of your cover letter.
Format your cover letter properly: Begin with your contact information, including your name, address, phone number, and email address. Then, include the date and the contact details of the hiring manager or HR representative. 3. Start with a strong opening paragraph: Address the hiring manager by name, if possible.
Flight Attendants make passengers feel comfortable during flights and see to their safety. Essential duties of these professionals are serving refreshments, performing safety demonstrations, helping passengers to their seats, offering blankets and sleep masks, answering to passenger requests, and cultivating the relationship between the airline and its customers.
Step 3: Use a standard cover letter format. Like all application letters, your flight attendant cover letter should follow a standard format and include certain elements. Before the body of your cover letter for cabin crew, make sure you write the recipient's information, like their title and the company name.
Dear Ms. Blue, My career as a flight attendant is relatively short, but my interest in hospitality and the travel industry goes back to my first job in a hotel. I was pleased to see your company's opening. I believe that between my skills and my attitude, I am an ideal fit for the flight attendant position open at your company.
A business letter format is the best one for a flight attendant cover letter.. The header of the document is reserved for contact information and a date of writing.. Your letter salutation and closing should be brief, polite, and professional.. An introductory paragraph needs to hook the reader with notable skills or accomplishments, while the last one should feature a call to action.
Flight Attendant Cover Letters. Each cover letter is written with a different focus. Review all of them and pick the ones that apply to your situation. Take inspiration from multiple samples and combine them to craft your unique cover letter. Flight Attendant Sample 1. Dear Mr. Alphan, The Flight Attendant position at United Airlines sounds ...
Flight Attendant Cover Letter Sample. It's critical to have a good look at how a cover letter should be structured and what it should include. Take a look at the example below to give you an idea of how to start drafting your letter. Cover letter. Hiring Manager's name. Company name. Company address. Date. Dear Mr/Ms. [Hiring Manager Name]
Your personal traits that relate to the flight attendant position. Your gratitude for the opportunity, marked by a closing "thank you.". The cover letter should be addressed (ideally) to a specific person in the hiring department. If you are unable to obtain the name of a person, you should use the generic, "To whom it may concern" or ...
Tips for Writing a Strong Flight Attendant Cover Letter. Individualize Your Cover Letter. Make sure to write a unique cover letter for each job you apply for. Every airline is different, and each one has different requirements and company culture. Your resume will stand out if you take the time to individualize each letter. Emphasize Your Skills.
Key skills for a flight attendant cover letter. Being a flight attendant requires an important set of skills to provide passengers with a great experience. Hard skills, such as passenger safety and crisis management, are learned through the three to six-week training program airlines provide.
4333 Amon Carter Boulevard. Fort Worth, TX 76155. (817) 963-1234. [email protected]. RE: Flight Attendant Application. Dear Mrs. Bennett: I am writing to apply for the opportunity to work at American Airlines as a Flight Attendant in Fort Worth, TX. Your airline is an innovative leader in the flight industry, and I would be thrilled ...
Cover Letter for Flight Attendant With No Experience (Sample 1) July 24, 2023. Dear Ms. Anderson: As a driven and customer service-oriented Flight Attendant, I am enthusiastic about contributing to Air Canada. Equipped with exceptional customer service and hospitality skills, I am confident in my ability to efficiently integrate into your aircrew.
Tell Your Story. A cover letter is your opportunity to tell your story—tying your experience and personal interests into why you want a position and why you are the best candidate for it. Paint the picture of your journey and what about the position excites you personally and professionally. Similar to your resume, keep it short and sweet.
The letter F. Facebook. An envelope. It indicates the ability to send an email. Email. A stylized bird with an open mouth, tweeting. ... Flight attendants can be on duty for 13 hours and get paid ...