University of California Berkeley Career Guide - Flipbook - Page 27
Cover Letters
A well written cover letter should always accompany your resume or application. Its purpose is to introduce yourself,
expand on the experience in your resume as it relates to the job description, and explain why you are interested in that
specific company/organization.
A good cover letter should:
• Open with a compelling paragraph that tells a story and catches the reader’s attention.
• Connect your experiences and qualifications with the desired qualifications of the employer.
• Include specific information about why you want to work for the employer and industry.
• Exemplify clear and concise writing skills with NO grammar/spelling errors.
• Demonstrate your knowledge of the position AND the company.
Cover Letters for Job or Internship Listings
Know the employer
Research the employer’s organization to see how your experience, skills, and abilities meet its needs. In your cover
letter, show why you are a good fit. Send the letter to a specific person whenever possible; otherwise, use “Dear Hiring
Manager,” “Dear Members of the Selection Committee,” or “Dear Hiring Team.”
Analyze the job description
Carefully review the position responsibilities and qualifications and design your cover letter to match these as much
as possible. Sometimes position listings are vague. In these cases, draw from your experience of similar positions to
infer which skills and abilities might be required or research similar positions online.
Analyze your background
Think about your background in relation to the position responsibilities and qualifications. Ask yourself, “What have I
done that is similar to what this position entails?” Consider courses taken, classroom projects, work experience, summer
jobs, internships, volunteer experience, extracurricular involvement, and travel. Be sure to indicate in the first paragraph
what position you’re seeking. If a specific person recommended you for or alerted you about the position, include
their name and title up front. For example “Jason Ryner, your Marketing Manager, recommended that I apply for this
position.”
Prospecting Letters
If you are inquiring about possible openings, you are sending an Inquiry or Prospecting Letter. Address your
letter to a specific individual, usually the person who supervises the functional area where you’d like to work.
Be as specific as possible about the type of position that interests you. Ideally, your research will reveal the job
titles used by this employer. If not, use generic job titles commonly understood in the field.
Career Tip: Utilize Ramped Careers AI Tool to
help get you started on your Cover Letter.
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career.berkeley.edu
