Cover Letter Writing Guide
Cover&letters&serve&as&a&way&for&you&to&explain&why&you&are&qualified&for&the&
position&you&are&applying&to,&and&provides&the&reader&with&more&detailed&
informa tio n &th a n&y o u r&re su me&can.!Cover&letters&motivate&the&reader&to&want&
to&learn&more&a bo ut&yo u.&They&should&never&be &or&appear&gen eric&or&mass&
produced,&rather&tailored&to&the&position&for&which&you&are&applying.&&&
!
!SECTIONS!TO!INCLUDE!
&
Header:!Your&header&should&match&the&header&on&your&resume&to&help&
define&your&personal&brand&and&to&provide&your&contact&information.&Copy&
and&paste&your&resume&header&in&this§io n . &
&
Address:&Include&the&date,&recruiter&name,&title,&company,&and&mailing&
address&here.&If&you&don’t&hav e&the &recru iter’s&name,&use&Hiring&Manager.&
&
Introdu ctio n!paragraph:&&Tell&the&reader&why&you&are&writing&–&state&your&
case!&Be&specific,&including&the&position&for&which&you&are&applying&and&how&
you&learned&about&it.&&If&someone&has&referred&you,&mention &that&person’s&
name&here.&&Mention&your&major,&graduation&date,&and&relevant&coursework.&
Explain&what&motivated&you&to&apply&for&this&position&and&why&you&want&to&
work&for&this&company.&Highlight&your&strengths&and&what&you&can&bring&to&
the&compa ny &and &the&po sition.&
&
Body!paragraphs:!!Tell&the&reader&why&they&should&care&that&you&are&
applying&–&defend&your&case!&&Use&this§ion&to&give&examples/details&of&
education,&experience,&skills,&and&other&qualifications&you&have&that&match&
with&the&qualifications&the&employer&is&seeking.&Research&the&company&and&
position&by&reviewing&their&website,&mission,&and&job &d e sc rip tio n &to &find &
common&them es.&Highl igh t&h o w&your&exp e rie nc e s& an d/or&coursework&relate&
to&these&them es.&Some&of&your&experiences&will&be&much&more&relevant&than&
others&to&the&position&at&hand&and&to&the&reader’s&decision&making®arding&
your&application,&so&present&information&that&is&most&aligned&with&the&job&
description.&Go&beyond&reciting&information&that&is&already&on&your&resume.&
A&deeper&look&at&the&details&of&your&accomplish ments&will&go &fu rth er .&
&
Closing!paragraph:!!Wrap&up&the&letter&and&talk&about&next&steps.&Use&this&
section&to&reinforce&your&qualifications,&cite&attachments&(resume,&writing&
samples,&references,&etc.),&suggest&a&follow&up&meeting/interview;&and&thank&
the&reader&for&her/h is&time .&&
!
QUICK!TIPS!
&
• Always attach a cover letter to an application, even if it is optional.
• 1 page in length; 10-12 font size; use clear and easy to read font.
• Cover letters should be sent in one of the following ways:
a) Saved and sent as a PDF attachment via email;
b) Convert to PDF and upload for submission via online job board systems
such as CareerSource; or
c) Sent directly in the body of an email.
• Use a full block letter format: all dates, addresses, salutations, body paragraphs,
etc. are left justified with no indentations.
THANK!YOU!LETTERS!
&
Thank&you&letters&should&be&
written&to&everyone&who&
interviewed&you&within&24&hours&of&
your&interview.&&&
&
Effective!thank!you!letters:!
!
• Thank the interviewer for the time
they invested in your interview;
• Reference some aspect of your
interview or qualifications that was
of particular interest or importance
to that interviewer;
• Reinforce your qualifications for
the position; and
• Express your continued interest in
the position.
&
Thank&you&letters&should¬&
exceed&one&page.&
&
Thank!you!letters!can!be:!!
!
a) Type-written on traditional
8.5x11 inch stationary or on 6x9
inch personal stationary,
b) Handwritten on a note card and
sent via postal mail, or
c) Sent via email.
&
The&medium&you&use&will&depend&
upon&the&nature&of&your&
relationship&with&the&person&to&
whom&you&are&sending&it.&The&
more&formal&the&relationship,&the&
more&formal&the&thank&you&
communication&should&be.&
!
CAREER!ADVISING!
&
Career&Advisors&are&available&to&
meet&with&you&to&review&your&
cover&letter&and&other&job&
application&materials.&Make&an&
appointment&with&CCS&by&logging&
into&STA R &o r&b y &ca llin g &ou r &offic e&a t&
512-471-9421.&Visit&our&website&
for&walk - in &h o u rs &and &resources,&
moody.utexas.edu/ccs.
&
IMA LONGHORN
!"#$%&'(%)&*'"#!$+,%"-.-/01201324/56-.-!"#$%&'(%)&+,%"-.-789:!&;-<=-
April 25, 2016
Victoria Vasquez
Edelman
506 Congress Ave. Suite 300
Austin, Texas 78701
Dear Ms. Vasquez,
I am writing to apply to the Assistant Account Executive position at Edelman that I located on CareerSource at the
Moody College of Communication. I am currently a senior Advertising major at The University of Texas at Austin
graduating in May 2016. I feel that I have the background knowledge and skills that align with what you are looking
for in a candidate. This opportunity will allow me to exercise my current knowledge in social media analytics,
community engagement, client business strategies and brand engagement. I am looking forward to the opportunity of
learning new innovative strategies that Edelman implements that allows your clients’ to evolve, promote and protect
their clients’ brands and reputations.
Last summer I had the opportunity to work for a New York based advertising firm, Uproar! at DDB, where I was
exposed to client, consumer, and new business research, as well as website planning and brand management. The
projects I worked on strengthened my skills in account research, social media management, and client relations. I am
currently working for Uproar! remotely focusing on competitive research pertaining to social media and brand
awareness. My most recent projects have included creating client competitive research decks and managing the
agency’s YouTube channel. My organizational skills have also been enhanced through assisting with website
redesign as well as assisting with creative pitch preparations.
During my academic career at The University of Texas at Austin, I enrolled in a social media journalism class that
broadened my knowledge on social media etiquette and social media journalism. I learned the importance of each
channel and how they can be monopolized as a news medium for journalistic purposes. I helped manage the social
media account, “Social New Network,” on several social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and
Tumblr, which are aimed at reaching college students. This experience gave me a new appreciation for social
outreach, and provided me with skills to better engage with my audiences.
Each of these experiences have prepared me for the Assistant Account Executive position because I have been able
to work effectively with others, provide exceptional work and service, and remain organized.
I am interested in gaining experience and skills in a new environment and learning about the strategies behind the
creative impact that Edelman has in the advertising world. I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss how I can
contribute to Edelman and feel that this position will be the start of a hopeful career in account services. Please feel
free to contact me by phone or email to set up a time to further discuss my qualifications for this position. Thank you
for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Ima Longhorn
&
