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Helpful Hints for Writing a Cover Letter

VU Recruitment Crew

Two women looking at a book

While it is not always required to submit a cover letter with an application, including one can often be helpful! A cover letter provides a chance to share additional information with the hiring team that may not be covered in your resume. Here are some tips to consider when writing a cover letter. 

  1. Addressing the letter: If you are unsure about the name of the hiring manager or recruiter for the role, it is totally okay to write "Dear Hiring Manager." Don't worry too much about the specific name if you don't have it. 
  2. Expand on relevant details: Use the cover letter to expand on any aspects of your resume that a recruiter may have questions about. This could include explaining relocation plans, addressing gaps in employment, or discussing your return to the workforce. Share information that you believe would be helpful for the hiring team to know. 
  3. Customize your letter: Tailor your cover letter to highlight why you are specifically interested in the role and company you are applying for and how your skills and experience align with the position. No need to recite your resume; instead, focus on conveying how your unique abilities would contribute to the role.  
  4. Keep it short and sweet: Use this letter to provide additional details, but don’t overdo it. We recommend to keep it around three quarters of a page to a page long. If you have more things to share, see what you can remove that’s less important, or wait to discuss it in the interview.  
  5. Seek examples online: When in doubt, there are many online resources available that provide examples and guidance for crafting effective cover letters. Just make sure you don’t copy and paste it! Make your cover letter your own unique document that will stand out to the hiring team. 

We hope these tips help you get started on submitting a cover letter. We've created a template that you are welcome to use that you can view and download below.

If you are also seeking tips on creating a resume, view our resume resource here!

  Click the picture to download our template