Cover letters provide context for your resume and your story. A strong cover letter will succinctly tell a prospective employer why you’re interested in working for them, how your skills and experiences align with the role, and explain why this position is the right next step for your career. Cover letters should be targeted and incorporate what you’ve learned from your career conversations, the job description, and the research you have done.
Cover letters are a way to demonstrate your written communication skills, illustrate your applicable transferable skills, and express your enthusiasm for the company and role.
Companies will often ask for cover letters but not require them. We recommend submitting a cover letter if you’re making a pivot (role, industry, or geography) as it provides another opportunity to contextualize your pivot and highlight your transferable skills.
Getting Started
Use these resources to learn basic cover letter structure, best practices, and how to use the job description to target your cover letter.
Cover Letter Examples
Like any form of writing, the cover letter should provide the reader with insight into the motivations of the writer. It should also connect the writer to the specific company and job; for this reason, generic ‘Cut & Paste’ cover letters that only mention the company in the introduction and concluding paragraph are not useful in bringing one closer to the end goal – getting an interview. Here are a few examples that may provide you with some guidance as to possible structure and content:
- Cover Letter Example – Consulting to Media/Entertainment
- Cover Letter Example – Nonprofit to Consulting (BCG)
- Cover Letter Example – Retail Buyer to Design Consulting (IDEO)
- Cover Letter Example – Project Manager to Product Manager
If you find yourself getting stuck on how to write opening, middle or ending paragraphs, review: