Recommendations
When writing letters, follow the advice below to assist you in making the best impression with potential employers.
Things To Do
- Type each letter individually
- Proofread
- Address the employing official by name and, if possible, by title
- Use power words to relate your accomplishments
- Keep to one page, use 1” to 1 1/2” margins
- Expand on your resume
- Provide examples of skills, top qualities
- Be honest and sincere; give the impression of modest confidence
- Do not overuse the personal pronoun “I”
- Proofread again
- Use an easy-to-read font, no smaller than 10 pt
- Use white or off-white paper to match your resume
Things Not To Do
- Simply repeat what is in your resume
- Use a reproduced form letter or pre-printed letter
- Be too formal (stilted) or too casual
- Use stereotyped, trite phrases; write naturally and sincerely
- Use company stationery
- Boast
- Fail to proof read!
- Don’t always default to “Times New Roman”—other fonts get the job done too, such as Arial or Verdana. (However, these fonts could raise some spacing or sizing issues. Font must be compatible with electronic formatting requirements.)
