Cover Letters

Please note that different industry sectors may require different styles of letters. Some sectors will expect more formal letters, others will expect more personal or creative letters and it is important to research the culture of the employer and company or organisation carefully. Also, some US based websites may approach cover letters differently from UK websites, reflecting a different culture in the US.

• Cover letters - very helpful advice on targeting cover letters, good checklist & how to make the letter stand out, from a UK perspective, from gojobsite
• Cover letters uncovered - simple basic information, written for school leavers, from Monster Teen Zone
• A covering letter - basic guidelines with useful key words & phrases you can use & examples of cover letters including those from disabled students, from Prospects
• Covering letters - useful helpsheets from University of London colleges, including guidance on the structure of a letter
• Covering letters - BBC site includes guidelines on format, checklists & sample cover letter
• The Covering Letter - more advice about designing letters from Queen Mary & Westfield College, University of London
• Writing application & cover letters - good clear advice, from Fazed
• Letter writing etiquette - practical advice on modern letters for jobsearch & draft cover letter, part of a useful jobsearch strategy resource from Bradley CVs, very good on planning & organising with a large interview advice section.

• Academic cover letters - brief guide to this area including difference between academic & business letters
• CareerLab - US site, sample cover letters for a range of situations, among articles on career management issues
• Cover letters, CVs & interviews for working in other countries - useful advice writing cover letters for France, Germany, Spain, Sweden & the US
• Cover letters & thank you notes - clear advice on different types of cover letters & thank you notes
• Cover letter types & samples - for print & emailed cover letters, general advice for different types, site also has useful related information about email business etiquette, guidelines for correspondance & researching employers, from Virginia Tech
• Cover letter quiz & tutorial online - informative & helpful as well as fun! Definitely worth a visit, at Quintessential Careers website
• Cover letter tutorial - cover letter online tutorial including structure of letters & good examples of what not to do, covering a range of common mistakes, from Quintessential Careers website
• CVservices.net - Useful advice on cover letters covering content, format & style, very readable with ideas on how to personalise your letter
• Email cover letter etiquette & tips on cover letters - general information from the Princeton Review
• Guide to Writing Cover Letters - includes suggestions for wording your letter and the format, plus sample letters, reminds visitors to research the company & occupational sector
• Model letters - including helpful checklist, 3 different approaches to closing a letter, model letter of acceptance & of rejection for a job, from University of Buffalo
• Resumes & Letters - US site, includes military to civilian, general enquiries, thank you, follow-up & networking letters, also how to write resignation letters & letters of recommendation
• Sample thank you letters - range of letters from a US perspective
• WetFeet - articles on cover letters from a new site specialising in careers, country & company information including useful articles on various work situations & strategies for job hunting
• The Writing Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - good simple advice including purpose, audience, content, format & examples
• Writing Cover Letters - useful outline on form, content, possible format & some questions to ask
• Writing Letters - lists of links including links on thank you letters from the Mining Co Guide (mainly US links)