COVER LETTER GUIDE

While resumes remain the most needed document for job applications, cover letters are a close second, if not synonymous with job applications. You won't always need to attach a cover letter, but for company's that inspire and excite, we'd recommend attaching one. This guide is meant to:

• Answer cover letter FAQS

• Best practices

• Break down cover letter creation step-by-step

• Recommend templates to help get you started

• Show a few real Lambda student examples of letters

Take from this guide what you need!

FAQs

Do I have to submit a cover letter with every application? If it is required, yes. But, if it is optional, up to you. A poorly written cover letter can be worse than none, so don’t throw together a half haphazard cover letter. If you’re going to do one, communicate to the company why you’re interested in working there in the role.

Can I reuse an old cover letter for a new application? While you can reuse components, every cover letter submitted must be tailored to the specific company and requirements.

How can I get feedback on my cover letter? See a career coach during Office Hours in #career_help OR fill out a /frontdesk ticket to “connect with a career coach” and ask for a cover letter review.

Who do I address my cover letter to? If you know the name of the hiring manager, put their name. If not, you can say “Hiring Manager”, “Hiring Committee”, or “Selection Committee”.

Best Practices in Cover Letter Writing

Always proofread for grammatical errors (downloading the Grammarly extension makes this easier for all application materials!)
The format/design/aesthetic of your cover letter should ideally match your resume- use the same font, accent color, design elements, etc.
If someone referred you to the position or you did an informational interview with someone who works at the company, it’s okay to name drop them in the cover letter! (Tip: if you’re dropping their name in the cover letter, give them a heads up)

Cover Letters in 3 Easy(ish) Steps!

Let’s walk through developing a cover letter step-by-step.

STEP 1: Read the job posting to identify top skills/themes for the position.

‍You’ll incorporate these themes in your letter. Highlight or bold the phrases, skills, themes and words you identify. For this example, we'll bold words and phrases.

Responsibilities:

Help build, enhance and maintain a web based version of Slack/Trello/Dropbox/DevTrack/YouTube
Develop systems that integrate between various software and across multiple platforms
Work closely with the entire team to facilitate their workflow and communication
Responsible for the entire stack, both server and client side
Additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed

Requirements & Skills:

Ability to create delightful interfaces using HTML5, CSS3, Javascript (ES6) & modern web frameworks (Angular, JQuery, Knockout)
Great understanding of the server architecture using Nginx, PHP, Node & Python
Very familiar with the web technology stack, using HTTP/S, WebSockets, cookies, authentication strategies (JWT, OAuth)
Experience with database design and query optimizations using MySQL, Redis, and NoSQL databases
DevOps experience maintaining Linux machines running Ubuntu
Familiar with AWS (EC2, S3, VPC, SQS, Lambda)

STEP 2: Choose a cover letter template that best fits your use case.

‍Templates can help get you started if you need guidance versus starting from scratch.

To easily make a copy of or copy and paste the cover letter templates below, open this google doc version of this article.

#1 Modern

State the role you’re applying for and why you’re interested in it. Share a brief anecdote about what drew you to the company/role- for example, if you’re passionate about or personally connected to a product they make or their mission, if an internal employee told you about the position, if you’re really interested in a specific aspect of the sector they work in, etc. This is a chance to make yourself stand out as a candidate. (Make sure you demonstrate you’ve done some research in the company.

Here is a highlight of what I think I could immediately bring to your team:

Skilled at user interface design: In my role at [previous job], I [action or accomplishment]. I was also able to showcase my [skill] abilities as a [role] in [project name] project by [what you did].
Experienced with your stack: I have always displayed my careful approach to [job duty] by [action]. At [Previous Company], I frequently [action]. In addition, I had the opportunity to [action or accomplishment], which further shows my dedication to [aspect of your field].
Certified in AWS ______ : Everything I have engaged in so far has all been driven by my keen interest in [aspect of your field]. Even as a [previous role], I made sure to dedicate some part of my day to [action]. It is this passion that has driven every one of my career decisions thus far.

I look forward to contributing my skills and experiences to the [position title] position at [Company] and hope to have the opportunity to speak with you further about how I can be an asset to your team.

Sincerely,

#2 Short Email Cover Letter

Dear Hiring Team:

As a Full Stack Developer with a successful record of building and optimizing applications within cross-functional and agile teams and experience driving iterations to improve the user experience, I am confident I can help [XYZ Company] achieve its goal of [knowledge of your employer’s plans and your responsibilities]. I am energized by the opportunity to solve [problem the company is facing or mission of the company], and I would love nothing more than to directly contribute and influence

Please find my resume attached in application for the ___________ [position title] opportunity, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. I look forward to hearing from you!

Best,

Your Name

‍

#3 Traditional Cover Letter Points to Hit
The following template helps you plan the content for the paragraphs you write. You should have no more than 4-5 paragraphs for a cover letter. Keep it down to one page.

Intro Paragraph:

State the role you’re applying for and why you’re interested in it.
Pick out the top 2-3 skills that you possess that make you a good fit for this role, and briefly state your experience with them (this should only take up one or two sentences).
Share a brief anecdote about what drew you to the company/role- for example, if you’re passionate about or personally connected to a product they make or their mission, if an internal employee told you about the position, if you’re really interested in a specific aspect of the sector they work in, etc. This is a chance to make yourself stand out as a candidate.

Body PARAGRAPH(S) (1-2 paragraphs):

Go over the 2-3 main skills identified in the intro paragraph, and go into detail about how you used them and HOW they relate to the job you’re applying for. Don’t make the reader guess how your experience relates to the job- it should be immediately clear.
Be specific and paint a picture. The person reading your cover letter first is likely a recruiter who may or may not have a technical background, so avoid overly-technical jargon and abbreviations.
Mirror the language in the job description whenever possible; look for verbs that you can incorporate, skills, software, etc. The reader will skim your cover letter quickly, and using familiar vocabulary will help you stand out.

Closing Paragraph:

Restate your interest in the role and the 2-3 skills (from your intro) that make you a fit.
Share contact information, and thank the reader for their consideration.

Sincerely,

‍

LinkedIn link

Portfolio link

(222) 222-2222

STEP 3: Customize your cover letter.

Speak to key requirements for the position that you highlighted and to tell them why the company why you are interested. Then, spell-check, proofread, submit!

Your interest answers the question: Why do you want to work here? Or on the product/service? What gets you excited about the possibility of joining the company?‍‍

Cover letter examples**

** If you have a cover letter that you’re proud of that OR you’d be willing to share in our library (we would remove identifying information), let a career coach know!

Additional Resources:

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