Resumes & Letters: Letters of Employment

It is essential to send a cover letter with your resume to provide a recruiter with insight into your qualifications, experience, and motivation for seeking a position. The letter also conveys your personal communication style, tone, and professionalism. An effective employment letter should:

• Be targeted and personalized
• State why you are interested in the company
• Explain how you can fill a need
• Convey your enthusiasm about the opportunity
• Suggest next steps for communication and action

Types of Letters

• Referral/Approach Letters

  Referral/Approach Letters create opportunities to expand your network and gain insight into your target industry or company.

• Informational Interview Request Letters

  Informational Interview Request Letters help you get information about a new industry or job when you're looking to change careers.

• Executive Recruiter Contact Letters

  Executive Recruiter Contact Letters outline your interests (i.e., industry, function, position, geographic) and highlight your achievements for executive search firms.

• Broadcast Letters

  Broadcast Letters notify an organization of your interest and request a meeting in the absence of a specific job opportunity.

• Thank You Letters

  Thank You Letters demonstrate that you are thorough, courteous, and efficient. They also serve as an opportunity to ask follow up questions or highlight something you failed to mention during an interview.

• Turndown Letters

  Turndown Letters thank an employer for considering your candidacy. By sending a letter even when you do not receive a job offer, you increase the likelihood that you will be reconsidered for a position if circumstances change.

Guidelines

• Start With Research

  Investigate your target company. What is the company's "breaking news?" What drives their business? What are their greatest challenges and opportunities? How can you contribute? The Job/Career Research section of eBaker can help with your research.

• Choose an Approach

  • The "Attention Grabber" Method

  Outline your objectives using relevant information that attracts the attention of the reader.

  Salutation

  Address the letter to a specific person. Capture the reader's attention and briefly introduce yourself.
  Mention the referral/company contact, if applicable.
  State the purpose of your letter.

  Body

  Describe relevant information you discovered about the company.
  Discuss the position offered or the position you are looking for.
  Detail how your skills will benefit the company.

  Closing

  Convey your enthusiasm.
  Anticipate response.

  • The "Given-Since-Therefore" Method

  This method answers the reader's questions in a logical flow.

  Given

  Question: Who are you?
  Why are you writing?
  Why are you credible?
  What do you want?

  Answer: I am an HBS...
  I read/saw/heard...
  (Name) suggested...
  I would like...

  Since

  Question: Why are you special?
  What can you contribute?

  Answer: I have done/can do...
  My added value is...

  Therefore

  Question: What do I do about it?

  Answer: Read my resume.
  Invite me to interview.
  Meet with me for an informational interview.

• Always Proofread

  Pay close attention to sentence structure, spelling, and punctuation. Always print your letter to check for typographical errors. Have a friend, colleague, or family member review your letter whenever possible.

Follow-up

• After the Letter

  Tell the reader when and how you will be in contact in your cover letter. For example: "I will call you during the week of February 5 to introduce myself and check your availability." Always follow through!

• After the Interview

  Send a thank you note as soon as possible. If you meet with more than one person in a company, send each a different letter. You may e-mail professionals in a high tech company. Thank you notes to an individual in an investment bank or consulting firm in the United States should be typed and printed on fine stationery.

• After the Interview

  Cover letters are the place to briefly address the gap in your career. Explain your absence briefly and directly. For example, "I am returning to the workforce after a period of raising children." Then address your strengths, qualifications and goals. Emphasize your excitement and preparedness to re-enter the workforce now.

Samples

• Letters of Employment
  • Response to Identified Advertisement (PDF - requires Adobe Acrobat)
  • Informational Interview Request (PDF - requires Adobe Acrobat)
  • Acceptance Letter After Offer (PDF - requires Adobe Acrobat)
• Thank You Letters
  • Thank You after Interview (PDF - requires Adobe Acrobat)
  • Thank You after Informational Interview (PDF - requires Adobe Acrobat)
  • Thank You Letter: Information Meeting that Could Turn Into a Job Opportunity (PDF - requires Adobe Acrobat)
  • Thank You Letter: Follow-up to Phone Call (PDF - requires Adobe Acrobat)
  • Thank you letter: Follow-up to Information Meeting (PDF - requires Adobe Acrobat)