Professional
Development
Center
817-257-7539
pdc@tcu.edu
neeley.tcu.edu/pdc
PROFESSIONALISM AND THE NEELEY PROMISE
ACCOUNTABILIT Y
Neeley students demonstrate and display a willingness to accept responsibility and to acknowledge
outcomes resulting from personal actions, behaviors, and choices. This means meeting deadlines in spite
of external barriers, being on-time and prepared for classes and appointments, and acting in a manner
that promotes positive interactions with peers.
COMMITMENT
Neeley students invest time and effort to maximize the value of the Neeley experience for themselves
while enhancing it for others. This means making intentional decisions about which activities and
experiences to engage in that will lead to growth and advancement towards personal and professional
goals. By doing this, the “Do I have to?” mindset is subdued.
OWNERSHIP
Neeley students exhibit ownership by understanding that they alone are in control of their experience.
This means taking initiative to improve knowledge and skills by leveraging resources and relationships and
accepting that the results of personal efforts are an indicator of personal performance.
The Neeley School of Business unleashes human potential with
leadership at the core and innovation in our spirit.
TABLE OF CON T E N T S
CR E A T E Y O UR CO V E R L E T T E R - A N D B E P A T I E N T .......................................................................... 1
ST E P 1: HE A D I N G .............................................................................................................................. 1
ST E P 2: W H A T T O I N C L UD E ............................................................................................................ 1
ST E P 3: C O NS I D E R A T I O N S .............................................................................................................. 1
CO V E R L E T T E R D E V E L O P M E N T W O R K S H E E T ....................................................................................... 1
1. CO M P A N Y R E SE A R C H ................................................................................................................ 1
2. DE T E R M I N E Y O UR F O C U S B A S E D O N T H E J O B ........................................................................ 1
3. WR I T E Y O U R L ETTER ................................................................................................................ 1
SA M P L E C O V E R L E T T E R FO R M AT ....................................................................................................... 2
SA M P L E C O V E R L ETTER ....................................................................................................................... 3
KEY PO I N T S T O R E M E M B E R ................................................................................................................ 4
CO V E R L ETTER M I S T A K E S ................................................................................................................... 5
1
CREA TE YOUR COVE R LE T T E R - A N D B E PATIENT
A cover letter is an introduction and a marketing device. A well-written cover letter highlights your specific
experience and skills.
ST E P 1: HE A D I N G
• Left-justified is most common
• If you are applying for an opportunity locally, use your TCU address - If you are applying for an
opportunity in your hometown, use your home address
• Include the current date
• It’s best to address your cover letter to a specific person. If you need a name, first check
Handshake’s Employer directory. If you don’t find a name there, check LinkedIn, the
company’s website, and use your network. If you still come up empty, then be comfortable
using Dear Hiring Team: OR Dear Hiring Committee:
• Include the requisition or job number, if available
ST E P 2: WH A T T O IN C L U D E
Introduction:
• Use a colon rather than a comma in your line of greeting
• Limit your introduction to two or three strong sentences to make a quick connection with your reader
• Use this paragraph to highlight something about the company that attracts you and how you
heard about the opportunity
Core of your Letter:
• Focus on your background and how your experiences align with the job description
• Your letter should be different for each position you apply for and should tie into the job
requirements
• Be specific - don’t simply say that you “have good people skills” - instead, highlight an
example that shows you have people skills
• Don’t try to impress by incorporating lexical diversity - keep it simple
• Use professional language - phrases such as, “I would love this opportunity” are not
appropriate
• It is okay to use “I” statements - use them sparingly
Action and Closing:
• Close with a strong reminder of why you are a good match for the position and the organization
• Remember to provide your contact information in the closing
• If you are mailing or bringing a copy of your letter to an interview, be sure to sign your letter
where indicated in the example on page 7
ST E P 3: CO N S I D E R A T I ON S
• Spacing is an important aspect of any business letter- pay attention to the spacing
guidelines on the samples provided
• All spacing in the example assumes Word is using single-spacing
• Be concise in your letter
• Proofread and edit carefully
• Fonts should not be overly artistic- Calibri or Ariel are strongly recommended
• Font size should be between 10.5 - 12, no less and no more
• Margins should be one inch on each side and on top and bottom
• Closing should be Sincerely
1
COV E R LET T E R DE V E L O P MENT WO R K S H E E T
1. CO MPANY RE S E A R C H
Paragraph 1:
A. Position applying for
B. Contacts/Referrals to reference
C. News story or recent company activity that relates to the position/department/location
D. Reason you are applying to this company specifically
2. DETERMI N E Y OUR F OCUS B A S E D O N T H E JOB
A. What skills/qualities does the employer
want when filling this job?
B. Of those, what are the top two skills
you possess?
C. List your top 2 skills in the blanks below.
Think of a time when you have
demonstrated these skills. What three
things will you emphasize about the
example that showcase your skills?
Paragraph 2 Skill:
Bridge: What can you say about this example that relates your skills/experience to the job? Wraps up
the paragraph.
Paragraph 3 Skill:
Bridge: What can you say about this example that relates your skills/experience to the job? Wraps up
the paragraph.
3. WR I T E Y O U R LE T T E R
2
SA M P L E COVER LE T TE R FO R MAT
Your Name
Address
City, State Zip
Date
Contact Name
Title
Company
Address
City, State Zip
Dear Mr./Ms.:
Paragraph 1—Why are you applying to this company and to this position? Why them?
Research the company and find something valuable to open with
Be brief
Paragraph 2—Why hire you? Example 1
Tell them something beyond the resume
Be focused and avoid trying to put too much information in the letter
Paragraph 3—Why hire you? Example 2
Share something that highlights a relevant skill they would like to see in this position
Paragraph 4—The closing
Thank them for their consideration
Be sure to include your contact information
Sincerely,
Your Name
3
SA M P L E COVER LE T TE R
Roger Roddick
123 Wimbledon Drive
Fort Worth, TX 76129
November 20, 20xx
Kelly Williams
Human Resource Manager
Wimbledon Corporation
14456 Center Court Drive
Fort Worth, TX 76123
RE: Req#25793
Dear Mr. Williams:
Wimbledon’s recent Content Marketing award for 20xx by the National Marketers Coalition speaks
highly to its reputation and aligns with my value for quality. Susan Cates, who works in the digital media
department, informed me about the Marketing Analyst position and encouraged me to apply.
During my internship at ABC Marketing Group, I was charged with developing an infographic summarizing
the company’s core services. This project initially required patience as finding time to meet with
supervisors and managers in other departments was challenging. During my conversations, I listened well,
took notes, and asked the right questions which allowed me to create an effective infographic that the
company is currently using as a way to attract new customers.
As a young professional, I understand the value of learning quickly. Last summer as an intern at KW
Industries, I was placed on the frontlines to grow the business. Through cold calling, I established sales
leads and increased the company’s appearances at tradeshows through effective networking. It was an
experience that taught me resilience and persistence. These past positions have provided me with
knowledge and skills that will prove valuable as a Marketing Analyst at Wimbledon.
Thank you for your time in considering me for this opportunity and I look forward to visiting with you
about this position in greater detail. Should you need further information, you may contact me at 555-
512-5525 or by email at r.roddick@tcu.edu.
Sincerely,
(Insert digital signature here - optional)
Roger Roddick
4
KEY POI NT S T O RE M E MBER
RE: Email addresses
Keep your email address professional; wann[email protected]om – no.
RE: Cover letter greetings
It’s best to address your cover letter to a specific person. If you need a
name, first check Handshake’s Employer directory. If you don’t find a
name there, check LinkedIn, the company’s website, and use your
network. If you still come up empty, then be comfortable using Dear
Hiring Team: OR Dear Hiring Committee:
RE: Electronic signatures
You can leave the signature space blank when sending a cover letter
electronically. If you would like to include your signature, create an image of
your signature that you can insert into electronic documents.
RE: Format for emailing cover letters
PDF is the most stable, meaning that your formatting will remain unchanged
by the recipient's computer configurations.
Word - everyone has a version of it. The various versions mean your formatting
may get messed up when an employer opens it.
Emailing to employer - Save your cover letter using your name and be sure to fill
the subject line with the job position title or job number. Example of a name
Last, First_ Cover Letter_PoisitionTitleJobNumber
RE: Bullets, bold, and italics
Use these effectively and it can make your cover letter easier to read. Most
recruiting personnel do an initial 30-second review of your cover letter and
decide on which pile to place you in. Make it easy for them to read and follow.
RE: Consistency
Be sure your cover letter has the same contact information with the same
font. Popular fonts include Calibri and Ariel. Font sizes should be no smaller
than 10.5 and no larger than 12.
5
COV E R LE T TE R MI S TA K E S
Not investing the necessary effort
The amount of effort you put into this document is a direct indication of how much you think
you are worth. It takes several drafts to create a good cover letter. If you create yours in 20
minutes, you are selling yourself short.
Grammar, Spelling, and Formatting
This is by far the most frequent oversight in cover letters and resumes. Employers will remove
you from consideration for poor format or spelling and grammar mistakes on cover letters and
resumes.
Having a one-letter-fits-all mentality
Each position requires a different cover letter. You should tailor your letter to the specifics of
the job or internship you are applying for. If you do not, you are missing opportunities to better
your chances of being selected. Be sure to adjust the name of each cover letter to reflect to
correct company name and job title.
Lots of buzzwords, but no content
You may be “an energetic leader capable of motivating others”, but if you do not specify
examples, it comes off as hot air and counts for nothing.
Overusing “I”
Be sparing with “I” statements. This can lead to a perception of boasting or being
unprofessional. It’s okay to use “I” statements, just be selective when you use “I”. Look for
stronger ways to organize sentences where you can.
Simply repeating the resume
Use your cover letter as a way to provide greater insight about your experiences that make you
qualified to work at the selected company.
Using words that are empty and not descriptive
Outstanding, effective, strong, exceptional, driven, motivated, and energetic are all words that
tend to be overused. Be intentional with your word choice.
6
Neeley School of
Business
Professional
Development
Center
NEEL 2212
817-257-7539
[email protected]
neeley.tcu.edu/pdc
Professional Series:
Interviewing
Resumes