Writing Effective Letters

Emphasize your positive assets and skills. Be as

specific as possible about the type of position you
are seeking and tie this to your knowledge of the
organization and its products, services, business, or
core mission.

Objectives
1. Develop a system to keep your
communications with employers organized
during your job search.
2. Identify types of letters to use in your job
search.
3. Know what to do and what not do when
writing a letter.
4. View sample letters.
5. Access additional sources of help.

Develop a System
Before you send any letters, it is important you
devise some way of keeping track of when and
what you have sent. For instance, if you send a letter
to Mr. X asking for an interview and offer to call
him during the week of June 6, you need to have
that date on record so you can be sure to meet that
commitment. If you are sending out 40 letters to
various employers, it can be critical to know what
you have said in a particular letter in order to follow
it up with accuracy. Two methods of organizing your
letter campaign are to use a chart or file system.

Chart System
Create a chart with columns for the prospective
employers name, the person contacted, the date sent,
any commitments you made in the letter, and followup actions taken. Make another chart showing the
response you received from each letter with column
headings, such as prospective employers name,
person who replied, date of reply, and action taken.
Keep these charts current and file the letters you
receive. This can be done electronically or in a more
traditional manner, depending on your style. The
main idea is to have a system.

File System
Save copies of all the letters you send and file them
in an electronic or paper folder. Set up another folder
for the correspondence you receive that requires
further action on your part and a third folder
for your rejection letters. The file system can be
especially helpful because you can access previous
correspondence when composing additional letters.
You also can look back over the letters and e-mails
you have sent and see which ones were the most
effective in generating interviews.

Whats Inside
Dos and Donts of Letter Writing...............2
Choice of Cover Letter Format......................2
Other Types of Letters....................................3
Additional Resources.....................................4
Cover Letter Outline: Semi-block Format....5
Sample Cover Letter: Block Format..............6
Sample Cover Letter: Modified Block..........7

Choice of Cover Letter Format

Although there are a variety of styles, formats, and
content elements, there are two basic formats which
may aid you in writing an individualized letter of
application.

Broadcast Letter
This type of letter is used to broadcast your
availability to many employers in your field without
composing a separate letter for each one. Although
it is not usually used to pursue a specific job lead,
it is wise to personalize it. Examples: I am writing
to highlight my qualifications for a position as an
account executive at.... or I am very aware of the
changing role of the nurse in todays (hospital, clinic,
etc.). By inserting the appropriate word or phrase,
you can tailor each correspondence with much less
effort than individually composed letters.

Targeted Approach
This approach is used to investigate a specific job
lead. You may be answering an ad or investigating
a suggestion offered from the Career Center, a
relative, friend, faculty member, etc. It is important
to thoroughly read and reread the job advertisement
to determine the potential employers needs. This
way, you can demonstrate how your abilities can
be applied to meet those needs. You also can make
reference to specific information you discovered
through conversations or by doing research about the
organization.
Tailor your letter to the job description specified
in the ad. Some reading between the lines may be
necessary so you can customize your response. Be
sure to:
yy Apply for the job posting as soon as possible
after it appears. However, make sure you
allow yourself enough time to adequately
prepare.
yy Be as creative as possible. Make sure your
letter stands out from the wave of response
letters the employer is sure to receive.
yy Follow the instructions carefully regarding
where the response should be directed and
what to include (e.g., rsum, statement of
geographic preference, etc.)
yy Answer all questions, if provided, with
the exception of responding to a request
for salary requirements. In this case, it is
advisable to
2

Dos and Donts of Letter Writing

Do
yy Follow rules of layout and format of a
standard business letter.
yy Slant letter toward what you can offer
employers, not what they should be
offering you.
yy Whenever possible, address to an
individual, with his/her correct title.
yy Spell, punctuate, and format correctly
in print and email communication.
yy Write in your own words and use
conversational language.
yy Hand-sign in addition to typing your
signature (unless the letter is sent
electronically).
yy Use quality paper.
yy Be brief, concise, and to the point.
yy Close with a direct request for some
sort of action (phone call, initial
meeting).
yy Take advantage of any link to the
employer that can give you an edge
over the competition (mentioning the
name of someone you know in the
organization or a mutual contact).
yy If including an attachment with an
email to an employer, make sure the
document can be easily opened (a PDF,
for example).

Dont
yy Use overly formal language or use
words incorrectly.
yy Use gimmicks in an attempt to be
original or clever.
yy Lead with constant use of I.
yy Be arrogant or indicate the employer
would be lucky to hire you.
yy Be excessively emphatic about your
reliability, capacity for hard work, or
intelligence. This kind of self-appraisal
is usually best understated. The
appearance and tone of your letter and
rsum can say more about you than
you can gracefully say about yourself.

Writing Effective Letters

avoid the question and simply indicate that it

is open or negotiable.
yy Be brief! Letters should be individualized,
concise, and factual.
yy Always consider the reaction of employers
by putting yourself in their place. Try to
determine what accomplishments and skills
would be most attractive to a particular
employer.
yy Be straightforward, professional, and
businesslike remember you are selling
yourself. As with the rsum, stick to the
facts.

Remember that the primary purpose of the letter is to

get you in the door for the interview make sure the
letter has an impact.
Examples:
yy My academic background, together with my
work experience, has prepared me to function
especially well as a Marketing Specialist for
IBM.
yy I am impressed by your continual growth
through grant-funded activities.
yy My teaching experience and research skills
are directly related to the departments core
program activities.
See the Cover Letter Outline included in this guide.

Inquiry Letter
First, prepare a list of organizations which
complement the position you are seeking, as well
as your interest and training. Then, write a letter of
inquiry to contact employers requesting employment
information. It is important to research the
organization as much as possible to give credibility
and insight to your contact letter. In your letter:
yy Write to a specific person within the
organization. As a general rule, send the
letter to the Employment, Recruitment or
Personnel manager in the Personnel or
Human Resources Department. Directing
your letter to the key executive or manager in
the department to which you are applying is
also advisable. If the contact persons name is
not available, address your letter: To whom
it may concern or Dear representative.

Writing Effective Letters

yy State your exact interest in the organization

and explain why they should be interested in
you. The more you know about employers,
the easier it will be to tailor your letter to their
needs and interests.
yy Emphasize your positive assets and skills.
Be as specific as possible about the type
of position you are seeking and tie this to
your knowledge of the organization and its
products, services, or business.
yy State when you would be available to meet
for an interview and include a phone number
and/or e-mail where you can most easily be
reached. You can also write that you will
follow up via phone or email within a certain
time frame.

Interview Appreciation Letter

Following the interview, send a thank you letter or
email expressing appreciation for the interviewers
time. Not only is this an accepted courtesy, your
letter can also refresh your session in the mind of the
interviewer. In your letter:
yy Express appreciation for the interviewers
consideration and arrangement of the
meeting.
yy State the date of the interview and name of
the employer.
yy Reiterate your interest in the employer by
mentioning new points or assets you may
have forgotten to address in the original
interview.
yy Ask any questions you may have which were
not answered in the original interview.
yy Express your anticipation to receive word
regarding a decision.

Letter of Acknowledgment
Once you have received an offer from an
organization, it is important to respond as soon as
possible. While an immediate yes or no is not
essential, acknowledgment of the offer is expected. In
your letter:
yy Acknowledge receipt of the offer.
yy Express your appreciation for the offer.
yy Notify the employer of the date by which you
expect to make your decision.

Letter of Acceptance

Additional Resources

Once you have decided to accept the offer, the

employer should be notified immediately. It is not
necessary to wait until the offer expiration date
before contacting the person making the offer.
Employers will appreciate your promptness, as it
will allow them to assess the status of their personnel
selection process. In your letter:

For further assistance in the development of your

letter(s), the following resources are available.

yy Acknowledge your receipt of the offer by

letter, face-to-face meeting, or telephone call
on the date it occurred.
yy Be as specific as possible, mentioning starting
salary and supervisors name. Be sure to
list and detail all items (benefits, moving
expenses, etc.) agreed to in the offer.
yy State when you will be able to report to work.
Acknowledge if employment is contingent on
events, such as graduation, certification, etc.
yy Express appreciation to your contact person
and anyone else who has been particularly
helpful.

1. Sections I, IV, and V in the Career Center

Library contain books, chapters, or partial
units on letter preparation. Check Career Key
for specific resources.
2. Attend one of the combination cover letter
and rsum writing workshops held in
the Career Center periodically during the
semester. A schedule of these workshops
is available on the Career Center website,
www.career.fsu.edu.
3. Review Sample Letters in notebooks at the
Career Center Library in section V.
4. Read Job Choices, available through the Career
Center, particularly the letter strategy and
sample section.
5. Have your letter(s) critiqued by a career
advisor.

yy Ask if any other information is required, or if

additional details should be attended to prior
to reporting.

Letter of Declination
As a matter of courtesy, a letter of declination is due
to those organizations whose offers you are rejecting.
Despite the negative nature of the correspondence,
it is vital that these employers know your decisions.
Such a letter often follows a telephone call, making
your decision a matter of record and avoiding any
confusion arising from verbal communication. In
your letter:
yy Express your appreciation for the offer.
yy State the exact position for which you were
being considered.
yy Mention the name of your potential
supervisor.
yy Decline graciously.
yy Briefly explain the reason for your choice,
sticking to the facts.
yy Do not profusely apologize as it is
not necessary. Simply re-express your
appreciation.
*Cover letter formats adapted from The Princeton
Reviews Job Notes: Cover Letters, by L. Michelle
Tullier.
4

Writing Effective Letters

Cover Letter Outline: Semi-Block Format

Your Name
Your Present Address
City, State, Zip Code
Date
Ms. Jane Blank
Title
Organization
Street Address
City, State, Zip Code
Dear Ms. Blank:
1st Paragraph Tell why you are writing; name the position, field, or general career
area in which you are interested. Tell how you heard of the opening or organization
(this is especially important if you were referred by a mutual contact). Provide
information about what you know about them and their position.
2nd Paragraph Mention one or two of your qualifications that you believe will be of
greatest interest to the organization, slanting your remarks to their point of view. Tell
why you are particularly interested in the employer, location, or type of work. If you
have had related experience or specialized training, be sure to point it out. Refer the
reader to the enclosed application form, rsum, or the fact that the XYZ Career Center
has your full credentials on file and will send them to provide additional information
concerning your background and interests. Make sure to explicitly express why they
should hire you!
3rd Paragraph Close by making a request for an opportunity to talk with the
employer. Indicate that you will follow up with a phone call or email about the
possibility of a meeting. If your request is not concerning an interview, but more
information about the organization and current job openings, you can request that the
information be sent electronically. Prior to requesting this information, make sure it
is not readily available on the organizations website. Thank the employer for his/her
consideration of your application materials.
Sincerely,

Your Handwritten Signature

Your typed name

Encl.

Writing Effective Letters

Sample Cover Letter: Block Format (the most acceptable and formal)

Jennifer Stevenson
222 Ocala Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32306
September 16, 2013
Mr. Alex Johnson
Vice President
Johnson & Johnson, Medical Products Division
One Johnson & Johnson Plaza
New Brunswick, NJ 08933
Dear Mr. Johnson:
I am currently a senior at Florida State University and will graduate with honors
this spring with a degree in Biology. My goal is to pursue a position as a medical
sales representative with Johnson & Johnson upon graduation in August. In
this position, I hope to contribute to a professional environment of committed
employees working together to achieve goals by Johnson & Johnson.
While attending Florida State University, I have held many leadership positions,
which required organization, discipline, and commitment. These experiences
have provided the opportunity for me to obtain wisdom and understanding
in guiding a group of individuals. Through my academic achievements, I have
gained acceptance to several honor societies, including Phi Beta Kappa, and
university-wide recognition for dedication to leadership in the form of the Golden
Key Leadership Award. My academic achievements, combined with experience
in sales and marketing, will enable me to play a strong role as an employee with
Johnson & Johnson.
I have enclosed my rsum and look forward to discussing an opportunity to
interview for a professional position with Johnson & Johnson. I will follow up in
the next week regarding this request. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,

Jennifer Stevenson
Encl.

Writing Effective Letters

Sample Cover Letter: Modified Block

Mary Ross
Human Resources Manager
Guess, Inc.
1444 South Alameda Street
Los Angeles, CA 90021

Joanne Taylor
105 Seminole Lane, #100
Tallahassee, FL 32304
September 23, 2013

Dear Ms. Ross:

I am interested in the spring 2014 merchandising or retail buying internship in
California or New York with Guess, which was advertised on the Guess website.
My experience in retail sales and customer relations, combined with my courses
in fashion merchandising at Florida State University, makes me an excellent
candidate for an internship position with Guess.
Your internship position requires past experience and knowledge in retail.
I have worked in three Express stores, where I received several awards for
outstanding sales performance. My work at Express also helped me develop
a greater understanding of customer relations. In addition, the Fashion
Merchandising program at Florida State has taught me countless business skills
to further my career. A recent presentation I gave as part of a group project in my
Merchandising class resulted in praise from the professor and the highest grade
for the group. Many of my portfolios also received high marks and approval
from several professors in my program. I have enclosed a rsum with additional
details of my qualifications.
My experiences and education match well with your internship requirements,
and I am genuinely interested in a position with Guess. I would appreciate the
opportunity to discuss how my experiences would benefit Guess and will contact
you within a week to see if a meeting can be arranged. If you have any questions,
please call me at (850) 474-7214 or email [email protected]. Thank you for your time
and consideration.
Sincerely,

Joanne Taylor

Writing Effective Letters

Alternative Format Available.

Revised 9/13.
850.644.6431

career.fsu.edu