Writing Effective Cover Letters - Tips from UC Davis School of Law
Learn the essentials of writing a compelling cover letter from UC Davis School of Law's Office of Career Services. Understand the purpose of cover letters, what to include, and how to structure them effectively to secure job interviews. Gain insights into crafting a tailored cover letter that highlights your qualifications and communication skills to impress potential employers.
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Writing Effective Cover Letters UC Davis School of Law Office of Career Services Alec Nocco anocco@ucdavis.edu
Cover Letter Basics What is a cover letter? A document that explains your job goals, education, job history Cover letters also explain why you are capable of filling the job position Why do I need a cover letter? Employers use cover letters to Get more information than provided on r sum Read about your skills See if you can write/communicate Decide which applicant will be interviewed
The Basics What should my cover letter contain? Heading Introduction Body paragraphs (support information) Closing Only one page
The Basics What should my cover letter accomplish? Show employer you have tailored the letter to the company, job Explain your experiences in a clear way that matches the information from your r sum Explain your experiences that relate to the job you want Explain how your experiences/skills will help the employer fulfill job requirements Provide a good example of your communication skills
Cover Letter Header Tip: Put your resume header at the top of your cover letter. Then: Date you are writing Address of the employer Greeting to specific person if possible If specific person isn t available use Dear Hiring Manager:
Introductory Paragraph Main goal: Introduce yourself and explain what you are seeking. Do not start with My name is Opening sentence -Who you are (LLM student at University of California, Davis School of Law) and what you are seeking/why you are writing. Mention contact you know at employer/name of referral (get contact s consent)
Introductory Paragraph Explain why them and any particular practice area interest you have. Be sure that the office practices in the areas you list! Can express sincere admiration/awareness of the work they do. List any ties to the geographic area if its not evident from your resume: Family or friends Lived there previously/undergrad there Spent significant time there
Second Paragraph: Your Experience Why should they select YOU. What YOU bring to the table-how your skills, experiences and education fit the position and benefit the employer. Discuss previous experience where you developed/refined transferable skills. For most people, one paragraph is sufficient. Do not restate your resume. TIP: Use no more than two examples from your r sum to support your points Employers want to see what you can offer them, not just what you want to gain from them!
Experience: Transferable Skills Analytical thinking Problem identification/definition Writing/drafting Research Problem Solving Communication Decision Making
Experience: Transferable Skills Time Management Logical/independent thinking Organization Negotiation Synthesizing information/data Leadership/ability to take initiative
Letter Language Avoid weak language: I worked as an intern at the Prison Law Clinic Strong language: At the UC Davis Prison Law Clinic, I interviewed incarcerated clients, researched criminal law and procedure issues, and drafted and filed various motions. Translate professional language employers may not know.
The Close: Final Paragraph Thank reader for time and consideration of your application. Can reiterate interest in position/employer. Give contact email and phone number (or state that contact information is in header) If you will be in the area over semester break, give date range/availability to meet.
Final Thoughts Proofread it and have at least one other person review it. Develop a base cover letter that you can rework for different employers. Save each cover letter for future reference. Follow-Up-Approx. 2 week follow up with e-mail.
Final Thoughts Examples and Additional Instructions are available on the intranet at: https://intranet.law.ucdavis.edu/communit y/career/cover-letters.aspx Always send cover letters to Career Services for Review! CAREERSERVICES@LAW.UCDAVIS.EDU
