Writing Effective Cover Letters - Tips from UC Davis School of Law
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 résumé
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 résumé
◦
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 résumé 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
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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Presentation Transcript
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
