The cover letter is the first part of your application read by a potential employer, and it is considered the "first impression" you make on the company. The cover letter is the one part of your application in which you may speak freely about why you should have the job, and about your specific qualifications. A well-written cover letter also tells your potential employer that you are serious about the job, and that you are serious about success. A cover letter is meant to get the reader excited about having you as an applicant. If you are sending cover letters to more than one employer, don’t forget to individualize the letter to the particular employer - not just the address (which is done automatically by the A+ Summer Jobs cover letter tool), but the content as well.
While the cover letter does allow room for creativity in the manner in which you express yourself, there are certain stylistic rules that must be adhered to if your cover letter is to be taken seriously. While there are several variations of the standard cover letter, we have chosen a model that is both easy to prepare and attractive to the eye for the default.
A. Your Name and Address: This information is automatically added by the cover letter tool. Note that the address in the cover letter is the address in your personal profile. To change that address, click on "Update Contact Info" in the my A+ Summer Jobs area.
B. Date: The date is automatically inserted for you. The date is set to the date you actually submit your application.
D. Greeting: Again, this is automatically entered for you by the cover letter tool.
For example:
Dear Outdoor Adventure Tours:
Notice the use of a colon, rather than a comma, after the greeting. That is standard procedure in a business letter.
