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Written by Jason R. Wolfe
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Monday, 08 October 2007 01:39 |
The cover letter is a critical part of the application packet regardless of whether it’s an application for a clerkship, an internship or a job. The cover letter expresses your interest in the position and also serves to explain certain items on your resume. By understanding what purpose the cover letter serves, we are able to craft a letter that will get you from the big stack of resumes to the short stack.
What is important to remember about cover letters is that alone they cannot provide much in the way of insight into the person drafting the letter. The insight is gained from the resume itself where work experience and education are listed. However without a cover letter that is well thought out and well drafted a resume is nothing more than a list. Taken together, a good cover letter and a good resume provide the prospective employer with a reflection of what you have done and what you are capable of. So with that in mind, here are a few tips.
First, be enthusiastic not only about you but about the position to which you are applying. Showing a little excitement for the position lets the employer know that you are sincere and truly want to work. For instance, instead of closing the letter with the traditional “…thank you for your consideration and I look forward to talking further with you about the position…”, try something a little more colorful such as “…I am excited to learn more about the position and will be in touch soon to discuss this opportunity further…”
It is also important when composing a cover letter to clearly express what you are interested in. A simple way to ensure this is in the “Re:” line. This is the line directly under the addressee’s information that immediately alerts the reader to what the letter is in response to, it is here that you should be both precise and concise. A good rule of thumb is to use the job title given in the announcement (e.g. associate attorney, or summer clerk, etc.).
Keep in mind that the cover letter is a written document and will be viewed by possible employers. A well-written cover letter is your first chance to showcase your writing ability, a skill that is to lawyers what steady hands are to a surgeon. Ideally, the cover letter will not only explain what position you hope to obtain but also serves the dual purpose of highlighting your skill as a writer.
Write with confidence and clarity and the cover letter will be seen as a complement to rather than a distraction from your resume. By using the cover letter, properly written, as a method of ensuring to the reader that you are able to form sentences in a logical and well-thought-out way, the reader will be more likely to look favorably on the resume that follows. If on the other hand, the cover letter is poorly drafted the reader will be soured even before moving on to the resume.
You should also be sure to proofread your cover letter to the point of seeming ridiculous. There are few things that will get your resume placed promptly at the bottom of the pile (or in the proverbial “circular file”) quicker than spelling and grammatical errors in your cover letter and resume. Take the time to make sure the letter is correct, a good tip is after you have checked it once, read the entire letter backwards, one word at a time. This allows you to look at each word alone, sometimes our eyes can create what ought to be there simply out of the habit of reading. Also, do not rely too much on spell-check, it is a useful tool however it too is susceptible to errors.
Finally, be aware that most law schools have a career center that is staffed with professionals to help you polish your resume and cover letters. Take advantage of this resource. This is an office that is tasked with helping students find employment and regardless of the job market this is of enormous benefit to the student. These offices will not write your documents for you but they will work with you to hone the final product so that it reflects the way in which you can add value to the employer, and adding value is the name of the game.
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