Article: Whether the company has requested a letter of interest with your resume or you’re sending a more exploratory inquiry letter, you should use the introductory paragraph to explain why you’re writing. This includes explaining who you are and what has sparked your interest in the company.  Refer to any recent media coverage, interviews, company press releases, or other information that shows you’ve done your homework regarding the company and what they do.  Highlight the position or types of positions you are interested in within the first few sentences. If a particular position is available, include the department or division of the company and indicate the source from which you learned about the position. Try to avoid starting the first sentence of the first paragraph with “I.” The majority of the letters the person who reads them receives will start this way, so avoid it to immediately set yourself apart. For example, “Your company’s CEO (use his or her name here as well) expressed some truly innovative ideas during a recent TED Talk. I’d love to be a part of what the company is working on, and I’ve written to inquire about any openings on the Production team.” Now that you’ve established your interest in the company, use the second paragraph to connect your skill set to the prospective employer. Use this space to highlight a few specific examples of what will truly make you an asset to the company.  Address specific criteria or requirements listed in the job advertisement or description. Match your skills and qualifications to the job's required qualifications. Do not simply repeat the information that the employer will find in your resume. Instead, take the opportunity to expand and contextualize select pieces of that information that communicate your potential value to the organization. For example, “During my two years with Company X, I worked as a Senior Producer, coordinating multiple teams of programmers and artists to help deliver content to clients on time. My teams never missed a milestone, and I think these are the organizational skills that can help your company’s next project succeed.” The point of the letter of interest is to set you apart, which you can’t do while using cliche language. The second paragraph is where you will most likely find yourself tempted to use self-marketing cliches, so be especially mindful of them as you compose this paragraph. Do not, for instance, write that you “think outside the box.” This isn’t only a cliche, but it also lacks concrete detail. Instead, write about a specific instance where you updated a process in a novel way that saved a previous company time and/or money. This concretely illustrates the idea without resorting to a cliche. Once you’ve explained what makes you the perfect candidate for the company, concisely conclude your letter with contact information and an explanation of any additional documents you’ve included, if applicable. Ensure that you provide both your telephone number and email address to give the recipient a way to reach out to you.  You may also choose to specify a time when you will contact the person’s office as a follow-up to your letter of interest.  For instance, “You will find both my resume and a breakdown of projects I produced for Company X attached. I would love the opportunity to discuss my qualifications with you further. You can reach me at…” Show gratitude for the recipient's time and consideration as you finish the letter. Establishing yourself as respectful and professional can help you in the future, even if there are no positions available with the company presently. While longer than a cover letter, you should still keep a letter of interest to a page or less. Always remember that the person reading the letter likely has a busy schedule, and concision shows that you both respect the recipient’s time and know how to get to the point. If you’ve gone over a page, review the first two paragraphs closely to find spots where you can pare down the language. Go over your letter before sending it while keeping in mind that simple is always a better approach. Take this opportunity to remove passive verbs in favor of clearer, active ones, and remove any language that comes across as too flowery or exaggerated. This is also the time to use a fine-tooth comb on the letter to find any typos, misspellings, run-on sentences (comma splices especially), sentence fragments, or anything else that could immediately send your resume to the “pass” pile.
What is a summary of what this article is about?
Use the first paragraph to explain why you’re writing. Market yourself and your qualifications in the second paragraph. Avoid cliches. Use the third paragraph to conclude your letter and provide contact information. Close the letter with a thank you. Keep the letter to a page or less. Proofread the letter.