Cover Letter Outline: Answer These 9 Simple QuestionsAs a complement to my comprehensive cover letter format article, I offer you this cover letter outline, a brief list of questions to guide you in developing the perfect cover letter. Answer each question sequentially in the paragraph it belongs in for best results. Paragraph 1: Introduce Yourself Clearly - The Rapport 1) What specific job are you applying for? 2) How did you find out about this job opening? 3) Specifically state that you are attaching your resume for the employer’s consideration. Paragraph 2: Summary Statement or Thesis 4) Summarize your greatest accomplishments to date in the areas of technical skills, people skills, language and other specialized skills, employment, education and specialized knowledge that are strongly related to the requirements as specifically stated on the job description/posting Paragraph 3: Specific Evidence of Qualifications – The Mind Describe in detail one specific accomplishment from your work history. Use the situation-task-action-result (STAR) formula to describe: 5) a) At what company or organization were you working, and in which town/city and state/country? b) During what years? c) What task, assignment or project were you asked to complete? OR What regular duties were you asked to perform? d) What specific actions did you take to successfully complete the project, that demonstrated both your technical and people skills? e) What was the specific successful outcome of your actions? f) What longer-term positive impact did your actions have upon the team or organization you worked for? Paragraph 4: Demonstrate Your Interest or Express Your Inspiration – the Heart 6) Beyond the need to pay your bills, why do you feel passionately inspired to do this job, work for this employer, or continue in this profession? Paragraph 5: Conclusion and Follow-Up - the Ask 7) Briefly, what are you key qualifications again? (Very brief re-statement of paragraph 2 and/or 3) 8) Specifically request an interview. 9) Specifically state when you will follow up by phone with the employer. Alternate Formats to the 5-Paragraph Style Clients often ask me about alternatives to the 5-paragraph cover letter writing style. There are many, including two we will consider here: the 4-strengths and 2-column bullet-pointed list formats. 4 Strengths Cover Letter Outline Once you’ve learned the basic 5-paragraph style, you can bend the rules a little like I did in my social work cover letter sample. This approach focuses on one particular strength (usually a skill) in each paragraph. It incorporates the questions and related content of the 5-paragraph style, placing special emphasis on your strengths and how they will directly and positively impact your clients, customers and team members. For instance, in my social work cover letter sample I reserve one paragraph each to describe strengths or skills in the following areas: Leadership case management experience working with youth and empathy. You will have more success writing this style of cover letter outline after you have mastered the 5-paragraph style. 2 Columns with Bullet Points Some job searchers are using a newer model using two columns with bullet points. The left-hand column is labelled, “Your Requirements” and the right-hand column is listed as “My Qualifications” or something similar. The strategy here is to make it very clear right up front that your skills, experience and education are a perfect or very strong match to the job duties. While many employers prefer to see a standard, predictable and conservative cover letter outline, some employers may appreciate the brief, direct message this style offers. I tend to advise clients to take the safe bet and stick with the 5-paragraph style, in part because a 2-column approach lacks the personal warmth that the 5-paragraph style offers you in helping to build genuine rapport with employers. The "Scientific Method" of Cover Letter Writing I also like how one of my colleagues responds when asked about this 2-column cover letter outline by his clients. He says that he’s not sure how a given employer, or employers from a given occupational field will respond to this unusual style. The only way to tell for sure what is the best format to a cover letter is to try what my colleague refers to as “the scientific method.” He suggests that his clients try both the traditional (5-paragraph) and 2-column approach in their job search, and see which type of cover letter results in the most positive response from employers.
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