Cover letter

A cover letter is a letter of introduction to a potential employer and usually accompanies a résumé or curriculum vitae. While cover letters vary in format, the main goal of a cover letter is to highlight a few specific points in the job seeker's experience and skills that match or exceed the requirements of the position for which s/he is applying.

A cover letter rarely exceeds a page in length and does not attempt to merely summarize one's resume, but rather illuminate the connections between the elements of one's resume (experience and education) and the requirements of the advertised position.

The cover letter can be emailed to a potential employer as an attachment, cut and pasted into the body of an email, or sent through regular mail.