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Your address
City, State, Zip

Date

Letter Recipient’s Name
Recipient’s Title (Director, President, Editor…)
Company name
Address
City, State, Zip

Dear Mr. or Ms.  ______:

First Paragraph:  State the specific position or type of work for which you are applying and indicate how you learned of the opening. If you are writing a letter of inquiry (this means you are not writing to apply for an advertised position), then you might discuss why you want to work for that specific employer.

Second Paragraph:  Name the specific skills you possess that make you an ideal candidate for the position. Give two or three specific examples. You can also accentuate information provided on your resume, although be careful not to simply repeat your resume. Rather, explain how the experience listed on your resume will be an asset for the employer. A recent graduate may emphasize his or her educational background and explain how it is a major qualification for the job.

Final paragraph:  Indicate that you have enclosed a resume and/or other required materials (like an application or transcripts, if they are requested). Be bold in your closing paragraph: you want to initiate an interview. You can state that you will call the employer on a certain date to schedule an interview. Or you might state that you will be in the employer’s area on a certain date and want to set up an interview. Finally, thank the employer for considering your application.

Sincerely,

(signature)

Your name, typed