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Career Development Program · Week 6

Cover Letters

Your resume shows what you've done. Your cover letter explains why: why you want this job, and why you're the right fit.

Download the workbook (PDF)

A great cover letter doesn't repeat your resume. It adds personality, tells a short story, and shows real interest in the company. Many applicants skip it or send the same one everywhere, so a good one helps you stand out.

This week you'll learn the three parts of a cover letter, write your opening and closing, and draft a full letter you can adapt for each job. This is part of Outcome 2.

This week you’ll learn

  • The three parts of a cover letter
  • What to include, and what to leave out
  • How to match your experience to a job description

This week’s lessons

Read each short lesson, then answer the questions in the worksheet below.

Lesson 1

How to write a cover letter

A cover letter is a one-page letter that explains your interest in a job and why your experience makes you a good fit.

  1. Opening. Name the job and the company. Say why you're excited about it and, in one sentence, why you're a strong fit.
  2. Body. Give one or two real examples from your work, school or life that match what the job needs. Don't just repeat your resume.
  3. Closing. Thank the reader, restate your interest, and invite them to follow up.
Lesson 2

Do and don't

Do

  • Research the company and mention something specific about it
  • Re-read the job description and write about the skills it asks for
  • Give specific examples of your achievements
  • Use a personalized greeting, like "Dear Hiring Manager"
  • Keep it to one page

Don't

  • Include personal information (family, religion, sex, gender)
  • Mention salary
  • Copy and paste from your resume
  • Use the same letter for every job
  • Start with "To whom it may concern"
  • Forget to proofread
Lesson 3

What to write about

  • Work Did you get compliments from a manager or customers? Hit a goal? Earn Employee of the Month? Train new people?
  • Training What have you studied or completed? Certifications from this program count.
  • You What do you hope to achieve in this job? Why this company? What are your strengths?

Best practices checklist

Personalized greeting · Specific job title · Why you're interested in the job and company · Relevant experience or soft skills with examples · Call to action (thank them, invite follow-up)

Lesson 4

Cover letter example

Jordan Ellis
Hyattsville, MD · (240) 555-0147 · jordan.ellis@email.com

Dear Hiring Manager,

I'm excited to apply for the Prep Cook position at Riverside Kitchen. I've eaten at your Hyattsville location many times and love that you make everything from scratch with local ingredients. With two years of kitchen experience and my ServSafe Food Handler certification, I'm ready to help your team keep up with busy lunch service.

At Fresh Bowl Cafe, I prepare more than 200 salads and bowls each shift while following recipe and portion standards. When our lunch rush grew after a nearby office opened, I suggested prepping our top five toppings the night before. That change cut our morning setup time by 20 minutes. I also trained three new team members on our opening and closing checklists, and our station has passed every health inspection since I joined.

I'm reliable, I take feedback well, and I enjoy working as part of a team in a fast-paced kitchen. I would love the chance to bring that energy to Riverside Kitchen.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I'd welcome the chance to talk about how I can support your kitchen, and I can be reached at (240) 555-0147.

Sincerely,
Jordan Ellis

What makes it work

  • Opening names the job and company, and shows real interest.
  • Body gives specific examples with numbers.
  • Closing thanks the reader and invites a next step.

Worksheet: My cover letter

These questions match the Week 6 worksheet in the workbook. You can type your answers into the PDF, write them by hand, or submit this form. Your coach sees what you submit online.

Download the workbook (PDF)

* Required

Section 1 — Your name

Staff match this form to your CDP record. Use the name we have on file.

My cover letter

A cover letter is a one-page letter that explains your interest in a job and why your experience makes you a good fit.

Review the lessons

Which best-practice items will your letter include?

Part 1. What makes you a great teammate

What to write about

Work: Did you get compliments from a manager or customers? Hit a goal? Earn Employee of the Month? Train new people?

Training: What have you studied or completed? Certifications from this program count.

You: What do you hope to achieve in this job? Why this company? What are your strengths?

Review the lessons

Part 2. Match the job description

Find phrases in a job posting and explain how your experience matches. Practice with these common ones.

Review the lessons

Part 3. Opening and closing

Opening: Name the job and the company. Say why you're excited about it and, in one sentence, why you're a strong fit.

Closing: Thank the reader, restate your interest, and invite them to follow up.

Review the lessons

Part 4. Your full draft

What makes it work

Opening names the job and company, and shows real interest.

Body gives specific examples with numbers.

Closing thanks the reader and invites a next step.

Review the lessons

Use your opening, 1–2 examples from Parts 1 and 2, and your closing.

Thank you!

Thank you. Your Week 6 Cover Letters work is in. Come back to the CDP page next week for LinkedIn.