For professionals involved in job searches, one of the first priorities is making a good impression. We want our potential employers, whether in the private or the public sectors, to form a positive opinion and conclude that we have the qualities needed for their organization. Obviously, a résumé serves as a succinct way to present experience and qualifications, but a cover letter goes further. It presents an applicant’s personality to a potential employer and displays how the experience on the résumé relates to the particular job being sought. 

As Jay Hall, the managing director of ExecSearches.com states, “Cover letters are a unique opportunity to make the case that you are a great fit for the position you are applying for along with demonstrating your passion for the organization’s mission. Do thorough research about the organization first so you can speak to their needs”. Karen Alphonse of ExecSearches.com states that potential employers “want to see how you express your thinking, level of organization, and commitment, expressed in a few short paragraphs…the cover letter provides a way to organize your pitch, focus and sell your skills…[it] becomes a litmus test of your ‘fit’ and commitment” (Alphonse).

There isn’t one hard-and-fast procedure to follow when writing a cover letter, but whether one applies for a job in the private or public sector, there are some pointers applicants can follow. When applying for work with a nonprofit, the MBA-Nonprofit Connection recommends including a few key points in a cover letter. They advise that applicants “Express commitment to the mission of the organization, Show interest in the issues addressed by the nonprofit, Demonstrate familiarity with the organization’s work, Address specifically how [the applicant’s] skills and experience are relevant to the job, Explain how the [nonprofit job] relates to future career plans where appropriate, [and] Cite volunteer experience”(MBA). This might sound like a lot of content to include. The Boston College Career Center offers a more concise suggestion, advising that applicants use their body paragraphs to tell about “experiences that best qualify you for the role” in order to demonstrate “what your working style, skill set, and characteristics might look like in their workplace” (Boston College). 

It doesn’t hurt to have one “master copy” of your cover letter saved for your own reference so that you can easily call to mind your experiences and strengths, but in each job you apply to, you should tailor your cover letter for that specific job. You should consider which of your experiences demonstrates a particular skill which will be valuable in the new job, and showcase the experience for your potential employer. Obviously a nonprofit that provides student loan assistance will be different from a nonprofit that provides rehabilitation services, which will likewise be different from one that provides legal counsel. The skills and experiences you would present for any one of these potential jobs will need to be different. With a strong cover letter, you can put your best foot forward in whichever job you apply to.

Alphonse, Karen. ‘Q&A: Do I need a cover letter for my job search?’ Mission Connected Careers and Recruiting. 15 May 2019. blog.execsearches.com/2019/05/15/qa-do-i-need-a-cover-letter-for-my-job-search/

Hall, Jay. Managing Director, ExecSearches.com.

‘Cover Letters’. Boston College Division of Student Affairs. 2020. https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/offices/student-affairs/sites/careers/develop-skills/cover-letters.html

‘How to write an effective cover letter for a nonprofit job’. 2008. The MBA-Nonprofit Connection. https://www.marshall.usc.edu/sites/default/files/2017-02/Non-Profit-Cover-Letter-Guide-MBA.pdf

Last updated on March 9th, 2021 at 12:56 am