Cover Letter Guide
What is a Cover Letter?
A cover letter is a short, one page document that provides additional information about your skills and experience. It highlights who you are and why you're interested. Additionally, it allows you to expand on your experiences and how said experiences can apply to the position you are seeking. While resumes list what you’ve done, your cover letter explains why it matters. A cover letter should be personalized to each opportunity and directly reference the company, lab, or program.
What Should Be in a Cover Letter?
Your cover letter should include the following:
Header: Your Name, Email, Phone Number, and LinkedIn / Personal Website (when applicable)
Date
Company/Lab Info: Name, Title, Company/Lab name, and Address (if known)
Greeting: Try to find the name of the recruiter or hiring/lab manager for the organization you are applying to.
Opening Paragraph: This is where you introduce yourself. State your year, major, and the position you’re applying for. Mention where how you heard about the opportunity and why you are interested.
Middle Paragraph(s): Highlight relevant and specific experiences, skills, or projects that relate to the opportunity. This is where you connect your background to what the job/program is asking for. Its important to not repeat your whole resume. Focus on how your experience would benefit or be useful in the position you are applying for.
Closing Paragraph: Thank them for their time and let them know you’d love the opportunity to talk further or interview.
Closing Signature: [Sincerely, Your Name]
Cover Letter Format Tip
Use a clean, readable font (like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman), 11–12 pt size, with one-inch margins. Keep it to a single page, with space between each paragraph. Try to avoid long blocks of text. You want someone to be able to skim it and still get your message.