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Format/Content of a Cover Letter
Cover letters usually have at least three paragraphs (introduction, body and conclusion) with a heading and a closing.
Keep cover letters short— typically three or four paragraphs and less than one page. A cover letter is structured like
a business letter as shown in the samples.
Your contact information should be listed at the top of the page either in the same format as your resume or on the
top left or right margin as shown in the samples.
Your letter should be addressed to the specific individual who has the capacity to hire you. If you do not know the
name of the person, try to research the organization online or call to find out the correct name and spelling and the
person's title. [Note: If you cannot get this information or are not 100% sure, address the letter to Dear Hiring
Manager or to the title mentioned in the job description.]
Use the active voice, keeping your tone positive and professional. Avoid beginning too many sentences with "I."
Make sure that the grammar, sentence structure, and spelling are perfect.
When sending your resume and cover letter by email, you may include your cover letter in the body of your email or
attach it along with your resume with a short email stating the position and that your materials are attached.
Style and Other Tips
Write clearly and concisely. Do not try to impress a prospective employer with a lot of wordiness and jargon. Most
employers are pleased to read a concise, cogent letter. And don’t send your first draft. Rewrite the letter a few times.
Revision almost always improves a written communication. Again, similarly to a resume, please proofread your cover
letter carefully. A mistake in spelling or grammar is not the way to impress a prospective employer.
Tailoring a Cover Letter
When writing a cover letter, you want to make sure that it is always tailored to the position and company you are
applying to. Developing a habit of writing a new cover letter for an opportunity is important.
Your time here will look something like this...
You will learn how to navigate the summer intern recruiting
process, participate in technical trainings and business
specific workshops, and have a mentor guide you.
We provide you with the knowledge/skills you need...
The Leadership Program is a five-week virtual leadership
program designed for undergraduate sophomores and is
open to all majors and disciplines. We know you might need
some help navigating the opportunities available, so we’ll
help you match your interests and core skills you’re looking
to build by offering you educational webinar series.
Who we think will be a great fit...
Dedication to learning and a true passion for the business are
vital. We value diversity and so do you. We'll also be looking
for the following: commitment to personal growth and career
development, a drive to learn, success in team environments,
strong communication, planning & organizational skills,
analytical & quantitative skills, and a desire to develop a deep
understanding of the financial services industry. Knowledge
of the global or domestic business landscape is preferred.
My interest of business stems from the pre-business courses
I’ve taken at Baruch. I learned about the fundamentals of
business law, macroeconomics, and foundations of the
financial market. My education has taught to me keep an
open mind to all aspects of business. I have had different
experiences working in diverse teams such as coming
together to pitch an idea for the community at WiTNY using
technology as a means to provide a solution. During my past
internship at Cornell Tech, I developed marketing materials
and help implement a user study from the beginning to the
end of the cycle. In handling data about user behaviors using
Google Sheets and a MySQL visualizer, I learned how to
effectively work in an agile environment and drive results.
I am excited to pursue the program opportunity at Citi,
especially in gaining exposure to all different sort of business
functions within Citi. I look forward to developing my skills
and learning more in-depth about the financial services
industry. I believe my educational interests as well as my
previous internships provided me with the background and
skills necessary to excel in the fast-paced training program.