A good cover letter gives people an opportunity to sell themselves and make an excellent first impression, according to Otis Sanford, managing editor of the Commercial Appeal.
"A cover letter gives you a chance to be more personal and personable than a resume," Sanford said.
Sanford spoke yesterday at Brister Hall as part of the Career and Employment Services' "Lunch and Learn" series.
Sanford has seen many cover letters in his time at the CA- some good, some not so good.
Although Sanford has several pet peeves when it comes to cover letters, he said that others may have different opinions about the subject.
"This is not representative of anyone else that may talk to you about cover letters. This is Otis Sanford. This is my perspective," he said.
One tip that Sanford gave for writing a good cover letter is to be interesting - but avoid trying to be too funny.
"I'm a person who does not like cuteness in a cover letter," he said.
Personalizing cover letters was also a big emphasis for Sanford, who said that extra research on the business or publication you're applying to and including that in your cover letter could give you an added advantage. For example, if you are applying for a job out of town, then mention something about that city to sound more personalized.
"People want to know how much you know," Sanford said.
The more you know can make you a more desirable candidate for the job, according to Sanford.
"I can't emphasize the word enough - smart. We want smart people," Sanford said.
Even though it may sound simple, keeping grammar and spelling mistakes out of your cover letters is crucial, especially at the Commercial Appeal.
"Our feeling is if you don't take enough care to write that, what are you going do when we send you out on a story?" Sanford said.
He said that catching your own writing mistakes can be difficult, so having someone else edit your work can be helpful.
"Everybody needs an editor, no matter what you're doing," he said.
According to Sanford, all cover letters should ideally be personalized to each person you send them to. However, if you have to send out a mass mailing, make sure that the cover letter fits each person you send it to.
Sanford gave an example of someone who sent him a cover letter at the Commercial Appeal and expressed interest in the opportunity to work in "the nation's capital."
Sanford also brought examples of good cover letters, including one that was sent to him in which the applicant mentioned being a Rendezvous barbecue fan.
According to Sanford, it is also very important to address your cover letters to the person in charge of reading them - not just "to whom it may concern."
Cover letters receive even more attention from Sanford than a resume or clips of previous work. He said cover letters can give more insight into a person's actual character.
"A cover letter is written from the heart and says something about you," Sanford said.
Victoria Ramon, a graduate business administration student, found the speech helpful even though she may not be applying for a newspaper job any time soon.
"Journalism is not really my area of interest, but it was still helpful. It was helpful to learn not to write 'To whom it may concern,'" Ramon said.
Jennifer Coleman, a senior English and sociology major, found Sanford's experiences being in charge of hiring at the Commercial Appeal very helpful.
"I really liked that he gave us real examples of what to do and what not to do. It always helps that he's a credible source," she said.
Yvette Holmes, a senior communications major, said that Sanford's advice could help people in any field.
"I think his tips were very helpful for anyone who wants to get a job," Holmes said. "Even though he works for the Commercial Appeal, his advice can help people interested in any field."
