Accounting and Finance Foundations

Unit 1

Accounting and Finance Foundations Unit 1: Accounting Careers 33

Accounting Careers

Chapter 2

Student Guide

2.2.4 The Letter of Application

Once your résumé has been printed, the final step before mailing it is to write a letter of application. The

letter of application is also called a cover letter. Résumés sent through the mail always need an accompa-

nying letter that briefly introduces you and your résumé. The purpose of a letter of application is to get a

potential employer to read your résumé.

Like your résumé, your letter of application should be clean, neat, and direct. A letter of application

includes the following information:

1. Your personal letterhead—name, address, phone number, and e-mail address.


2. The date.


3. The name and address of the person and company to whom you are sending your résumé.


4. The salutation.


5. An opening paragraph explaining why you are writing and how you found out about the position
   you are seeking.


6. One or more paragraphs explaining why you are qualified and why you want to work for that
   company.


7. A closing paragraph that invites the reader to contact you for an interview and tells the best
   method to contact you. Make a reference to your enclosed résumé.


8. Complimentary closing, followed by your signed name in dark ink, with your name keyed under it.


9. Make an enclosure notation a double space below the name.