Effective Job-Search Letters

Demonstrate your knowledge of job responsibilities and describe how your qualifications meet the employer's hiring needs.

• Convey in a concise manner that you are informed about the organization and enthusiastic about the position, and can be an asset to the employer.
• Address the individual responsible for hiring in the department of interest. If the name is not given or you are not sure that it is current, call to identify the appropriate person.
• Demonstrate your competency in communicating, one of the most important skills you bring to the job.
• Begin by referring to a personal or professional contact who has directed you to the organization (if applicable), e.g., "Susan Anderson, who supervised my internship last summer, suggested I write to you regarding the California State Senate's Fellowship Program."

A letter to request an information interview is directed to a professional in a career field of interest. The goal is to arrange a meeting or phone call in which you can learn about the person's work and organization. State how you identified the person as a contact, what you would like to learn, and when/how long you would like to meet.