Sample Cover Letter

JANE DOE

202.555.5555  jane_doe@gwmail.gwu.edu  Washington, DC 20052

13 September 2017

John Doe, Human Resources Manager

Migration Policy Institute

I am contacting you regarding the Research Assistant position in the Migration Policy Institute’s National

Center on Immigrant Integration Policy (NCIIP), as posted on Idealist. My career aspirations and

professional experiences complement NCIIP’s mission; since traveling to Italy during my undergraduate

studies and witnessing the degrading treatment of migrant groups in the country, I gained perspective and

the determination to advocate for the fair and supportive treatment of migrant populations, including

initiatives that enable them to live full and productive lives in their new home countries.

In May, I will graduate with a Master’s degree from the International Affairs program at The George

Washington University (GWU). During my studies, I have become familiar with complex policy research

and analysis, as well as creating attainable recommendations by which to improve policies of

Through my nonprofit experience, I have gained additional skills that will further support NCIIP’s

mission and programmatic activities. At the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children and

the International Rescue Committee, I often presented my research findings in informal briefs and in-

person meetings. Additionally, I gained an appreciation for the flexibility needed to meet the fluctuating

demands of a nonprofit environment; I was frequently assigned ad hoc tasks in addition to my regular

duties, requiring constant independent evaluation and prioritization. Furthermore, my involvement with

the Elliott School Graduate Board will satisfy your need for a Research Assistant with outreach

experience and interpersonal skills, as I regularly communicated with business owners, students, and

academic offices through various formats. My motivation, flexibility, organization, and written and verbal

hesitate to contact me at 202-555-5555. I appreciate your consideration.

Sincerely,

Jane Doe

Sample Cover Letter

George Elliott

5555 Anywhere Dr. #555

Arlington, VA 22202

(703) 505-5555

GElliott@gwu.edu

Dear Ms. Doe:

I first learned about consulting opportunities with Deloitte back in September when I attended a panel

event at George Washington University (GW) regarding “A Day in the Life” put on by current Deloitte

consultants. It was then that I realized how useful and applicable my experiences with the federal

government could be in the private sector and how I could bring about real change from the outside. I was

pleased to receive an email last month from GW that Deloitte was hiring for the Human Capital Federal

Associate position, of which I am writing to apply.

temporary duty in another office where I helped streamline the application process for a family separation

allowance by changing from a paper-based system to electronic, making the submission process faster

and more efficient. Afterwards, I trained the incumbent how to effectively leverage technology to make

her job easier, rather than reverting back to her previous, more familiar system.

To help clients reach their full potential, this semester I plan on honing my quantitative analysis skills by

taking a statistical analysis and a program evaluation course. The skills and abilities I will further develop

in those two courses will help clients solve problems to overcome workplace and performance challenges

to better achieve their objectives. I first put my problem solving skills to use on a more micro level while

interning at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok as I helped troubled, distressed U.S. citizens one-on-one utilize

solving skills, and coursework have prepared me well for this opportunity. Thank you for your time and

consideration and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

George Elliott