Georgetown University: School of Foreign Service in Qatar

Georgetown University: School of Foreign Service in Qatar

Students at Lounge Georgetown University: School of Foreign Service in Qatar

Elements of a Cover Letter

Employers use cover letters to determine your interest in a position and to assess your written communication skills. Even those employers who don’t read cover letters at first may eventually review them to compare applicants who seem similarly qualified.

The cover letter should answer the following questions:

  • Why are you interested in the position?
  • How are you qualified?
  • Why should you be hired?

Keep these guidelines in mind:

  • Address the letter to a specific individual if possible.
  • Be brief. Use powerful words, concise sentences, and short paragraphs.
  • Don’t restate your CV; instead, explain how your experiences meet the specific needs of the position.
  • Focus on the particular employer’s needs and what you can do for them, not what they can do for you.
  • Keep it to one page.
  • Match the type style and paper with your CV.
  • Proofread for spelling and grammatical errors.
  • Keep a record of where you have applied, when you’ve sent each cover letter, and when you plan to follow up with a phone call.

Types of cover letters

Other letters

Credentials and Letters of Recommendation

Most employers and academic institutions request two to three letters of recommendation. In early fall, contact three individuals to ask if they would be willing to write recommendations for you. Possible recommenders are professors, past and current employers, advisors, and coaches. Many individuals who write recommendations request a CV to help them review your activities and experiences.

The best letters will come from people who know you well and can provide detailed comments about your academic, professional, or extra-curricular work.

This information is provided as a courtesy of Georgetown University's Career Education Center.

Events Calendar

Upcoming Student Events

SFS-Qatar News

  • SFS Dean Discusses Changing Face of International Relations
    More than 300 people gathered at the Four Seasons on Monday evening to listen to Georgetown professor Carol Lancaster discuss the “new world order” in international relations, and how this will impact the balance of wealth and power in the coming years. (October 14, 2009)
  • Georgetown Welcomes the Class of 2013
    On Thursday, August 20, the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar (SFS-Qatar) officially welcomed the Class of 2013 into the university during its New Student Convocation ceremony. (August 25, 2009)
  • Summer Camp Makes Global Knowledge Local
    This July, teenagers from Qatar's 16 local schools participated in Planet Georgetown, an internationally-themed summer camp. (August 01, 2009)

Georgetown University · School of Foreign Service in Qatar · Liberal Arts and Science (LAS) Building
Education City · P.O. Box 23689 · Doha, Qatar
phone: +974 457 8100 · fax: +974 457 8241
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