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I hope some wise, more experienced attorneys can help me out here! I have found a job that is a really great match for my skills and experiences, so I feel I need to address my perpetual confusion over cover letters (the initial application calls for only resume and cover letter). I really think I've never written a successful cover letter, because every time I've had a good interview that led to a job, it's been pretty clear from the get-go that the person did not even read my cover letter. I've been told/read that you don't want to rehash what's in your resume, but what are you supposed to write? Are there any supervising attorneys out there who can tell me what you want to see? Also, this is a job at a federal agency, but it's been listed on my law school's Symplicity board. My resume is a really, really good match for everything this job calls for. Also links to good articles would be greatly appreciated too. Thanks in advance!!

Anonymous User wrote:I hope some wise, more experienced attorneys can help me out here! I have found a job that is a really great match for my skills and experiences, so I feel I need to address my perpetual confusion over cover letters (the initial application calls for only resume and cover letter). I really think I've never written a successful cover letter, because every time I've had a good interview that led to a job, it's been pretty clear from the get-go that the person did not even read my cover letter. I've been told/read that you don't want to rehash what's in your resume, but what are you supposed to write? Are there any supervising attorneys out there who can tell me what you want to see? Also, this is a job at a federal agency, but it's been listed on my law school's Symplicity board. My resume is a really, really good match for everything this job calls for. Also links to good articles would be greatly appreciated too. Thanks in advance!!

What does your standard cover letter look like? What year in school are you?

The reason they seem like they haven't read your cover letter is because no one reads cover letters.

Bikeflip wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I hope some wise, more experienced attorneys can help me out here! I have found a job that is a really great match for my skills and experiences, so I feel I need to address my perpetual confusion over cover letters (the initial application calls for only resume and cover letter). I really think I've never written a successful cover letter, because every time I've had a good interview that led to a job, it's been pretty clear from the get-go that the person did not even read my cover letter. I've been told/read that you don't want to rehash what's in your resume, but what are you supposed to write? Are there any supervising attorneys out there who can tell me what you want to see? Also, this is a job at a federal agency, but it's been listed on my law school's Symplicity board. My resume is a really, really good match for everything this job calls for. Also links to good articles would be greatly appreciated too. Thanks in advance!!

What does your standard cover letter look like? What year in school are you?

I'm a very recent graduate (Feb., passed the bar yay). I try to keep my cover letters succinct- 3 paragraphs. I usually try to express some enthusiasm for the organization/agency and mission, maybe clumsily tie them to my experiences. Other than that, I really don't know what to say other than sort of rehash my resume a bit...