Cover Letter Information?

Beyond the example formerMD linked --

When I review candidates, I generally see two types of successful cover letters.

1. A typical letter like the one linked above. Before I review a resume I'll take 5-10 seconds to scan the cover letter to make sure you've no obvious typos and are applying to the right position at the right firm. Then I'll go to the resume (homing in on major, GPA, most recent internship and leadership/extracurricular experience) and 90% of the time make the yes/no/maybe decision based on those 4 criteria. Essentially, I don't bother to read cookie-cutter covers -- neutral in the decision process.

It's easy to identify cookie-cutter letters. You switch out the company's name for a competitor and still have it make perfect sense.

2. The second and more successful cover letter is similar to the above, but the candidate is able to articulate interest in the firm. This is more specific than "I am interested in consulting at XYZ firm because I will be exposed to a variety of projects and industries, broadening my experience base." Even if you just spend a paragraph regurgitating the website's "Why work here?" page, it's a leg up over the vast majority of cover letters out there.

Granted, I will still typically initially only spend 5-10 seconds scanning this type of cover before moving on to the resume... but if I am deciding between two candidates with similar academic and work accomplishments, I will at this point take the time to read the cover letters. Clearly, the candidate who articulates real interest in the firm will get the interview.

All of this is a long winded way of saying: If you're interested in actually advancing in the hiring process with the firm and aren't just resume dropping spray and pray, spend the 15 minutes to describe which aspects of the work/firm is of particular interest to you.

As an aside, please don't write covers that are grossly "alternative" -- let your resume distinguish you. More often than not it's a negative distraction.