How to Write a Cover Letter in 2024 + Examples
After weeks of heavy job search, youâre almost there!
Youâve perfected your resume.Â
Youâve short-listed the coolest jobs you want to apply for.
Youâve even had a friend train you for every single interview question out there.
But then, before you can send your application and call it a day, you remember that the job ad requires a cover letter.
Now youâre stuck wondering how to write a cover letter ...
Donât panic! Weâve got you covered. Writing a cover letter is a lot simpler than you might think.Â
In this guide, weâre going to teach you how to write a cover letter that gets you the job you deserve.
- Whatâs a cover letter & why itâs important for your job search
- How to write a convincing cover letter that gets you the job (step-by-step!)
- How to perfect your cover letter with the Novoresume free checklist
- What excellent cover letter examples look like
New to cover letter writing? Give our resumes 101 video a watch before diving into the article!
So, letâs get started with the basics!
What is a Cover Letter? (and Why Itâs Important)
A cover letter is a one-page document that you submit as part of your job application (alongside your CV or Resume).Â
Its purpose is to introduce you and briefly summarize your professional background. On average, your cover letter should be from 250 to 400 words long .
A good cover letter can spark the HR managerâs interest and get them to read your resume.Â
A bad cover letter, on the other hand, might mean that your application is going directly to the paper shredder. So, to make sure this doesnât happen, itâs essential to know how to write a convincing cover letter.
How does a good cover letter look, you might ask. Well, hereâs an example:
Keep in mind, though, that a cover letter is a supplement to your resume, not a replacement. Meaning, you donât just repeat whatever is mentioned in your resume.
If youâre writing a cover letter for the first time, writing all this might seem pretty tough. After all, youâre probably not a professional writer.
The thing is, though, you donât need to be creative, or even any good at writing. All you have to do is follow a tried-and-tested format:
- Header - Input contact information
- Greeting the hiring manager
- Opening paragraph - Grab the readerâs attention with 2-3 of your top achievements
- Second paragraph - Explain why youâre the perfect candidate for the job
- Third paragraph - Explain why youâre a good match for the company
- Formal closing
Or, hereâs what this looks like in practice:
How to Write the Perfect Cover Letter (And Get Hired!)
Now that weâve got the basics out of the way, weâre going to guide you through the process of writing a cover letter step by step.Â
Step #1 - Pick the Right Cover Letter Template
A good cover letter is all about leaving the right first impression.
So, whatâs a better way to leave a good impression than a well-formatted, visual template?
You can simply pick one of our hand-picked cover letter templates , and youâll be all set in a jiffy!
As a bonus, our AI will even give you suggestions on how to improve your cover letter on the go.
Step #2 - Start the Cover Letter with a Header
As with a resume, itâs important to start your cover letter with a Contact Information section:
Here, you want to include all essential information, including:
- Phone Number
- Name of the hiring manager / their professional title
- Name of the company youâre applying to
In certain cases, you might also consider adding:
- Social Media Profiles - Any type of profile thatâs relevant to your field. Social Profiles on websites like LinkedIn, GitHub (for developers), Medium (for writers), etc.
- Personal Website - If you have a personal website that somehow adds value to your application, you can mention it. Letâs say youâre a professional writer. In that case, youâd want to link to your blog.
And hereâs what you shouldnât mention in your header:
- Your Full AddressÂ
- Unprofessional Email - Make sure your email is presentable. Itâs pretty hard for a hiring manager to take you seriously if your email address is â[email protected].â Whenever applying for jobs, stick to the â[first name] + [last name] @ email provider.comâ format.
Step #3 - Greet the Hiring Manager
Once youâve properly listed your contact information, you need to start writing the cover letter contents.
The first thing to do here is to address the cover letter to the hiring manager .
Thatâs right, the hiring manager! Not the overly popular âDear Sir or Madam.â You want to show your future boss that you did your research and are really passionate about working with their team.
No one wants to hire a job seeker who just spams 20+ companies and hopes to get hired in any of them.
So, how do you find out whoâs the hiring manager? There are several ways to do this.Â
The simplest option is to look up the head of the relevant department on LinkedIn. Letâs say youâre applying for the position of a Communication Specialist at Novoresume. The hiring manager is probably Head of Communications or Chief Communications Office.
So, you do a quick lookup on LinkedIn:
And voila! You have your hiring manager.
Or letâs say youâre applying for the position of a server. In that case, youâd be looking for the ârestaurant manager.â
If this doesnât work, you can also check out the âTeamâ page on the company website; thereâs a good chance youâll at least find the right person there.
Here are several other greetings you could use:
- Dear [Department] Hiring Manager
- Dear Hiring Manager
- To whom it may concern
- Dear [Department] Team
Step #4 - Write an Attention-Grabbing Introduction
First impressions matter, especially when it comes to your job search.
Recruiters get hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of applications. Chances are, theyâre not going to be reading every single cover letter end-to-end.
So, itâs essential to catch their attention from the very first paragraph .
The #1 problem we see with most cover letter opening paragraphs is that theyâre usually extremely generic. Most of them look something like this..
- Hey, my name is Jonathan and Iâd like to work as a Sales Manager at XYZ Inc. Iâve worked as a sales manager at MadeUpCompany Inc. for 5+ years, so I believe that Iâd be a good fit for the position.
See the issue here? This opening paragraph doesnât say pretty much anything except the fact that youâve worked the job before.
Do you know who else has similar work experience? All the other applicants youâre competing with.
Instead, you want to start off with 2-3 of your top achievements to really grab the readerâs attention. Preferably, the achievements should be as relevant as possible to the position.
So now, letâs make our previous example shine:
My nameâs Michael and Iâd like to help XYZ Inc. hit and exceed their sales goals as a Sales Manager. Iâve worked with Company X, a fin-tech company, for 3+ years. As a Sales Representative, I generated an average of $30,000+ in sales per month (beating the KPIs by around 40%). I believe that my previous industry experience, as well as excellence in sales, makes me the right candidate for the job.
See the difference between the two examples? If you were the hiring manager, which sales manager would you hire, Jonathan or Michael?
Now that weâve covered the introduction, letâs talk about the body of your cover letter. This part is split into two paragraphs: the first is for explaining why youâre the perfect person for the job, and the latter is for proving that youâre a good fit for the company.
So, letâs get started...
Step #5 - Explain why youâre the perfect person for the job
This is where you show off your professional skills and convince the HR manager that youâre a better fit for the job than all the other applicants.
But first things first - before you even write anything, you need to learn what the most important requirements for the role are. So, open up the job ad and identify which of the responsibilities are the most critical.
For the sake of the example, letâs say youâre applying for the position of a Facebook Advertiser. You scan the job ad and see that the top requirements are:
- Experience managing a Facebook ad budget of $10,000+ / month
- Some skills in advertising on other platforms (Google Search + Twitter)
- Excellent copywriting skills
Now, in this section, you need to discuss how you fulfill these requirements. So, hereâs how that would look for our example:
In my previous role as a Facebook Marketing Expert at XYZ Inc. I handled customer acquisition through ads, managing a monthly Facebook ad budget of $20,000+ . As the sole digital marketer at the company, I managed the ad creation & management process end-to-end. Meaning, I created the ad copy , images, picked the targeting, ran optimization trials, and so on.
Other than Facebook advertising, Iâve also delved into other online PPC channels, including:
- Google Search
Are you a student applying for your first internship? You probably donât have a lot of work experience to show off in this section. Learn how to write an internship cover letter here.
Step #6 - Explain why youâre a good fit for the company
Once youâve written the last paragraph, you might be thinking - Iâm a shoo-in for the job! What else do I need to write? Iâll just wrap up the cover letter and hit that sweet SEND button.
Well, no. Youâre not quite there yet.
The HR manager doesnât only look at whether youâll be good at the job or not. Theyâre looking for someone thatâs also a good fit for the company culture.
After all, employees that donât fit in are bound to quit, sooner or later. This ends up costing the company a ton of money, up to 50% of the employeeâs annual salary .Â
Meaning, you also need to convince the HR manager that youâre really passionate about working with them.
How do you do this? Well, as a start, you want to do some research about the company. You want to know things like:
- Whatâs the companyâs business model?
- Whatâs the company product or service? Have you used it?
- Whatâs the culture like? Will someone micro-manage your work, or will you have autonomy on how you get things done?
So, get to Googling. Chances are, youâll find all the information you need either on the company website or somewhere around the web.
Then, you need to figure out what you like about the company and turn that into text.
Letâs say, for example, youâre passionate about their product and you like the culture of innovation / independent work in the organization.
Youâd write something like:
Iâve personally used the XYZ Smartphone, and I believe that itâs the most innovative tech Iâve used in years. The features such as Made-Up-Feature #1 and Made-Up-Feature #2 were real game changers for the device.Â
I really admire how Company XYZ thrives for excellence for all its product lines, creating market-leading tech. As someone that thrives in a self-driven environment, I truly believe that I and Company XYZ will be a great match.
What you donât want to do here is be super generic for the sake of having something to write. Most job seekers tend to mess this one up. Letâs take a look at a very common example we tend to see (way too often):
Iâd love to work for Company XYZ because of its culture of innovation. I believe that since Iâm super creative, Iâd be a good fit for the company. The company values of integrity and transparency really vibe with me.
See whatâs wrong here? The example doesnât really say anything about the company. âCulture of Innovationâ is something most companies claim to have.Â
The same goes for âvalues of integrity and transparencyâ - the writer just googled what the values for the organization are, and said that they like them.
Any hiring manager that reads this will see through the fluff.
So, make sure to do a lot of research and come up with good reasons why you're applying.
Step #7 - Wrap up with a call to action
Finally, itâs time to finish up your cover letter and write the conclusion.
In the final paragraph, you want to:
- Wrap up any points you couldn't in the previous paragraphs. Do you have anything left to say? Any other information that could help the hiring manager make their decision? Mention it here.
- Thank the hiring manager for their time. It never hurts to be courteous, as long as you donât come off as too needy.
- Finish the cover letter with a call to action. The very last sentence in your cover letter should be a call to action. You should ask the hiring manager to take some sort of action.
And now, letâs turn this into a practical example:
So to wrap it all up, thanks for looking into my application. I hope I can help Company X make the most out of their Facebook marketing initiatives. I'd love to further discuss how my previous success at XYZ Inc. can help you achieve your facebook marketing goals.
Step #8 - Use the right formal closing
Once youâre done with the final paragraph, all you have to do is write down a formal âgoodbyeâ and youâre good to go.
Feel free to use one of the most popular conclusions to a cover letter:
- Best Regards,
- Kind Regards,
And weâre finally done! Before sending off the cover letter, make sure to proofread it with software like Grammarly, or maybe even get a friend to review it for you.
Does your cover letter heading include all essential information?
- Professional email
- Relevant Social Media Profiles
Do you address the right person? I.e. hiring manager in the company / your future direct supervisor
Does your introductory paragraph grab the reader's attention?
- Did you mention 2-3 of your top achievements?
- Did you use numbers and facts to back up your experience?
Do you successfully convey that youâre the right pro for the job?
- Did you identify the core requirements?
- Did you successfully convey how your experiences help you fit the requirements perfectly?
Do you convince the hiring manager that youâre passionate about the company youâre applying to?
- Did you identify the top 3 things that you like about the company?
- Did you avoid generic reasons for explaining your interest in the company?
Did you finalize the conclusion with a call to action?
Did you use the right formal closure for the cover letter?
5+ Cover Letter Examples
Need some inspiration? Read on to learn about some of the best cover letter examples weâve seen (for different fields).
College Student Cover Letter Example
Middle Management Cover Letter Example
Career Change Cover Letter Example
Management Cover Letter Example
Senior Executive Cover Letter Example
Want to discover more examples AND learn what makes them stand out? Check out our guide to cover letter examples .
Next Steps in Your Job Search - Creating a Killer Resume
Your cover letter is only as good as your resume. If either one is weak, your entire application is for naught.Â
After all, a cover letter is just an introduction. Imagine going through all this effort to leave an amazing first impression, but flopping at the end because of a mediocre resume.
...But donât you worry, weâve got you covered on that end, too.
If you want to learn more about Resumes & CVs, we have a dedicated FREE guide for that. Check out our complete guide on how to make a resume , as well as how to write a CV - our experts will teach you everything you need to know in order to land your dream job.
Or, if youâre already an expert, just pick one of our resume templates and get started.
Key Takeaways
Now that weâve walked you through all the steps of writing a cover letter, letâs summarize everything weâve learned:
- A cover letter is a 250 - 400 word document that convinces the hiring manager of your competence
- A cover letter goes in your job application alongside your resume
- Your introduction to the cover letter should grab the hiring managerâs attention and keep it all the way until the conclusion
- There are 2 main topics you need to include in your cover letter: why youâre the perfect candidate for the job & why youâre passionate about working in the company youâre applying to
- Most of the content of your cover letter should be factual , without any fluff or generalizations
At NovorĂ©sumĂ©, weâre committed to helping you get the job you deserve, every step of the way! Follow our blog to stay up to date with the industry-leading advice. Or, check out some of our top guidesâŠ
- How to Write a Motivational Letter
- How to Write a Resume with No Work Experience
- Most Common Interview Questions and Answers
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Here's an example of the perfect cover letter, according to Harvard career experts
Found your dream job? Don't be so confident that you'll get hired: It's very likely that there are several other qualified candidates competing for that same position.
That's where the cover letter comes in. Including a cover letter to complement your resume can be an effective way to impress hiring managers: It displays your strong writing skills, sets you apart from other applicants and shows that you went the extra mile.
Linda Spencer, associate director and coordinator of career advising at Harvard Extension School, says that a solid cover letter answers two key questions :
- Why are you the right fit for the job?
- How will you add value to the organization?
"It takes the average employer about seven seconds to review these documents," says Spencer. "They're not reading, they're skimming. So you need to make it clear right off the bat how you can add value."
Here's an example of what a strong cover letter looks like, according to Harvard career experts (click here to enlarge):
Credit: Harvard University, Office of Career Services / Harvard Extension School, Career and Academic Resource Center
Don't know where to start? The career experts share tips on how to write a cover letter that stands out:
1. Address the letter to a specific person
"To whom it may concern" is one of the fastest ways to get your application deleted. Always try to address your letter to a specific person â usually the hiring manager or department head. Include their name, title, company and address at the very top below the date.
If you don't know who to address, LinkedIn is a great place to start. Simply enter the company name and some keywords into the search bar (e.g., "Google, hiring manager, sales") and a variety of related profiles will appear.
2. Clearly state the purpose of your letter
Your opening line doesn't need to be anything extravagant. In fact, it should be the complete opposite, according Harvard's career experts.
Keep it simple and straightforward: State why you're writing, the position you're applying for and, if applicable, how you found the job listing.
3. Don't rehash your entire resume
You're not writing a 1,000-word essay that summarizes your resume. The cover letter is your chance to explain why you're genuinely interested in the company and its mission.
No need to make it super formal, either. Use your own voice and add some personal flourishes to make the letter more interesting.
"If you have relevant school or work experience, be sure to point it out with one or two key examples," the career experts note . "Emphasize skills or abilities that relate to the job. Be sure to do this in a confident manner and keep in mind that the reader will also view your letter as an example of your writing skills."
4. Use action words and don't overuse the pronoun "I"
Instead of using flowery words and cliche claims like "fast thinker" and "highly creative," go for action words.
Here are a few examples of action verbs to use when highlighting specific skills:
- To demonstrate leadership skills : Accomplished, contracted, assigned, directed, orchestrated, headed, delegated
- To demonstrate communication skills : Addressed, translated, presented, negotiated, moderated, promoted, edited
- To demonstrate research skills : Constructed, examined, critique, systematized, investigated, modeled, formulated
- To demonstrate creative skills : Revitalized, redesigned, developed, integrated, conceptualized, fashioned, shaped
Avoid using too many "I" statements because it can come off as though you're mostly interested in what you can gain from the company. The focus should be on what the company can gain from you.
5. Reiterate your enthusiasm and thank the reader
The closing of your letter should:
- Reiterate your interest in the position
- Thank the reader for his or her consideration
- State that you look forward hearing back from them
- Include your signature at the very bottom
6. Be consistent in formatting
Visual consistency makes a big difference. Keep your letter to just one page and use the same font (and size) as you did for your resume. If you're converting the letter to a PDF, make sure the formatting is translated properly.
Dustin McKissen is the founder of McKissen + Company , a strategic communications firm in St. Charles, Missouri. He was also named one of LinkedIn's "Top Voices in Management and Corporate Culture." Follow him on LinkedIn here.
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Don't miss:
- Here's an example of the perfect resume, according to Harvard career experts
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Reddit Resume Advice
Official reviews by the sheets & giggles guy, "are cover letters useful should i write one".
Not if your resume is bad. They can be a nice differentiator if your resume is good.
Unless it's required, I wouldn't write any type of long formal cover letter. They won't read it unless your resume is strong and they already think you can do the job.
I'll put it this way: your cover letter can't save you from a bad resume. If the resume is bad, they'll skip reading whatever letter you wrote. If your resume is good, a nice, short, original (never cookie-cutter), company-specific letter can improve your odds, show you did your research and are truly interested in this specific company, separate you from similar applicants, and make a great first impression.
The best cover letters are short (1 paragraph), written from scratch, and have the same tone as the company's culture.
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Here's what happens if Trump can't pay his $454 million bond
Andrea Bernstein
Rachel Treisman
Forty Wall Street, a Trump-owned building, stands in downtown Manhattan. Former President Trump says he can't secure a bond to appeal the $454 million penalty in his civil fraud case. But New York Attorney General Letitia James says she is prepared to seize the former president's assets, including the building at 40 Wall Street, if he is unable to pay. Spencer Platt/Getty Images hide caption
Forty Wall Street, a Trump-owned building, stands in downtown Manhattan. Former President Trump says he can't secure a bond to appeal the $454 million penalty in his civil fraud case. But New York Attorney General Letitia James says she is prepared to seize the former president's assets, including the building at 40 Wall Street, if he is unable to pay.
Former President Donald Trump needs to arrange a $454 million bond to comply with a New York court ruling in less than a week, but the presumptive Republican presidential nominee says he can't find a company to put up the bond.
Trump's lawyers are asking an appeals court to stay the judgment, but the clock is ticking.
How did Trump come to owe the state of New York some $454 million?
Trump ordered to pay over $355M for fraudulent business practices in New York
This is the ruling that Judge Arthur Engoron issued last month , after finding that Donald, Eric and Donald Trump Jr., along with Trump Organization employees, engaged in a decade-long conspiracy to lie about the value of their assets.
In New York, if you make money by persistently committing fraud, you owe the ill-gotten portion back to the state. In this case, Judge Engoron determined that Donald Trump made over $350 million more than he should have if he'd been honest and when you add in interest, you get to $454 million.
Why does Trump have to come up with the money now?
Trump doesn't have to actually pay that money now, but he has to get a company to make a guarantee to the court that they will pay the money if he loses his appeal. That's the bond part.
But to get a bond, you have to put up assets, and in a court filing Monday Trump lawyers said they'd approached 30 companies but that getting a bond was a "practical impossibility," because they'd need a billion dollars in cash, which they don't have.
Trump unable to post $450M bond in New York fraud case, his lawyers say
They submitted an affidavit from an insurance executive who had testified at trial, and whom the trial judge had already discredited.
Trump says he's a billionaire. Why can't he just come up with the money himself?
Trump said during a deposition for this case, taken about a year ago, that he had plenty of cash. He said, "I believe we have substantially in excess of $400 million in cash ." And, he added, it's "going up very substantially every month."
News organizations have estimated that Trump actually has about $300 million in liquid assets â but he already had to set aside $100 million or so to put up a bond to pay the verdict in the E. Jean Carroll civil case . The rest of his money is largely tied up in buildings and golf courses, and while he could sell a property, that can't happen right away. Trump said Tuesday that would be a "fire sale," though he said many times during the trial he could always find a buyer to pay top dollar.
Jury orders Trump to pay $83 million for defaming columnist E. Jean Carroll
While Trump's political action committees have spent millions of dollars on his legal fees, they're unlikely to be of help to him in this case because of campaign finance laws .
Trump has accused the judge in the case of trying to take away his rights, posting on social media that any assets he may be forced to sell would be gone even if he ultimately wins his appeal.
That's a concern that any defendant could raise, whether they're liable for $450 or $450 million, says Adam Pollock, a former assistant attorney general in New York.
"But if you want to bond the appeal â stop enforcement of the judgment â you have to put up the full amount," he told Morning Edition . "That's what the law says. And that's a policy decision that Albany has made."
The deadline is Monday. What does Trump do if the appeals court doesn't rule his way?
He can appeal to New York's highest court and ask that court to stay the judgment. If they don't, he can ask a benefactor or he could try and stall some more until he comes into money from the upcoming sale of his social media company, or he could â though it has many disadvantages â declare bankruptcy.
But New York Attorney General Letitia James has been clear: If Trump doesn't pay, she will move to seize his assets.
"If he does not have funds to pay off the judgment, then we will seek judgment enforcement mechanisms in court," she said. "And we will ask the judge to seize his assets."
Trump's noncash assets run to $3 billion, Forbes estimates, so there's plenty of value there. The law limits the AG to seizing properties that were a part of the case, but there's about two dozen of those, everything from the Doral Golf Club to 40 Wall Street to Trump Tower. She's not limited to New York properties, though there are extra steps if she chooses to go out of state.
She could, in theory, send a sheriff or a marshal to enforce the judgment, and that brings on another legal process with many more opportunities for delay.
Can Trump be forced to pay up?
James can begin enforcement of the judgment immediately after the 30-day grace period expires next week, says Pollock. And there are several devices she can use to try to get him to pay.
For one, he says, she could serve Trump a restraining notice that would restrict his spending in other areas until he pays his bond.
"The restraining notice would say: 'Don't spend money, don't fill up your jet at the pump, until you pay the state of New York, or you'll be held in contempt of court,' " Pollock says. "And my impression is that ... Engoran, the judge here in New York, would be quick to hold him in contempt of court."
He says it's theoretically possible that James' could consider settling, especially if Trump were to write a check for something like $250 million. But short of that, he doesn't see any reason for her to proactively lower his bond, especially since she has the tools to go into banks and drain his accounts.
"The entire trial was effectively a roadmap to his financial assets," Pollock adds. "She can now send out a sheriff or a marshal of the city of New York to go walk into a financial institution holding what's known as an execution and empty his bank account short of $3,000, which is the statutory floor."
Pollock acknowledges that Trump has said he doesn't have $450 million in cash. But if he wants to stave off enforcement, "he needs to find a way to raise it."
- Letitia James
- court ruling
- Donald Trump
Posts Make Ominous, Unfounded Claims About April 8 Eclipse Preparations
By Alan Jaffe and Hadleigh Zinsner
Posted on March 22, 2024
Para leer en español, vea esta traducción de Google Translate.
Local governments are preparing residents for an influx of visitors during the April 8 solar eclipse that will be most visible along a narrow path through the U.S., with one Oklahoma county inviting the National Guard for support. But social media posts baselessly claim the preparations suggest “something catastrophic” will occur during the eclipse.
A total solar eclipse — in which the moon briefly blocks the face of the sun — will be visible on a narrow path from western Mexico, through the United States, and into Maritime Canada on April 8. At locations along the “path of totality” where the astronomical alignment can be best viewed, the full eclipse will last four and a half minutes. The last time the U.S. experienced a total eclipse was in August 2017, and the next opportunity to see one in the U.S. will be in August 2044.
National agencies and local governments have been preparing for the impact the event will have on towns along the path of the total eclipse due to the number of visitors expected at those locations.
In advance of the partial eclipse in 2023 and the total eclipse in 2024, the U.S. Department of Transportation published a fact sheet that explained, “Because a solar eclipse is a relatively rare type of planned special event, it can generate large volumes of traffic for which State and local departments of transportation (DOTs) will need to prepare.” That fact sheet also noted that the total eclipse in 2017 “created delays and queuing on rural interstates and highways across the Nation.”
The health department of Oswego County, New York , like many counties that will have a view of the total eclipse, has suggested that residents fill up vehicle gasoline tanks and buy groceries before visitors arrive in the area. Lorain County, Ohio, has advised that cell phone signals may be lost “due to system overload” caused by the influx of visitors. Many school districts will close or have early dismissals to allow students to experience the eclipse.
But some social media posts are making unfounded claims that the government preparations for the eclipse are signs of something ominous.
Counties Anticipate Crowds, Call in Support
The text on a March 19 Instagram post reads, “1 month Before the ECLIPSE They are Declaring State of Disaster!” An unidentified woman in the video in the post says, in part, “What in the world is really going on? A month before the eclipse, Travis County [Texas] declares a state of emergency, and also asks for help because they believe their hospitals are going to be full. There’s going to be a lot of chaos going around. Schools are going to be closed. … No signal. Something just doesn’t add up. We’ve had eclipses before and we’ve never seen this type of stuff.”
Another Instagram post about preparations in Travis County, Texas, misleadingly claims , “They know something catastrophic will happen.”
It’s true that Travis County, Texas, issued a disaster declaration on March 8. The city of Lago Vista explained why on its website on March 11: “Travis County Judge Andy Brown declared a local state of disaster in anticipation of extremely large crowds, increased traffic and strains on first responders, hospitals and roads since we are in the direct path of totality for the eclipse. This disaster declaration will allow first responders and public safety officials to better manage traffic and crowds as we are expected to have our population double in size for this once in a lifetime phenomenon.”
A viral TikTok post shared on Facebook questions why McCurtain County, Oklahoma, is calling up the National Guard during the eclipse. “This is getting wild. The National Guard is going to be here now for the solar eclipse. … But things get much weirder.” The video’s narrator then says “an elite chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear unit” also will be housed nearby during the eclipse. The narrator adds, “People are going on Twitter making statements like this, ‘Something strange is definitely happening.'”
Oklahoma National Guard troops will indeed be on hand during the event, and a statement from the Guard explained their role.
âMcCurtain County Emergency Management requested our support because they expect up to 100,000 additional people visiting their communities to watch the eclipse,â Lt. Col. Jabonn Flurry, commander of the 63rd Civil Support Team, said in a March 18 press release from the Oklahoma National Guard. âThis influx of visitors has the potential to overtax local resources and thanks to the training and experience our Guardsmen have working alongside local agencies all across Oklahoma, the CST is uniquely qualified to support our fellow Oklahomans.â
The press release also said, “In the event of a HAZMAT emergency like an industrial fire that requires specialized training, the 63rd CSTâs resources will respond, allowing local emergency responders to continue their assistance to citizens and the expected increase of visitors.”
The release didn’t mention the post’s claim about an “elite chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear unit,” but it noted: “Members of the 63rd CST receive more than 650 hours of HAZMAT and high-tech training from agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Energy, the Department of Justice, and the Environmental Protection Agency.”
This is not the first time local governments have geared up for the impact of an eclipse, contrary to what some social media posts claim. The Oregon Office of Emergency Management prepared for a year ahead of the 2017 eclipse. The National Park Service suggested stocking up with food, water and gas in preparation for viewing the 2017 eclipse in Grand Teton National Park. The state of Wyoming also experienced unanticipated, record-breaking traffic jams after the eclipse that year.
NASA recommends that everyone viewing the eclipse follow health and safety measures, including the use of specialized eye protection or indirect viewing equipment.
Editorâs note: FactCheck.org is one of several organizations working with Facebook to debunk misinformation shared on social media. Our previous stories can be found here . Facebook has no control over our editorial content.
City of Lago Vista, Texas. “Disaster Declaration issued ahead of the 4/8/24 Solar Eclipse.” 11 Mar 2024.
Lorain County, Ohio, Commissioners. “April 8th, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse.” Accessed 21 Mar 2024.
McCullough, Erin. “Rutherford County Schools closing for solar eclipse April 8.” WKRN. 21 Mar 2024.
NASA. “2024 Total Solar Eclipse.” Accessed 20 Mar 2024.
NASA. “Eclipse Safety.” Accessed 21 Mar 2024.
National Park Service. Grand Teton National Park. “2017 Total Solar Eclipse.” 21 Aug 2017.
Oklahoma National Guard. Press release. “Oklahoma National Guard to assist McCurtain County amid influx of eclipse tourism.” 18 Mar 2024.
Oregon Department of Emergency Management. “Hazards and Preparedness: 2017 Total Solar Eclipse.” Accessed 22 Mar 2024.
Oswego County Health Department. “Be Ready For Total Solar Eclipse On April 8.” 21 Feb 2024.
Peek, Katie. “Here Are the Best Places to View the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse.” Scientific American. 2 Feb 2024.
Rainey, Libby. “Wyoming solar eclipse traffic jam was one for the record books.” Denver Post. Updated 23 Aug 2017.
Somers, Jennifer. “These St. Louis-area schools will be closed for the April 8 solar eclipse.” KSDK-TV. Updated 21 Mar 2024.
Travis County, Texas. “Travis County Declaration of Local Disaster Due April 8, 2024 Solar Eclipse.” 8 Mar 2024.
U.S. Department of Transportation. Fact sheet. “Preparing for a Solar Eclipse.” Accessed 21 Mar 2024.
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What We Know About Trumpâs Quest for a Half-Billion-Dollar Bond
Donald J. Trump failed to arrange a bond to halt collection of a $454 million judgment. The New York attorney general might begin to collect very soon.
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By Kate Christobek and Ben Protess
Hereâs the latest on Trumpâs bond in the N.Y. civil fraud case .
Donald J. Trump is running out of time to stave off a financial crisis.
The former president is racing to secure an appeal bond for roughly half a billion dollars in his civil fraud case in New York, but has so far failed.
If he cannot, the New York attorney generalâs office, which brought the fraud case, could begin to collect. The attorney general, Letitia James, could have enforced the judgment last month, but provided Mr. Trump a 30-day grace period that expires on Monday.
Ms. James might start slowly. She could even wait for an appeals court to decide whether to pause the judgment, a decision that could come as soon as this week.
But if she wanted to take a more aggressive stance, Ms. James could freeze some of Mr. Trumpâs bank accounts, which might send the Trump family business into a tailspin.
She could also seek to seize some of his New York properties, and public records show that Ms. James has formally posted the judgment in Westchester County, a preliminary step toward staking a claim to Mr. Trumpâs private estate and golf club there.
In recent days, The New York Times has received many questions about Mr. Trumpâs financial woes. Here are answers to several:
What was Trump accused of?
Ms. James took Mr. Trump, his company and his adult sons to trial last fall, accusing them of fraudulently inflating the value of golf clubs, office buildings and other properties to the tune of about $2 billion.
Mr. Trump exaggerated the property values, and in turn his own net worth, to obtain favorable terms from banks and insurers, according to Ms. James.
At the trial, which lasted months, Ms. Jamesâs lawyers argued that Mr. Trumpâs company had ignored appraisals and manipulated numbers to sometimes absurd degrees.
The judge overseeing the case â there was no jury â ruled in favor of Ms. James.
How was he punished?
The judge, Arthur F. Engoron, came down hard on Mr. Trump, imposing a judgment of $355 million plus interest, amounting to $454 million.
The judge also imposed penalties that could curb Mr. Trumpâs influence over his family business, barring him from serving as a top executive at a New York company for three years.
Can he appeal?
Yes. Mr. Trump is appealing Justice Engoronâs punishments, and has asked a higher court, the Appellate Division in Manhattan, to pause the financial judgment. If the appeals court denies that, he might ask the stateâs highest court, the Court of Appeals in Albany.
Although he does not have to pay Ms. Jamesâs office the $454 million while he appeals, he must either cut a check to the New York State court system for the full amount, or, more likely, obtain a bond.
What is an appeal bond?
An appeal bond is a document in which a company guarantees the $454 million judgment, plus interest, should Mr. Trump lose his appeal and fail to pay.
Mr. Trump would need to pledge significant collateral to a bond company â about $557 million, his lawyers said â including as much cash as possible, as well as stocks and bonds he could sell quickly.
He would also owe the bond company a fee that could amount to nearly $20 million.
Does he have enough cash to obtain one?
Short answer: No.
A recent New York Times analysis found that Mr. Trump had more than $350 million in cash as well as stocks and bonds, far short of what he would need in collateral for the bond.
In a court filing March 18, Mr. Trumpâs lawyers said they had contacted more than 30 bond companies, and none had agreed to a deal.
But I thought he was a billionaire?
While Mr. Trump has long bragged about his wealth, his true financial position remains something of a mystery. Most of his fortune is tied up in real estate holdings, which bond companies donât typically accept as collateral.
He also has less liquid collateral available today than he did even a few weeks ago. Mr. Trump this month had to post a $91.6 million bond in the defamation case he lost to E. Jean Carroll. For that, he most likely had to pledge more than $100 million in collateral to Chubb, the insurance company that provided guarantee. That money cannot be used as collateral for a second bond.
What is the deadline for the appeal bond?
There is no formal deadline. She offered the 30-day grace period and now may wait for the appeals court to weigh in on whether to pause the judgment.
How could Ms. James collect?
It could get ugly for Mr. Trump.
Ms. James could start by merely issuing a list of properties and accounts she is eyeing, or sending subpoenas to locate assets. Or she could move swiftly to freeze and ultimately seize his assets.
If she opted for the more aggressive path, Ms. James could send so-called restraining notices to Mr. Trumpâs banks and brokerage firms, effectively freezing his accounts.
Itâs a powerful weapon, legal experts said. She can send the notices on her own, without needing a judge to bless them.
To then collect, Ms. James can ask a judge to grant her an order directing the banks to hand over his assets to the state.
âThe low-hanging fruit for the state to enforce the judgment in this case is to issue restraining notices to banks,â said Daniel W. Levy, a former federal prosecutor who is now a lawyer at McKool Smith in New York, where he has represented creditors in judgment proceedings.
What about seizing his properties?
Easier said than done.
Mr. Trump does not directly own his properties â in general, they are owned by corporate entities that he controls â and Ms. James would have to fight in court to pierce those layers. Even if Ms. James could take control and force a sale, Mr. Trumpâs lenders would be first in line to collect.
The most sensible option, legal experts said, would be for Ms. James to pursue New York properties â specifically the buildings directly owned by a corporate entity that was a defendant in Ms. Jamesâs case. That would include Mr. Trumpâs Seven Springs estate in Westchester.
If she took control of the property, she could instruct a local sheriff to auction it.
She might also try to seize some of Mr. Trumpâs marquee Florida properties, including his Doral golf resort, which was a defendant.
And she has threatened to take aim at his office tower on Wall Street in Lower Manhattan. But Mr. Trump does not actually own it: Instead, he effectively controls the property and pays rent to the owner.
Trump Tower also poses a challenge, because it was not a defendant, nor is it directly owned by one.
The legal experts cautioned that actually seizing any property through the courts could take significant time without a guarantee of a huge payoff.
But should Mr. Trump win delays, they could cost him. Under New York law, he must continue to pay 9 percent interest on the judgment.
Can she throw him in jail?
Although Ms. James canât jail Mr. Trump â it is a civil case, not a criminal one â Justice Engoron could issue an arrest warrant if Mr. Trump repeatedly flouts court orders. That, however, is unlikely to happen.
What other options does Trump have?
Mr. Trump could quickly sell a property or another asset, or seek a supporterâs help. He might also try to obtain a loan from a bank, hedge fund or private equity firm that he could then post as collateral. The attorney general has suggested that Mr. Trump could pledge his properties to the court.
And his net worth could soon leap when shares of his social media company start trading on the stock market as soon as Monday. His stake is valued at roughly $3 billion. Although he is prohibited from selling shares for six months, Mr. Trump could find ways around that restriction that enable him to raise cash for the bond.
If all else fails, he could have the corporate entities implicated in the case file for bankruptcy, which would automatically halt judgments against them. Ms. Jamesâs penalty against Mr. Trump himself would continue to be in force, and she would most likely seek to hold him accountable for his companyâs debts.
Could Trump use campaign money to pay?
Probably not.
A super PAC supporting Mr. Trumpâs candidacy can raise unlimited amounts, but it is banned from coordinating with him and cannot pay the judgment.
And although the former president has used a political action committee under his control to pay for lawyers and witnesses in his legal cases, that group lacks the money to address the $454 million penalty.
What else is happening Monday?
Mr. Trump has a crucial hearing in his Manhattan criminal case, which could be the first prosecution of a former American president.
The district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, has accused Mr. Trump of covering up a sex scandal involving a porn star to bolster his 2016 presidential campaign.
Jury selection was originally scheduled to start on March 25, but the trial was delayed late last week after the disclosure of more than 100,000 pages of records that had been in the possession of the federal prosecutors
Justice Juan M. Merchan set the hearing to determine whether the new tentative trial date of April 15 should hold, and to rule on Mr. Trumpâs motion for an outright dismissal.
The Manhattan case is among four prosecutions Mr. Trump faces.
Ben Protess is an investigative reporter at The Times, writing about public corruption. He has been covering the various criminal investigations into former President Trump and his allies. More about Ben Protess
Trump claims he has $500 million in cash, undercutting lawyers' claims on bond money
Former President Donald Trump claimed early Friday that he has "almost" $500 million in cash, undercutting his lawyers' claims that he would not be able to comply with the $464 million judgment against him and his co-defendants in the civil fraud case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
"Through hard work, talent, and luck, I currently have almost five hundred million dollars in cash, a substantial amount of which I intended to use in my campaign for president," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social in all caps. "The often overturned political hack judge on the rigged and corrupt A.G. case, where I have done nothing wrong, knew this, wanted to take it away from me, and thatâs where and why he came up with the shocking number which, coupled with his crazy interest demand, is approximately $454,000,000."
Trump wrote that he did "nothing wrong except win an election in 2016 that I wasnât expected to win, did even better in 2020, and now lead, by a lot, in 2024. This is communism in America!"
Trump hasnât contributed any of his own money to his presidential campaigns since 2016. He had floated in 2020 that heâd personally spend what it took to win re-election, but did not do so.
The former president must post the bond for the full amount he owes Monday , or James can seize any of Trumpâs bank accounts or properties, in any state, including Trump Tower and Mar-a-Lago, among many others. His lawyers, who have appealed the judgment, said in a court filing Monday that he has been unable to secure a bond to meet it .
Trump is liable for $454 million , most of the fraud judgment, but the amount he owes has been increasing by more than $111,000 a day because of added interest.
New York Judge Arthur Engoron, who determined the amount of the judgment, issued his ruling Feb. 23, and Trump had 30 days to hand over the cash. Trump said in another Truth Social post in all caps Friday that Engoron "came up with a crazy, out of thin air award, in order to damage me politically, and not allow me to use any of the large amount of cash I have built up over the years, through hard work, insight, instinct, and diligence, on my political campaign for president."
"This is simply a 'taking,'" he added. "Much like what is done in communist countries."
Later in the day, he said he plans to bring his appeal of the ruling before the Supreme Court. But he'll likely need to go through the state appeals court process before he can bring that challenge before the justices.
Earlier this week, Trump's presidential campaign asked his supporters for money in a fundraising memo, which said, "Insane radical Democrat AG Letitia James wants to SEIZE my properties in New York. THIS INCLUDES THE ICONIC TRUMP TOWER!"
Trump has valued his brand at  over $10 billion , but a 2021 financial statement put his net worth a $4.5 billion. He has indicated that most of his assets are in real estate, not cash or stock, saying at a deposition in the fraud case last year, that he had "substantially in excess of $400 million in cash."
Rebecca Shabad is a politics reporter for NBC News based in Washington.
Dareh Gregorian is a politics reporter for NBC News.
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No and I don't apply for jobs where a cover letter is mandatory. If you're willing to experiment, just create a blank word doc, name it as <yourname> cover letter, and upload it. If you still hear back, your doubts will be gone forever. Skip the cover letter and put your energy into a great resume.
The answer has to be: because this person checks all the boxes we care about. So your letter, which must be on one side, needs to succinctly introduce you and explain why you think you check the boxes.The process then is: a) Identify what they want, feature by feature, and then figure out how you might be able to satisfy their needs.
Head to our discord for live support: discord.gg/jobs. Here's the best cover letter I've ever seen. Hey everyone. I've been using this cover letter for years and it has worked really well. Most recently in my job search, I've had at least 3 separate contacts make a comment about how good the format is. Hope it helps you.
If your resume is short, a cover letter can help supplement it. A good cover letter also tells me you have basic competence at communication and writing skills. u/thirtyandtrying has a great explanation of what should be in the cover letter. Always better to include one, as long as it isnt generic.
Here's a few tricks I've learnt to writing good cover letters: #1 Start with a Strong Opening đ. Use the opening to provide a preface into yourself and career objectives. Take this short cover letter sample: As an experienced marketing manager with a passion for the environment and for tech, I was thrilled to find an opening for a Marketing ...
Cover letters may give you something like +50% ping backs but I can easily apply to 200-400% more jobs in the time it takes to make a cover letter. Additionally where cover letters are required, I have barely noticed any difference from a mostly canned cover letter with minor adjustments to a completely customized one.
In tech, the stronger the cover letter the weaker the candidates usually is, the strong candidates know they're hot commodity due to their skills and experience and don't bother with it, the weaker candidates need to peacock so they work really hard on the docs, but technical interviewers just don't car.
Notwithstanding the above, the only time you should submit a cover letter is when you have valuable information to share that's not conveyed in your resume. I've hired many candidates based on ...
Header - Input contact information. Greeting the hiring manager. Opening paragraph - Grab the reader's attention with 2-3 of your top achievements. Second paragraph - Explain why you're the perfect candidate for the job. Third paragraph - Explain why you're a good match for the company.
Step 3: Address your cover letter to the hiring managerâpreferably by name. The most traditional way to address a cover letter is to use the person's first and last name, including "Mr." or "Ms." (for example, "Dear Ms. Jane Smith" or just "Dear Ms. Smith").
The cover letter is a tool to help introduce yourself in a memorable, personal way during a job application. A well-crafted cover letter goes over information on your resume and expands this information for the reader, taking them on a guided journey of some of your greatest career and life achievements.. Its purpose is to elaborate on the information contained in your resume while infusing ...
Simply enter the company name and some keywords into the search bar (e.g., "Google, hiring manager, sales") and a variety of related profiles will appear. 2. Clearly state the purpose of your ...
Cover letter format. Your cover letter should be one page long and use a simple, professional font, such as Arial or Helvetica, 10 to 12 points in size. Your letter should be left-aligned with single spacing and one-inch margins. Jenn shares her advice on how and why to write a cover letter.
Communicate that you'll bring something to the company: You'll get more into the details after your opening, of course. But your cover letter opener should still tell the reader, "This person can do something for us ," rather than, "This job would really help them .". Stick to the point: Your opener, while creative, should still be ...
Key takeaways. A well-crafted cover letter is necessary and can tip the scales in your favor, and should be included with your resume unless specifically stated otherwise. Include a cover letter, even if it's not specifically requested. It can show your enthusiasm and seriousness about the position.
The way you write your cover letter can also demonstrate less obvious soft skills like creativity, persuasion, organization, or attention to detail, Kaplan says. 5. You Can Clear Up Any Questions About Your Resume. Cover letters are the ideal spot to give some needed context about any unique circumstances surrounding your job search. If there ...
A cover letter is an introductory document many employers ask you to submit along with your resume when applying for a job. Depending on the company, you might need to email your cover letter and resume or there may be an online application process where you can upload it. Many job listings specify if they require a cover letter, but some don't ...
If your resume is good, a nice, short, original (never cookie-cutter), company-specific letter can improve your odds, show you did your research and are truly interested in this specific company, separate you from similar applicants, and make a great first impression. The best cover letters are short (1 paragraph), written from scratch, and ...
Posted by u/notswim - 1 vote and 1 comment
Even if not required, cover letters are usually preferred: 74% of recruitment decision-makers prefer to receive job applications which include cover letters apart from resumes. For jobs with a direct application process (for instance through an email), a cover letter is required 64% of the time.
Mistake #2 - Using only your resume to generate your cover letter. This is the opposite of the first mistake. Sometimes job seekers will prompt ChatGPT using only their resume and nothing else. Again, the bot will return a fairly well-written cover letter. But the letter will basically just regurgitate your resume.
So should I send a cover letter to the careers@[company name].com email address in support of my resume? ... More importantly however, the behavior of reddit leadership in implementing these changes has been reprehensible. This sub will be private for at least a week from June 12th. For more info go to /r/Save3rdPartyApps/ â https://redd ...
Here are some benefits of including a cover letter in your job application: 1. They showcase your personality. Cover letters typically reveal insights into a candidate's values, character traits and outlook on work. Many hiring managers prefer candidates who align with the organization's culture, so highlighting your unique personality in your ...
Here are 15 things to avoid when writing a cover letter with tips and suggestions of what you can do instead: Not following instructions. Using the wrong format. Discussing why you are looking for a new position. Using the same cover letter for every application.
A groundbreaking $418 million settlement announced Friday by the powerful National Association of Realtors is set to usher in the most sweeping reforms the American real estate market has seen in ...
In New York, if you make money by persistently committing fraud, you owe the ill-gotten portion back to the state. In this case, Judge Engoron determined that Donald Trump made over $350 million ...
Para leer en español, vea esta traducción de Google Translate.. Quick Take. Local governments are preparing residents for an influx of visitors during the April 8 solar eclipse that will be most ...
Justice Juan M. Merchan set the hearing to determine whether the new tentative trial date of April 15 should hold, and to rule on Mr. Trump's motion for an outright dismissal. The Manhattan case ...
Donald Trump claimed he has "almost" $500 million in cash, undercutting his lawyers' claims that he would not be able to comply with the $464 million judgment against him and his co-defendants in ...
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