What is an extended or detailed cover letter?
Occasionally you'll see an ad or listing that asks for a detailed or extended cover letter. This is usually requested when writing ability is an important qualification for the job or where the field is highly competitive, such as for fellowships and some paid internships. Rarely would the letter be more than two pages long, and it might run to just one and a half pages or one full page. To write an extended letter you should follow the same structure we outline for regular letters, but go into more detail. You might also talk a bit more about your career goals or why you're making a career change (if applicable), rather than focusing solely on the sales pitch aspect of the letter.

How do cover letters for internships differ from cover letters for regular jobs?
The guidelines are essentially the same whether you're applying for a regular, paid job or an internship (paid or unpaid). When you're applying for an internship, however, your reader's expectations are a little different. Your reader won't expect you to have as much experience in the field, for example, so it's okay to talk more about your academic background and campus activities. Also, since an internship is an opportunity for you to get exposure to and learn hands-on skills in a particular field or industry, it's fine to discuss your career goals and your own need for experience - something you wouldn't necessarily do in a letter for a regular job. You should be aware, however, that internships and other types of experiential education have become much more popular over the past several years, so the competition for any given internship is likely to be stiff. With this in mind, remember that you can set yourself apart from the competition by following many of the "sales pitch" strategies we suggest using in cover letters for regular jobs.

How do I address salary history or requirements?
This is undoubtedly one of the toughest issues cover letter writers face and the most frequently asked question. If a salary history is asked for, be aware that salary histories are really only applicable to candidates who have at least a few years' work experience. A salary history in its strictest definition means a list of your jobs in reverse chronological showing the salary for each one (sometimes both starting and ending salaries at each job to reflect raises and promotions). That way, the reader can see your history of compensation, ideally one that increases with each new position.