What best describes the purpose of a cover letter?

• A. Explain fit and motivation for a specific job.
• B. Summarize the candidate's entire work history.
• C. Provide references.
• D. State salary expectations.

Answer: (A)

A cover letter is your tailored pitch for why you’re a strong fit for a specific job and why you want to work for that particular company. It goes beyond the résumé by linking your relevant skills, experiences, and accomplishments directly to what the job requires, showing how you can help the employer meet its goals. It also conveys your motivation, level of interest, and communication style, giving the reader a sense of who you are as a candidate and how you approach work.

Summarizing your entire work history would be more appropriate for the résumé, which is a concise timeline of roles and responsibilities. Providing references belongs in a separate part of the application or after request, not in the cover letter. Salary expectations are typically discussed later in the process, or only if the employer asks for them.