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This study investigates the effect some principal characteristics of employment application cover letters have on personnel officers. A sample of personnel executives from 100 major companies was queried as to their perception of the desirability of 12 common cover letter characteristics. The results indicate that the personnel officers do not consistently perceive letters in the manner suggested by the existing literature. Some characteristics are shown to.zljcit negative responses from personnel officers, and thus should be avoided by job applicants. Several characteristics are strongly preferred by the sample surveyed. The model for an employment cover letter derived from this study should enhance the applicant's chances for a favorable response, or at least prevent letter forms which might detract therefmm. David B. Stephens is an assistant professor of managementat the University of Texas, El Paso. James T. Watt is an associate professor, College of Business, University of Baltimore. Wade S . Hobbs is in the Comptroller's Office, southwestern Bell, DallaJ, Texas. 238 JOURNAL OF EMPLOYMENT COUNSELING

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