In the first paragraph, indicate why you are writing and where you heard about the position. Mention UVA and your year and major(s).In this article, we share the steps for writing an application letter along with a template and an example for you to use when writing your own. Many applications require a cover letter alongside a résumé. A cover letter typically accompanies your resume. Five steps to creating your cover letter ; 1. Highlight your strongest skills. Highlight your strongest skills. While it's tempting to write one cover letter and stick with it, it's important to stand out. There's a lot of competition for VA jobs.