cover_letter.ppt
- 1. From the Purdue OWL The Cover Letter Worth Weller – ENG W232
- 2. What is it? • A cover letter introduces you and your resume to potential employers. • an important first impression that prepares the reader for your application, stating – why you are writing, – why you are the best person for the job, – and when you will contact him or her.
- 3. Does more than that, though… • Explains your experiences in a story-like format • Allows you to go in-depth about important experiences/skills and relate them to job requirements • Shows the employer that you are individualizing this job application • Provides a sample of your written communication skills
- 4. Four parts • Heading • Introduction • Argument/Body • Closing
- 5. Heading • Provide your contact information. • Include the date you are writing the letter. • Include the address of the company.
- 6. Introduction • Greet the specific person you address the letter to. • State the position you are applying for and where you heard about it. • Name drop if you have a good connection. • State why you believe you are a strong candidate, including 2-3 key qualifications that you will address in the rest of the letter.
- 7. Argument/Body • Tailor cover letter for each job application. • Focus each paragraph on one qualification. • Give specific examples to prove where you got these skills and how you have used them before. • Tell a story; do not just list your skills. • Refer to your resume; do not repeat it. • Do not use contractions.
- 8. Closing • Close with a strong reminder of why you are a good candidate. • Request an interview in some way. • Provide contact information. • Thank them! • Sign your name and print it underneath.
- 9. Length • Keep to one page! – Write one paragraph of introduction, – one-three paragraphs to prove your skills, – and one paragraph to conclude.
- 10. Spacing • Single-space your cover letter. • Leave a space between addresses and dates in the heading. • Leave a space between your heading (contact info) and greeting ("Dear..."). • Leave a space between each paragraph. • Leave at least three spaces between your complimentary close ("Sincerely,") and typed name. • Sign your name in ink between your complimentary close and typed name.
- 11. Margins and Alignment • Use standard margins (one-inch margins, usually). • Can use smaller margins (to about 0.7-inch) as long as you are consistent on all sides. • Center your letter in the middle of the page. • Align all paragraphs to the left of the page. (You can also indent the first line of each paragraph, but that is not used as often.)
- 12. Showing off… • Yes – show you know the company and that you are a good match for it – American Advertising is committed to providing their clients with superior customer satisfaction and one-on-one collaboration. My experience shows I can work with people from different backgrounds and cultures, proving I know how to put customer satisfaction first.
- 13. To whom is the letter addressed? • Whenever possible, address your letter to a specific individual, usually the person in charge of interviewing and hiring. • Doing so will give you a greater chance of having your application packet read and not filed away automatically.
- 14. How do I find this? • Read the ads • Read the company web page • Call! • If you find the name, but cannot decipher the gender of the person, you may greet that person using their full name instead of their last name. For example: – Dear Ms. Kincaid, (For Amy Kincaid) – Dear Pat Thompson, (For Pat Thompson
- 15. What Goes in the Introduction? • the purpose of your introduction is to catch the reader's attention and make you stand out • you need to be as specific as possible in this section. – State the university you attend, your major, and what position you are applying for (if you are a student). – Mention where you heard about the job. – Mention the name of a professor or other contact who has a positive connection with the company. – Bring up any previous conversations you have had with your reader (i.e., at a job fair).
- 16. Examples • As a Purdue University junior in Electrical Engineering, I am applying for the Engineering Internship advertised on General Electric's website. • Professor Gene Smith speaks highly of Western Electric, and he urged me to write directly to you. • I have been thinking about our conversation at Purdue's Career Fair on January 26. I agree that a team spirit and strong work ethic are vital for success, and I believe I can bring these qualities to your company. • (Practice)
- 17. What Else? • After gaining the initial attention of the reader, you must make a strong claim about your candidacy. • Clearly state two-three qualifications you have that match the company/position.
- 18. Examples • I agree that a team spirit and strong work ethic are vital for success, and I believe I can bring these qualities to your company. • I believe that my production experience, design skills, and enthusiasm for writing make me a strong candidate for the Production/Design Internship. • (Practice)
- 19. What do I include in my argument/body? • describe the most important qualifications to prove why you are the strongest candidate for the job. • focus your cover letter's body around the two-three qualifications you mention in the introduction.
- 20. Answer these two questions… 1. How can I prove I am qualified for this position? 2. What have I done that sets me apart from other candidates?
- 21. How can I prove I am qualified? • describe the experiences of how you received and grew your skills, • mention specific places you worked and positions you held. – My communication skills in the workplace have grown because of my internships. When I was an intern at Newberry & Jones, I wrote memos and letters to customers and colleagues on a daily basis. This experience taught me to write professionally and to-the-point. • (Practice)
- 22. How do I set myself apart? • Special projects – Explain course work that gives you a type of professional experience. • Awards – Show that others have recognized the high quality of your work. – Include only those awards that relate to the position you desire. • Accomplishments – Demonstrate how you improved efficiency/productivity at work or school. – Include what you did at school that proves your skills. – Explain how you set a goal and reached it.
- 23. Example • While at IPFW, I participated in a collaborative web-consulting project for a Technical Writing class. With two peers, I served as a web consultant for a local business, Patters' Painters. In order to make feasible recommendations for revisions, additions, and deletions to Patters' Painters' website, we conducted interviews, observed the workplace, and completed multiple web analyses... • (Practice)
- 24. What do I include in my closing? • Close with a strong reminder of why you are a good candidate. • Request an interview in some way. • Provide contact information. • Thank them! • Sign your name and print it underneath.
- 25. Example • I am eager to speak with you and discuss my possible contribution to Country Press, as I feel my experiences in communication and customer service will be an asset to the company. Please contact me at 423-512-1143, or email me at anyone@anywhere.com. Thank you for your time and consideration. • (Practice)
- 26. Finally… • Proofread the cover letter after a few hours or days (improve sentences, grammar, typos). • Give your cover letter to friends, professors, and/or colleagues for proofreading and suggestions. • We will peer review your letters next week.