Cover Letter (aka: Letter of Application), Due 4/24

Cover Letter:

Along with the resume, you will often be asked to also send a cover letter (or letter of application). Below is a template for what to include in that cover letter. Basically, this letter is a chance to go in more depth on your skills and work experience that you'd bring to the position employer is looking to fill.

Guidelines: 1-2 pages (most companies prefer 1-page) of focused letter that explains interest and qualifications for job (as you see!). Use 12-pt, Times New Roman. Single space, and follow the template below as far as form and content....

Also, this is due Friday, April 24th, but by e-mail*.

*Since I will be out of town. You will have a homework assignment given next Wednesday for the following Monday (Week 4).


For some good pointers and a more in-depth template and description of a Cover Letter (Letter of Application is another term for this letter), review and take notes on pages 387-393 of our textbook.

For now, here is the run down on what to include.

Rather than overloading with a list of all things you've ever done, places you've worked, skills you have, or the success of your education, you want to highlight a few points.

Focus on 2-3 points within the letter, and develop those points with the job you are applying for in mind. Again, look back to the job posting to see which qualifications are of highest importance and begin thinking about and writing down in your first draft how you can fulfill those jobs.


Here is our template:


Your street addy
Your city/state/zip

Date letter is written

Person Addressing Letter To (potential employer; be formal)
Their Business Addy


Dear Mr./Ms. (don't assume that a woman is married!):

Paragraph 1: Don't indent, but use a space to separate paragraphs. In this first paragraph, be straightforward and to the point. 4 duties of the introduction: 1) What job you are applying for, and 2) ask for them to consider you. 3) How do you know of job; who told you? 4) What is one position-specific reason they should consider you for job (skill, past employment). Tip: This last sentence should respond to a particular demand implied in the job posting --again, look for key qualifications and repeat them back with specific examples developed in your response.

Paragraph 2: Education paragraph. This is an important paragraph for many of you, applying for entry level positions out of college. Use a transitional topic sentence (a hinge) that speaks back to the main reason you should be considered for the job, and then describe how your education has helped build that skill or given you the practical knowledge to be able to fulfill the position's responsibilities. For instance, if the job asks for sound computer skills and you have them...let them know what courses you've taken, what computer programs you've worked with, and how those courses will fulfill particular responsibilities they are asking of their candidates.

Paragraph 3: Using one job as a reference point to describe what you learned or what skills used (or both) by working there. IF you haven't had a job, ever, than this may be more difficult, but you can still use this paragraph to explain your skill-level and how you've used that skill.

Paragraph 4: Wrap up --why should they interview me? 1)Mention your resume. 2) Ask or make know that you would welcome an interview (use such a phrase as "would welcome"). 3) Provide your personal contact information (e-mail and phone #), and mention that you will also provide further references or would be willing to provide additional information (if they would like).

Tips:

- Formality is key: use friendly phrases; do not use contractions(don't, can't, etc.); and don't be too forward.

-Consistency: have a focused theme, and commit to developing that them from paragraph to paragraph. If they have a main duty or skill important to hiring the person, focus your letter on explaining how your own skills and experience fulfill different aspects of that main duty or skill they are looking for --in interest, education, and in practice.

Resume

Due: Friday, April 17, 2009

Requirement: 1-page resume, for a particular job posting

Guidelines:

We’ll be working on finding a job posting on-line that you will use to write a mock resume for.

It is suggested that you find a job posting in a field related to your own major studies here at East West, as this will provide you good practice for when it comes time to write your real resume. We will spend some time in class searching job websites for postings, and discuss what to look for.

A key point to the project is to understand that you are being graded on your ability to understand and create a resume,and that some of the requirements might cause you to have to fictionalize work experience, education, etc., only for this project.

In the real world, outside this classroom, when applying for a job – you cannot falsify and exaggerate your qualifications, ethically. Such falsification could get you fired, or more.

But, for the purposes of having some fun, and to allow for your creativity, you may imagine credentials and experience in order to create a strong resume for this class.

However, the focus is still on your ability to apply some of the basic To Dos of both parts of the job application.


The Resume

This is a brief outline of your qualifications for a job. The resume should provide relevant material to the job posting, such as educational background, work experience, skills used, learned, and any honors/credits that show success within the field in which you’re applying.

1. You must have at least 4 main categories, 3 of which should include:

a. Objectives
b. Education
c. Skills

The other 1-2 categories can be from categories such as:

- Related Work experience
- Volunteer Experience
- Awards / Publications
- Relevant Courses (for coming out of college)