cover letter writing- graduate students
DESCRIPTION
This presentation will help graduate students learn to effectively write cover letters.TRANSCRIPT
Cover Le(er Wri+ng -‐ Graduate Students
Career Center
Cover Le4er
• Concise, professional document tailored to a specific posi<on, organiza<on, and industry
• Purpose: – Express your interest – Highlight the skills, knowledge, and quali<es that show your fit
– Demonstrate how you will contribute
Agenda
• Analysis & Research
• Structure
• Demonstrate Fit
• Examples
Analysis & Research
• Analyze the role descrip<on
• Research the organiza<on
Analysis & Research: Industry Expecta<ons
• Nonprofits, Educa+on: Speak to your match with their mission.
• Finance, Business, Consul+ng: Results-‐oriented, conserva<ve, brief.
• Engineering: Some<mes op<onal. Keep it concise and focus on the technical.
• Journalism, Crea+ve, Arts: Make sure your wri<ng style shines. Show passion here.
Structure
• Introduc+on: Make your strongest argument
• Body: Connect experience to qualifica<ons/requirements (acquired through analysis & research)
• Next Steps: What’s YOUR next ac<on
Demonstrate Fit: Skills
• Focus on relevant qualifica<ons/requirements • Gallup’s 21st Century Skills:
– real-‐world problem-‐solving, knowledge construc<on, collabora<on, self-‐regula<on, skilled communica<on, technology, and global awareness
• Gallup defines real-‐world problem-‐solving as (Actual Survey Ques<ons): – “Worked on a long-‐term project that took several classes to
complete” – “Used what you were learning about to develop solu<ons to real-‐
world problems in your community or in the world”
Demonstrate Fit: Elaborate on Experience
• Iden<fy specific experience that exemplify qualifica<ons/requirements
• Connect directly to role/organiza<on
Examples
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