week 4 cover letter peer review
TRANSCRIPT
COMM 202
T20, T21 & T27Week 4: Cover Letter Peer Review
Garret LaValley
No Laptops or Cellphones, NameCards
out please!
Agenda
1. Cover Letter Peer Review
2. Resume Overview
3. Action Items
LNOSRQ
Instructions
LNOSRQ
1. Write your table number on ALL of your documents
2. Put your documents in a pile in the middle of your table
3. Get out your marking utensils
Each new slide section,PASS DOCUMENT TO THE RIGHT
Cover Letter
Formatting
LNOSRQ
• Left Aligned
• No INDENTS to start paragraph
• Bullet Points VS paragraphs
• 2-3 Relevant Skills
Date
Contact NameTheir TitleCompanyAddressCity, Province Postal Code
Re: Position Title
Dear Mr. / Ms. Their Last Name OR Hiring Manager
These spaces are important!
If unknown, this can be omitted
AVOID: “To Whom it May
Concern”“Dear Sir or Madam”
Country is typically unnecessary unless applying outside of
Canada
Addressing the Cover Letter
To a specific person
To a non-specified committee/manager
Signature Formatting
These spaces are important!
Other Options:Best, Regards
Co-op Students:BCom BTM Co-op Candidate 2016
Written Signature is OPTIONAL
Attached: Resume, Transcript
Use “Enclosed: …” only if sending application by mail
Sincerely,
Full NameBcom Candidate 20XXSauder School of Business
Enclosed/Attached: Resume
Opening
LNOSRQ
• How do you like the hook?
• Is there keen, genuine interest and/or passion for the position?
• Is there a clear expression of the skills/experience matching the
job posting?
• Is company research integrated (and indicates interest)?
• If name drop is used, was it well-integrated?
Skills Matching
LNOSRQ
• Are there specific skills matched to the job description?
• Do they reference specific examples that leverage
experiences/qualifications?
• Are the highlighted experiences specific and concise?
• Do they indicate transferrable skills?
• Do the results show strength or success?
• Suggested minimum of 2 skills/attributes matched
Conclusion
LNOSRQ
• Are skills reiterated in a different (not redundant!) way?
• Is sincere interest expressed?
• Is there a gracious thank you and call to action • request for meeting?
Branding
LNOSRQ
• Is their research insightful? Have they gone the distance to show how they will “fit” into the industry or organization?
• Did they use Industry Terms?
WHO WOULD YOU HIRE?Of the applications on your table, who has…
• Who had the WOW factor?
• Did they show CAN, WANT, & FIT?
• What was GOOD about their application?
• What do they need to work on?
Resume
From this…
To this!!!
Header
LNOSRQ
• The banner at the top of the page that contains basic information!
Profile• A brief self-intro and preview to your resume – REFER TO YOUR JOB POSTING
Education• Showcase your academic journey
• Presenting YOU throughout the document
Personal Branding
MarkingIf you have over 2 errors,
we will deduct 40%*!
TYPOS FORMATTING ERRORS
SPELLING & GRAMMAR
MISSING INFO DASHES VS. HYPHENS INCONSISTENCY
* Per document
Accomplishment Statements
• Your best self on paper.
Employers do not want to hear your stories, they want to see your accomplishments!
STAR TO RATS
Flip It
Result (Proof)
Action
Task
Situation
Result Verbs
ATTAINED EXCEEDED
ELIMINATEDINCREASED
DECREASED MAXIMIZEDMINIMIZEDREDUCED
SAVEDSURPASSEDIMPROVEDCREATED
GENERATEDENHANCEDOPTIMIZED
ESTABLISHED
**Try not to repeat words!!
ResultTwo types of results:
QUALITATIVE• Positive feedback
• Promotion/increase in responsibilities
• Implementation
• Awards • Examples?
QUANTITATIVE• How much?• How many?• Numbers• Percentages
• Examples?
Actions
Do your results match up with your actions?
Are those skills relevant to the job?
What skills did you see?
Situation & Task
• What other context is necessary to understand the
information?
Duty Based Statements
• “Assisted customers in finding styles and sizes”
• “Opened/closed the store, in charge of till and end of night deposits”
This is a job description!
Accomplishment Statements
• “Assisted customers in finding styles and sizes”
• “Opened/closed the store, in charge of till and end of night deposits”
This is how we know you’re good at it! NO DUTY-BASED STATEMENTS
Surpassed quarterly sales targets by 35% by providing friendly, personalized service, anticipating future seasonal needs, and cross-selling similar merchandise.
Assigned key holder status in just one month after demonstrating excellent attention to detail during closing processes; specifically commended for prompt and accurate deposit counts.
One more example…
Led Varsity Volleyball team to the PacWest BC Provincial Championship gold medal by exemplifying camaraderie and teamwork in both practices and high-pressure games.
One more example…
Led Varsity Volleyball team to the PacWest BC Provincial Championship gold medal by exemplifying camaraderie and teamwork in both practices and high-pressure games.
Results
ActionsTask/Situation
ACTIVITYTake one of your skills-matching paragraphs
and rewrite it as an accomplishment statement!
Key Takeaways
• No Duty Statements!
• Be Concise
• Format Consistently!
• Always Stay Relevant
• Small Details Matter!
• YOU DO YOU. (aka be yourself!)
Action Items Watch the resume e-module and review “Outline to a
Chronological Resume”
Complete your resume DRAFT for next class (bring two copies)!
Sign up for Office Hours on COOL
Have an awesome reading break!