Writer’s NotebookWriter’s Notebook

“Job Request”

• Write a letter (don’t waste space with addresses, etc.) to a hypothetical contact at a company. Let him/her know you are applying for a job, why you are a great fit for the job and what you bring to the company.

3/24/113/24/11

Content: Resume

TODAY

• Students will...– Write for a purpose when creating cover letters

COVER LETTERS

• We will talk about two (2) types of cover letters

–Letter of Application–Letter of Inquiry

The Last Slide’s Notes

Why Write One?

• A resume is a summary of your background and qualifications. A cover letter explains why you're sending your resume. A resume alone is insufficient.

SAMPLES

• Annotate the text

• What can you learn from the samples?

Writer’s NotebookWriter’s Notebook

“Job Skill”

• What is your best/strongest skill as an employee? Explain why that is your top skill. Prove (with an example) that you have that skill. Explain how that skill makes you a great employee.

3/25/113/25/11

Content: Resume Content: Resume

All cover letters should:

• Explain why you are sending a resumeExplain why you are sending a resume. . Don't send a resume without a cover letter.  Don't make the reader guess what you are asking for; be specific: Do you want a summer internship opportunity, or a permanent position at graduation; are you inquiring about future employment possibilities?

• Tell specifically how you learned about the Tell specifically how you learned about the position or the organizationposition or the organization — a flyer posted in your department, a web site, a family friend who works at the organization. It is appropriate to mention the name of someone who suggested that you write.

• Convince the reader to look at your resume.Convince the reader to look at your resume.  The cover letter will be seen first. Therefore, it must be very well written and targeted to that employer.

Cover Letters Should

• Call attention to elements of your Call attention to elements of your backgroundbackground  — education, leadership, experience — that are relevant to a position you are seeking. Be as specific as possible, using examples.

• Reflect your attitudeReflect your attitude, personality, motivation, enthusiasm, and communication skills.

• Provide or refer to any information Provide or refer to any information specifically requestedspecifically requested in a job advertisement that might not be covered in your resume, such as availability date, or reference to an attached writing sample.

• Indicate what you will do toIndicate what you will do to  follow-follow-upup..

Page margins, font style and size

• For hard copy, left and right page margins of one to 1.5 inches generally look good. You can adjust your margins to balance how your document looks on the page.

• Use a font style that is simple, clear and commonplace, such as Times New Roman,Arial or Calibri. Font SIZES from 10-12 points are generally in the ballpark of looking appropriate. Keep in mind that different font styles in the same point size are not the same size. A 12-point Arial is larger than a 12-point Times New Roman.

• If you are having trouble fitting a document on one page, sometimes a slight margin and/or font adjustment can be the solution.

• Serif or sans serif? Sans (without) serif fonts are those like Arial and Calibri that don't have the small finishing strokes on the ends of each letter. There is a great deal of research and debate on the pros and cons of each. Short story: use what you like, within reason; note what employers use; generally sans serif fonts are used for on-monitor reading and serif fonts are used for lengthy print items (like books); serif fonts may be considered more formal. Test: ask someone to look at a document for five seconds; take away the document; ask the person what font was on the document; see if s/he even noticed the style. A too-small or too-large font gets noticed, as does a weird style.

• Should your resume and cover letter font style and size match? It can be a nice touch to look polished. But it's also possible to have polished documents that are not in matching fonts. A significant difference in style and size might be noticed. Remember that you can have your documents reviewed through advising, and that might be a fine-tuning question you ask.

Cover Letters Should Be

• Formal, polished, and grammatically correct

• Precise, concise, cordial, and confident

• Written in the active voice• Varied in sentence structure—don’t begin all sentences with “I”

• Printed on the same type of paper as your resume

• Targeted to the needs of the company and requirements of the position

Annotate the Samples

• Look for – HOW TO WRITE A COVER LETTER– Similarities among the samples– Differences among the samples

Writer’s NotebookWriter’s Notebook

“If I Were Boss”

• If you ran a business, what would you look for in an employee?

• Would you hire yourself?

3/28/113/28/11

Content: Resume Content: Resume

WHAT TO WRITE

• The First Paragraph• States WHY you are writing - Responding to an advertised opening- Inquiring about a possible opening

• States WHY you are applying to or are interested in this employer- Company’s training program- Company’s product or service- Demonstrate your company research

• Make mention of your contact/referral if you have one

The Second Paragraph

• States WHAT qualifications you bring to the position

• Highlights two or three experiences and/or academic achievements that directly relate to the qualifications the employer is seeking

• Illustrates brevity (specific and to the point)• Proves thorough examples of experiences and activities that you have some of the key skills for the position – such as hard-work, career commitment, communication, problem solving ability, and analytical skills

• Is NOT a repetition of the wording on your resume

• May close with a summary sentence of your qualifications and a confident statement that you can make a contribution to the firm/company/organization

The Third Paragraph

• States WHAT you WANT: – an interview and/or an opportunity to further discuss your qualifications and any employment opportunities the employer may have

• May reference your enclosed resume• Indicates flexibility as to time and place

• Thanks the person and indicates that you look forward to speaking to or meeting with him/her

• Can state that you will call the contact person at a certain time/day to discuss scheduling a meeting or an interview

Address The Letter

• Cover Letters Should be Addressed to a SPECIFIC PERSON

• If you do not have a contact name:– Investigate the company website and other online resources for contacts and addresses

– Call the company and request the name of the person responsible for hiring in your career area

• If all efforts fail—– indicate a specific job title, such as Director of Public Relations and use a proper salutation

Follow-Up After Sending a Cover Letter

• Calling the employer is acceptable, – as long as it is gracious and courteous.

• Call the employer to – make sure your application materials were received

– ask if any other materials would assist the employer in arriving at a positive decision regarding your application

Sample Power Phrases

• Consider using adaptations of these phrases in your cover letters:– ABC’s use of advanced digital recording technology is of particular interest to me.

– Your company’s management trainee program is particularly unique in its rotational plan and accompanying classroom instruction.

– I look forward to talking with you and will call your office during the week of September 7th to see if we might arrange a convenient time to meet.

– With my educational background, bilingual skills, and business intern experience, I am confident I can make a contribution to your international trade department.

– I would like the opportunity to further discuss my qualifications with you in an interview scheduled at your convenience.

– Please accept the enclosed resume in application for an Assistant Editor position with News Time.

– As a long-time resident of San Diego, I plan to return to the area to develop my career in journalism.

Writer’s NotebookWriter’s Notebook

“Got Told”

• Tell about a time you did what someone told you to without having to discuss it, complain about it, or question it.

3/29/113/29/11

Content: Resume Content: Resume

WRL

• Reading Log #4 was due yesterday

• THIS WEEK:– Reading Log #5 – due April 11– On the back: SPRING BREAK BONUS LOG

•IF ALL LOGS TURNED IN– Points out of points earned– 10 extra points per 25 extra pages (cap at 75 extra pages)

•IF MISSING A LOG– Bonus Log replaces a missing log (regular scoring)

Draft Cover Letter

• Browse the jobs on the provided job postings

• Pick one– You aren’t applying for this for real

– Pick one that fits your interest– Pick one

“Cover Letter Draft”

• Write a cover letter as if you are sending your résumé in order to apply for the job you chose.

• DO THIS IN YOUR CLASS NOTES NOTEBOOK

Writer’s NotebookWriter’s Notebook

“Top Job”

• For the sake of argument, you got in a car wreck. Your knees are wrecked (you’ll never play sports again), you’re voice is busted (you’ll never sing/rap/act), and it was your fault (no huge insurance settlement).

• What would be your ideal job? Why?

3/30/113/30/11

Content: Resume Content: Resume

Note: you can walk. You can talk. You are not disabled.

Letter of Inquiry

• ask about the possibility of an opening– You want to work for a company– No jobs posted– Sent to ask about possible job openings– Your inquiry letter must contain information on why the company interests you and why your skills and experience would be an asset to the company.

– don't assume the employer will contact you. You should say something like, "I will contact you in two weeks to learn more about upcoming employment opportunities with (name of organization)."  Then mark your calendar to make the call.

“Letter of Inquiry Draft”

• Write a letter of inquiry as if you are sending your résumé in order to apply for the job you desire.

• DO THIS IN YOUR CLASS NOTES NOTEBOOK

• Additional Tips• Your cover letter should not be a repetition of the wording on your resume

• When sending a resume via email, you may follow the cover letter format to introduce your attached resume

• Use the term “Enclosure” or “Enclosures” only if you are sending hard copies of your documents

Get With The Times

• EMAIL– Send via email = message in body of email•Keep it concise•Keep it strong

– DO•Reference any prior contact

– “The resume you requested is attached”– “Bob Bobberson advised me to send my resume to you”

•Be grateful– “Thank you for taking the time to review my qualifications”

• Format: your signature block (address, etc.) goes below your name in e-mail, while it goes at the top of the page on hard copy.

• E-mail requires a subject line logical to the recipient. E-mail subject lines can make or break whether your e-mail is opened and read. Hard copy can have a subject line too, but it's on the letter (after recipient's address block and before "Dear...," and it's seen after the letter is opened.

• Signature: Of course you won't have a handwritten signature on e-mail, but don't forget this on hard copy.