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Cover letters

Cover letters. TECM 4190 Dr. Lam. Purpose of cover letters. Introduce and supplement your resume Show you can write , form coherent thoughts, organize your thoughts and ideas, and clearly present them succinctly Request an interview Will not get you a job on its own

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Cover letters

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  1. Cover letters TECM 4190 Dr. Lam

  2. Purpose of cover letters • Introduce and supplement your resume • Show you can write, form coherent thoughts, organize your thoughts and ideas, and clearly present them succinctly • Request an interview • Will not get you a job on its own • May exclude you from a job

  3. Cover letter and Resumeas a package • Use these documents to “brand” yourself • Design and organization of the documents will say a lot about organizational skills • Design both documents consistently • Use the same heading, margins, fonts, etc.

  4. How HR Reads Cover letters • Like everything, they’ll read it quickly (between 1-2 minutes) • They’ll ask themselves, “does this candidate meet the requirements in the job ad?” • Skim skills and experience and determine how they match up with the job requirements • They will notice errors

  5. Format of cover letter • Short (usually 1 page) • Always follow length requirements (NEVER go over the suggested length) • 3-4 paragraphs • Introduction • Short summary of career (optional and usually only for those with significant experience in the same field they are applying to) • Accomplishments and relevant experience (job specific) • Closing

  6. Introductions • Opening salutation – Address individual with their title and last nameformally • Dear Ms. Jones • Dear Human Resources Director • Job your applying for (exact job title) and where you found the job • Establish goodwill/rapport • Show them you’ve done research • Discuss what impresses you about the organization • Cater your job letter here (among other places, of course)

  7. Career Summary • Only if candidate has a career to summarize • Connect prior career experience to the job requirements • Another area where you can cater your job letter to the job ad and/or organization

  8. Accomplishments • Pay attention to the job requirements • First skill/requirement is usually the most important • Tailor your accomplishments to job requirements • Show don’t tell • Don’t say: I have four years of experience in IT. • Instead say: For the past four years, I have managed a small workgroup, including 20 Windows and 20 Linux machines. • Quantify any and all accomplishments

  9. Closing • Include “call to action” statement • Ask for the interview explicitly • Include multiple contact avenues • Phone number and e-mail address • Close with goodwill • “Thank you for your consideration” • Include signature and enclosures • Enclosures: Resume and writing sample

  10. Summary of Cover Letter • Keep it concise • Cater all content to the job requirements • Establish goodwill and personalize the letter for each particular job • Show don’t tell • Don’t be modest (but be honest!)

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