Today’s…

1. DO NOW: Take out resume worksheet, resume draft & original resume • OBJ: Revise resume, review cover letter, revise cover letter • HW: Printed draft of cover letter • Continue working on & perfecting resume • Cover letter & resume final due (A) 1/10 (B) 1/13 Today’s…

2. COVER LETTER GROUP • Find cover letter PPT on my website & review • Ask me questions • Work on cover draft • RESUME GROUP • Exchange papers with another group member for revision • I’ll come over and review each resume 40 min. each group!Somebody remind me to switch at 10am please!

3. DO NOW: • With your neighbor, switch resume drafts to proofread – get at least 2 classmates to look at your resume • OBJECTIVES: • Learn about cover letters • Write a cover letter • HW: • Continue to work on and perfect your resume & cover letter • Have printed draft of your cover letter Today’s…

4. Cover Letter

5. A FORMAL LETTER written to an employer that expresses interest in a job and asks for an interview • A sales tool that markets you What is a cover letter?

6. Address the letter to a specific person, rather than just the company • Enclose a resume with your letter! • Print your letter on the same paper as your resume • Keep the same styling between resume & letter – font, size, header, etc. (and anything else in your resume packet) • Don’t say “I think” or “I believe”… show CONFIDENCE! I AM!! • Min. 3 concise paragraphs: Opening, body, closing Guidelines

7. Capture the reader’s attention • Include: • That you are applying for a position • Name of the position you are applying for • Specifically how you learned of the opening – give website name • Identify 1 key ability that makes you qualified The opening paragraph

8. “Please consider me as an applicant for the management trainee position advertised in the October 12 issue of the Daily Leader. My degree in management and my work experience as an assistant store manager qualify me for this position.” The opening paragraph

9. Convince the employer you are the right person for the job • Use “you” attitude • Interpret the facts in your resume – don’t just restate • Story tell The body paragraph(s)

10. “As a quality control inspector, I worked closely with the plant manager to improve quality and reduce costs. During my year in this position, my department was rated Number 1 in quality, and costs were down 8 percent. I am confident that I can help your company improve spending and costs through my QC experience. The body paragraphs

11. Not much work experience? Focus on other qualifications – education, activities, honors, ability to learn quickly, enthusiasm, etc. • “During my sophomore year, I became president of my club. While working in my building trades program I was elected Vice President of the school’s Student Council. As Vice President, I organized and hosted a fund-raising event for leukemia research, where we raised $1,000.” The body paragraphs

12. Confident tone • LITERALLY Ask for the interview! • Say how your skills and background fit their requirements – “you” attitude – 1 reminder • Avoid the cliché phrases at your convenience and my enclosed resume The closing paragraph

13. Any questions?

14. Cover letter checklist • - correct formal letter format • Same header as resume • - overall design - matches resume, is appealing, professional, appropriate to industry • - includes all points listed for opening paragraph: • Statement applying for a position • Name of position • Where you learned of opening specifically • 1 key ability • Body • Convincing - persuasive • “you” attitude • Interpretation of facts • Explaining how your qualifications meet those requested • Closing • Confident • Statement asking for interview • 1 key ability as reminder