THE WHARTON MBA FOR EXECUTIVES PHILADELPHIA I SAN FRANCISCO

Wharton MBA for Executives Cover Letter Overview August 2014 THE WHARTON MBA FOR EXECUTIVES Steve Hernandez Director, Career Management MBA for Executives San Francisco, CA 2

Cover Letter Topics Purpose/Importance of the Cover Letter Structure Content Cover Letter Best Practices/Mistakes THE WHARTON MBA FOR EXECUTIVES 3

Purpose/Importance Compel the reader to read your resume Communicate your interest in the organization and position Illustrate your Brand Connect the dots between your skills, background, accomplishments and value Make your case for the opportunity Stand Out Assess your attention to detail Business Leaders need to have strong writing skills A well written cover letter does not guarantee an interview; but a poorly written cover letter assures that you will not be considered as a candidate THE WHARTON MBA FOR EXECUTIVES

Structure  First Paragraph: Introduction; Get the reader’s attention; State your objective; State your case  Body Paragraph(s): Make your case: give examples of why you are a fit  Final Paragraph: Conclusion/Summary/Ask for the meeting  Two thirds of a page in length: THE WHARTON MBA FOR EXECUTIVES

First Paragraph: Introduction Introduce yourself and your interest in the opportunity and company Referencing something that is meaningful to the reader: mutual connections, people you’ve met at the co.; relevant experience. GET THE READER’S ATTENTION! Introduce your brand Introduce your case of why you are a strong fit This is the appetizer, not the meal Inspire the reader to read more by being interesting and original One short to medium sized paragraph o No more than 7 lines o Sentences not too long THE WHARTON MBA FOR EXECUTIVES

Body Paragraph(s): Make your case  This is where you prove your case  Provide relevant examples of your background and accomplishments  Showcase your knowledge of the role, company, industry, etc. o Illustrate that you’ve done your homework  Describe your accomplishments using (SAR)  Provide relevant descriptions of how your skills translate  Connect the dots: bridge how your background, skills, accomplishments and education will bring value  Provide tangible evidence that you are in fact a strong fit  Help the reader come away with a clear picture of who you and why they should consider you  Your BODY paragraph should be one longer, or two short paragraphs o It is acceptable to use bullets substantiating specific data points o Avoid generalizations THE WHARTON MBA FOR EXECUTIVES 7

Final Paragraph: make your summation; close the deal Summarize your case, end with final pitch of why you are a fit If you have final words or thoughts that are insightful, unique, and will leave a positive impression-add them Thank them for their time and consideration Ask for the interview Make sure you provide your best contact information THE WHARTON MBA FOR EXECUTIVES

Best Practices Do your homework: convey as much knowledge as possible about the opportunity, company, and target industry Know your audience, specifically the name and title of the Cover Letter addressee Organize your thoughts; write as you would speak; follow the same guidelines you would for a strong essay Write clear, concise narratives, with appropriate detail (SAR) Include only relevant examples that will drive interest Attract the reader to your resume; don’t write a resume Write in your own voice Avoid verbosity; get to the point Check spelling and grammar Have others proof read your cover letter Use two thirds to three quarters of the page THE WHARTON MBA FOR EXECUTIVES

Mistakes Not tailored towards the specific job, company, or industry Superfluous verbiage especially at the beginning Speaking in generalities; not being original Writing fluff, lacking substance Providing examples and describing accomplishments that aren’t relevant to your reader Verbosity, stay on point Cutting and pasting elements of your resume into your cover letter Misuse of bullets  List using the SAR model  Don’t list general functions, list examples and results Don’t just write a standard “generic” cover letter. BE ORIGINAL THE WHARTON MBA FOR EXECUTIVES