Cover Letters Who needs them? Who READS them????

2 What and why  Perfect, is it necessary?  When does it get looked at?  Who looks at it?

3 Format  Date at top – Month day, Year, ie: October 1, 2015  Properly Address it Company Street Address City, State Zip Code  Regarding ***** Re: Quantitative Internship (Req )

4 Proper Address October 1, 2015 Wellington Management 280 Congress Street Boston, MA Re: Launch Research Associate Dear ______:

5 Then how do you write DEAR ????  Dear Sir? Dear Madam?  Dear HR Professional?  Dear _________________?  And use a “:”, not a comma  IE: Dear _____:

6 Paragraph #1 – What Position - Who I am  Interested in above position*  Mathematical Finance graduate student*  Choose one of these or another:  Why you’re interested  Why you like the position or company  Something about why you are different/unique  How you might create value Caveat: Do NOT give your resume in the cover letter

7 Paragraph #2  I offer the following core competencies:  Highest priority requirement you meet  Next, second most important requirement you meet  Next, third most important requirement you meet  If it’s not too long, you can add a fourth

8 Bullet Style I offer the following core competencies: Excellent practical and academic experience with Matlab stress testing portfolios Experience utilizing SQL and VBA to create, run, and maintain complex financial models and processes in Pyramid, Access, and Excel M.S. degree expected January, 2017 in Mathematical Finance; CFA Level II Candidate …….……[If it’s not too long, you can add a fourth]

9 Table Style

10 No Requirements, now what!!!????  Use one of the two formats and use your best judgement on what they’re looking for. OR  Address them in a one paragraph form: During my experience at ____ I was able to put my academic expertise to use stress testing portfolios with Matlab. I look forward to being able to significantly contribute to ______ as a Mathematical Finance graduate student and CFA Level II candidate with the ability to create, run, and maintain financial models across a variety of databases.

11 Paragraph #3 - Positioning  Choose one or two of the following or something else that works for you:  Something you like about the company  Something Unique about yourself  Something about why they should hire you  Something about how you might create value…..

12 Paragraph #4 – Closing Paragraph  Gratitude Closing*****  Thank you for this opportunity to …  I’m very excited to learn more about this opportunity and Goldman Sachs……..Thank you….  I appreciate the opportunity to……  Please feel free to contact me any time as I’m very interested in learning more about this opportunity.

13 Signing off!  Sincerely,  Most Sincerely,  Kindly,  Kind regards,  Warm regards,  With gratitude,  Respectfully yours,  Many thanks,  Smell you later,  Keep Smiling,  Love,  Peace,  Later,  Later alligator,  Kind thoughts,  Waiting for your reply,

14 Signature – Your Info at bottom Most sincerely, Cristine Nigro Mathematical Finance Graduate Student Boston University | Leave two lines or returns between the sign off and your name

15  Use the same header as your resume  So your Signature looks like: Most sincerely, Cristine Nigro Mathematical Finance Graduate Student Boston University Leave two lines or returns between the sign off and your name Signature – Your Info in HEADER

16 What do you mean? UNIQUE???  Personal Branding  What are you known for ?  Target Audience – Why do they care ?

17 Tone? What’s wrong with my TONE?!  Enough about me………what do you think of my hair?  Me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me  A word about the tone of the letter….

Informational Interviewing & Digital Communication 18 Questions? Help?  What do you do if you get into a jam or need help? Schedule an appointment with me! or