1. Cover Letters

2. Sections of a typical student CV

3. Cover Letter Basics
A cover letter expresses interest and qualifications of a student for a particular position
Very personal
Tailored to position/company
Expands main points from student’s resume
“Sells” qualifications to the prospective employer
Key Concept: The facilitator should emphasize that a cover letter should make a student stand out from the rest of the applicants. Each cover letter will be different according to experiences, jobs, and applicants. Remind the tutors that although students may seem hesitant to make more than one cover letter, each cover letter should be tailored to a particular job or assignment to be most effective.
The tutor should also remind students that although a cover letter should highlight points from their resumes, they don’t need to put every single activity or skill in their cover letter. They should concentrate on “selling” the main points to the prospective employer.

4. Ultimate goal: To get an interview!
Key Concept: Like a resume, the main goal of a cover letter is to get an interview. Keeping this in mind, the facilitator should remind tutors that students can talk more in the actual interview, their life stories don’t need to be condensed into one letter.

5. Date Salutation First Paragraph Conclusion Closing
Student Address
Stacy Lolkus
222 Harrison Dr
Apartment 5
West Lafayette, IN 47906
October 16, 2006
Jenny Lock
Uline — HR Recruiting Center
2105 S. Lakeside Drive
Waukegan, IL 60085
Dear Ms. Lockridge:
After speaking with Emily Richards about her past summer in the internship program, I am very interested in your
Human Resources Summer Internship position. I worked with employee benefits this past summer and became
very interested in the human resources aspect. I have obtained many leadership opportunities while working as a Business Writing Consultant Assistant Coordinator at Purdue’s Writing Lab that would be valuable in a career at Uline.
As Business Writing Consultant Assistant Coordinator at Purdue’s Writing Lab, my primary role is to help train
new tutors for the Writing Lab. I work directly with the Business Writing Coordinator teaching classes and
participating in mock tutorials to allow students to obtain hands-on experience tutoring business documents. I
also organize educational workshops to refresh the skills of current Business Writing Consultants. My position as
a Boiler Gold Rush Team Leader also challenged me to use my enthusiastic personality to motivate incoming
freshmen to be involved in campus activities. As a Human Resources Intern at Uline, I could use all of these
leadership skills while learning more about recruiting and hiring practices.
Thank you for considering me for this position. I would love to discuss these and other qualifications with you. If
you have any questions, please call me at or me at
Sincerely ,
Enclosure: Résumé
Date
Employer Address
Salutation
First Paragraph
Middle Paragraph
Key Concept: A sample of a cover letter with the sections indicated.
Conclusion
Closing

6. Header
Your Name
Your Street Address
City, State, Zip Code
Date
Name of Contact Person
Title
Organization
Street Address
Dear Ms., Mr., Dr., (etc):
Make sure the letter is addressed to a specific person if possible (preferably the interviewer)
Key Concept:
The “Header” should include:
Student’s address
Date
Employer’s address
Salutation.
The facilitator should express that many students will try to use “To Whom it may Concern” or other informal salutations. The tutor should tell the student that a cover letter will be more likely to get to the right place if written to a specific person. Students can find who to address the cover letter on company websites, job descriptions, etc.
Activity: The facilitator can demonstrate how to find the names of people on a company website.

7. Writing a Persuasive Job Application Letter
Opening
Address the letter to an individual by name.
For advertised jobs, name the source; include job title, date, and publication.
If someone referred you, name that person.
Show that your qualifications fit the job specifications, show your knowledge of the reader’s business, or show that your special talents will be assets to the company.

8. After speaking with Emily Richards about her past summer in the internship program, I am very interested in your Human Resources Summer Internship position. I worked with employee benefits this past summer and became very interested in the human resources aspect. In addition to the many leadership opportunities I obtained while working as a Business Writing Consultant Assistant Coordinator for Purdue’s Writing Lab, I have also developed my communication skills during my summer internship.
Key Concept: This is an example of a standard beginning paragraph.

9. Writing a Persuasive Job Application Letter
Body
Demonstrate that your background and training meet the job requirements.
Summarize your principal qualities from education, experience, and special skills.
Avoid repeating specific data from your résumé.
Refer to your résumé.

10. As a banking representative at Chase, I provided quality customer service while promoting the sale of products to customers. I also handled upwards of $20,000 a day and was responsible for balancing the bank’s ATM machine.
Key Concept: This is an example of an effective middle paragraph.

11. Writing a Persuasive Job Application Letter
Closing
Ask for an interview. Consider hooking the request to a statement reviewing your strongest points.
Make it easy to respond. Tell when and where you can be reached (during office hours). Some recruiters prefer that you call them.

12. Conclusion Conclude with next step
Provide contact information
I would love to discuss these and other qualifications with you. I look forward to meeting you very soon. If you have any questions, please call me at or me at
Key Concept: This paragraph brings the entire cover letter together and expresses what the student will do, or the student’s expectations.

13. Closing Formats Sincerely, Simon Smith Enclosure: Resume
Key Concept: These are two examples of very common closing formats.

14. Language: Language: Weak Language: I worked as a ramp agent at Comair.
Strong Language:
As a ramp agent, I assisted in loading baggage, oversaw fueling the aircraft, and stocked commissary items on the aircraft.
Key Concept: If the tutor has time and notices any weak language, he or she can help the student change these sentences to better describe the student’s experiences.

15. Key points: Unprofessional language Length
Letter should only be one page
Strongest and most relevant qualifications should be highlighted
Limit to a few
Easy to read
Begin with topic sentences
Key Concept: If the tutor notices any sexist or informal language in the letter, he or she should remind the student that although it may seem appropriate, the student has no way of knowing who will read the letter. Sometimes students may argue that they know the person who will be receiving the letter. That person may see the letter, but may also want to share the student’s cover letter with others.
Therefore, the language should be appropriate for all audiences.