cover letter

Your task:

1.     Take the time to understand what the industry, field, or position requires. Helpful information can be found in the Occupational Outlook Handbook on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Website (http://bls.gov/ooh/a-z-index.htm).

2.     Choose a position (internship or job) for which you wish to apply.  You can use the job description/posting that you used for the Key Value paragraph or a different one – it’s up to you.

NOTE: You MUST TURN IN THE JOB POSTING WITH YOUR LETTER. I will read your letter as a response to it.

·       Read the job posting carefully, taking note of job duties, as well as job requirements & qualifications.

·       Note where your experiences, accomplishments, or talents match with what is described in the job description.

·       Think of concrete, specific examples of this from your life. It will not be enough to say “I’m good with numbers” or “I am highly motivated”—you must give specific evidence that illustrates your claims.

3.     Write a convincing cover letter. Remember – a cover letter is really a sales letter in which you market yourself as a good fit for the job.

REMEMBER TO DO THE FOLLOWING:

·       Make yourself stand out by describing your specific accomplishments and achievements.

·       Convince the reader that you will be an excellent choice for this position.

This letter must clearly demonstrate your interest in, knowledge of, and fitness for a position in your chosen field.

4.     REMEMBER, in Business Communications even your cover letter must have STRUCTURE:

Thesis + Topic Sentence + Unified Paragraphs

You must organize the information in your letter with a ‘thesis.’ Thus, your first paragraph should end with a ‘thesis’-type sentence, asserting the two or three skills you will highlight in your letter and prove with specific evidence. Each body paragraph will begin with a topic sentence (which is one of the thesis claims). All paragraphs must stay ONLY on the topic asserted in the topic sentence – NO TOPIC DRIFT.  You should end each body paragraph by connecting back to the job – explain how your skills/experiences can benefit the employer.

Format requirements—READ CAREFULLY

1.     Your letter must be limited to one page. Use the “Narrow” margin setting in Word to give yourself more space: 0.5 inch top and bottom, 0.5 inch left and right.

2.     Your letter is a professional letter of application; any typos, misspellings, punctuation problems, or grammar errors will lower your grade. This letter should be revised, edited, and proofread before you turn it in.

3.     Your cover letter must demonstrate why you would be a good fit for the position. It should not be written to say why the position would be a good fit for you.

NO: “Your company would be an excellent place for me to learn more about the marketing industry.”

YES: “My talents in communication and my successful experiences working in teams strongly match the requirements of this internship.” (And then go on to specify your talents and describe your experiences—don’t be vague!)

4.     You must include a copy of the job posting with your letter.

5.     Your letter must be formatted as a business letter. See the information on proper cover letter format below. Do NOT NEGLECT THE CORRECT FORMAT—YOU WILL LOSE UP TO 25 POINTS FOR INCORRECT FORMATTING. Note that because letters are single spaced, you should add a space between each paragraph, which means you then do not need to indent each paragraph.

Your Name

Your Street Address

Your City, State, & Zip

Your Phone Number

Your Email Address