Cover Letter Workshop

COVER LETTER
WORKSHOP

Facilitator Check List

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 Cover Letter Workshop

OBJECTIVE

To provide the skills and tools for creating

and preparing your own cover letter.

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 Cover Letter Workshop

AGENDA
What is a cover letter?
What is the purpose of a cover letter?
Contents of a cover letter
Why researching the company is so
important?
Customizing your cover letter

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 Cover Letter Workshop

WHAT IS A COVER LETTER?

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 Cover Letter Workshop

A cover letter is a formal introduction to

your resume and accompanies it when
applying for a job.

Cover Letter Worksheet Cover Letter Checklist Cover Letter Example

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 Cover Letter Workshop

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE

OF A COVER LETTER?

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 Cover Letter Workshop

Presents your interest, qualifications,

and availability to the employer
Its YOUR chance to make a good first
impression

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 Cover Letter Workshop

A good cover letter will prompt an

employer to look at your credentials. i.e.,
your resume

A bad cover letter is enough to cause an

employer to move on to the next applicant.

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 Cover Letter Workshop

TYPES OF COVER LETTERS

Letter of Application Cover Letter Inquiry T-Zone Cover Letter

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 Cover Letter Workshop

ARANGE ME!
SALUTATION
COMPLEMENTARY CLOSE
DATE
EMPLOYER ADDRESS
SIGNATURE
BODY
APPLICANT ADDRESS

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 Cover Letter Workshop

ANSWER
APPLICANT ADDRESS
DATE
EMPLOYER ADDRESS
SALUTATION
BODY
COMPLEMENTARY CLOSE
SIGNATURE
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 Student Address
Stacy Lolkus
222 Harrison Dr Date
Apartment 5
West Lafayette, IN 47906
765-450-7583
slo@purdue.edu

October 16, 2006

Employer Address
Salutation 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
First Paragraph
Middle Paragraph Business Writing Consultant Assistant Coordinator at Purdues Writing Lab that would be valuable in a career at
Uline.

As Business Writing Consultant Assistant Coordinator at Purdues 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 Conclusion
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 765-450-7583 or e-mail me at slo@purdue.edu.

Sincerely

Stacy Lolkus
,
Stacy Lolkus

Enclosure: Rsum

Closing
 Cover Letter Workshop

CONTENTS OF A COVER LETTER

Headings
Salutation/Greeting
Opening paragraph
Middle paragraph
Closing paragraph
Yours Truly/Sincerely
Signature and enclosure
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 Cover Letter Workshop

TARGETTING YOUR COVER

LETTER
Tell the employer why you would be valuable to the
company, how you can deliver results.

Back up your skills with accomplishment statements

relating to the position and companys goals from your
past experiences.

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 Cover Letter Workshop

TARGETTING YOUR COVER

LETTER

Address the letter to a specific reader

Include your objective, accomplishments, and your

interest in the position. This shows you took the time to
read and learn about the position.

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 Cover Letter Workshop

HEADINGS

Your Heading Companies Heading

Name Name of Employer
Address Title of Employer
City, Province, Postal Name of Organization
Code Address
Phone number City, Province, Postal
Date Code

Cover Letter Examples of Branding

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 Cover Letter Workshop

Name of Contact Person Maria Theresa Lopez

Title CEO
Organization Lo Labs
Street Address 300 State St.
City, State, Zip Code Chicago, IL, 60611

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 Cover Letter Workshop

SALUTATIONS/GREETING
Preferred Salutations Alternate Salutations
Dear Mr. Attention: Personal
Dear Mrs. Manager
Dear Ms. Attention: Name of
Dear Dr. Organization
Representative
Dear Sir or Madam:

Do not use To Whom It May Concern

Cover Letter

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 More Examples

Date
October 4, 2006
Name of Contact Person
Maria Theresa Lopez
Title
CEO
Organization
Lo Labs
Street Address
300 State St.
City, State, Zip Code
Chicago, IL, 60611
Dear Ms., Mr., Dr. (etc):
Dear Ms. Lopez:
 Cover Letter Workshop

COVER LETTER OPENING

The position you are applying for and the
competition number if given
Where you saw the posting. Include name and
date of publication
If you were referred for the position, give the
name of that person
Express your interest for the position

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 Cover Letter Workshop

OPENING EXAMPLE
Please accept my resume in response to the posting for
the position of Cashier with ABC Company located in the
Vancouver Sun on February 1, 2009. Having been a long
time customer of ABC Company and knowing your
products and services are ones I can proudly stand
behind, I was excited at the prospect of joining your
team. As you will see my experience and qualifications
are a perfect fit for the position.

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 Cover Letter Workshop

OPENING EXAMPLE

Our Mutual friend, Mr. John Marley suggested I contact

you to inquire about possible openings in ABC Company
for a Front Line Manager position, as he thought strongly
that my experience and qualifications would be an
excellent fit for your organization.

Cover Letter

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 Cover Letter Workshop

OPENING EXAMPLE
After speaking with Emily Richards about her past summer
in the internship program, I am interested in your Human
Resources Summer Internship position. I worked with
employee benefits this summer and became interested in
the human resources aspect of the position. In addition to
the leadership opportunities I obtained while working as a
Business Writing Consultant Assistant Coordinator for
Purdues Writing Lab, I have also developed my
communication skills during my summer internship. I
believe my skills will help your Human Resources
department maintain its excellent track record.
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 Cover Letter Workshop

COVER LETTER BODY

Why you are suited for the job
How your skills and qualifications match
the specific job requirements listed in the
add
Include related experience, training, and
attributes
Try to list at least 2 examples

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 Cover Letter Workshop

RESEARCH THE COMPANY

What makes that company/organization
Why are they there?
Hiring trends/employment needs
The companies history
Desired qualifications and skills
General job information
http://www.google.com

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 Cover Letter Workshop

BODY CONTINUE
TELL THE READER:
What makes you well suited to the job or company
How your values, work ethic, skills align with the mission,
vision and values of the organization.
Talk about why you are the right type of person for this
job/team or company
Clearly explain how you are the missing piece in their
employee puzzle.
Focus on the EMPLOYER

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 Cover Letter Workshop

BODY EXAMPLE
I am confident that my experience along with my
educational background and commitment to professional
excellence will enable me to serve both you and your
clients/customers well.

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 Cover Letter Workshop

BODY EXAMPLE
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you. I
am a reliable, and energetic individual who enjoys interacting
with others. I take pride in building strong customer relationships,
and I am client focused. I have been recognized as being
honest, responsible, and self motivated. I enjoy working in a fast
paced environment and thrive on contributing to a team. I am
confident that my positive attitude, excellent interpersonal skills,
and honesty will fulfill the requirements of this position.

Cover Letter

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 Cover Letter Workshop

BODY EXAMPLE
As a banking representative at Chase, I provided
quality customer service while promoting the
sale of products to customers. I also handled
close to $20,000 each day and was responsible
for balancing the banks ATM machine. My
experience with customer relations and money
management can help your accounting firm
expand its Middle East division located in Dubai.

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 Cover Letter Workshop

CLOSING PARAGRAPH
Restate your interest in the position and mention how you
will be an asset to the company
State your interest in meeting with the employer for an
interview to discuss your skills and passion in person
List your contact information and when you can be
reached to book your interview
Include your home phone number, cell number and or
email address.
Include an action/next step informing the employer you will
be in contact with them.

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 Cover Letter Workshop

EXAMPLES
I would welcome the chance to meet with you to discuss how my
qualifications will exceed your expectations. I can provide excellent
references upon request. I can b e reached at 604-555-5555 or by
email at bbarista@anymail.com. I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you for your time and consideration.

I would like to thank you for taking the time to consider my resume. I
am looking forward to meeting with you to discuss this employment
opportunity. You can contact me at 604-555-5555 or by email at
bbarista@anymail.com.

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 Cover Letter Workshop

CLOSING PARAGRAPHS
I would like to thank you I would welcome the

Best
for taking the time to
chance to meet with you
consider my resume. I
to discuss how my
am looking forward to
qualifications will exceed
meeting with you to
your expectations. I can
discuss this employment

Better
provide excellent
opportunity. You can
references upon request. I
contact me at 604-555-
can be reached at 604-
5555 or by email at
555-5555 or by email at
bbarista@anymail.com
bbarista@anymail.com. I
will follow up with a
phone call next week to

OK
I look forward to hearing
discuss things further.
from you soon and having
the opportunity to discuss
my qualifications for the
position
Cover Letter

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 Cover Letter Workshop

COMPLEMTARY
CLOSINGS
Yours Truly
Sincerely
Respectfully

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 Cover Letter Workshop

EXAMPLES
Yours Truly, Sincerely,

B Barista B Barista
Barbara Barista Barbara Barista

Enclosure: Resume Enclosure: Resume

Cover Letter

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 Cover Letter Workshop

Sincerely, Sincerely,

Simon Smith
Simon Smith 5886 Tunbridge Crossing
Fort Wayne, IN 46815
ssmith@purdue.edu
Enclosure: Resume Enclosure: Resume

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 Cover Letter Workshop

FINAL THOUGHTS
Know and understand what the employer is looking for
in their applicants
Research the company, visit there website, know there
mission statement
Speak to current employees, if possible
Proofread carefully for grammatical and typographical
errors

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