Instructor Blog #4: Cover Letters
Now that you've written a resume, the next step is to flesh out that information in a cover letter. One of the biggest mistakes people make with the cover letter is just repeating information that can be found on the resume. What's the point of that? They already have that information in an easier to read format (hopefully), so you want to build off that, not repeat it. The cover letter is a great opportunity to flesh out some aspects of your professional experience that aren't easy to convey. So if you did a cool project at work, or have an interesting accomplishment, or if some volunteer experience really applies to the job, this is a good place to discuss it. Find some unique, relevant part of yourself to elaborate on the cover letter.
Remember, the cover letter will be read only if your resume survives one or perhaps several cuts. So the main purpose of the cover letter is to build a bridge between the resume and the job by explaining in more detail how you will serve as an asset to the company. The letter specifically relates how your past experience and personality embodies the qualities the company is seeking, which is why I again remind you to reference the keywords used in the company's job ad. You'll probably want to choose a few of these words and use them to organize your letter explicitly. You can write something in the introduction such as "I believe the communication skills, leadership, and team building ability developed by my past experience will make me an asset to Cogwell's Cogs." Then, in the paragraphs below, demonstrate specific instances of communication, leadership, and team building.
Structurally, the cover letter is fairly formal. It is almost always one page, 10-12 point professional looking serif or sans-serif font, and 3-4 short, concise paragraphs. I recommend that students use the header from their resume at the top of their cover letter, treating it almost as a letter head for yourself. This makes your documents look uniform and professional, and makes your contact info easy to find. When I was on a job search, I had several people mention that they were impressed with this strategy. I also cannot emphasize enough how important it is to get a name for the greeting of your letter. If the job ad does not include a name, call the company's HR department to find out if you can get it (you don't have to give your name on the phone.) Including a name is infinitely better than writing "To Whom it May Concern:" At the very least, put "Dear HR Coordinator:"
The opening paragraph introduces yourself, the job you're applying for, where you heard about it, and establishes the structure for the letter. This needs to be done as concisely as possible, usually within 2-4 sentences, because you don't want to waste half the letter telling us where you heard about the job. You also want to figure out what the angle of your letter is going to be, probably by focusing on 1-3 key terms in the cover letter and elaborating on them. Then, you can structure the paragraphs below around those key terms (so if your first paragraph key terms are computer skills and team player, paragraph two is about computer skills and paragraph three is about being a team player.)
This is also a good place to include some research about the company. One of the best pieces of advice I can give is to research the company before writing your cover letter. It doesn't take long to visit the company website, and it shows your interest and makes you stand apart from the fray. You can include this research in your letter in a number of ways. It could relate to your interest in the job. "Dunder Mifflin's sales position is interesting to me because I have always wanted to work for a company that offers continual sales training." It could relate your experience to the job. "My extensive coursework in particle acceleration makes me an excellent fit with a company that has the second largest particle accelerator in North America." It could also relate your qualities to the job. "Because of my past teaching experience, I respect LuthorCorp's commitment to philanthropy in local schools." Find a way to include a reference to something specific about the company, as long as it doesn't sound like ass kissing or sound too much like a benefit for you - i.e. "I've always wanted to work for a company with a foosball machine in the cafeteria."
As you develop the body of your letter, you want to be specific. Don't just tell us you worked somewhere. Tell us what you did, what you accomplished, and how those abilities and accomplishments will serve the company reading the letter. So don't just write "I worked as a computer programmer last summer." Try something like "While working as a computer programmer, I led a 10 person development team which used C++ to create the most advanced educational software ever marketed by Wayne Industries." Here, job title, teamwork, leadership, computer skills, and accomplishments are all conveyed in a sentence. This is both impressive and concise, and conciseness is very, very important in a letter where you don't have much space. In another example, a friend of mine applying for a legal clerkship wrote in his letter "Last summer, I was a associate at DLA Piper Rudnick. While there I completed more projects and accumulated more hours than any other summer associate in the California offices. I drafted motions, briefs, pleadings, licenses, and agreements in addition to writing an array of research memorandums." This gives an impressive accomplishment and a thorough description of his duties. It's much stronger than just "I was a clerk this one time at DLA Piper Rudnick."
As you write, consider your tone. You want to be cordial and convey your personality while remaining professional. You want to focus on why you will be good for the company. Remember, they don't care about you at all, so keep all your focus on them and how you will serve them. And always sound motivated. Never write "While in Engineering 251, I had to give a lot of oral presentations." Write "During my Engineering 251 project which required the construction of a solar powered car in three weeks, I gave 12 presentations to community leaders in order to raise $3,000 for the project." Remember, you are a motivated, excited worker, not someone dragging their feet who must be forced to do things.
In the last paragraph, summarize the reasons you would be an asset for the company before restating your interest, mentioning your hope for an interview, and including your personal contact info. Include both a telephone number and email address for contact in the final paragraph, even though you included it in the letterhead above. Redundancy is a good thing for contact info. You can say that you will call to follow up, but do so politely and make sure you actually do it. Close by thanking the person for their time and consideration. Sign the letter "Respectfully," or "Sincerely," leave some space to sign your name, and then type your name below.
As you are composing, I cannot stress enough that it is important to remember the situation in which the letter is written and read. Are you writing as someone with little experience in the field? A lot of experience? Fresh out of college? Changing careers? Your letter needs to be catered to these circumstances, just like it needs to be catered to the reader. Are you sending the letter in cold? After a job fair conversation? To a friend of a friend? Keep all those details in mind. Also remember to give your letter a logical organization, focus on job keywords, and convey why you are going to be an asset to the company.
Comments
RE: Instructor Blog #4: Cover Letters
Cover Letter Response
It was surprising to me to see that cover letters are usually a secondary method of whether or not a person is a good fit for a company. Thinking that the name "cover letter" seems as though it would be the first thing the person would read and not the resume. They seem almost just as important as the resume as you present your ideas and experiences in full sentences and not just phrases on your resume. I like how you said that researching the company shows you are interested in them and have done your homework. It shows that not only are you interested but that you care enough about a job with them to know what they do and when they have done substantial work. I think that the cover letter would be the thing you would write specifically for the company and not the resume as it was discussed in the last instructor blog. Using the specific language of the company would be easier used on the cover letter than on the resume.
Instructor Blog #4 Cover Letters
I have not written a cover letter before; therefore, this blog has been the most beneficial one so far. I have honestly never had to write one. Previously, I have only given a resume. I always wondered what the point in a cover letter was because I was told it is just a more detailed version of your resume. I am glad to learn that is a wrong impression. Your description of a cover letter allows me to develop a better understanding of its purpose. I am excited to try to write one, but a little apprehensive. I image it's difficult to put my enthusiasm about children and their programs into words while being concise and professional.
In addition, I worry that mine will sound like everyone else's. I am sure everyone applying for the position loves children so I need to think of a strong skill that I possess that is going to set me apart from others. I'll think on that while I reread the job posting so that I am sure to "reference the keywords used in the company's job ad." Also, I want to make it known that I really want to work for the YMCA and that I respect what the company stands for and its purpose. I want to show them that I have "research(ed) the company before writing your cover letter". Advice has been taken, hope it works!
One quick question, I am a little confused on what this means " I recommend that students use the header from their resume at the top of their cover letter, treating it almost as a letter head for yourself. " The header from my resume is my name at the top of the page, but I thought a cover letter was supposed to be in letter format??!?! Just needed a little clarification!
RE: Instructor Blog #4 Cover Letters
The cover letter is in letter format. Letterheads are placed in the header of a page, so they do not interfere with its body content. They usually contain your name and contact information. Using the same letterhead on the cover letter and the corresponding resume creates a sense of unity between the two documents.
Cover Letters
Cover letters were never my strong point when applying for jobs. I have a hard time trying to make the whole thing flow and make it just one page. It seems as though I keep talking about the same subject in three to four sentences. This blog helped me drastically by providing me with examples of what to say at certain sections. I never thought about incorporating information about the companies I am applying to. It makes sense and may make you stand out from the crowd. As the blog said, the cover letter is a chance to elaborate on some characteristics about yourself making it just as important, if not more, than the resume.
RE: Instructor Blog #4: Cover Letters
I think that cover letters are pretty hard to write. I still have not come close to mastering this accomplishment and I hope I get some good feedback from my cover letter. I think it is hard because as fresh new college graduates we don’t have a lot of exciting things to say in a cover letter like the stuff mentioned about working at a law firm. I had not thought about using key words in the cover letter from the job application. I think this is a good suggestion. Also, I think it’s very interesting to use the same header as you do for your resume. I would be interested on what other companies would think about this. I can see how it could help to add a theme and be refreshing. Also, makes it very easy to find both the cover letter and resume.
RE: RE: Instructor Blog #4: Cover Letters
You may not have the same work experience, but certainly you have other traits that you think make you a good fit for the position (or else you wouldn't be applying for it). Perhaps you have had courses that have trained you to do something in particular. Perhaps you have worked on a project that you could discuss. The point is to showcase your strengths in your cover letter. This is your opportunity to talk to the HR rep; tell him or her why you are a good candidate for this position.
Instructor Blog #4: Cover Letters
I have only written one cover letter for my intro to pharmacy class, PHPR 100. At the time that I wrote the cover letter, I didn't have any experience to include in my cover letter and I also didn't have the advice or the knowledge from this blog. I didn't realize that the cover letter was read after the resume has passed one or two cuts. I thought it was read at the same time or before your resume. Since I haven't had much experience with cover letters, this blog will be very helpful when I write my cover letter for my job.
Since cover letters are only supposed to be one page, I'm worried that I will have more to say or will need to say it in a more concise manner like the examples in the blog. I think the best advice in this blog is researching the company and incorporating it into a sentence in your cover letter including your interest in the company or skills. That is a great idea and I think it would stand out when an HR Coordinator is reading your cover letter. After writing my cover letter for this class, I hope I feel more confident writing others for different internships and jobs in the future.
RE: Instructor Blog #4: Cover Letters
I had a similar experience with my first cover letter. I think many people believe that the cover letter gets read because of the word "cover", at least that is what I initially assumed. Once you realize that it doesn't, you have a much better chance to tailor it to be a good fit for the specific job you want. I agree that it can be difficult to fit the cover letter to one page. We have always had the idea that more is better (teachers giving us page limits), and so I always have tried to make long-winded complex sentences to supplement that. In this case that is completely unnecessary!
Response to Blog #4: Cover Letters
I have always disliked having to write a cover letter. After spending large amounts of time making my resume perfect, what’s the point of having to write something else? Afterall, all the information the company needs is on my resume right? It turns out this thinking is wrong. As the blog stated, the cover letter gives you an opportunity to explain things on your resume so that you can make clarifications to the company to which you are applying. I like how this blog covered the setup of the cover letter and told us what each paragraph should contain. I never would have thought of using the header from my resume at the top of my cover letter. I agree that this would bring your documents a unified look and there would be no issues about knowing how to contact you. Also, knowing the name of someone in the company to address your cover letter is important. I’m sure most of us would prefer to just take the easy way out and give it some general heading, but addressing it to a specific person shows that you have taken the time to look into the company. Another aspect of the cover letter that may present a challenge is tone. It is often difficult in written literature to make the reader understand the way you intended something to be said. Because of this, careful wording is very important to ensure that you are saying exactly what you want.
Cover Letter Response
After reading through this blog I was suprised to see that companies or any employer for that matter use the cover letter as a second form when hiring. I can understand that though, because many companies want to hire someone good but fast. Many companies do not have time to read a cover letter unless they are contemplating the person's qualifications. I find cover letters fun to write because it is one way besides the resume to brag about yourself and your accomplishments that pertain to that particular job. I know when writing my cover letter for my current internship I had a very hard time at first, I did not know what was appropriate and what was not. But after seeking help writing the cover letter became fun and easy. I would say bragging about yourself is fun. Another part of the cover letter I found difficult was just making sure that what you were writing was written in a very professional manner. You always have to remember while writing a cover letter to be professional, and use very intelligent vocabulary. I was not suprised at much of the information given above, because I have written so many cover letters and I now know how easy and hard they may be for some people.
Alayna Willis
Response to Instructor's Blog #4
I've never written a cover letter before for any of the jobs I've applied for so this was a good blog to introduce me to them. Before reading this blog and the little bit I read about cover letters in the book I didn't really know what a cover letter was. I had no idea they didn't read your cover letter unless they first approve your resume. Because it's a cover letter I thought it was like a cover for your resume and it sort of introduced the company to you. I also didn't know exactly what kind of stuff you wrote in a cover letter. I thought it was basically the same info as in a resume so I didn't know what the point of one was.
I thought the point about researching the company was a very good idea. If you don't know anything about the company you're applying to how are you supposed to show that you want to work there. I also think being as specific as possible is also a good point. If you are real specific in what you experience you've had in the past and show what knowledge you've gained you will be in a better standing with the company than if you are real general. I think most people think that a cover letter doesn't really matter as long as you have a good resume. While a good resume will get you to the point of them reading your cover letter, a cover letter is almost like a second resume where you can impress the company again and show off a little more. I also agreed with the point about watching your tone. You want them to get a sense of your personality but you also still have to maintain a certain level of professionalism. If you come off the wrong way, you might be kissing this job good bye. I think this class will really help me learn how to write a good cover letter and will help me get a good job thanks to all the knowledge I will have learned.
Cover Letter Response
Writing a cover letter has always been a challenge for me. I have never been taught the right way to write one. So much time is focused on resume writing, but lacking with cover letters. I found the article very helpful and interesting. I learned a lot about cover letters, and I feel a lot more comfortable and confident writing one. I can understand what a difference it will make to an employer seeing a cover letter that incorporates how the applicant qualifies for the job by explaining the assets that will benefit a company. I imagine that applicants use the same cover letter and just change the name of the company. The employer will see this and pass by your cover letter because of how indirect it is to the specific company. By researching the company, it shows the employer that you understand the position and have genuine interest in the company. Even though it is important to keep the cover letter focused on the company, I can understand why it is essential to convey your personality in your cover letter. Employers want to be able to see how you fit into their company. They want to see how you can be an asset to their company through your personality traits.
Cover Letter Blog-Response
The cover letter is going to be a bit more challenging then writing my resume was. I did already have a resume drafted but I had to make some major changes to it before I turned it in. The cover letter is going to a challenge for be because I have never done anything like this before. This blog was very interesting and it really helped me to start thinking about what my cover letter is going to look like and what I am going to write about. I really like how you broke the cover letter down into each section and said what should be there so we know exactly what needs to be in it because I really don’t know. Another thing that I have to do before I write my cover letter that is very important is some research on my company. I really have to know what I am talking about so I can impress them. I also have to read to job ad and reference key words in the cover letter so I correlate my skills with the skills the job requires. Overall this blog was very helpful to read and start thinking about what will be included in my cover letter.
Cover Letter Reply
To tell you the truth, I have never had the need to write a cover letter. After reading this blog, I have a much better understanding of what a cover letter should accomplish. If your resume makes the cut, then the cover letter is going to be the thing that sets you apart from others. This will hopefully show your personality and will explain some of the things in your resume with greater detail. I think writing a cover letter will be beneficial. While I was writing my resume, I often felt I was adding to much information. By having a resume coupled with a cover letter; I will be able to explain my work experience and activities in ways that are relevant to the job I am applying for.
I benefited how this blog explains step by step what should go into a cover letter. I believe the 3 to 4 concise paragraphs will be able to get important information by the employer in a short amount of time. By researching the company in which you are applying, you are able to take key words from things like their mission statement. Also, you are able to get a feel for how the company works so when you are writing your cover letter, you can direct your abilities to fit a specific company. I also benefited from the part about making sure what you write is what you mean. The oral reports example was really able to open my eyes on how you need to watch how you convey things digitally. By saying you had to do oral reports you sound lazy and as if you do not want to put any effort in. By telling the full truth of what was done on the project, the cover letter was dramatically changed for the better.
Cover letters
After reading this blog on cover letters i finally figured out the things that need to be on it. I was searching for a job in the last fall semester, for which i had to write the cover letters. I was totally confused with the stuff that i should write in the letter. Moreover I didnt know that picking up the exact keywords from the job ad helps. I had sent the same cover letter to various places that I applied at. I had also put up a lot of stuff in the letter which overlapped with the info on the resume. I had also made only 2 paragraphs. I think this blog will really help me in the future because once the resume survives various cuts the cover letter is the final instrument to get that interview.
Cover Letter Response
To be honest, I was not familiar with cover letter before reading this blog. All I cared and interested was about writing the resume. Therefore this article was very helpful and new containing interesting strategies that I have not learned before. When I was trying to write a resume I had lot people giving me suggestions but I really didn’t have a chance getting any advices about cover letter.
If I didn’t read about cover letter blog, I would have probably just re-wrote things I mentioned in resume more like summarizing what I wrote. But I see that main purpose of the cover letter is to build a bridge between the resume and the job by explaining in more detail how I will serve as an asset to the company. I should pay more attention to the reference keywords used in the company’s ad and try to match with my past experience and personality to qualify the company’s expectation. I think including a reference to something specific about the company will give a nice impression that I do care about this company increase my desire for the job. In order to do so, I understand why researching the company before writing the cover letter is so important. I won’t be able to write what the company wants and what they are unless I spend time researching it.
In the resume since it had to fit in to one page I had to shorten some words or use words that can imply about myself. But being specific about what I accomplished and how I used my ability to make such accomplishments is a key point about cover letter, this time I should try to write more details that can express my ability and the work I did.
It was great tip to me and it had information about how to start, what to include, how to end effectively. I liked how you used example sentences of a good cover letter. Also your past experiences added more reality and credibility once again realize the importance of the cover letter. I guess all there I need to do is write one!
Comment on Cover Letter
This passage was very interesting, as I have been writing my cover letters incorrectly and I was re-stating items from the resume. So I found this blog to be rather beneficial; as if not for this blog, I would have looked like a fool for the rest of my career life. The passage also gives you strong examples and hints you that you are facing a big competition when your resume gets in the Human Resource Dept. and that you should make your cover letter stand out to the best of your capabilities, and let the readers of this letter know that you are not presenting to them a boring statement. -- Based on this blog, I now realize, that even the minor details, define you.
Cover Letters
I have not yet written any cover letters, but am in the process to start developing them. I can see how beneficial it would be to use the same terminology that was used in the job ad. I guess the thing that seems the most difficult to me is not being to redundant, or making it sound like you arent just talking about yourself(even though thats kind of what a cover letter is) because you still want to show an interest in the company in which you are applying for. I think its finding that perfect balance that will enable you to be professional yet convey what you are looking for. I hope to be able to draft a great cover with many critiques and then try sending it out.
Cover letters
This blog was really useful for me. Writing cover letters is my weakest point. I am never sure what to include and what to leave out but this blog helped clear a lot of that up. I especially like the idea of using key words from the job to make the cover letter more appealing. I feel like I now I have a sense of direction when I sit down to write a cover letter.
I thought that the idea of making the letterhead like a letterhead is a brilliant idea and I can't wait to try it.
Researching the company before writing the cover letter is a really good idea because I think it gives the employer a feeling of confidence not only that you know something about the company but also that you took the trouble to find out.
Like it was mentioned in the blog cover letters are read only after you make it through several cuts which means that by this point the competition is much more intense so the cover letter has to be written extremely well.
Thanks a lot for this blog, it is a lifesaver!
Reply
Before reading this blog my idea of a cover letter was to describe what exactly I have written in the resume but I guess I was wrong. This blog was not only informational but I think had many strong points which if followed will make ones cover letter better than the rest. The one thing that confused me was how formal should I get when I am writing this cover letter? After reading the article about “Kairos and the Cover Letter” and after reading the different example stated there, I wanted to know in what tone, the cover letter should be written in? I also feel the "In-Your-Face" Approach is just boasting about yourself and just bragging about what all you can do but does that approach really help in getting the job. Isn’t it just too rude? Over all this blog was very helping and has made my understanding about cover letters better. I shall keep these points (in the blog) in mind when I am writing my cover letter.
Cover Letters
I found it very interesting to find how important cover letters are. I have always thought they were just a small little part of the interview process that never was looked at by anyone. After reading this I can see why they are so important to use them as a "bridge" between your resume and the actual job itself. I think it is a great opportunity for one to be able to describe things that they have done and were not able to convey that message via the resume.
Response to Instructor Blog #4
Like many of those who wrote already, I was also taken back by the fact that cover letters are used as a secondary tool. It would be natural to assume that the employer would read the cover letter first, I mean, in a similar case, if you went to the library the first thing you would look at is the book's cover right? I guess it just reinforces the fact that you really shouldn't judge a book by its cover, and this seems to be the tactic they are using in the application process. Compared to the resume, it seems as if the cover letter really is slightly less important. If you don't pass the first couple rounds of cuts, they won't even look at your cover letter. However, one should not get discouraged into not writing one. I have a friend who was in the hiring process in his last job. He was working for a company that didn't enforce the use of resumes too much, but for those that sent them in, he always gave extra consideration to those who had a cover letter with them. I know this is somewhat of an insignificant local example, but I would assume that it remains consistent for most companies.
I personally have never written a cover letter, but I can understand why it is very important to include one with your resume. Before this class, I haven't even heard of the concept of the cover letter, but after reading this blog I am now aware it shows the employer how you can relate your work experience and skills to the job you are applying for. Like said in this blog as well as other blogs we have read earlier, the use of the language from the ad is heavily stressed. One must relate themselves directly to the company they are applying for. Knowing this, one notices that they cannot recycle the cover letter for any two jobs. It is important to make yourself seem unique to any and all positions you are applying for.
Instructor Blog #4: Cover Letters
Researching a company is definitely vital to writing a cover letter. If you are going in cold or unsolicited, either the company website or some other industry related piece can give you a literal ton of information to use. Personally, I hated the idea of addressing a cover letter "To whom it may concern" and would much rather have the wrong person's name and title than a generic greeting. Most heads of HR don't do the actual hiring but are often listed on the website so if research or an informational phone call to the company fails I usually default to using their name and title. I do like the idea of having the exact same heading from your resume on your cover letter; it just has a nice, neat feel to have the same heading on both.
comment
I was worreid about writing my cover letter too. Since I have already showed up all my adequate skills on my resume, there was no more story coming up in my head for cover letter. However, after reading this blog, I have figured out what I am going to write on the cover letter. Preparing my resume, I felt a little bit dissatisfied because I had to make every content clear and concise. Although I've put the most important part in the left side and near top of the paper, this might not make the reader pay more attention to those parts. I want to explain about some important parts on my resume in detail to emphasize that I am the one the company is looking for on my cover letter. Since my friend works at the same position I am applying for, I think it might be helpful to mention that I could be familiar with the projects the company mostly deals with through my friend and convinced that my capabilities will be suitable for this job.
Response to Blog 4
Your blog is extremely helpful; this past year I had to write a cover letter and I had no clue where to even begin. I tried looking for information but found bits and pieces. If I had your advice, the outcome of my letter might have been different. I made the mistake of writing too much information about what was on my resume; your advice of what to put in the letter is helpful. It’s a great idea to elaborate on specific instances that are not on your resume but exemplify the type of person the prospective company wants. You really need to show the company that you have what the ad says. By using key words in the beginning and supporting them with a short example, you can really increase your odds of getting an interview.
Response to blog#4
The first time I wrote a cover letter I misunderstood the purpose of it. It came out to be a very funny letter with an explanation of why I wanted to work in the place I was sending the letter to. I never used it as a reference to my resume and it never crossed my mind to write the reason why I thought I was the perfect person for the job. I just hope my next cover letter will cover those ideas I was missing and will be more helpful in getting a job.
Instructor Blog #4 Cover Letters
I found it interesting that we learned about resumes before discussing cover letters. I always thought that a cover letter comes first, and then a potential employer will peruse your resume. After reading the blog, the change in the order I'm used to makes perfect sense. One area I am concerned about is repeating the same information from my resume to my cover letter. I have a lot of experience in my field; however, most of the duties I performed were similar from job to job. The blog gave some insightful advice on how to elaborate on the abbreviated form of my work experience. For example, instead of just stating where I worked, explaining what I did and how this experience can benefit the company is more appropriate.
The section of the blog discussing the importance of doing research was very enlightening. Standing out from the crowd with your resume is invaluable, but separating yourself from other candidates by showing your knowledge of the company is equally significant.
I look forward to getting feedback form others in the class on my cover letter. I welcomed the comments on my resume and felt the input provided was beneficial. Writing a unique and interesting cover letter is difficult so any help I can get will be advantageous.
cover letter response
I found it interesting that a cover letter is actually supposed to be a bridge between your resume and your interview. I was always under the impression that a cover letter was looked at first and then your resume second. I also thought that they really were not that important because for the numerous jobs I have applied for I have never had to have a cover letter. Also previous classes have put so much emphasis on my resume but none have talked about the cover letter. After reading this I think that I may include a cover letter when optional to help elaborate on my resume. I have always found it difficult to fit all of my accomplishments onto my resume so this will be a good way to elaborate. It may also set me apart from other students who do not include a cover letter when they are applying for the same position.
I also like the idea of the cover letter because you can show your interest in the company and demonstrate an enthusiasm that cannot be shown in your resume. It will allow me to elaborate on how the experiences that I chose in my resume will work to benefit the company I am planning to work for. Since I have struggled in writing in the past I think that this will be more difficult than the resume to write. I plan to use some of the tips you mentioned to improve my letter. I really liked the part about including the same heading as your resume. I think that will make my letter look professional and stand out from many of the other students applying for the same job. With all that we have learned about cover letters and resumes I hope to land a few more interviews after the fall career fair than last year. Thank you for all the good advise.
RE: cover letter response
It's true that the cover letter is very much a bridge between the resume and the interview. If you get called in for an interview, your cover letter will be one of the main places an HR rep will mine for talking points. Your cover letter can also answer questions that your resume asks. For example, if you have a gap in your work history (which can be a little bit of a red flag), an HR rep will almost certainly ask you about it. If your cover letter mentions that you left the private sector to work overseas in the Peace Corps for three years, it diffuses that issue, and it gives the interviewer something interesting to talk to you about. Something to keep in mind is that interviews aren't only about the field. Frequently interviewers talk to you to get a sense of your personality, and to try to determine if you would be a good fit for the company on a personal level.
Cover letters
It was not until just recently (within the last 3 months) that I actually sat down and wrote a cover letter. Before, I figured that if I could get away with only a resume then that’s what I would do. In the career prep classes I have taken at Purdue they have stressed that it is important to write your cover letter effectively but we never actually wrote one. For the job I have been hired for I sent a cover letter in with my application. I found that it is very important to tailor your tone and context to the specific situation. For this position I was extremely confident in my skills and wrote what I could bring to their clinic above and beyond what were the minimum tasks expected. The professor that helped me revise my cover letter knew the clinic and the owner so I used him as a little bit of an edge to get to know more about the clinic. It definitely impresses the company and makes you a better applicant if you know something about the company and relate it back to you and what you have to offer the company.
Cover Letter
The only time that I've written a cover letter is for a 9th grade Career Exploration class. Which was a joke. After high school, I've never been told that I really need one. I was kind of under the impression that they never got read so there was no real reason to wrote one. I gues that doesn't exactly make sense. If I don't have a cover letter then it will look like i don't really care about the company and i didn't take the time to show how i relate to the specifics of this job. If i have one and no one else does then that will just make my resume stand out more then the others. I liked how in your explanation you included specifics about what each paragraph should include. Like if you tlak about two specific skills, then those skills should be included in the next paragraphs. THat helps me understand exactly what I need to write about. I also liked the idea to call the company and find out the specific name of the person you should be addressing. This is a good way to show the company that you took the time to research it a little bit. I think this is something I will definitely do in the future. It seams so obvious, but i wouldn't have thought about it until it was too late to get that information. Thanks for the advice.
RE: Cover Letter
You have probably noticed that some job ads ask for a cover letter and others do not. It might be that more job ads are not asking for cover letters because of greater time compression. Many companies are moving toward scannable resumes, and many big corporations have moved to filling out electronic forms rather than using resumes at all. (If you've even seen a computer terminal near the entrance of a department or grocery store, that's what its for.)
Nevertheless, the cover letter is still something required for most professional occupations, if for no other reason than to demonstrate that you can write functionally. We have you do one in this class so that you are more prepared to generate a cover letter if the need arises.
Cover Letters
I have never written a cover letter before so I am very interested to work on one and see exactly what must be put into writing a good one. It seems like most of the time people just talk about the resume and do not really go into detail or sometimes even mention cover letters, so this is pretty new to me. I agree that it would be helpful to have a name to the person that you are writing to. It makes the letter seem more personal and could even help you stand out some.
I have heard before that it is good to do research on a company when applying for a job, especially if you are being interviewed. This makes perfect sense to me because it lets the company know that you are serious about getting this job. It also makes you look very interested in what the company offers and that you are motivated to learn more about the company. I would also agree that it is important to consider your tone because as you said you do not want to sound like you are being forced to look for work, but that you are excited about the opportunity to do work in this area. Companies want people with a positive attitude to bring to their company and someone that they feel will work hard for them.
RE: Cover Letters
I just wanted to say this part of the project will be great for you and other people who have never had to write a cover letter before. I know I did not have to start writing them until I started applying for more serious internships that were pretty specific and it really caught me off guard. You'll be really happy the first time a company asks you for one and you know how to write an effective one. I remember how much I wished I had taken a class that had taught me what I was doing when it came to cover letters. So I just wanted to say to you and everyone else who has no or very minimal experience writing these things that it's great that you're learning to do it in this class because we'll all have a huge advantage over many other candidates out there.
RE: Instructor Blog #4: Cover Letters
I think this has been the most helpful instructor blog for me so far. Writing the cover letter has always been really difficult for me, not only formatting wise, but the content. I can say I have never before been told what to include in a cover letter, how to go about writing it, or how it should look. The first time I was applying for an internship and I was asked for one I felt completely clueless on what to do, and so my letter was rather poor. I've written a few others since then and they have improved a little, but I still had not been properly taught about cover letters so I was still asking people for advice and visiting various websites for help.
One thing that really stuck out as I read this was the part about referencing key words from the job ad and building your resume upon that. That sounds like a terrific idea, and it will really help me out a lot, as one of my biggest problems was how to focus my letter and then what to discuss. Explaining how I match what the resume asks for by using the keywords in the actual ad is something I can't wait to try and should help me move past my content problem.
Another thing I thought was a good idea to work into the letter was something about the company that you had researched, but not to blatantly ass kiss the company. I know from experience that companies love it if you know a little about them, I've had several interviews where a key question was "What do you know about [insert company name]?", and I can tell you their eyes light up when you have a good answer. So I'm sure that the same thing happens if you can work it in to your cover letter well. I'd try not to make it blatant, but use it to make yourself a more beneficial choice like the blog discusses. It just seems like a great way to score some points.
There were some very nice tips that I can't wait to act on, and nothing I could really disagree with.
Instructor Blog 4 - Cover Letters
I agree with several of the other students. Cover letters can be very intimidating and difficult to write. While most of us are not used to elaborating about ourself, I believe the added pressure of trying to impress one or possibly two people who are going to read this cover letter and resume, is the toughest part of all. This is employment project is really making me start to think. I have less than six months until I graduate, and I need to take every skill that can come out of this class to try and land a job. So I am just hoping, that the practice that this class offers, will help me impress a few people so that I can at least make it to that ever important interview.
Reply
I completely agree with you on the fact that cover letters are intimidating when you have to write one, knowing the fact that it has to really impress the Employer. It is very difficult to decide what to write and what not to. I feel cover letters will play a very important role for the interview as they are the only link between our resume and personality, Now that we know that cover letters are read only after we pass the first round of resume. I think cover letters should be even more impressive because the employers will expect more out of us after the first round. Most of us are graduating and I feel this class is the only way one can polish their skills.
Response to Instructor Blog #4
Writing the cover letter has always been my least favorite part of the job application process. I never can decide what exactly to write, because I am afraid of getting to repetitive. The person reviewing the resumes will see both documents, so obviously the cover letter should not be just a repeat of everything listed in the resume. After reading what you wrote about going into detail about your experiences and accomplishments, I guess the correct thing to do would be to elaborate on the things listed in the resume. In the past, I never really understood the importance of the cover letter. I always just assumed the resume was all employers really looked at. I can see now how the cover letter can give much more insight into the personality of the applicant.
Helpful Blog
The absolute most important thing I got from this blog was the tip about the header on your cover letter. I always have felt like that is an awkward thing to figure out since you want to make your name stand out, yet keep it formal. This is something I will definitely apply in my cover letter. One other interesting point is that you need to consider who the letter is being written to and in what circumstances. I find the cover letter very annoying since it must be changed so often to fit the company you are applying to. However, I believe being particular to one company can determine whether or not you get the interview.
I also liked the tip about referencing the keywords in the company's job ad. Each time I've seen an employer look over a cover letter it seems they get excited when seeing words that relate to the job ad. I don't even think they would realize that it was intentional. This blog was nice to read since most classes do not focus on the cover letter. I've never actually had someone describe and give details on what to put in a cover letter. This was helpful!
Instructor Blog #4: Cover Letter Response
According to the blog one of the biggest mistakes people make is repeating what they said on a resume. I can definitely relate to this because my cover letter that I had done for another class was a synopsis of my resume. My instructor didn't really notice so I wasn't reprimanded for the cover letter. I learned from this blog that the cover letter involves going into more detail on experience and certain qualities I possess. The format of the cover letter is the structure I used before, except I could have used a header and addressed the person directly who would have viewed it. As for the research I really think this can hit the nail on the head for most companies. I really think they will be impressed on how much you know about their company and how you would benefit them. From this blog I learned a lot of new things that will be helpful in my future. Some key things I will consider will be format, research, and who I am addressing directly.
Cover Letter Response
I found this blog to be really helpful. I have always struggled with cover letters and have never known what exactly to put on it or how it should be formatted. As you discussed in the opening of your blog, I fell into the trap of repeating the information that was on my resume. I didn’t think that it was an opportunity to expand on my resume, rather an opportunity to reinforce what was already there. Also I had a preconceived notion that a cover letter was the first thing read and determined whether or not your resume survived, it was quite shocking to learn that it is the other way around. Although, I was pleasantly surprised that I was doing some things right with my cover letters, specifically using key words from the job ad, and trying to find a persons name instead of using to whom it may concern. I liked the idea about using the same heading on both documents, I had never thought about doing that before, but I can see how it would generate a positive response as you have experienced. Furthermore, I like the idea about researching the company beforehand and trying to include some of that information when constructing a cover letter. However, I was a little confused when you talked about showing your personality, but then you say that companies don’t care about you and to make sure to focus on them, how can you do both? It seems to me that you have to sacrifice one in order to get the other. Overall, I learned a few valuable things about constructing cover letters and I feel reinforced with how I have been writing them in the past. I still hope to learn more about cover letters, because they have always been a weak point for me when it comes to professional writing.
Cover letter
This would be the first time I am going to write a cover letter to go along with my resume, and I am already looking forward to it. As I was reading the instructor blog, I think that everybody should write their cover letter in the same way they would be conducting their interview. You should be professional, serious, and above all, honest. I agree with the reading that you should be talking in the same language as the job add, it is preferable to know to who you are writing to and adapt your cover letter to make it sound better to the HR department. I did not realize that it was very important to be careful about the words you put in your cover letter until after I read the text. This would be your first impression for the people in charge of hiring you, and in my opinion, the majority of people base their decisions on first impressions. It is very important to be outstanding from the rest, and when you pass to the next round after the resumes, you need to be prepared. I am seriously considering reading this blog again when I start writing my cover letter this weekend and take in consideration all the points mentioned. I want the cover letter to reflect my professionalism as well as who I really am and what I do.
There are many beneficial
There are many beneficial points to your blog that I you have exposed me to. I will definitely use key words from the company's ad, headers, and the length of the cover letter that will place me above other potential candidates. For years, I have been taught that a cover letter sums up a resume and the objective needed to be restated. Now I am surprised to learn that I have been constructing this all wrong. I will employ certain characteristics to my cover letter such as incorporating abilities, accomplishments, and talents, which I find difficult because minimal business experience. I do concur that closing a letter thanking them for their time by reviewing my resume is very essential. When considering the amount of potential candidates vying for the same position, a respectful closure will better my chances of a face to face interview.
Cover Letter
Writing a cover letter can be an extremeley stressful job. Especially, when you have to alter your skills and focus on the ones which would better suit the position you are applying for; and also a position which fits in better with the organization and it's culture. Another hard task about the cover letter are that you need tp decide what the right amount of information is to put on it. Both too much information andtoo little information can end up hurting the job search process. I completely agree to the last part of this blog that you always have to to cater you cover letter and not have a generic one. Cover letter can prove to be a gamble as they can make or break the hriing process so one needs to be specially careful on how things are said and how they would be perceived.
Cover letter
I never thought that I would not want to put the same information on a cover letter as was in my resume. They seemed to go hand in hand. One page, 10-12 point professional looking fine line projecting from a main stroke of a letter in common styles of type, and 3-4 short, concise paragraphs. Also recommended was the use of a header from their resume at the top of their cover letter. I also need to do more research of the companies that I want to send a resume and cover letter to. I am also someone that would tell where I worked at and not what I did at that place of employment. In the last paragraph, I will summarize the reasons Iwill be an asset for the company before restating my interest, mentioning my hope for an interview, and including my personal contact info. Include both a telephone number and email address for contact in the final paragraph.