Effective Cover Letters PET 489 Student Teaching Seminar College of Physical Activity & Sport Sciences Fall Semester 2011

Lesson Purpose  To introduce you to the basic mechanics of writing an effective cover letter  To get you started on preparing a cover letter for your mock job interview assignment

Lesson Advance Organizer  What questions do we need to answer today about writing an effective cover letter?

What is the purpose of the cover letter?  Purpose of the cover letter Introduce yourself to employer Demonstrate interest in vacancy Draw attention to resume Motivate reader to interview you  Cover letter is often your first contact with an employer!!!

How should cover letters be organized?  Introduction (Paragraph 1) Capture reader’s attention and identify how you learned about the position  Body (Paragraphs 2 and 3) Include a brief description of your background and why you are interested in working for that employer Demonstrate understanding of the position and highlight how your qualifications relate to it Include specific examples when possible!!!  Closing (Paragraph 4) Describe your follow-up plans for the employer Establish flow of communication that leads to an interview  Signature Line

General guidelines for effective letter writing?  Use an accepted business letter format  Personalize each letter  Use non-sexist language  Avoid overusing the word “I”  Limit your letter to one page  Vary your writing  Use attention getting action verbs and adjectives  Proofread!!!

How can I best describe my qualifications?  Phrases from performance appraisals, and letters of recommendation  Current and past job descriptions and standards of performance that clearly reflect job expectations and responsibilities  Desirable characteristics and requested skills for similar jobs  Newspaper editorials and business sections to help write paragraphs about your industry, occupation, or the economy

Other suggestions?  Attend cover letter writing workshop  Visit Career Services for help with your cover letter  Match paper and font with presentation resume  Indicate additional enclosures with resume packet  Retain a copy of each cover letter in a file  Develop 2-3 paragraphs that work and modify them slightly to personalize each letter  Remember to sign all of your cover letters!!!

What about follow-up?  Follow-up of your application is essential  Consider preparing a script for your follow- up call Call between T and TH early in morning or late afternoon Leave a message on voic – let them know that you would like a return call and state where you can be reached Be persistent – call back within a week if you don’t

Mock Job Interview: Cover Letter  You cover letter is due during the last week of seminar  Needs to be rated as “Satisfactory” Rating of 3 out of 5 point Likert scale  Evaluation criteria Layout/appearance Order of elements Written content Overall impression

Take-home Messages  The cover letter is an important extension of your resume  In many instances it represents your first contact with an employer  Use the structure discussed in class to communicate key information