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Table of Contents

What is a cover letter? ....2 Why is a good cover letter so important?...2 Getting Started....2 The S.T.A.R.S. Technique.3 Cover Letter Outline..4 Cover Letter Samples..5-8 In Response to an Advertised Opening5 In Response to a Classified Advertisement.6 Cover Letter Based on a Referral.7 Unsolicited Cover Letter to a Potential Employer8 Cover Letter Presentation & How to Send..9

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WHAT IS A COVER LETTER? A cover letter is your first written communication with the employer. It expresses your interest in the position and the organization, as well as highlights your relevant skills, experience and qualities. It always accompanies your resume when you are applying for a position, even if it is not specifically called for in the job posting.

WHY IS A GOOD COVER LETTER SO IMPORTANT? A good cover letter gives you a chance to emphasize the skills and personal

qualities that match what a potential employer/organization is seeking.

It is an opportunity to expand upon and highlight the most important aspects of your resume while adding a personal touch.

It motivates the employer to read your resume and subsequently invite you

to an interview.

Those candidates who DO NOT submit a cover letter along with their resume may be viewed as unprofessional and/or as not being serious about the position for which they are applying.

GETTING STARTED To begin the cover letter writing process you MUST collect these pieces of information:

1. The full name and title of the person to whom you will write, the organizations name, and full address.

2. The title of the position. 3. The name of the person who referred you, website address, newspaper and

date of newspaper issue, or other information regarding how you know about the position.

4. Information that impresses you about the company. The best cover letters demonstrate your familiarity and interest in the organization. You can research the organization by reviewing company literature, newspapers, or web sites.

5. Your specific training, skills, achievements, and qualifications as they apply to the position.

The S.T.A.R.S. Method The best approach to preparing to write your cover letter is to apply the S.T.A.R.S. Method when constructing your Success Stories. Success Stories are examples from your work, school, or life which match the requirements of an employer, and/or when you demonstrated initiative, leadership or teamwork skills to solve a problem or make a decision. It is also very useful in preparing for an interview. Complete the following exercise based on the example:

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S (SITUATION: Describe what happened; organization; its climate; how big, interesting or otherwise impressive; timing; interpersonal situations. Ex: Both cashiers called in sick and I was asked if I would handle the cash register even though I had not been trained in its use.)

T (TASK: The objective, assignment or problem to be solved. Ex: I agreed and was assigned to the cash register for the entire day. )

A (ACTION: How YOU accomplished the task. Ex: I had a very brief emergency training session from the manager and handled all sales until the evening cashier came in.)

R (RESULTS: Use numbers and tell what the result means for the organization or you. Ex: When they corrupted the totals at the end of the day, they found that I hadnt made any errors. The manager was impressed and eventually moved me from the stock room to the cashiers desk.)

S (Skills/Attributes illustrated: The story can show your skills and attributes without having to list them directly. It is more interesting to read a story than a list.)

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COVER LETTER OUTLINE

Jacqueline Jobhunter 70 West 11th Street, Apt. 2D New York, NY 10011 (212)867-5309 jobhunter@gmail.com

June 7, 2006 Ms. Jane R. Employer Human Resource Manager QRS Widgets, Ltd. 1221 Hornswaggle Avenue Nowhere, NY 10002 Dear Ms. Employer: First Paragraph: Grab the reader's attention. Identify why you are writing, the position for which you are applying and where you heard of it or the organization. If you are writing a letter from a networking contact, insert your contact's name. Display your specific knowledge about the organization obtained from researchmake sure this information is something that impresses you about them and something that makes you want to be a part of their organization. Express your connection with the organization. In no more than two paragraphs: Briefly describe your academic and professional qualifications. The S.T.A.R.S. technique is useful in writing this paragraph. Be descriptive and explicit but concise. Use action verbs and numbers. Cite examples of your qualifications for the position sought. Highlight important ideas in your resume. Detail why you should be considered for the position. Give them a brief synopsis of the most highly relevant parts of your resume. Final Paragraph: Reiterate your interest in the position. Request an interview and inform the employer that they may call or write to set up an interview. Thank the employer for their time and consideration. Sincerely, Jacqueline Jobhunter Jacqueline Jobhunter Enclosure

Your heading should match that of your

resume

Be sure to use the persons appropriate title. AVOID Dear Sir or Madam or

To Whom it May Concern. If you dont have a persons name you can

address the letter to his or her job title. See our sample section for examples.

Four spaces are standard between the closing and your typed name. Always sign

hard copies of your cover letters. It is optional to type in your name in script in

an electronic copy.

It is optional to type Enclosure or Attachment at the end of the letter to let the reader know that

your resume is included. 2 lines

2 lines

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Cover Letter Samples

IN RESPONSE TO AN ADVERTISED OPENING ONLINE JANE SWIFT 1 Central Park Road, Sugar Hill, NY 11111, jane.swift@hotmail.com, 708-908-2562 November 13, 2006 Human Resources Director Bank Street School Program 745 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10001 Dear Human Resources Director: I noted with interest the job posting on the Human Resources website for a Grade 2 Teacher. I have first-hand knowledge of The Bank Street School Program through extensive volunteer activities and believe I am an excellent candidate for this position. I understand that you need someone who is self-directed and who possesses the necessary qualifications for managing another teachers class. I have worked closely with students of Bank Street School Program through various programs including intramural sports and reading. These programs cultivated my development of professional flexibility, good humor, rapport with parents, familiarity with the school culture, and the ability to go beyond the lesson plans in accordance with meeting the current needs. At this point, I would welcome the challenge to continue making a positive impact on the minds of elementary school aged children. I am committed to achieving this goal through ongoing professional development to learn the latest effective teaching methods. I have attached my resume to provide more information on my strengths and educational achievements. I would welcome the opportunity to further discuss with you how I might make significant contributions to your school. Thank you for your consideration; I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Jane Swift

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IN RESPONSE TO A CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENT

Patricia Clark 23 E. 13th Street, Apt. 3C New York, NY 10011 (212) 479-7990 clarkp@newschool.edu

September 30, 2008 Ms. Pat Cummings Director Family Services, Inc. 1140 Main Street Northridge, CA 91324 Dear Ms. Cummings: In response to your advertisement in the summer edition of the Social Justice Journal, I would like to express my interest in the Social Work Intern position. I am impressed by the mission of Family Services, Inc. and your commitment to working with families and children to help them reach their personal goals and achievement a happy life. I possess diverse and applicable experience both within and outside of the classroom. As stated in my resume, I am pursuing my bachelors degree in both psychology and sociology at Eugene Lang College The New School for Liberal Arts, in New York City. Throughout the past two semesters, I have worked with children in a volunteer program, called New York Cares, in which I interact with children in housing projects through recreational activities. Last semester, I also visited a day-care program to study the psychology behind childrens drawings for my Sociology of Culture course. I have completed additional courses in the field including Sociology of New York City, Introduction to Sociology, and Economic Anthropology. Attached to this email is my resume for further evidence of my qualifications for this position. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss this position and my credentials within a personal interview. Thank you for your consideration and I look very forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Patricia Clark

Attachment

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COVER LETTER BASED ON A NETWORKING CONTACT/REFERRAL

JEROMY P. ROME 23 E. 13th Street, Apt. 3C, New York, NY 10011

(212) 479-7990 romej@newschool.edu

February 13, 2008

Ms. Katherine Flaterion Head Curator The Musuem of Modern Art 42 West 53rd Street New York, NY 10001 Dear Ms. Flaterion: Ryan Taylor suggested I contact you regarding employment opportunities at the Museum of Modern Art. I am interested in the entry-level curator training program. I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to train with the curators of the worlds foremost collection of modern and contemporary art. Enclosed is my resume for your review. I have worked in and out of the classroom to develop a solid academic foundation in sociology, history and the analytical skills necessary to succeed in this field. Two internships have honed these skills and given me first-hand knowledge of museum curatorship. One of the more significant projects I have worked on was an in-depth historical analysis of 17th century journals for The New York Historical Society. I attained many communication and leadership skills from these experiences which are essential in this industry. While maintaining this commitment to academics, I simultaneously focused on my dramatic pursuits. As the president of a rapidly-growing drama club, I have developed strong leadership qualities, including the ability to motivate and collaborate with different people to achieve group goals. I am confident that I can make a positive contribution and would welcome the opportunity to discuss my qualifications with you further. Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Jeromy P. Rome

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UNSOLICITED COVER LETTER TO A POTENTIAL EMPLOYER

DINA SMITH 444 Fulton Street, Apt. 2J New York, NY 11078 212-586-3265 Smithd124@newschool.edu

October 20, 2006 Ms. Shauna Bell Human Resource Manager Dime Media, Inc. 50 South Street Los Angeles, CA 93876 Dear Ms. Bell: Recently I have been researching the leading local companies in media communications. My search has been for companies that are respected in the field, and who provide ongoing training programs. Dime Media continues to appear as a top company. I am an experienced public relations and brand communication specialist with a substantial background in both Adobe products and media & culture studies. If you have an opening for someone in this area, you will see that my resume demonstrates a person of tremendous dedication, efficiency, and drive. My experience and achievements include:

Complete redesign of a data communications network, projected to increase user efficiency by some 12 percent;

The installation and copy of the www.lang.edu website for a cable network and flash users. I have enclosed a copy of my resume, and look forward to examining any of the ways you feel my background and skills would benefit Dime Media. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Dina Smith

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COVER LETTER PRESENTATION & HOW TO SEND Via regular mail

Always print your resume, cover letter, and reference list on high-quality paper or resume paper (boxes of this are usually marked as such). Use white, ivory, or something similar to maintain readability.

You can attach your resume behind the cover letter using a paperclip at the top left corner. We suggest using a large 8 x 11 envelope so as not to crease your resume or cover

letter. When using a printer, be sure to let the ink dry before putting your documents in an

envelope. Type out the mailing and return addresses on either the envelope or mailing labels. To ensure delivery, you can go to the post office and send the letter with a return receipt.

This will cost a few dollars more than regular shipping. Always bring a few copies of your resume, cover letter, and reference list with

you, printed on resume paper, to the interview. Via fax

Create a professional looking fax cover sheet. There is a template for this in Microsoft Word. Be sure to include the number of pages you are sending INCLUDING your fax cover sheet,

along with your phone number, in case the employer needs to inform you of missing documents.

You should also send a hard copy via regular mail to ensure delivery and maintain professionalism.

Via E-mail

Since this is your first written communication with an organization, it is perfectly acceptable to cut and paste your entire cover letter in business letter format into the body of your email. You can then attach your resume to the email. It is also acceptable to attach both your cover letter and resume and write in the body of the email, Please see attached.

To ensure delivery, we suggest selecting the return receipt option when you send the email.

You should also send a hard copy via regular mail to ensure delivery and maintain professionalism.

Via Online Application

Try your best to fill in all of the required information and cut and paste information from your resume as best as possible. Dont be discouraged that your spacing may be off. Do your best to make your document aesthetically pleasing throughout the application template.

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