LCNE : How to make a Cover Letter Webinar

1. LCNE: How to make a Cover Letter Webinar By Bobbianne Doerr

2. Overview • What is a cover letter? • Purpose of a cover letter versus a resume • Parts of a cover letter • What information goes where in a cover letter? • Tailoring a cover letter • Questions • References

3. What is a cover letter? There are different kinds of letters but Cover Letter are letters to introduce your resume. • Give a story to your resume and life experience • Are in-depth explanations of your skills • Shows you care enough to make your application tailored to the job description • Sample of your writing or communication skills (Brizee & Olson, 2011)

4. Purpose of cover letter vs. a resume RESUME • A resume is your 30 second commercial • It is an overview • Is used to SELL your skills • COVER LETTER • Is magic! It turns you into a human instead of an applicant • Tells the potential employer information that is not on a resume like that you volunteer for an organization in you profession. • It should show your feelings (in a respectful way) about a job. Example, “I love working with people that is why I went into criminal justice.”

5. Parts of a cover letter • Your contact information (optional) • Date • Name of Hiring Manager with job title • Name of company • Contact information of potential employer • Dear….(be specific) • Up to 4 paragraphs (no more) • 1st paragraph has job title • Last paragraph asks for interview • A thank you! • Closure (example: Sincerely,) • Signature • Printed Name

6. What information goes where in a cover letter? 1st paragraph • Job title • Where you found or heard about the job • Be excited about the job and a few skills you have to meet their need • 2nd paragraph • The job description tells you what they want. Tell them you have the skills to meet that need. • This is also where you can put in information from the “About” section on the website. Show you understand some of the basics about the company already. • Companies usually have a “Mission Statement” and this is where you can talk about why you would fit in well here. Because you agree with the “Mission Statement.” • 3rd or Final Paragraph • Talk from the heart about why you want to work in the field. • Give your correct contact information. • Let them know you will contact them for an interview. • ASK! • Thank them for their time and consideration.

7. Tailoring a cover letter • Let’s make a cover letter together from a online job description.

8. Do’s and Don’ts • No form letters! If you would not read it, do not expect your employer to read it. • Do not write to a “Dear Sir,” department or title. PERSONALIZE! • Don’t over use the work “I.” Just like resumes use past tense or action verbs (‘ed verbs). It is business writing. • Do give your contact information • Do sign your cover letter • Do attach a resume. • If you are apply online or in an email (like on Craigslist) make sure your cover letter does not go over one page. • Use Times New Roman font • Proofread! ("Myfuture.com: Creating your cover," 2012)

9. Questions and additional resources • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSLGa2bRU-g This video is a similar version of what we just talked about but hearing form two different schools never hurts. • http://www.myfuture.com/careers/articles-advice/creating-your-cover-letter This is a website with a couple of sample cover letters. • Ask ME! I have examples of other cover letters to help you write your own.

10. References • Brizee, A., & Olson, A. (2011). Purdue online writing lab. Retrieved from http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/549/01/ • Career builder. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspx?APath=2.21.0.0.0&job_did=J3H3C872K6YDKPYBZR8&IPath=QHMGM2R • Myfuture.com: Creating your cover letter. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.myfuture.com/careers/articles-advice/creating-your-cover-letter • United surgical partners international. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.unitedsurgical.com/Default.aspx