Cover Letter Workshop

Cover Letter WorkshopA PowerPoint to Help You Draft Effective Cover Letters

Presented by the Gonzaga School of Law Center for Professional Development

Asked How important is the cover letter inan application? 40 percent of 1,087 HR professionals polled said its among the mostimportant factors, while others said:

It depends on the job 21%Its important only if its awful17%Its very important and can even clinch a job11%They dont even look at cover letters11%

Letter Perfect

To GET YOU AN INTERVIEWTo express interest in the jobTo tell employers how you can benefit them!!!To demonstrate your writing skillsThe Purpose of a Cover Letter

The Work needs to be done before writing the coverletter:DO NOT REPEAT YOUR RESUMEReview your own accomplishments and decide what is unique and important and should go in the letter.Synthesize your background in a different way from your rsum. Think about the skills and abilities that the employer is looking for.Research the organization and know what they do and what interests you about them!Research the person to whom you are writing.Know the best way to get in the door:Informational interviewingJob applicationNetworking opportunitiesBefore You Start Writing

Research and Writing AbilityAdvocacy SkillsCreative Problem SolvingGoal-OrientationEntrepreneurial SkillsTeam PlayerIndependent WorkersQuick LearnerTime Management SkillsInitiativePoisePresenceClient Relations SkillsTimely ResponseEfficient WorkUnderstanding Legal ProcessInterview Skills

What Are Employers Looking For?

Support statements with facts and examples.Describe how you accomplished what is on your resume.

For example, if you worked for a prosecutors office . . .

Instead of saying: I can assist you with your pre-trial preparation.

Say something like: Through my work as an intern at theSpokane County Attorneys office, I gained experience crafting pre-trial documents.

Marketing Yourself

Be polite, confident and professional.Avoid negative implications.(i.e. Although, I do not have any legal experience, instead say: The client interview skills I learned at X job can be applied to a legal setting etc.)Dont sound too much like a salesperson. Be assertive, but not overbearing.Dont try to be humorous or clever.

Tone of a Cover Letter

Keep it in a Standard Business Format

Use the same header with your personal information as your rsum

Address your letter to a real person not To Whom It May Concern or Dear Sir/Madam

Do not overuse the word I I believe, I feel, or I am confident that should not be the opener to every sentence

Use the active voice

Be concise and accurate! Keep it to 1 page!- Remember the Cover Letter IS NOT your Rsum

Critical Guidelines

Length should be 3-4 paragraphsIntroductory paragraph should grab attention and make the reader want to keep reading itReferralsBring up key points:- geographic connection- alum connection- dedication/commitment to particular area of interestUse key words

Inside the Letter

Who are you? (i.e. class year, school, geographic ties, personal or networking connections to the organization or recipient of the letter)** Remember you have to sell to them why you want to be in a geographic area (i.e grew up there, went to school there, family resides there, want to return there upon graduation, etc.)Why are you writing? Type of position you are looking for (part /time, full /time, academic year, summer).How you learned about the organization or what sparked your interest in them!

The First Paragraph

I am a second-year law student at Gonzaga University School of Law and am seeking employment for the summer of 2010. Enclosed is my rsum for your review.

As a second-year law student at Gonzaga University School of Law with a demonstrated commitment to community and professional service, I am concentrating my job search for summer 2010 in Seattle. Enclosed is my rsum for your review.Compare These Paragraphs:

What makes you qualified for the job? Give examples that show your skills and abilities. DO NOT REWRITE RESUME, but find an example of something from a past job that demonstrates your skills. For example, if you say your have good writing skills, then back that up with something you wrote at a particular job. Or if you say you are a multi-tasker, give examples such as: While I was at the FTC I was required to tend to consumer inquiries, draft legal memoranda and attend numerous meetings on a weekly basis.What do you know about the organization/ firm?Let the firm/organization know that youve done your homework. Advise them of your past work with this organization, information you got from a website, information obtained from an informational interview etc. Then incorporate why, based on this information, your skills would be a good match for this employer.

The Second and Third Paragraphs

Close the letter.Thank them.Tell them you look forward to hearing from them soon. You can also tell them that you will contact them in the future.Provide any other important information the employer might need to know.I will be in Seattle at the end of December and would be available to meet with you at that time.

Final Paragraph

Dont forget to sign your letter.Run it through spell check and then proofread, proofread, proofread and ask someone else to proofread it !!!!Make sure the format is correct.Double check the spelling/gender of the person you are writing to!Dont be afraid to call to follow up about the status or to provide updated information.

Last But Not Least