English 302
A.Rao
Job/Application Packet Assignment
Objective
To create a job/application packet that includes a résumé and cover letter
The Assignment
Résumés are persuasive summaries of your qualifications for employment. A cover letter shows how your
qualifications can help the organization meet its needs, how you differ from other applicants, and what
knowledge you have about the organization and job.
A résumé and a cover letter are job search tools you all need, but these documents also help you to think about
many of the major concepts of this class: assessing an audience, targeting information appropriately, designing
documents, and engaging in professional style and tone. This individual project consists of three main
deliverables:
 Personal Résumé (50 pts)
 Targeted Cover Letter (50 pts)
 Portfolio (20 pts)
 Rationale Memo (50 pts)
You will turn in final copies of the résumé and cover letter, job ad, and all drafts and peer editing
material in a professional portfolio.
For this project, you will first choose a job or jobs in your field that you might be qualified to undertake after
your graduation from ISU. Internships, externships, apprenticeships, and graduate application letters are also
appropriate if you have enough information to write a targeted letter. Opportunities from recruiters without the
name of the hiring company will not work for this assignment. You will choose one specific job ad and
complete all of your deliverables based on this posting.
Continuing academics have the option of drafting a curriculum vita (CV) and a statement of purpose for a
specific program at a specific university. You will be expected to apply for a teaching/research assistantship
along with an admission. However, you need to let me know that you will be working on this option
beforehand.
After choosing your job ad/academic program, do a little research about the organization that you are applying
to. Trade journals, business magazines, business indices, and the organization’s web site, are some good places
to learn about the employer and position. You can use this information to target your résumé and cover letter
more specifically.
I. Résumé (50 points)
Based on information gathered in the course reading, course discussions, and peer workshops, you will build a
professional résumé targeted at your chosen job ad. Résumés will be evaluated for,
 Correctness (no spelling or typographical errors)
 Inclusion of all relevant section including required Objective statement
 Completeness of information
 Appropriate format and organization of information (NO Microsoft templates)
 Appropriate tone and style
 Use of action statements
 Appropriate targeting of audience
 Effort made to improve beyond your existing draft
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English 302
A.Rao
II. Cover Letter (50 points)
Using your company research and résumé as a guide, as well as readings, discussions, and workshops, you will
craft a cover letter that responds directly to your job ad. Cover letters will be evaluated on:
 Correctness (no spelling or typographical errors)
 Appropriate letter format and organization of information as well as visual matching to the résumé
 Appropriate tone and style for the organization
 **Effective targeting of audience and applying of your skills to meet company needs**
 Effective self-promotion (without overtly restating résumé information)
III. Portfolio (20 points)
You will enclose your résumé and cover letter in a professional portfolio before handing in the documents. Tips
for a good portfolio:
 Name of the candidate is easily identifiable
 Portfolio is not bulky or unwieldy
 Documents can be easily taken out and put back
 Enough compartments to include letter, résumé, and other relevant documents
 Documents do not fall out of the packet
 Portfolio is professional and eye-catching
 Portfolio isn’t too expensive (sometimes employers don’t return the job packet)
IV. Rationale Memo (50 points)
Think of your analysis as a post mortem discussion of your documents, an explanation of why you did what you
did and why you think it is effective for this particular application. Document will be roughly a page in memo
format to me as your instructor. Consider and discuss:
 Your purpose/goals in writing your résumé and cover letter to this company (beyond the obvious need to
fulfill the assignment). What exactly were you trying to get across about yourself to this potential employer?
How does this company fit the personal questions we discussed in class?
 The content of both documents: why did you include or highlight the information you did instead of
something else? How did you use your information to address company needs or show your skills to be a
direct benefit to the company? Why would the audience be persuaded by this information rather than
something else? How did you have to address any potential objections the audience might have?
 The document design of both documents: Compare the design of your original and final drafts. What
changes did you make and why? Do you think they are effective and why/why not?
 Conclusion: How successful do you think your cover letter and résumé would be and why? How would you
like to improve on these documents in the future?
 Length: 2-3 single-spaced pages
The required drafts count toward the total points for the each deliverable. Not bringing an in-process draft for
peer review sessions will result in a 5-point deduction from the final grade of that deliverable. Not turning in a
required draft will result in a 10-point deduction from the final grade of that deliverable.
Reference
 Kitty Locker
Business and Administrative Communication, Eighth Edition
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