FUNDAMENTALS OF WRITING
May 8, 2014
Today
Job applications (continued)
- Letter of application (LoA)/ Cover Letter
Letters of Application (Cover Letters)
The letter of application is a cover letter you send to a
prospective employer to supplement your résumé.
- This is a type of business letter.
Letters of Application (Cover Letters)
The letter of application is a cover letter you send to a
prospective employer to supplement your résumé.
It should be:

Personable – about you.

Professional – demonstrates your professionalism.

Persuasive – sells yourself to the prospective employer.
Letters of Application (Cover Letters)
Different from résumés:
1. A résumé is a compilation of facts only.
A LoA is more personal.
2. A résumé includes all relevant details.
A LoA includes only the most relevant details.
3. A résumé includes personal data, specific course data,
and may include references.
A LoA does not (exceptions: course work).
Letters of Application (Cover Letters)
This document can be the difference between getting an
interview or having your résumé go here:
Letters of Application (Cover Letters)
Main purpose:
Convince the prospective employer that you can use the
experience and education listed on your résumé in the job.
Letters of Application (Cover Letters)
Guidelines:
1. Supply contact information as part of your letter head.
Letters of Application (Cover Letters)
Guidelines:
2. Make the letter look attractive.
- Wide margins.
- Short paragraphs(max. 4 – 5 sentences).
- Single-space paragraphs.
- Double space BETWEEN paragraphs.
Letters of Application (Cover Letters)
Guidelines:
3. Send your letter to a specific person.
- Avoid “To Whom it May Concern,” “Dear Sir or Madam,”
“Dear HR Director,”
- Get an individual’s name (check company website, call
the company).
- Make sure the recipient’s name is complete and spelled
correctly!!!!!!!!!
Letters of Application (Cover Letters)
Guidelines:
4. Emphasize YOU.
- Imagine if you were the employer; what would you want
to see in a LoA?
Do not boast too strongly, though.
“I am the most efficient and effective safety engineer.”
“I will sell the most units.”
“I am the best writer I know.”
“I was the best student in my school.”
“I am the KING of accounting.”
“I am AWESOME!”
Boasting - examples
“I am unequivocally the most unflaggingly hard worker I
know.”
“I left Villanova because the work was too easy. Once I
realized I could achieve a perfect GPA while holding a parttime job at NYU, I decided to redouble my effort by placing
out of two classes, taking two honors classes, and holding
two part-time jobs.”
“That semester I achieved a 3.93, and in the same time I
managed to bench press double my bodyweight and do 35
pull-ups.”
Letters of Application (Cover Letters)
Guidelines:
4. Emphasize YOU.
- Convince the prospective employer that you will be a
valuable addition to their organization:
- Your accomplishments.
- Your professional manner.
Letters of Application (Cover Letters)
Guidelines:
5. Close with a polite salutation.
Letters of Application (Cover Letters)
Guidelines:
6. Don’t send your first draft.
- Write, re-write, re-write, re-write.
- Make sure to revise and edit carefully.
- The average employer spends < 10 seconds looking at
LoAs.
One mistake…and you can guess what happens.
Parts of a LoA
Letter Head (name and contact info).
Date
Recipient’s information
Salutation
Opening paragraph.
Body.
- education
- experience
Closing.
Relate these to the position applied for.
LoA: Opening paragraph
This is your introduction and should indicate:
- Why you are writing.
- Where you found out about the position or company.
- What is your most important qualification for the position.
LoA: Opening paragraph
Do not begin with a question:
“Are you looking for a dynamic, young, and talented
accountant?”
Be more professional:
Special case: KAC
Surprisingly, KAC is not a well-known school (YET!).
Thus, it would be beneficial for you to include a brief
description of this school
i.e.,
I am currently studying for a bachelor degree in
international business from Keimyung Adams College, a
4-year honors degree college where all coursework is
conducted in English, with faculty from all over the world.
LoA: Opening paragraph
- In this example, the writer mentions the person through
whom he heard about the job (personal connection)
- Do this when possible.
LoA: Body
This provides evidence from your résumé to prove you are
qualified.
- Keep sentences short and readable.
- Don’t begin every sentence with “I”.
I have good management skills. I gained relevant
experience through my recent internship. I learned from
prominent professionals. I was involved in many decision
making processes.
LoA: Body
I have good management skills. I gained relevant
experience through my recent internship. I learned from
prominent professionals. I was involved in many decision
making processes.
 Revised
My management classes taught me about effective
management skills. In addition, I gained 100 hours of
management experience through my recent internship at
Nike Korea. This internship provided me with an
opportunity to learn from prominent professions and I was
involved in many decision making processes.
LoA: Body
This provides evidence from your résumé to prove you are
qualified.
- Highlight your qualifications by citing specific
accomplishments.
- Mention that you are enclosing your résumé.
LoA: Body
Highlight your qualifications by citing specific
accomplishments:
- Tell the reader exactly how your schoolwork and
experience qualify you to perform and excel at the job.
- Show how you can make a positive contribution to the
organization.
LoA: Body
Highlight your qualifications by citing specific accomplishments:
- Don’t simply say “I’m a great salesperson.”
Instead:
- Demonstrate your accomplishments by stressing that you
increased sales volume in your department by 15 percent
within the last six months.
- You won an award for customer service.
- You reduced costs by 15 percent.
LoA: Body
Highlight your qualifications by citing specific
accomplishments:
- “I did a great job in my communication skills class..”
Instead:
- I received exemplary grades in my communication skills
classes, particularly on presentation and public speaking
projects. These are skills I am ready to put to use for
COMPANY X.
Body
Discussing education:
Emphasize marketing WHY and HOW your most
significant educational accomplishments
- course work, degrees, certificates, training, etc.are relevant for the job.
Body
Discussing education:
Poor example:
I will graduate with a degree in IT.
Body
Discussing education:
Better example:
- Talk about 36 credit hours in software security.
 In my current studies, I completed 36 credit hours in software
security.
- 12 credit hours in global business.
 I also took 12 credit hours in global business courses, which
provided me with skills to apply my software security knowledge
in a business context.
Show exactly how you are qualified!
Body
Demonstrate that your education, experience, skills, etc.
are RELEVANT to the job.
i.e.,
If the position requires strong communication skills, you
could emphasize the communications classes you have
taken (i.e., Comm. Skills, Comm. English 3); you could also
emphasize the strong group-project focus of KAC
education.
Body
Mention you are enclosing a résumé.
You will also write:
Enclosure: Résumé at the end of the document, as well.
Body
- talks about relevant education and
applies it directly to the employer’s business.
Body
Talks about relevant work experience.
Uses words like:
- responsible for…
- creating
- designing
- executing
Also mentions his enclosed résumé.
Closing
This provides a conclusion and should emphasize once
again your qualifications, ask for an interview or phone call,
and indicate when you are available for an interview.
Closing
Keep it short (2 – 3 sentences).
Perform the following functions:
1. Emphasizes briefly once again your major qualifications.
2. Asks for interview or phone call.
3. Indicates when you are available for interview.
4. Thanks the reader.
Closing
- Mentions qualifications.
- Asks for an interview.
- Indicates availability.
- Thanks employer.
Closing
End gracefully.
Avoid:
“I want an interview.”
“I expect to hear from you.”
“Please give me an interview.”
“I would like an interview at your convenience.”
Poor closings
I would like to set up an interview with you. Please call me
to arrange a convenient time.
 Too pushy. The employer will decide on these things.
Better:
i.e., I am available for an interview at your convenience.
I am available for an interview any day after 3:00 p.m.
Poor closings
I don’t live far from your office. Let’s meet for coffee
sometime next week.
 Too informal. Instead, state that, since you live nearby,
you will be available for an interview.
Better:
I live nearby the Corporation X office and am available for
an interview at your convenience.
Poor closings
I would like to discuss other qualifications you have in mind
for the job.
 Introduces a new subject. How do you know what the
interviewer might have in mind?
Closing
Safe closing lines:
- “Thank you for your consideration.”
- “Thank you for considering my application.”
Do not, ever, ever, ever, under any circumstances, say:
- “Thank you for reading ”
Closing
End with a closing salutation
Before you send it
CHECK IT AGAIN!
Real-life cover letter samples
Opening:
“I promise to keep this short ant to the point. I’m looking for
a job, within the fields of advertising and or marketing. As I
searched online I stumbled upon your company and thought
that I’d drop you a line to see if you had any openings. I
have a string background in video production… ”
Real-life cover letter samples
Describing yourself:
“The colors red, blue, and lavender are those that I identify
with the most. I feel they accurately describe my
personality. I choose red because I turn red when I get
embarrassed ….”
Real-life cover letter samples
Emphasizing Skills:
“[My] proven record of successful brand building …
demonstrate[s] my ability to perform in a fast paced environment.
Originally from Vietnam, I also offer expertise in the following
areas:
- Asian cuisine: I deliver Nem, in-box or out-of-the-box,
- Traditional massage: I satisfy Client above their expectation,
- Karaoke singing: but also a lot of listening, listening and
listening to Client.
Would you like to taste any of those, please feel free to contact
me on my email address mentioned above.”
Real-life cover letter samples
Emphasizing Skills:
“I also have a degree English which serves me well in
editing text for poor grammer or typos.”
Real-life cover letter samples
Really gets to the point:
"Here's my resume. Call me. 555-8503."
Decide
KAC graduate
Position she is applying to (including company/organization)
What qualifications (education & experience) she has.
 be realistic.
Assignment 3 – A few notes
1. Remember to single-space paragraphs (and
sender/recipient information)
Harvey Jones
Manager
Too much spacing
The Excellent New Corp.
Apple Grove, RI
1-902-638-3277 harvey.jones@exnc.com
Assignment 3 – A few notes
1. Remember to single-space paragraphs (and
sender/recipient information)
Harvey Jones
Single-spaced
Manager
The Excellent New Corp.
Apple Grove, RI
1-902-638-3277 harvey.jones@exnc.com
Assignment 3 – A few notes
The salutation should end with a colon :
Dear Mr. Floppywick:
Dear Ms. Weaver:
- If you absolutely cannot find the person to address your
application to, use:
Dear Hiring Manager:
Dear Sir or Madam:
References Information
References
Name:
Position:
Company Name:
City & Province:
Contact: (phone number and/or e-mail address).
References Information - Example
References
Dr. Tim Meadows
Professor
Jones Central University
Anytown, South Korea
82-53-9874-8503 tmeadows@jcu.ac.kr
Harvey Jones
Manager
The Excellent New Corp.
Apple Grove, RI
1-902-638-3277 harvey.jones@exnc.com
References Information
For Assignment 3:
- Attach 2 references (whether they are real people, or not)
as a final page of your application.
Reminders
Cover letter draft: Tomorrow (11:59 pm)