Salutation. Purpose. Referral. Interest. Relevant skills. Experience/ Achievements. Reference to résumé. Action plan. Express appreciation.

Transcription

1 Cover Letter Guide U NDERGRADUATE P ROFESSIONAL D EVELOPMENT Your Present Address City/State/Zip Phone Number Date of Letter Salutation Purpose Individual s Name Title Employer Street Address City/State/Zip Salutation: First Paragraph. Indicate the reason for writing, the specific position or type of work for which you are applying, and how you learned of the opening. You may also include a sentence that indicates why you are interested in this position and the organization. Second Paragraph. Point out one or two key skills that you possess that correspond well to the job you are applying for, and give 1-2 specific examples of an achievement that demonstrates that you have those skills. Avoid repeating the exact information the reader will find in the resume, but refer them to the resume for additional detail. Third Paragraph. Indicate your desire for an interview. For example, say you will call within 5-7 business days to set up a mutually convenient meeting time or phone appointment. Finally, be sure to thank the reader for his/her time and consideration. Referral Interest Relevant skills Experience/ Achievements Reference to résumé Action plan Your signature Your typed name Express appreciation Closing

2 397 East Shoe Street Sample Marketing New York, NY March 4, 2013 Ms. Vibha Malhotra Saatchi & Saatchi 375 Hudson Street New York, NY One-inch margins on all four sides are standard Dear Ms. Malhotra: I am writing to apply for the 2013 Saatchi & Saatchi X Summer Internship. I am currently a junior Marketing major with a Psychology minor at The College of William and Mary. The Mason School of Business Undergraduate Program referred me to this position, and this position aligns well with my post-graduation career goals. I am interested in all aspects of shopper marketing from consumer behavioral research to category management, packaging, promotions, and working with retailers. Being a member of the varsity volleyball team has instilled in me a passion for teamwork and camaraderie. My experience as a leader through athletics has allowed me to attain the skills needed to work strongly in a group setting, and Iʼd like to contribute these skills to Saatchi & Saatchiʼs work environment. In addition to my athletics, I was selected as one of two undergraduate students out of approximately 450 at the Mason School of Business to attend the Undergraduate Business School Leadership Conference in February of this year. As an avid member of Net Impact, I have had the opportunity to be closely involved with the Do One Thing (DOT) campaign. Sustainability is one of my personal passions and this internship would allow me to pursue that passion even further. My experience with marketing the DOT campaign to other colleges through outlets, such as the Corporate & College Collaborative for Sustainability and the Undergraduate Business School Leadership Conference, has allowed me to learn the basics of marketing the same idea to different audiences. Purpose, referral, interest Related achievement Personalization to the job The Mason School of Business has given me a solid foundation of marketing skills integrated with sustainability. The internship with Saatchi & Saatchi will not only intensify my skills, but also grant me new and exciting opportunities. Thank you for reviewing my application. I hope to further discuss this opportunity in the near future. If you should need additional information, please donʼt hesitate to contact me at liana.patel@gmail.com or Liana Patel Space for your signature, if sending hard copy.

3 328 Redwood Drive Sample Marketing Los Angeles, CA February 3, 2012 Recruiting Manager Unilever 940 Sylvan Avenue Englewood Cliffs, NJ Dear Recruiting Manager: Use Recruiting Manager for an unknown contact I am writing to express my deep interest in the Marketing Assistant position with Unilever at the Englewood Cliffs, NJ office. I believe that my education, employment background with a competitive CPG company, and various leadership roles make me a great candidate for this position. I have accumulated a wealth of valuable professional experiences through my position as a Customer Development intern with Colgate- Palmolive Co. I worked on several analytical projects for the Value Discount Channel Sales Team, and my projects helped me develop my research, analytical, and presentation skills along with teaching me key insights into the sales field. This internship developed my ability to effectively prioritize tasks and communicate with managers and team members, along with increasing my passion in a future career with a top CPG company like Unilever. I am also very passionate about and dedicated to a host of extracurricular activities on campus. This year, I was elected by my chapter to be the Director of Recruitment for my sorority, where I worked closely with the President and VP of Recruitment. As well, as the Tour Manager for William and Mary s a cappella group, The Intonations, I have been planning our very first fall tour by creating a detailed schedule and budget for the performers. I have admired this Unilever ever since we analyzed its business in a marketing class I took last year. The company's mission and sustainability efforts align with my morals, and Unilever has one of the best brand images in the CPG industry. Reason for applying Evidence of skills Full block letter format: keep all paragraphs flush with left margin Although the accompanying résumé highlights some key points, I would love the opportunity to interview with you so that I may further discuss my passions, skills, and desire to work for your company. Thank you for your time and consideration and I look forward to hearing from you soon. Desire for interview Bianca Alpino

4 219 Greenfield Crescent Sample Accounting Suffolk, VA March 19, 2013 Ms. Joanne Rodriguez Regional College Recruiter Human Resources Department One GEICO Landing Virginia Beach, VA Cover letters should be between 3 and 5 paragraphs; always one page Dear Ms. Rodriguez: I am applying for GEICO s summer internship program in Virginia Beach, which was advertised on the College of William and Mary s recruiting website. My passion and experience surrounding statistical input and financial reporting has inspired me to pursue this internship, and I am a solid candidate for the position. Industry terminology I am currently a junior at the College of William and Mary, majoring in Accounting and minoring in Mathematics. My studies have included courses in computer science, accounting, marketing, finance, and I have been Microsoft Office PowerPoint and Word certified as well as completing a course in Excel. I have developed the skills to work in a team as well as independently in my course work and in my recent internship with the College of William and Mary s Human Resource Department. There, I worked within the training and development division of human resources, primarily around ways to further engage employees in training presentations. I also possess a high level of dependability as my work ethic indicates holding various part-time positions for the last several years while maintaining a high GPA. Qualifications specific for position I am confident that I can perform the job duties effectively. I have experience working with groups and independently on projects. I also enjoy offering ways to enhance efficiency and streamline business processes. I am excited to work with a multi-billion dollar corporation, and I look forward to the contributions I can make as well as the skills this internship will offer me. If you would like to schedule an interview or otherwise discuss my interest in this position, please contact me at or rcovington@gmail.com. I will be available at your convenience. Phone/ appear only once Thank you for your consideration. Express appreciation Ronald Covington

5 73 Birch Street Sample Finance Williamsburg, VA (Cell) January 21, 2013 Mr. George Gray Assistant Vice President Asset Management Division Goldman Sachs 120 Spring Street Rochester, NY Dear Mr. Gray: Perfect formatting for all contact information I am very excited about applying for the summer analyst internship program with Goldman Sachs that was advertised in William and Mary s annual From DoG Street to Wall Street panel. Ethan Hofmann recommended that I apply for the internship since the qualifications directly match my educational experience, interest, and skills. I am currently a junior at the College of William and Mary, majoring in finance with a concentration in accounting and a minor in Chinese Language and Literature. Throughout my college career I have excelled in all of my finance courses, become Vice President of the Finance Academy, and my professors have recommended that I serve as a tutor for students requiring assistance with class assignments. My courses have provided me with a strong background in the methodologies required for successfully analyzing and synthesizing important financial information and in preparing documentation to assist management when making critical business decisions. I am a quick learner and enjoy the challenges of doing comparative, quantitative, and cash-flow analysis in addition to asset management and financial modeling. I believe my strengths in these areas would serve me well as an intern in Goldman Sach s summer program. In addition to my relevant coursework, my internship with Deutsche Bank provided me with a great opportunity to use my knowledge and skills and apply them to the real world. I very much enjoyed assisting customers with their financial decision-making and I found that my excellent interpersonal skills served me well when dealing with challenging clients. I am especially excited about the summer program that Goldman Sachs offers; this opportunity would provide me with additional knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the field. Referral Key industry skills Relevant experience Thank you for your time and interest, and I look forward to hearing from you. Patricia Williams Be sure to use an easy-to read font: Arial, Times New Roman, Helvetica

6 743 North Street Sample Consulting Williamsburg, VA May 1, 2012 Mr. John Smith Navigant Consulting 257 Park Avenue South New York, NY Dear Mr. Smith: Your phone/ go here if not listed in last paragraph I am a senior at the College of William and Mary, majoring in Process Management & Consulting, and I am extremely interested in a position with Navigant Consulting upon graduation. With my education and experience, I am confident I will be a valuable asset to your team. Through my honors research project, I have been involved with extensive research, data management, investigative skills, analysis, and team collaboration; providing me with a foundation similar to that of typical consulting environments. In addition, my concentration in Accounting has increased my interest, as well as my financial acumen and tolerance for data overload. Navigant Consulting appeals to me for a number of reasons. I have participated in William and Mary s annual Navigant Case Competition, winning 1 st place along with $2,000 prize money. I am extremely interested in the wide variety of industries that Navigant Consulting is involved with such as healthcare and energy. I am also drawn to the global reach of the firm, as it would empower my unique talents and provide a robust network of resources. I have enclosed my résumé for your review. I very much appreciate your time and consideration, and I hope to hear from your team in the near future. Qualifications that match the position Accomplishment Reference to enclosed résumé Nathan Allmann