2. Plan
What is cover letter? Why cover letter?
How a cover letter should look?
What should be in a cover letter?
Cover letter checklist
FUN and LEARNING
3. What is Cover Letter?
A document that accompanies your
resume when applying for jobs/internships
Why Cover Letter?
To personalize your resume;
Highlight specific information about you
and the Company that make two of you a
perfect fit
4. Prepare for Writing:
Gather facts on yourself, company job
Read an advertisement; highlight main
requirements and duties
Make a list of your achievements,
experiences and coursework that
correspond to the job description
Do formal research on the company
Do informal research on the position
6. How should a Cover Letter look?
Keep your letter to one side of A4
Use clear, readable and professional font
Aim for no more than 4-5 paragraphs, keep
sentences short
Make sure you your letter has good
margins; put 2 spaces between paragraphs
to make a letter look neat
Use “Madam/Sir” or “Internship
Coordinator” or similar of no names are
provided
7. What should be in a cover letter?
MAIN RULES:
Keep it brief, get across important points
Make it confident, positive and enthusiastic
Avoid repetition of information stated in your
resume (rather supplement it)
Address it to the person, not organization
Refer reader to CV where relevant
Ensure you include all contact information
Have people you trust proofread it
DOUBLECHECK for misspellings and typos
8. What should be in a cover letter?
Paragraph 1
2-3 sentences in length
State what position you are applying for,
where you learned about it
Mention any personal contacts with the
company
Create interest by stating in one sentence
why you think you will do a good match
for the position
10. What should be in a cover letter?
Paragraph 2-3
3-5 sentences in length
Emphasize a match between the skills and
expertise you possess and Employer’s
requirements
Present your achievements (both academic
and professional) that relate to the position
you are applying for
12. What should be in a cover letter?
Paragraph 4
Thank for the time and
consideration
State your availability dates
Provide information on how to
contact you to receive additional
information
14. How to make your Cover Letter
Stronger?
Giver preference to active rather than
passive voice (“I presented industry
analysis” rather than “case analysis was
presented by me”)
Prefer verbs to adjectives
Provide evidence/examples for your
statements
Don’t begin every sentence with I
15. Cover letter checklist
Done your research on the company
Addressed your covering letter to the right person
Used an easy-to-read font
Stated what the job is and where you saw it
advertised
Made it clear why you want to work for them and
why your skills match the job
Reflected the job advertisement's tone
Made yourself sound positive and enthusiastic
Kept it clear and brief, with good presentation
Checked and double-checked for errors
Read the job advertisement carefully Research the corporate website Call "insiders" (people that work with the company) Refer to your university's career center if you are at college
Read internship description, highlight main points, make list of your qualifications Info on job, company, Then find relevant qualifications Then describe experiences that comfirms that skills/where you got it
“ I don’t have time, thus I write a lot” Don’t say: “I think” “I guess” “maybe”, you should sounds abssolutely confident in your expertise and desire to work for the organization
“ I don’t have time, thus I write a lot” Don’t say: “I think” “I guess” “maybe”, you should sounds abssolutely confident in your expertise and desire to work for the organization
Read internship description, highlight main points, make list of your qualifications Info on job, company, Then find relevant qualifications Then describe experiences that comfirms that skills/where you got it
Read internship description, highlight main points, make list of your qualifications Info on job, company, Then find relevant qualifications Then describe experiences that comfirms that skills/where you got it
Read internship description, highlight main points, make list of your qualifications Info on job, company, Then find relevant qualifications Then describe experiences that comfirms that skills/where you got it