COMM 202 T30/32 Cover Letters

KATYA SEN T30/T32 WEEK 7 FEB 27TH

WELCOME TO COMM 202! WEEK 7 NAMETAGS OUT AND LAPTOPS AWAY!

TODAY IS ALL ABOUT COVER LETTERS!

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WHY WRITE A COVER LETTER?

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WHY WRITE A COVER LETTER? Show your intentions Demonstrate written skills Elaborate on your skills matrix Apply findings from your research

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CAN-WANT-FIT

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CAN CAN YOU DO

THE JOB?

FIT DO YOU FIT THE

CULTURE?

WANT DO YOU WANT

THE JOB?

DIFFERENCE FROM RESUMES? Your resume is about you, while your cover letter is about THEM!

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THE 5 ELEMENTS OF A COVER LETTER

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OVERVIEW

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OPENING

SKILL-MATCHING

CLOSING BRA

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THE OPENING

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WHAT NOT TO DO: “Dear _______, My name is _______ and I am applying to _____________.”

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YOUR OPENING SHOULD... Be unique Be employer-centric Prove genuine interest Leave the reader curious Tell them something they don’t know Show relevant research

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TO START OFF, YOU NEED A HOOK!

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“Eco-effectiveness sees commerce as the engine of

change.” In the book Cradle to Cradle, Michael

Braungart and William McDonough emphasize that the

interests of commerce and the environment are not

inherently in conflict. In fact, it states that commerce is

necessary in order to achieve a sustainable future.

Reeve Consulting is devoted to helping clients refine their

approach to environmental issues in such a way that will

enhance their brand and profitability. Your company

embodies the eco-effective approach, where

commerce and sustainability work hand-in-hand.

- Celia Beketa 14

EXAMPLE OF A GREAT HOOK

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HOW ELSE CAN YOU START YOUR LETTER?

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HOW ELSE CAN YOU START YOUR LETTER? Research Ask a question Align your values to theirs Tell a UNIQUE story Appeal to emotions Name drop (if applicable)

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SOME MORE EXAMPLES Growing up attending school with students from over 60

nationalities, I have always valued the learning

opportunities that come from working with a diverse

team of people. This is exactly what KPMG offers

through its “One Firm” culture and its commitment to

working together to solve complex business problems.

- Katya Sen

How fast can you change four tires? One hour? Ten

minutes? A few years ago I witnessed a Formula One

team do it in 2.7 seconds. They said a perfect run would

be just one second. In everything that I do I strive to

reach that one second – that perfect test score, that

perfect presentation, that perfect career. After speaking

with Jake Woodson, a recent hire, Dion Chen, and

other industry professionals, I know that my personality

and passion lies in sales and trading. Through my

unique athletic background and passion, I will provide

competitiveness and drive that will set a benchmark for

future interns. I cannot wait to sit on a trading floor,

execute trades, and engage in research while receiving

mentorship from the most world-renowned investment

bank. A career with Goldman Sachs is my one second

and this is how I will help Goldman reach its own one

second ideal:

- Andrew Darcovich 18

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SHOW ME YOUR HOOK! Break into groups based on your job posting – which industry is it in? Choose a company of your choice and write a hook for your application Take 10 minutes and we’ll share at the end

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IN CASE YOU’RE LOOKING FOR IDEAS...

SKILLS-MATCHING

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SKILLS MATCHING (AKA the body of your cover letter) Required skills or attributes 2-3 stories Other qualifications

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WHERE DO I FIND THIS INFORMATION? Find required skills, attributes, and qualifications from your job posting. Get the 2-3 stories that match these needs from your skills matrix. Each line proves that you have the necessary skills to be successful on the job!

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HOW DO I SHARE THIS INFORMATION?

Remember STARL? Be sure to tell a good story by using these elements.

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MOST IMPORTANTLY...

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ALWAYS remember to link it back to the company/job! Especially if your story doesn’t make it clear how it relates back to you’re the company/job.

THE CLOSING

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THE CLOSING – WHAT NOT TO DO... “Thank you for looking at my application. I hope that I have shown you that my interpersonal skills, my leadership skills, and my ability to perform on a team make me a fit for ______. Thank you very much and I hope to hear from you soon.”

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THE CLOSING Reiterate your interest Restate your skills using different wording Thank them Provide a call to action Tie a bow on your letter

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THE CLOSING I am excited to bring my passion for strategy and my skills

in communication, analysis, and problem solving to a role

in management consulting at KPMG. I look forward to the

opportunity to further discuss my qualifications for this

position. Thank you very much for your time and

consideration.

- Katya Sen

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ADDRESS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM E.g. Bad grades, relocation, etc.

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BRANDING AND INTEGRATION

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BRANDING Branding happens THROUGHOUT your cover letter. It includes – Alignment with the company Research Word choice Tone Consistency Design

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Branding

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Main products or services company offers? Where is their location? Who are their main customers? Key competitors? Annual profit and revenue?

What are the company values? What is their mission statement?

Do you know anyone at the company? What is the relationship? Who are their key/local executives? Who are the recruiters? Do they have a social media presence?

How would you describe the organizational culture? What do you think the work environment will be like? WILL YOU LIKE IT? IS IT AN ENVIRONMENT YOU WILL THRIVE IN?

CONTACT ANYONE TO LEARN MORE? WHO ARE YOU ADDRESSING?

DO THEIR VALUES AND MISSION ALIGN WITH AND MOTIVATE YOU?

DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE BUSINESS? WHAT INTERESTS YOU?

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INTEGRATION Your cover letter and resume should flow as one document. Make sure you have the correct formatting!

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FORMAT OF A BUSINESS LETTER Your cover letter and resume should flow as one document. Make sure you have the correct formatting!

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Date

Contact Name (if known)

Their Title

Company Name

Address 1

Address 2 (if extra space needed)

City, Province, Postal Code

Re: Position Title and Reference Number (if applicable)

Dear Mr./Ms. _____ or Hiring Manager or Hiring Committee (choose one),

[Opening Paragraph]

FORMAT OF A BUSINESS LETTER

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Sincerely,

Katya Sen

BCom Candidate 2016

Sauder School of Business

Attached: Resume

IN SUMMARY...

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OPENING

SKILL-MATCHING

CLOSING BRA

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TAKEAWAYS

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Show your can-want-fit So what? Tailor to the audience Pay attention to detail

FEEDBACK TIME – START, STOP, AND CONTINUE

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START, STOP, CONTINUE

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On a piece of paper: Start Stop Continue How well do I engage the class? (__ /5) Any other comments?

ACTION ITEMS SKILLS MATRIX DUE 2:00PM TODAY!! If you’re having technical problems, email me before 1:55pm. No excuses for late submissions this time! Resume e-module and quiz before tutorial next week Get started on your cover letter

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SEE YOU NEXT WEEK IN TUTORIAL!

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