KEY TERMS FOR THIS WEEK-  Test Friday May 22nd

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HOW TO WRITE A COVER LETTER

***Daily Assignment****

1) Watch this Video on Cover Letter Writing

2) Read the information below

3) Write a cover letter in Word.

            The job you will apply for is a production assistant at WBRE-TV. A Production assistant- assists producers and director during actual production of the newscasts. Run the studio cameras for the newscast, floor manager for the newscasts, edits video for the newscast.

             Send your cover letter to the News Director Mr. Bob Bee at 62 South Franklin Street Wilkes-Barre, Pa 18642. You found out about the job by your A-V Comm. teacher at WBACTC Mr. Phil Schoener.

Cover Letter Content

Contact Information

Your Name
Address
City, ST Zip Code

Date

Name
(Remember to address the cover letter to a person. If you do not have a name, call the department or human resources to find out to whom your letter should be addressed. As a last resort, address your letter to the personnel manager, hiring manager, or recruiting representative)

Name (Mr./Ms. First Name Last Name)
Title
Company/Organization
Address
City, ST Zip Code

Salutation

Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name:

Opening Paragraph

This section should include:

• Your intent in writing the letter
• The position for which you are applying and how you learned about it
  • if you are not aware of a specific position, state your area of interest
• A brief introduction of yourself, your major, and your anticipated degree
• A reference to the individual who recommended that you contact the organization or other factors that prompted you to apply
• Why you are interested in the organization and anything you know about their product or service

• Second Paragraph

  This section should highlight:

  • Your qualifications
  • Aspects of your background that would be of greatest interest to the organization
    • focus on skills, activities, accomplishments, and past experience you can contribute to the organization and its work
    • use action verbs that describe relevant skills and expertise you can contribute
  • The “fit” between the employer’s hiring needs and your interests, experience, and skills
  • Why you want to work for the organization and what you would enjoy doing for them
  • Your knowledge of the organization and industry/field
    • mention specific knowledge you may have such as computer applications, foreign languages, lab techniques, writing and editing capabilities

  Third Paragraph

  Finish the letter by:

  • Stating that you would like to discuss employment opportunities or other information with the individual and that you will call or email to follow up on your letter
    • this demonstrates your initiative and follow-through and will help you maintain control of your efforts

  Other points that can be made in the last paragraph:

  • Expression of your willingness to provide additional information
  • Stating a specific time when you will follow up by phone or e-mail
  • Letting the employer know if and when you are going to visit their area
  • Thanking the person receiving your letter for their time and consideration

  • Cover Letters Online

    • These letters are about half the length of a regular cover letter, be succinct
    • Mention how you found out about the position, what you are looking for, and what you have to offer
    • Mention a few key words the organization might want to hear
    • Compose your letter off-line first before pasting it into an outgoing e-mail message or sending it as an attachment

    Cover Letter Dos and Don’ts

    Dos

    • Do compile your thoughts in advance of composing the letter
      • your ideas may not come out logically or sequentially, but write them down
    • Do ask for opinions, advice, and feedback from friends, a career counselor, or someone in the profession
    • Do spend time on your letter and concentrate on composing a well-worded and concise letter
      • as the adage goes, “With part-time effort, you get part-time results”
    • Do write a draft, let it cool off overnight, and then rewrite if necessary
    • Do limit your letter to one page
    • Do take the opportunity to say something about yourself, while also focusing on the needs of the employer
    • Do write the way you talk
    • Do personalize each letter to fit the specific circumstances, position, or organization
    • Do use a strong close, e.g. “After you have had an opportunity to review this letter and the attached resume, I will call you…”
    • Do remember to sign the letter and include your telephone number and e-mail address
    • Do meticulously check spelling and grammar
    • Do use letter-quality printer paper or high quality bond paper if submitting a hard copy
      • white, off-white, or ivory
    • Do follow-up
      • you’ll improve your odds of moving along in the process if you follow up your letters with a phone call
    • Do devise a system to keep track of the follow-up steps you will take and the responses you receive
      • many students have found that binders or file folders for organizing the job search and its correspondence are essential
      • Don’ts
        Don’t use a weak ending such as “I look forward to your reply” or “Please call me at your earliest convenience”
        Don’t use the pronoun “I” to start every sentence
        Don’t clutter your letter with fancy fonts or elaborate formatting
        business letters should look conservative and professional
        Don’t mark letters “personal and confidential” unless there is a solid reason why a secretary or an administrative assistant can’t open them