Cover Letters: Chapter 15 Part II

Cover letters: Chapter 15 part II

1. A job-application letter should expand on all the information contained in your résumé. True or false?

2. What are the four elements of the body of a job-application letter?

3. Read the following excerpt from an application letter for a position as a Health Club Manager and Physical Director. Then select the statement below that analyzes the excerpt INCORRECTLY.

Of the 130 hours of course work I have taken for my B.S. in Physical Education and Recreation in 1991 from the University of Southcentral Washington, the courses that should be of particular interest to you are Recreational Management, Supervisory Weight Training, Business Management, and Sports Fitness Education. My certifications include Weight Training and CPR.

As part of my present responsibilities at Rolling Hills Country Club, for whom I have worked since 1995, I seek prospective members through either direct contact with individuals and groups or over-the-phone solicitations. My business experience there consists of membership sales, budget allocation, and purchase of new equipment. My college internship consisted of working in the City Parks and Recreation Department.

My present job has provided me with management skills. I have supervised employees, established procedures, and assured efficient operation of the center. I have also sponsored many events at the Country Club.

Since I am confident that my experiences match your needs, I would like an interview with you. I am conscientious, reliable, and hard-working. I will be very interested in speaking with you as soon as possible. Please call me at the number on the enclosed résumé.

a. Because the letter targets the job well, it represents the job applicant effectively. b. The excerpt mentions many experiences of likely interest to the prospective employer, but the writer needs to explain more fully a few of the most valuable experiences and move the rest to the résumé. c. The listing of courses should be moved to the résumé. d. Because the writer has considerable relevant work experience, the content of the letter should be reordered so that this work experience precedes the education paragraph.

4. In groups, examine the resume and/or cover letter you’ve been assigned. Follow instructions from there! Cover Letter Revision

Here’s what we’ve got going on for the rest of today:

1. In groups, discuss major items that you would like to change in the cover letter you’ve been assigned. Jot down notes for yourself as to what you should change and why, referring to our text. You should also go to the following page for a down-to-earth discussion of cover letters:

http://www.squawkfox.com/2009/10/12/6-things-that-make-your-cover-letter-suck/

2. Then go to a computer and open up a blank document (you can use a letter template if you wish; play around with changing elements!). Write me a formal letter describing the items you tried to change and why. Follow all the elements of a business letter from chapter 14.

If you know something needs to be revised but you couldn’t figure out how to do it, just make a note of that [ex. “We felt paragraph 2 needed a better topic sentence, but needed more time in thinking about how to rewrite it”]

3. Put these in the drop box called Cover Letters by 1:20 or so (your target time—but I’m flexible)