Self-Scheduled PDP Point Opportunities Cover Letter (10 PDP Points)

Students can earn 10 PDP points by scheduling and working through the steps below with a Business Career Services (BCS) Career Specialist. Making an appointment in advance and completing work in preparation for that appointment is required. Students do not need to be BCS members in order to complete this workshop for PDP points.

Special attention needs to be paid to blackout dates for scheduling with BCS, and to cutoff dates for when points will count toward a specific semester. Submissions after the deadline will have points awarded to count toward the following semester.

Follow each of these four (4) steps in order to earn 10 PDP points for the self-scheduled “Cover Letter” workshop:

1. Review the presentation and notes on the topic of “Cover Letter” that follow these instructions. You must review this presentation prior to your appointment with BCS in order to earn PDP points.

Be sure you click “Comments” in order to see Presenter Notes!

2. Schedule a 30-minute appointment with a BCS Career Specialist, according to the first letter of your last name.

A-F Jennifer Davis N-S Setty Huaman Send an email to Jennifer Davis Send an email to Setty Huaman

G-M Lindsay Reedy T-Z Avy Kea Send email to Lindsay Reedy Send an email to Avy Kea

3. You must bring a copy of your cover letter and a job description to your appointment with the Career Specialist.

4. After your appointment you will have five business days to return your corrected

cover letter in order to receive 10 PDP points.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

BCS is unable to take appointments during certain blackout dates that include

career fair dates, BCS special event dates, and for three weeks at the end of Fall

and Spring semesters starting on reading day and ending two weeks after the

official close of semester.

Appointments are subject to the availability of Career Specialists, so you are

encouraged to schedule early.

Submission deadlines for Fall Semester 2016:

Appointment participation by Thursday, December 8, 2016 at 5 p.m. AND return

corrected cover letter by Friday, December 16, 2016 at 5 p.m. in order to count

PDP points for Fall Semester 2016.

Professional Development Program126 Cornell Hall

Business Career Services104 Cornell Hall

Accentuate your resume and application with a composed voice of persuasion

To add a “voice” to your resume/application

To highlight your best (most applicable) experiences As it relates to the job! As to what you’d like to be considered most on.

To stand out!

It’s about you It’s to accentuate your resume

Form: Intro—I’m applying for this job… Body/Skills—what makes you qualified/what

makes me interested… Closing—I look forward to your response…

Format: (One Page Only) Top: senders contact information; date;

addressee’s contact information Letter: typically includes an

intention/introduction, description of skills/experiences, and closing remark Signature: formal salutation, then full name Optional: Enclosure: Resume, (3) References

Timothy S. McIntosh 104 Cornell Hall

Columbia, MO 65211 (M) 573.882.9408

mcintoshts@missouri.edu

October 28th, 2008 Mr. H. Honcho Hiring Manager Johnson Pharmaceuticals 111 Johnson Way Chicago, Il 60625 Dear Mr. Honcho; Dependability, Leadership, Self-development, and Integrity. Throughout my four years of study here at the University of Missouri, these traits have been the backbone of my contributions and achievements here in Columbia, Missouri. Whether it be through my campus involvement in the Cornell Leadership Program, my cabinet duties in Student Government, or my extracurricular interests in Intramural Athletics; I have constantly displayed these qualities in my actions, and my behavior. I seek an opportunity as a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative for Johnson Pharmaceuticals where I can put my proven reliability and results-oriented drive to work for you and Johnson’s valued customers. As a member of the Cornell Leadership Program, I was identified early on by the Trulaske Business School’s top individuals that I held the qualities to be a student leader in and out of the classroom. I was tasked with many responsibilities in providing a student voice for student-related matters, and represented the College of Business in dealings with the College’s most esteemed corporate Partners such as ABC Corp. and XYZ Inc. I carried that central voice over to my involvement as the Student Council Vice President for the Class of 2008. I feel my leadership and participation in these student body organizations display my ability to receive the trust of my peers, the faculty and staff, and the College of Business’ most valued partners and customers. I feel that I can bring a very strong work ethic, a creative and unique contribution, and most importantly, a constant, dependable force to your Sales Teams that cannot be overlooked. I’m confident I’d be able to continue my self-development through your organization, as a leading contributor to the business practices and profitable operation of Johnson Pharmaceuticals. I feel I could contribute immediately, and have a track record of being quite capable in situations where quick learning and task management are needed. I welcome an opportunity to speak with you in a formal interview, and thank you for your time and consideration of my application. Attached you will find my resume that demonstrates what I have conveyed in this letter. I look forward to your response. Sincerely, Timothy S. McIntosh Timothy S. McIntosh

Why you are writing and why you are interested in the organization and the position. This is a chance for you to show off your

knowledge of the company. If you know someone who works for the

company this is your opportunity to name drop. Know the company’s mission statement and

values – highlight a couple.

Use the 2nd paragraph to draw attention to your resume. Elaborate on specific experiences and highlight

your skills. Fill in any holes you didn’t have room for or

address on your resume. Tailor these skills and experiences to the specific

job in which you are applying.

You will use the 3rd paragraph to tell them why you are right for this position. Talk about the organization’s values and goals and

why your own match up with theirs. Tell them why you should be hired for this

position. Do your homework – this will set you apart from

the candidate who has not fully researched the company.

Talk about your next steps. Tell them you will call them to ensure they

received your application materials. Move them to action – request an interview. Make sure they know that you will be making

contact with them. Thank them for their time and include your

contact information – email and phone number. Sign the bottom of the letter.

YOU ROLE

FIT

Sell me you and your skills Not just you, but you—in relative terms to what I need

▪ Make your skills ‘fit’ my needs.

Reference your best points (on resume) Convince me (to the point I don’t really need to read your

resume)▪ Direct Language, confidence in your skills / experiences

Give everything an anchor to the role you seek

Language: Confident / Direct Transitional Sentences/Statements are vital▪ Flow and a repetition of your applicable strengths▪ Keep reminding me what you offer

Be Specific! Write as if you were “in the room” w/ the

Recruiter/Manager

Technical Qualifications needed for the role Bloomberg, Excel, InDesign, etc.

‘Action Verbs’ that are specifically referenced Design, Supervise, Lead, Coordinate, Market, Balance,

Audit, Evaluate, Analyze, Consult, etc.

Unique, marketable terminology that is proprietary to the organization Companies typically use certain ‘identifiers’ for their

culture, their brand, their environment, etc.

To best allow tailoring to multiple applications… Write 3-5 sentences about every aspect of your

resume: ▪ Education—Why MU? Why Business? Why Finance?▪ Experience—Role, Contribution, Impact—what I’d be

interested in. ▪ Repeat this with volunteer, activities, leadership, coursework, etc.

This will create a master copy that you can use to ‘piece’ together cover letters that fit each job you want to apply to. ▪ Then all you need to do is make the letter flow together. ▪ Revisions (especially from others) is the best way to put in

The best way to plead your case, so to speak By the time I’m done reading: Make sure I think you fit this job/company Make sure you’ve done all that you can to keep

me interested▪ Every point you make is important and needs an

‘anchor’—to the role and/or the company

Make me feel like I know some things about you ‘Leave it all on the field’