GSTI COVER LETTER WORKSHOP

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MONTEREY INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
GSTI Cover Letter Workshop
By Jeff Wood
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The Cover Letter An Employer-Oriented Definition
Your cover letter is the link between the
employers immediate or future needs and your
skills as described in your related resume.
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Cover Letter Writing Ten Easy Steps

• One page on good bonded paper
• 3-4 Paragraphs
• Mutual Needs
• Connect your background to employer needs
• Ask for an interview the bottom line
• Your chance to solve problems

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Cover Letter Writing Ten Easy Steps

• Use job qualifications section as outline
• Cover letter is example of your writing
• If your resume was lost,
• What should be remembered about you?
• Create your own letterhead
• Check grammar and spelling

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Cover Letter Style

• One page is enough
• 3-4 paragraphs is enough
• Create letterhead to match your resume
• Everything flush left for a standard
• business letter

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Cover Letter Style

• 14, 12, or 10 point typeface
• Print via Laser or Ink Jet
• Use quality bonded paper and
• envelopes
• Clip letter to resume (no staples)

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The Cover Letter

• Choose the proper letter
• Address your letter to . . .
• Write 3-4 paragraphs
• Answer 10 questions
• Proof your page

1. Intro 2. Sell your experience 3. Sell your
education 4. Conclusion
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Choose 1 of 7 Letters

• The Application Letter
• The Prospecting Letter
• The Networking Letter

• The Acceptance Letter
• The Withdrawal Letter
• The Rejection Letter

• The Thank You Letter

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The Application Letter

• Analyze job description
• Identify key words for letter
• Develop creative opening
• Connect your skills to employer needs, not
  yours.
• Sell your experience skills before education

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The Application Letter

• Ask for an interview
• Solve problems in your letter such as distance
• or expense
• One spelling or grammar error and you are
• dead!
• Show appreciation for using the employers
• time and consideration
• Create one cover letter prototype for each
• search category that can be modified to fit
  each
• application

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Address Your Letter

• To a specific person
• With a complete address
• Justify all information left

• Use a colon after Dear
• Use Mr./Ms. after Dear
• Type your name at end
• Indicate resume enclosure

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Introduction Paragraph Answer the Following
1. What is your connection? 2. Who are you? a.
present student status b. past professional
status c. future professional status 3. What do
you want?

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Sell your Experience Answer the Following

• What experience skills are the
• employer seeking?
• 2. What skills can you apply from your
  experience?
• 3. What key 1-3 skills should you emphasize to
  this employer based on needs?

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Sell your Education Answer the Following

• What classroom skills have not already
• been mentioned above?
• 2. Which of these skills matches employer needs?
• 3. Which three classroom skills complement the
  experience skills?

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Conclusion paragraph Answer the Following

• What are you going to do about it?

Note Never grant yourself an interview via a
cover letter
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Proof your letter

• You cannot proof what you do not see on
• the paper!

• Have your letter proofed by a native
• speaker of the language on the letter!

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Paper Print and Colors


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QA