Yale SCHOOL of MANAGEMENT

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Yale SCHOOL of MANAGEMENT Career Development
Office Cover Letters Thank You Notes
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Agenda

• Reasoning behind the Cover Letter
• Formats
• Cover Letter Templates
• Technical Tips
• Cover Letter/Resume Review
• Thank you notes
• Fine Tuning
• Career Resources

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Reasons for the Cover Letter

• Illustrate your fit with the organization.
• Communicate your storyhow you came to this
  point.

THESE ARE THE SAME REASONS PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED IN
CREATING YOUR RESUME!
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Cover Letter Should Include

• Why should they read the resume?
• Why should they interview me?
• Why am I interested in the position?
• What is the next step?

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Cover Letter Formats

• Basic - Three Paragraph
• P1 - Who am I and why am I writing (see
  Differentiate Your Letter in Cover Letter Writing
  Tips)
• P2 - What skills do I have to offer and how can
  the company use them
• Include the Yale SOM experience.
• P3 - Indicate what you want next
• Thank the contact.

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Cover Letter Formats

• Class of 1999
•  
• Class of 1999
• Tel [phone]
• 
  
  henry.zhang_at_yale.edu
• November 16, 1999Mr. Pierce F. SmithMerrill
  LynchInvestment Banking, Human ResourcesWorld
  Financial Center, North Tower250 Vesey Street,
  31st FloorNew York, NY 10281Dear Mr. SmithI
  am leveraging my legal experience, communication
  skills, and energy to pursue a career in
  investment banking. I attended Merrill Lynch's
  campus presentation on September 17 at Yale SOM
  and since that time have conducted additional
  research into the firm and its culture. I
  believe that Merrill's client-focused and
  team-oriented environment is one for which I
  would be well suited. For these reasons, I am
  writing to request an interview for a Summer
  Associate position in investment bankingFor the
  past three years I worked as a commercial
  litigator in a law firm specializing in
  litigation and arbitration in the airline
  industry. I thrived in that climate because of my
  ability to adapt quickly to changing
  environments, to build relationships with a
  sophisticated international and domestic
  clientele, and to assume immediate and
  far-ranging responsibilities in an
  entrepreneurial setting. The firm's success, and
  my success within a team environment, were in
  large part due to our commitment, our focus upon
  building long-term client relationships, and our
  execution of effective solutions to clients'
  complex litigation issues.In my first year at
  Yale SOM, I am taking an intensive course load in
  accounting and finance and participating in the
  structuring and management of a student-run
  venture capital fund. Combining my experience in
  a demanding entrepreneurial environment with
  rigorous coursework in finance and accounting
  will enable me to make an impact as a Summer
  Associate.I would greatly appreciate being
  included on your upcoming Yale interview
  schedule. Thank you for your time and
  consideration.Sincerely,
• Henry ZhangEnclosure
•  

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Cover Letter Formats

• Basic Bullets
• P1 - Who am I and why am I writing (see Tip Note)
• P2 - Bullet points on skills
• (Include the Yale SOM experience.)
• P3 - Indicate what you want next
• Thank the contact.

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(No Transcript)
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Cover Letter Formats

• Alternative Framework 1
• I AM your background
• I CAN skill set
• YOU GET firms gains by hiring me

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Cover Letter Formats

• Alternative Framework 2
• WHY READ connection to position
• WHY ME memory aid skill set
• WHY YOU background and link to firm
• WHAT NEXT actions desired

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Cover Letter Template

• Determine the framework you want to use.
• Experiment with different versions.
• Use CDO examples as a guide.
• Do not copy sections word for word
• Length One page
• Font Same as your resume.

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Technical Tips

• Each letter must be customized
• Firm specific
• Personal/Professional Contacts where possible
• What you like about the firm
• Always include a cover letter even if the company
  says it is optional.

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More Tips

• Eliminate
• Poor grammar and punctuation
• Misspelled words
• Do not try to be cute or clever
• These often backfire
• Often appear unprofessional
• Cut and paste can backfire

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Review. Review. Review.

• Check for visual appeal of the cover letter with
  the resume.
• Avoid widows and orphans.
• Be careful using jargon.

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Thank you notes

• Why should they be sent?
• To reaffirm your interest.
• To remind the interviewer of who you are several
  days after the interview.
• To mention something you might have omitted
  during the interview.

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Thank you notes

• When are they appropriate?
• After every job interview.
• After every informational interview.
• After someone has done a favor for you (i.e.
  referred your resume to someone else, given you a
  name to call, etc.)

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Thank you notes

• When should they be sent?
• As quickly as possible.
• Preferably within twenty-four hours of the
  interview or meeting.
• Email is acceptable.

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Thank you notes

• What should it say?
• Thank you letters should be short and to the
  point.
• Thank the interviewer for meeting with you.
• Mention some things that you discussed in the
  interview that are of particular interest to you.
  
• Add something that you may not have mentioned in
  the interview that you feel is relevant.
• Reaffirm your interest in the position and the
  company.

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Fine Tuning

• Get your friends to look at your resume. If
  English is not your first language, be sure to
  have a native English speaker review it.
• Have your CDO Career Counselor, a member of the
  CDO Staff, AND other first and second years
  review your cover letter.
• Talk to me, your Writing Consultant. Make an
  appointment during office hours.
• Also, you may consult SOMs Tutor-in-Writing,
  Deborah Tenney and her Student Writing
  Consultants.  
•  

DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE DAY BEFORE THE DEADLINE TO
START
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Carpet Bomb Reminder

• Show your document to one person and incorporate
  the recommended changes before passing it along
  to someone else for review.
• Alternatives
• Cover letter swaps
• SIG sponsored training sessions

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Career Resources

• Sign up for online newsletters
• www.thevault.com
• www.wetfeet.com
• www.jobtrak.com
• (and any other sites you can find)

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CDO Resources

• New Office Hours will be posted in the CDO.
• Email me your cover letter and resume at least 24
  hours in advance of your appointment.
• Without an appointment, be sure to give at least
  48 hours for a response.
• Email insert BWCs email address.
• The first cover letter drop is November 18th.

PLAN ACCORDINGLY.