The Cover Letter

1
The Cover Letter
2
Cover Letters Why Bother?

• Do it properly or dont do it at all!
• Lets us know that you are interested in the job
  AND our Company!
• A chance to sell yourself match job
  requirements
• An opportunity to show that you have done your
  research
• A chance to highlight non academic or work
  experience skills

3
What Are We Looking For?

• Not too short or too long
• Evidence that you have researched the role and
  the company
• Specific areas of interest
• Summary of relevant work experience
• Personal attributes you can bring to the role
• Well formatted presented
• Would you hire you?

4
Real Life Letters

• Dear sir/madam,
• I wish to apply for The Graduate Trainee Program
  as advertised in web. I am graduating in July
  2007, from the University X with a Master degree
  in X. Through out my studies I had enhanced my
  formal education and communication skills by
  working such jobs as sales assistant and bar
  tending.
• I had enclosed my resume to provide you with an
  over view of my experience and training.
• I wish to build on my achievements and take on a
  graduate engineer position in your organization.
  I would be very pleased to discuss my application
  further with you at your convenience.
• Thank you for your time and consideration.
• Sincerely,

5
Dear Mr Barnfield, The purpose of this letter is
to express my interest in gaining a position in
SKMs graduate program in 2008. I am a mechanical
engineering student in my final year of study at
X University. I expect to graduate at the end of
2007 with first class honours, as my current
course weighted average is xxxx. I am interested
in employment at SKM due to the wide range of
experience that a large consulting firm offers
and variation of work available in SKMs areas
such as buildings, industry, water, environment
and power. I am attracted to technical expertise
that can be gained at SKM with innovative and
diverse work involving the latest technology. The
graduate program is enticing as it offers
experience in a wide range of areas and
interaction with people of different experience
from different disciplines. A particular area of
interest of mine is in noise and vibration. I am
keen to extend my technical skill in design
projects while gaining hands on experience in
large projects. I am a dedicated and
enthusiastic worker, believing that success comes
from hard work. I am well suited to SKMs values
as I enjoy working on complex, challenging
projects as I have demonstrated in my continued
high standards at university, I have excellent
interpersonal and team working skills, and I am
very professional with my work. I have excelled
academically at university, receiving
commendation from the examiners board and
membership of the Vice Chancellors List for
being in the top one percent of university
students. My innovative and imaginative thinking
allows me to apply my knowledge to solve a wide
variety if problems. My excellent interpersonal
and communication skills will enable me to excel
in a large company such as SKM. I have developed
these skills through my studies of Speech and
Drama and I have an Associate Diploma in Drama
and Performance and teach performance, speech and
presentation skills. I have also been able to use
these skills to gain employment at X University,
teaching five classes of second year students in
Machine Dynamics. I gained experience in
consulting engineering through vacation work over
the summer of 2006/2007 at xxxxxx where I
performed a variety of work and communicated with
clients both in person, and via email. I believe
that my enthusiasm, commitment and work ethic
combined with my interpersonal and communication
skills will make me a valued employee. Thank
you for considering my application and I hope
will receive an opportunity to attend an
interview to further prove my suitability for
your organization. I have attached to this letter
a resume and my current academic
record. Sincerely,
6
The Graduate Resume
7
THE RESUME

• Why have a Resume??
• Vital unique document about you
• Demonstrates your Work History, Academic
  Performance and Extra Curricular activities
• Personalise your application tell us something
  about you.
• Highlight your goals and ambitions, your
  Objective.
• Central point of contact for critical
  information.

8
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

• ALL work experience regardless of relevance.
• Provides - real life experience
• Well formatted PC skills.
• Vacation work
• Statement of Intention Objective Professional
  Interest.
• Critical Content (Contact numbers, email
  address)

9
COMMON QUESTIONS

• How long should my Resume be?
• What If I dont have any vacation work or
  relevant work experience?
• Should my resume be different for every
  application?
• How many of my academic results should I include?
• Schooling history??
• References
• Should it be different for a Vacation
  application?

10
REMEMBER

• First Professional CV not War and Peace. But
  longer than 1 page.
• Purpose is to contribute to your application.
• Dont include photographs (unless you are a
  graphics student).
• Do have someone proof read it.!!!!!
• Have fun!!! Its about you

11
The Application Form
12
The Application Form

• If youre providing an outstanding cover letter
  CV, whats the point of an application form??
• Gathering vital statistics for all applicants
  in a uniform format
• Snapshot review of Graduate Applicants degree,
  discipline, thesis project information
• Highlights some of your personal and professional
  interests, key strengths and potential
  weaknesses.

13
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

• How you found out about us.
• Who you may know already in our business
  informal references can be invaluable!
• Your Academic performance to date
• What you are most interested in your favourite
  subject, your final year project, your personal
  interests
• How you express yourself written communication
  skills.
• Insight into your personality, discipline
  orientation and potential work preferences

14
HOW TO MAKE US SIT UP TAKE NOTICE

• Well-worded, concise overviews of the following
• - Synopsis of your final year project / thesis
  topic (why you chose the topic, what you hope to
  achieve / learn why, how the project is
  progressing)
• - Your favourite uni subject to date honesty
  is important, but be cautious of too much
  candour
• - Your extracurricular interests to give us
  an idea of your social obligations, community
  involvement, personality profile

15
WHERE DO I FIND RESOURCES TO HELP?

• Dont re-invent the wheel seek advice!!
• Careers Centre
• Online (Seek, MyCareer, CareerOne, Web)
• Graduate Societies, Grad Fairs, Vac Work.
• Word templates
• Employers.
• Other Grads

16
For more info on SKM and our Graduate Vacation
Programs...

• Log on to http//www.skmconsulting.com/careers/st
  udentInfo.htm
• Or contact our Recruitment Team on 08 9268 4117