This document provides an agenda and overview for a tutorial on cover letters. The tutorial will cover the course timeline, components of a cover letter including the opening, branding/tailoring, closing, and skills matching. It also provides examples of hooks, skills matching paragraphs, and the closing. Students are instructed to bring two hard copies of their cover letter and resume for peer review. The skills matrix assignment is due on October 14th.

1. COMM 202
COVER LETTERS
Sarah
Brennan
Wednesday
3:30pm [T06]
–
Thursday
9:30am [T12]TUTORIAL 3

2. AGENDA
Course Timeline
Cover Letters
Hook Activity
Action Items

3. COURSE OVERVIEW

4. COURSE TIMELINE
Week 5 Week 6 Week 7
• Intro to cover
letters
• Skills matrix draft
due
• Cover letter peer
review
• Skills matrix due
Friday, October
14th
• Resume peer
review
• Bring 2 hard
copies of resume
& job posting
After that its Linkedin, Networking, Info Interviews, & Employment Interviews

5. CAN
CAN YOU DO
THE JOB?
FIT
DO YOU FIT THE
CULTURE?
WANT DO
YOU WANT THE
JOB?

6. CAN
CAN YOU DO
THE JOB?
FIT
DO YOU FIT THE
CULTURE?
WANT DO
YOU WANT THE
JOB?
60 – 70 %

7. CAN
SKILLS MATRIX
FIT
ALIGNMENT Job,
Company, &
Industry
WANT
JOB RESEARCH
ASSIGNMENT

8. Cover
Email
Resume &
Cover Letter
Interview
Get the important info to your potential employer as
easily as possible, give them the info so they don’t have
to dig!

9. WHAT’S YOUR BRAND?!
WRITE 4-5 words that best describe you!
(Personality, values, skills, interests, etc.)
If you had 30 seconds to describe who you are, what would you say?
Think elevator pitch style

10. WHY DO WE WRITE
COVER LETTERS?

11. Stress your INTENTIONS & INTERESTS
! Shows SINCERITY and RESEARCH
Demonstrates ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE
! CREATIVE and PROFESSIONAL
Opportunity to elaborate on YOUR STORIES &
PERSONALITY
! Drawn from your SKILLS MATRIX
COVER LETTERS

12. RESUME VS. COVER LETTERS
Resume is
about YOU
WHY & HOW YOU CAN HELP
Cover Letter is
about THEM

13. OPENING
BRANDING
&TAILORING
CLOSING
SKILL-MATCHING
INTEGRATION
5 COMPONENTS

14. OPENING
BRANDING
&TAILORING
CLOSING
SKILL-MATCHING
INTEGRATION
5 COMPONENTS

15. THE OPENING.
ü UNIQUE.
ü LINKS YOU TO JOB.
ü ENTICES CURIOSITY.
ü NEW INFORMATION.

16. ¡ Expresses keen and genuine interest and/or passion
for position
¡ Genuine and unique primary and secondary research
indicating interest in company (Make sure the
research you show is tied to your interest)
¡ Makes a clear expression of the skills/experience
matching the job description
¡ Name Drop (where applicable)
OPENING

17. Dear Hiring Manager,
My name is Sarah Brennan and I am applying to
your HR Intern Position.
THE OPENING

18. Dear Hiring Manager,
My name is Sarah Brennan and I am applying to
your HR Intern Position.
THE OPENING

19. THE HOOK.
ü INTEREST + PASSION.
ü SKILLS SUMMARY.
ü COMPANY FIT.
ü OPTIONAL NAME DROP.

20. HOOK EXAMPLE#1 – H.R.
Dear Hiring Manager,
“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
It’s a question every child is asked, but no child can really
answer. The best response: Space Cowboy.
That child, thinking outside of the box, has the creative freedom
to dream of a fulfilling career unbound by societal structures that
dictate what is and is not possible. My Space Cowboy mission is
to work in a role where I can harness the power of people’s
potential at a company who believes their human capital is the
organization’s greatest asset. This company harnesses social
enterprise through innovation working with local and global
partners to achieve economic prosperity. This company is MaRS.

21. HOOK EXAMPLE #2 – ACCTNG
Dear Hiring Manager,
The most important lesson I’ve learned from years of marathon
training is that results are directly linked to effort put in. This is
an attitude that has led me to Boston-qualifying marathon times,
achievement on the UBC rowing crew, winning finishes at
triathlons, and placement on the Dean’s Honour Roll. Accounting
works much the same; the only path to excellence is through hard
work and persistence. This attitude of persistence and teamwork
has carried me through my previous challenging work experiences
and is one that I have found aligns with PwC’s core values of
excellence, teamwork, and leadership. Some of my applicable
skills gained from those previous positions include:

22. HOOK EXAMPLE #3 – FINANCE
Dear Hiring Manager,
How fast can you change four tires? One hour? Ten minutes? A few
years ago I witnessed a Formula One team do it in 2.7 seconds.
They said a perfect run would be just one second. In everything that
I do I strive to reach that one second – that perfect test score, that
perfect presentation, that perfect career. After speaking with Jake
Woodson, a recent hire, Dion Chen, and other industr y
professionals, I know that my personality and passion lies in sales
and trading. Through my unique athletic background and passion, I
will provide competitiveness and drive that will set a benchmark for
future interns. I cannot wait to sit on a trading floor, execute trades,
and engage in research while receiving mentorship from the most
world-renowned investment bank. A career with Goldman Sachs is
my one second and this is how I will help Goldman reach its own
one second ideal:

23. LET'S PRACTICE THE HOOK.

24. ACTIVITY TIME

25. THE SKILLS MATCHING.
ü REQUIRED SKILLS OR
ATTRIBUTES FROM JOB
DESCRIPTION.
ü 2-3 STORIES.
ü OTHER QUALIFICATIONS.

26. YOU JOB

27. 1. Skills from your skills matrix match the job
description (use STARL)
2. Best relevant experiences
3. Link education and other training to the job, and
link to the co/position if it’s not obvious
4. Any other qualifications
SKILLS MATRIX

28. ¡ Use STARL to your advantage – Action and Link!
¡ Each line proves you have the necessary skills &
aptitudes to perform on the job
¡ Always link to the company/position if not obvious
¡ Use skills listed in the job description
REMEMBER…

29. SKILLS EXAMPLE #1
Communication is undeniably an important aspect of any job,
although especially in a consulting position, where constant and
effective interaction with clients is essential. I have accumulated
over ten years of both amateur and pre-professional theatre
experience, which have shaped me into an outgoing and
enthusiastic person who is eager to communicate with the public.
This interest became so great that in my senior years of high
school I won first place in the province for my speech on the
environmental impacts of the Alberta Oil Sands. Reeve Consulting
offers services from engaging, reputable professionals and strives
to engage in effective, comprehensible communication; a value
that I too possess and have had experience in applying.

30. SKILLS EXAMPLE #2
¡ Financial Analysis – As a Financial Analyst for RSA Insurance
Group, I was tasked with assessing credit default risk and
analyzing financial reports for various contractors. I
successfully assessed these companies through financial
ratio and break-even in excel, in addition to due diligence
work. With a focus on accuracy, I helped produce over $1
million in insurance premium by presenting my findings
succinctly, and identifying to management companies
suitable for support. With this experience I believe I can
quickly contribute, and excel in the performance analysis or
credit risk divisions.

31. SKILLS EXAMPLE #3

32. THE CLOSING.
ü REITERATE INTEREST.
ü RESTATE SKILLS USING
DIFFERENT WORDING.
ü THANK THEM.
ü CALL TO ACTION.

33. “THANK YOU FOR LOOKING AT MY APPLICATION. I HOPE
THAT I HAVE SHOWN YOU THAT MY INTERPERSONAL
SKILLS, MY LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND MY ABILITY TO
PERFORM ON A TEAM MAKE ME A FIT FOR ABC.”
THE CLOSING

34. “THANK YOU FOR LOOKING AT MY APPLICATION. I HOPE
THAT I HAVE SHOWN YOU THAT MY INTERPERSONAL
SKILLS, MY LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND MY ABILITY TO
PERFORM ON A TEAM MAKE ME A FIT FOR ABC.”
THE CLOSING

35. Dear Hiring Manager
Flying off a jump in a Super G course at 100km/hour leaves little room for error.
As a competitive alpine ski racer for 10 years of my youth, I realized the overall team results depend
on you giving your best individual performance. My coaches taught me the importance of discipline
and dedication. Through training, I learned how to become resilient during rough times and to adapt
in fast-paced environments. The freedom of skiing allowed me to push my limits while staying within
set boundaries. I took calculated risks, embraced the consequences and learned from my mistakes.
I believe the skills I learned as an alpine ski racer have provided me with the foundation to thrive at
Whistler Blackcomb as the Marketing Intern dedicated to providing visitors and residents alike the
opportunity to create memories at the best mountain resort.
Alpine ski racing is results focused. The time clock shows your performance and the
podium declares the winner. Unlike horseshoes, close doesn’t count because at 100km/
hour, every millisecond matters. I apply this philosophy to all areas of my life – I consider
myself to be optimistic with a strong work ethic and willingness to learn in dynamic
environments. Whistler Blackcomb maintains high standards of excellence through the
recognition of awards – quantifying what it means to be the “best mountain experience”.
Being named the No.1 overall best ski resort in North America is your goal medal
performance. Bring me on your team and I promise to shave one more millisecond off
your time.

36. ¡ Make a good final impression
¡ Show your passion
¡ Restate skills with a different wording
¡ Give genuine thanks
¡ Leave a call to action
¡ Tie to previous examples/stories (tie to hook)
CLOSING

37. ¡ Consistent throughout cover letter
¡ Fits in with the company’s values & yours
¡ Create the image you want to project
¡ Use Job Research Assignment
Remember your brand?
Use it
BRANDING

38. ¡ Clear consistent branding throughout the
resume and cover letter documents
¡ All necessary information is displayed,
format/tone/font/style is appropriate,
and the candidate displays the best
impression of him/herself
INTEGRATION

40. Date
Contact Name (if known)
Their Title
Company Name
Address 1
Address 2 (if extra space needed)
City, Province, Postal Code
Re: Position Title and Reference Number (if applicable)
Dear First Name Last Name,(unless you know for sure the woman's
marital status then you can put Mrs. Ms. Or Mr. If in doubt, “Hiring
Manager”)
[Opening Paragraph]
FORMATTING THE START

41. [Closing Paragraph]
Sincerely or Regards or Kind Regards,
Full Name
BCom Candidate, (year of completion)
Sauder School of Business
Attached: Resume (in an actual application you may
also be including transcripts, etc.)
FORMATTING THE END

42. COVER EMAILS

43. ¡ <150 words
¡ Utilize bold face type to emphasize important
points
¡ Show your brand & personality
¡ Make them want more!
§ Ie. Resume, Cover Letter and and Interview!
COVER EMAIL

44. Subject: Job Title – Your Name OR come up with a very short hook for example “Beer &
people lover has found her dream internship” or “Your new HR Intern is inside” or “HIRING
MANAGER NAME, I’m excited!” Depending on how cool the company is.
To: Name of job poster/whom it may concern/hiring manager (never write Dear Sirs – hello
sexism!),
Your advert posted on WEBSITE NAME for JOB TITLE really caught my attention; Labatt has
“good things brewing” and I would love to be a component of the “good things”. I believe
my XYZ (people management) experience alongside my drive, tenacity and exemplary
communications skills are a solid match to your needs. I also match the job requirements in
the following ways:
¡ 2 years of leadership experience
¡ Exceptional presentational skills
¡ Advanced Excel capabilities
¡ UBC Innovation Award recipient
¡ 5 years’ experience organizing team building activities
I am confident that I will be a fantastic addition to your team! I have attached my resume
and cover letter, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have or to
set up an interview on 778-XXX-XXXX.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,
Your name
(778)-XXX-XXXX
Email address
LinkedIn profile URL

45. ACTION ITEMS

46. 1. Tutorial next week
2. 2 Hard copies of your Cover Letter for
Peer Review
3. Skills Matrix due October 14th @ 2pm on
Turnitin
4. Sign up for Office Hours
ACTION ITEMS