COMM 202 T5 Slides

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COMM 202
Career Fundamentals
T28 & T29
Grace Jin
COVER LETTERS & NETWORKING

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Today’s Agenda
1. TA Feedback
1. Cover Letter Peer Review
2. Networking
3. Action Items

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Where We are Today
Week 9 Week 11Week 10
• Tutorial: Cover Letter &
Networking
• What’s due: Cover Letter
DRAFT submitted on Turnitin
before tutorial
• Tutorial: Informational Interviews
• What’s due: Resume & Cover Letter
Assignment due on Mar 12th at
11:59pm on Turnitin and COOL
• Networking Event on Mar 13th
6-8pm in CPA Hall
• Lecture: Interview Prep
• What’s due:
• Have your info interview date
and time confirmed
• Networking reflection due
March 21st @ 11:59PM on
Turnitin

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1. TA Feedback

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2. Cover Letter Peer Review

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Instructions
Write your name on ALL documents – make sure your documents are attached
Put all documents in a pile in the middle of the table
Trade to the person on your left when a new section starts
Get out your marking utensils!

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Time to Trade!
Let’s talk about formatting

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Cover Letter Formatting
• Left aligned (NOT justified)
• No indents on paragraphs
• Bullet points vs. paragraphs
• 2-3 relevant skills
• Consistent font size (minimum size 10)
• Appropriate font
• Margin sizes
• Spacing between paragraphs
• White space
• One page
**Headers of cover letter and resume must match, it’s all
about branding**

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Addressing the Cover Letter
Date
Contact Name (if known)
Title
Company Name
Address 1
City, Province Postal Code
Re: Position Title (and reference number if given)
Dear [First name Last name],
or Dear Hiring Manager/Committee, or Dear Mr./Ms./Mx.
Last Name,
[Opening Paragraph] *Make sure you tailor your cover letters!*

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Examples
Unknown Person Specific Person
(assume known marital status)

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Signing Off the Right Way
Sincerely, / Regards, / Best,
(Written signature if you want)
Your name
BCom Candidate 20XX
Sauder School of Business
Enclosed or Attached*: Resume
* Enclosed: physical copy
* Attached: electronic copy

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Time to Trade!

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Let’s Look at the Opening
- How is the hook?
- Interest/passion for the position?
- Skills/experience matching the job posting?
- Is primary or secondary research integrated
- Name drop? (when applicable)
- Branding: CAN-WANT-FIT
EXAMPLE

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Other Opening Examples

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Time to Trade!

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Skills Matching (Body Paragraphs)
- Skills to match the position?
- STARL format?
- Are there examples – specific & concise?
- Transferrable skills?
- Do results show strengths or success?
Think about the link:
Why should the employer care
EXAMPLE

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Other Skills Matching Paragraph Examples

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Time to Trade!

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Closing – Making a Good Final Impression
-Are skills reiterated?
-Is sincere interest expressed?
-Graciously thanks employer for consideration
-Call to action (aka request for a meeting)
-Tie back to hook/intro, wrap it up in a nice bow
EXAMPLE

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What Counts as an Error?
Spelling & Grammar
Inconsistency
Incorrect order of
Information
Improper Formatting
Incorrect
Information
Missing Information
Not including job
posting in
submission
(counts as 2 errors)
First 2 errors = 5% deducted for each
2+ errors = 40% deducted from assignment

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3. Networking

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Networking Can Happen Anywhere
Chance
meetings

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Networking Can Happen Anywhere
Facilitated events

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Networking Can Happen Anywhere
Via direct
request

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Why Do We Network?
• Get your foot in the door (faster)
• Gain insight about a company, industry, or career path
• Practice your interview and networking skills
• Find a potential mentor
• Show them who you are beyond your resume and cover letter

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The Networking Feels

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Let’s talk about networking
events

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i.e. the COMM 202
Networking Event

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Researching Delegates
1. Check out the delegate info on the course
blog
2. Look at the LinkedIn profiles of delegates
you’d like to speak to
• Note any interesting topics
• Hone in on similar experiences or
shared groups
• Think about questions to ask
3. During the event, be interested and self
aware!

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What Does it Mean to be “Self Aware” ??
• Having conscious knowledge of one’s own character and feelings
• Treat the delegates the way you would want to be treated
• Put yourself in the shoes of a delegate – how would you feel if a student came
up to you holding your LinkedIn profile picture?

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Dress Code
For the COMM 202 Networking
Event, dress in business casual
This means less formal than business formal, but
still professional!

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Business Casual Dress Code
• Professional dresses or skirts, dress pants, chinos, or
khakis (but no jeans or athletic pants for example)
• Sweaters, blouses, collared shirts with or without ties
• Patterns and colours are acceptable as business
casual (no hoodies, T-shirts, tank tops, tops with
slogans)
• Clothing should be crisp and not wrinkled
• Footwear should still be professional for an office
setting such as loafers, dress shoes or booths, heels,
or flats (no flip flops or running shoes)
that’s too extra though

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Possible Conversation Topics
“Lurking around the food station is a really good trick. People will ask you
what things are, and you can offer advice on what’s tasty.”
Compliment them
Talk about food
“People love talking about themselves and people love compliments. Be
genuine though!”
Smile
“Just stand on your own and soak in the environment and smile at people.
You will be a beacon of light for the other people who don’t know who to
talk to.”
Open up the circle
“You might be getting bored with the first 2 people so make sure you make
room for other people to join the circle party!”

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Ending a Conversation
Thank them for
their time
Ask to connect
after the event
Be polite &
gracious
Leave with a
handshake

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Following Up
After great conversations, send a personalized email or LinkedIn request (or
maybe an informational interview request? ☺)
Hi Rachel,
It was so great to get the chance to speak with you at last night’s networking event. I was really inspired by what
you said about “building your personal brand”, and I am looking forward to putting your advice into practice.
I would love to continue our conversation about your experience at KPMG. I understand that you are very busy,
but it would be great to meet for about 20 minutes. Would you be available to meet on Monday or Tuesday next
week? Coffee is on me!
Thank you,
Sally
EXAMPLE

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Networking Reflection Assignment
• Your paper needs to include:
• Your goals in attending the event
• What is your purpose in going? What do you want to know about Sauder?
• Define SMART goals beforehand – How will you define the success of your
evening?
• How did you prepare for the event (research potential delegates)
• What was it about these people that motivated you wanting to talk to them?
• A brief summary of who you spoke with and what you learned in the
conversations
• A reflection on the lessons you have learned about the networking process
• Next steps you will take to continue building a relationship with your new
contact (if you plan to)
Due
March 21st @
11:59PM on
Turnitin

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So How Do You Feel Now?

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4. Action Items

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Action Items
1. Sign up for office hours
2. Resume and Cover Letter due March
12th @ 11:59pm on Turnitin and COOL
3. Cover Letter & Resume Toolkit on
MyBcom site + checklist on blog
4. Networking Event : March 13th 6-8pm in
CPA Hall
5. Networking Reflection due March 21st @
11:59pm on Turnitin
6. Tutorial Next Week!

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Questions? Here’s How You Can Get in Touch with Me
Email: comm202.10@sauder.ubc.ca
Tutorials: feel free to approach me before or after
Office hours: available throughout the term as
assignments come up

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Thanks &
see you next week
(in tutorial)