As a CALS Ambassador, I conducted a workshop on cover letters and thank-you letters as part of the Kickstart your Career Professional Development Workshop Series.

1. Cover and Thank-You
Letters
By Jodie Joseph and Lauren
Little

2. When Should I Use a
Cover Letter?
Even when it’s not required
In conjunction with resume

3. Cover Letter Philosophy:
A Love Letter
What do you love about that
company?
Why should that company
love you?
Why would you be a good
“fit” for the position?

4. Introduction: The Bread
Who you are (elevator
speech)
How you heard of the
position
Name dropping

5. Highlights: The Meat
Experience, skills,
qualifications
Demonstrate your “fit”
with the company
Knowledge of industry
NOT a regurgitation of
your resume

6. Brainstorm activity
What three things about you do you want the
employer to get out of your cover letter?

7. Call Back: The Bottom
Bread
 Provides closure
 Ask for interview
 Thank-you for your time

8. I hope to take my current learning and future
knowledge to a whole new level by joining the staff
at Avian and Exotic Animal Care. I plan to acquire
and utilize these new skills to best serve my future
constituents- the animals and the people. After
viewing my enclosed résumé, please follow up with
any questions. I would love to speak with you for an
interview at your earliest convenience within the next
week. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Animal Lover
Animal Lover
animallover55@ncsu.edu
919-555-5555

9. How to make your cover letter
stand out
Format
Personalization/customization
A story
Research!

10. Standard Format

11. The Table

12. Bullet Points

13. Top 3 things employers
most want to see
Skills that relate to the job
Passion for the career path and industry
Keep it to a one page “story”.
The resume has the facts, the cover letter tells the
story.
60% of employers read the cover letter, so make
yours count!

14. Thank- You Letters
Interviewers- informational
Who should you thank? interviewers
Guest speakers
Recommenders
Mentors
Bosses
Professors!
Admissions committees
Scholarship committees

15. Activity
Write a sample thank you letter to specific
people currently in your life (a professor,
mentor, boss, peer counselor, etc.)
Action Plan- Hand in the thank-you note and
we will check in with you next week.

16. On the back of your
evaluation….
List 3 things that should be included in your cover
letter.
Describe 2 goals that you should have in mind when
writing your cover letter.