I use the following tactics when preparing cover letters (I never use a template and always start from scratch, because each cover letter is unique): 1) I mention employees I spoke with (shows I go above & beyond) 2) I explain why Here and Now (how it fits in my career trajectory, shows I'm intentional) 3) I show I understand and fit within their culture e.g. alignment with beliefs & values (critical) 4) My vision for success in that role (shows ownership & comprehension of the role) 5) A personal anecdote to show humility/vulnerability (balances the bragging) 6) All the above implies that I avoid regurgitating CV data (experience, skills, etc.) unless they support these points 7) ...

1. Simon Pouliot
XXX Date
Re: Introduction letter and application for Strategic Partner Manager role (Denver, CO)
Dear hiring team,
Checkr was introduced to me by a VC friend who knows of my interest in HR technology and
people analytics. Since then, I had a chance to connect with Preeti (Operations) and CH (sales) and
immerse myself in the work that Checkr is doing for its clients and their employment candidates.
As a recent MBA graduate set on continuing my career in HR technology, I found in Checkr a
unique convergence of my professional and personal interests: important mission and real impact,
exciting stage of growth, great location (Denver!), thought leadership in my field of interest and an
experienced management team that I could support and learn from.
I continuously monitor job openings at Checkr and was excited to see a posting for Strategic
Partner Manager, a role that plays to my strong suits and past experience. I love identifying, activating
and servicing channel relationships, anticipating client needs and collaborating on impactful client
solutions that result in tangible business benefits, finding ways to increase profitability for my
company’s accounts and collaborating with multiple stakeholders and departments. I’d be delighted to
share cases and examples of my experience in this domain, and provide references, at your request.
Most importantly, what I value in Checkr is the opportunity to have an impact within the firm
and community. Bounce Back 2 Work is a perfect example of the sort of initiative that I would love to
contribute to or help to start. Furthermore, as someone who volunteered as board member of a
psychiatric institution to rehabilitate violent criminals, I am acutely aware of the challenges imposed on
individuals attempting to reintegrate society. I thus have abundant respect for a company like Checkr
that walks the walk and sets an important example by hiring employees with criminal records.
I am very grateful for the opportunity to submit my application to Checkr for this role. I would
sincerely look forward to engaging with your recruitment team to discuss mutual fit and provide more
color into my professional background and capabilities as they relate to the role.
Sincerely,
Simon Pouliot

2. Simon Pouliot
XXX date
Introduction letter and application for Partnerships Manager role (Toronto or Montreal)
Dear hiring team,
Dialogue was introduced to me by a friend at Diagram—the incubator behind Dialogue—who
knew of my prior involvement in the healthcare consulting space and my interest in technology and new
business models. Since that time, I have stayed abreast of news at Dialogue, spoken with employees at
the company and monitored career openings for a role matching my skillset and interests.
My interest in Dialogue stems from a belief that technology and innovative partnerships can
help provide even more accessible and better care to Canadians in a healthcare model that already has a
world-class reputation. As a former management consultant in the healthcare and group insurance
sectors, I have also seen how innovation can enable group benefits providers and employers develop a
differentiated offering to attract and retain clients and employees (telemedicine fits into that category
of innovative offerings).
As a recent MBA candidate set on continuing my career in healthcare technology, and with a
track record of creating and enhancing partnerships at various organizations, I was thrilled to see a
vacant Partnerships Manager role at Dialogue. Stemming from experience as a consultant, entrepreneur
and business development manager at VC-backed tech startups, I’ve had the opportunity to develop a
comprehensive style of partnership management founded on a deep understanding of partner/client
needs, an application of value creation frameworks and trust-building.
Yet beyond the role, my motivation for joining Dialogue is also very personal. For years, I have
been involved in the non-profit sector for mental health, a cause that is dear to me. As a former
executive board member at Pinel Institute—a renowned Quebec-based psychiatric hospital for violent
patients—I have developed a very deep appreciation for the systematic issues and solutions surrounding
mental health. While mental health may only be one component of Dialogue’s offering, helping to make
such type of care more accessible means a lot to me and brings me a true sense of fulfilment.
Finally, employer culture and colleagues play a huge role in career satisfaction. I admire people
like Cherif as a person and fellow Wharton colleague or Jean-Nicolas Guillemette as a pioneer in
Quebec’s regulated tech scene, and the echoes I’ve heard regarding Dialogue’s collaborative and fast-
paced culture have been nothing but positive.
I am very grateful for the opportunity to submit my application to Dialogue for this role. I would
really look forward to engaging with your team to discuss mutual fit and provide more color into my
professional background and capabilities as they relate to the role.
Sincerely,
Simon Pouliot

3. Simon Pouliot <simon.j.pouliot@gmail.com>
Candidate following-up a chat with Mikaella
1 message
Simon Pouliot <simon.j.pouliot@gmail.com> Mon, May 25, 2020 at 9:10 AM
To: jill@symend.com
Hi Jill,
I hope you are well. I recently spoke with Mikaella about opportunities at Symend and she kindly shared your contact details with me.
I discovered Symend through a friend who is a principal at iNovia (an investor in Symend) and who knows of my interest in financial services, consumer behavior, data science
and startups. Having witnessed bad events of debt defaults personally and up close, I immediately felt drawn to Symend's approach to engaging at-risk debtors. I love the idea
of "treating" clients as it speaks to a humane approach. Discussing with Mikaella also enabled me to discover how passionate your team is.
I recently completed my MBA in business analytics at the Wharton School. My functional expertise (at large institutions and startups) is broad-based, but focuses on developing
and implementing new growth, partnership and transformation initiatives while giving leverage to the senior leaders I work with. Since completing my MBA, I have been working
on performance improvement projects at financial institutions on behalf of Ernst & Young, while keeping my eyes open for the right full time opportunity. I think Symend fits the
bill perfectly.
If you think there might be a potential fit, for a position now or in the future, I would love to chat. I am currently in Montreal and flexible across North America. You will find my CV
attached for more information.
Thank you for your time Jill.
Sincerely,
Simon
--
Simon Pouliot
(215) 753-5066
CV Simon Pouliot 2020.pdf
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