This document provides an agenda and information for a COMM 202 tutorial on cover letters. It includes sections on the course timeline, skills matrix draft, cover letters, networking activities, and formatting guidelines for cover letters. Key points covered are the purpose of cover letters to demonstrate communication skills and elaborate on one's skills matrix, differences between resumes and cover letters, and components of a strong cover letter including opening, skills matching, branding, integration and closing. Students are assigned to submit a draft skills matrix and cover letters for peer review.

1. COMM 202 TUTORIAL 3 Hand in a copy of your skills
matrix draft

2. AGENDA
Course Timeline
Cover Letters
Hook Activity
Action Items

3. COURSE TIMELINE
Week 5 Week 6 Week 7
• Resume peer
review
• Bring in 2 copies
of your resume
draft and posting
Followed by LinkedIn, Networking, Informational Interviews, and Employment
Interviews!
• Intro to cover
letters
• Skills matrix draft
due
• Cover letter peer
review
• Skills matrix due
Friday, October
14th

4. WHAT’S YOUR BRAND?
Take 2 minutes to jot down 4-5 words that describe you best – consider your
skills, personality, etc.
If you had 30 seconds to describe who you are, what would you say?

5. Are you the
right FIT?
Do you
WANT
the job?
CAN you
do the
job?

6. PAC MAN OF 202
Cover Email
Resume +
Cover Letter
Interview
Your Personal Brand

7. WHY DO WE WRITE COVER
LETTERS?

8. WHY COVER LETTERS
 Shows your intentions and interests through your research and
sincerity
Demonstrates ability to communicate both creatively and professionally
 Gives you an opportunity to elaborate on your stories and personality –
drawn directly from your skills matrix

9. RESUME VS. COVER
LETTER?

10. RESUME VS. COVER LETTER
Your resume is about YOU
Your cover letter is about THEM

11. ELEMENTS OF A COVER
LETTER
Opening
Closing
Skills Matching
Branding
Integration
Formatting

12. OPENING
Dear Hiring Manager,
My name is Sarah Moug and I am applying for the
technology intern role.

13. OPENING
Dear Hiring Manager,
My name is Sarah Moug and I am applying for the
technology intern role.

14. OPENING
 Expresses keen and genuine interest and/or passion for the position
 Genuine and unique primary and secondary research that is tied to your
interest in the company
 Name drop where applicable
 Makes a clear expression of the skills/experience matching the job
description

15. EXAMPLE

16. WHAT’S A HOOK?
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 industry 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:

17. ACTIVITY

18. SKILLS MATCHING CONTENT
 Skills from your skills matrix match the job description using STARL format
 Best relevant experiences
 Link education and other training to the job, and link it to the
company/position if it isn’t obvious
 Any other qualifications
If it doesn’t belong, don’t include it!

19. SKILLS MATCHING TIPS
 Use STARL to your advantage – Action and Link in particular!
 Each line proves you have the necessary skills and aptitudes to perform
 Always link to the company position if it’s not obvious
 Use skills listed in the job description

20. SKILLS MATCHING
EXAMPLES

21. CLOSING
“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 perfect fit for ABC position. Thank you very much and I hope
to hear from you soon.”

22. CLOSING
 Make a good final impression
 Show your passion
 Restate skills with different wording
 Give genuine thanks
 Leave a call to action
 Tie to previous stories and your hook

23. BRANDING
 Consistent throughout your cover letter
 Fits in with the company’s values and your own
 Create the image you want to project
 Use Job Research Assignment!

24. INTEGRATION
 Clear, consistent branding throughout the resume and cover letter
documents
 All necessary information is displayed, format/tone/font/style is appropriate,
and you’re showing the best version of yourself!

26. FORMATTING – OPENING
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]

27. FORMATTING – CLOSING
[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.)

28. COVER EMAILS

29. WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
 <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!

30. 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

31. QUESTIONS?

32. ACTION ITEMS
 2 hard copy Cover Letter drafts for peer review for Wednesday’s tutorial
 Skills Matrix due Friday, October 14th @ 2 pm on Turnitin
 Sign up for Office Hours!
 Next week: Tutorial!