Jenny Foss of JobJenny.com presented at the March 2017 pdxMindShare event on The Art & Science Behind the Letters: How to use cover letters, networking letters, and thank you notes to your supreme advantage. Lots aof job seekers attended this event and had great questions and networked after. The next one will be Tuesday, April 18th at Lucky Lab Quimby in NW Portland.

1. THE LETTERS
B Y J E N N Y F O S S
J O B J E N N Y . C O M
T H E A R T & S C I E N C E
B E H I N D
HOW TO USE COVER LETTERS,
NETWORKING LETTERS & THANK
YOU NOTES TO YOUR
SUPREME ADVANTAGE
Photo: Flickr Creative Commons (Matt)

2. J O B S E A R C H L E T T E R S : T H E B I G T H R E E
COVER LETTERS
Your opportunity to
spell how how, exactly,
you line up for this job.
A great way to tell your
friends and contacts
how they can help..
Thank you matters.
Don't waste this
opportunity.
NETWORKING
LETTERS
THANK YOU
NOTES

3. "Good words are worth
much, and cost little."
G E O R G E H E R B E R T

4. COVER
LETTERS
Done well, they're like the
dot-connectors that spell out
what, specifically, you can
walk through their doors and
deliver,.
Photo: Flickr Creative Commons (Daria_epicantus)

5. COVER LETTERS
SADLY, MOST STINK.
(BUT THIS GIVES YOU A HUGE OPPORTUNITY)

6. T H R E E Q U E S T I O N S
1. CAN SHE DO THE JOB?
2. DO WE LIKE HER?
3. DO WE THINK SHE'S
GONNA FIT IN HERE?
Photo: Flickr Creative Commons (Ethan Lofton)t

7. jobjenny.teachable.com
F R E E C O V E R L E T T E R C R A S H C O U R S E

8. STRONG LEAD
DRAW THE READER IN RIGHT FROM THE START

9. DIRECT EVIDENCE
HELP THE READER CONNECT THE DOTS

10. Top-notch negotiation skills, with both
entertainment and food vendors. [brief
example that backs up this point].
Current experience directing the
promotional efforts of an outside PR team.
[brief example that backs up this point].
S A M P L E B U L L E T P O I N T S

11. STRONG CLOSE
TAKE IT HOME, PEOPLE. TAKE IT HOME.

12. NETWORKING
LETTERS
It's going to be so much easier
for your people to help you if
they understand exactly how
they can be of service.
Photo: Flickr Creative Commons (Matt)

13. 1. Explain what’s happening
2. Briefly overview skills
3. Offer up sample job titles
4. Spell out target companies
5. Ask for introductions
ELEMENTS OF THE
NETWORKING LETTER

14. THANK YOU
NOTES.
A personal, swift and genuine
thank you note could be a
deciding factor.
Photo: Flickr Creative Commons (amy gizienski) (

15. 1. Thank person for time / interest
2. Touch on something specific
3. Correct a flub, if needed
4. Affirm continuing interest
5. Final affirmation of gratitude
ELEMENTS OF THE
THANK YOU NOTE

16. THANK YOU
MATTERS.
(JUST A REMINDER)

17. BOTTOM LINE
Strategize and take command
of the things you can control.
Photo: Flickr Creative Commons (Paxson Woelber)

18. J E N N Y F O S S I S A J O B S E A R C H
S T R A T E G I S T , R E C R U I T E R , R E S U M E
W R I T E R , A N D T H E V O I C E B E H I N D
T H E P O P U L A R C A R E E R B L O G
J O B J E N N Y . C O M .
S H E I S A L S O A R E G U L A R C A R E E R
C O L U M N I S T F O R T H E M U S E , A N D
T H E C R E A T O R O F T H E
R I D I C U L O U S L Y A W E S O M E R E S U M E
K I T , T H E R I D I C U L O U S L Y A W E S O M E
C A R E E R P I V O T K I T A N D A S E L F -
P A C E D V I D E O E - C O U R S E , W E E K E N D
R E S U M E M A K E O V E R .
F I N D J E N N Y A T J O B J E N N Y . C O M O R
O N T W I T T E R @ J O B J E N N Y .
WHO IS SHE?