COMM 202Tutorial 3: Cover Letters
LAPTOPS & PHONES AWAY! NAME TENTS OUT!
T15 + T17
AGENDA For today
Your	Brand	
Cover	Le.ers	
Hook	Ac4vity	
Ac4on	Items
Course Timeline
Week 5 Week 9Week 6 Week 8Week 7
•  Intro to cover
letters
•  Skills matrix
drafts due
•  Cover letter
peer review
•  Cover letter
drafts due
•  Skills matrix
due Friday,
October 14th
@ 2:00PM
•  LinkedIn /
networking
•  Event
networking /
informational
interviews
•  Cover letter &
resume due
Tuesday,
November 1st
@ 2:00PM
•  Networking
event on
November 3rd
•  Resume peer
review
•  Resume drafts
due
Skills Matrix Due Next Friday!
What is your
BRAND?
Activity
•  Take 2 min to write down 4-5 words that describe you
–  Have them be related to your skills, personality, etc.
THINK LIKE THIS:
IF YOU HAD JUST 30 SECONDS TO DESCRIBE WHO YOU
ARE..
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?
Let’s learn about
COVER
LETTERS
The application process
Cover Email Resume & Cover Letter interview Get Hired!
Why do we write cover
letters anyways?
Why cover letters
•  Shows your intentions and interests
–  sincerity and research
•  Demonstrates ability to communicate
–  creative and personal
•  Is an opportunity to elaborate on your stories and
personality
–  drawn from your skills matrix
Resume vs. Cover Letter
Resume is about you
Cover Letter is about them!
CAN-WANT-FIT
CAN	you	do	
the	job?	
Do	you	
WANT	
the	job?	
Are	you	
the	right	
FIT?
Elements of a cover letter
Opening
Skills
Matching
closing
integration
branding
The Opening
Dear ,
My name is , and
I am applying to .
The Opening
Dear ,
My name is , and
I am applying to .
Opening the right way
•  Expresses keen and genuine interest and/or passion for position
•  Genuine and unique primary and secondary research indicating
interest in company (make sure the research you show is tied to your
interest)
•  Name drop (where applicable)
•  Makes a clear expression of the skills/experience matching the job
description
An Example
Another Example
My OWN ta’s opening
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:
Your Turn!
Skills Matching
•  Skills from your skills matrix match
the job description (use STARL)
•  Best relevant experiences
•  Link education and other training to
the job, and link to the co/position if
it’s not obvious
•  Any other qualifications
If it doesn’t belong, don’t include it!
Skills Matching Example
Skills Matching Example
Skills Matching…
•  Each line proves you have the necessary skills &
aptitudes to perform on the job
•  Always link to the company / position if not obvious
•  Use skills listed in the job description
Now for my
favourite part.
Let’s talk about
CLOSING
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.”
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.”
What a closing should be
•  Make a good final impression
•  Show your passion
•  Restate skills with a different wording
•  Give genuine thanks
•  Leave a call to action
•  Tie to previous examples/stories (tie to hook)
What closing can also be
•  Address the elephant in the room
–  bad grades
–  relocation
–  year of study
Elements of a cover letter
Opening
Skills
Matching
closing
integration
branding
???
Branding
•  Remember your brand? Use it
•  Consistent throughout cover letter
•  Fits in with the company’s values + yours
•  Good impression
•  Use Job Research Assignment
INTEGRATION
•  Cover letter + resume use
SAME formatting
•  Stands out!
•  Cover letter reflects and
expands on resume
•  Be mindful of spacing
Some Formatting Help
Date
Contact Name
Their Title
Company
Address
City, Province, Postal Code
Re: Position Title
Dear Mr. / Ms. Their Last Name OR Hiring Manager
	
	
These spaces are
important
If unknown, this can
be omitted
AVOID:
“To Whom it May Concern”
“Dear Sir or Madam”
	
Country is typically
unnecessary unless
applying outside of
Canada
Some Formatting Help
Some Formatting Help
Some Formatting Help
Cover emails…
•  <150 words
•  Utilize bold face type to emphasize important
points
•  Show your brand & personality
•  Make them want more!
–  ie. resume, cover letter and interview!
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
One last
thing
Turnitin registration:
o T15: Class ID: 13702978,
Enrollment Password: comm202
o T17: Class ID: 13703087,
Enrollment Password: comm202
REGISTER FOR TURNITIN ASAP
Action items
1. Sign up for office hours!
2. Cover letter draft due next tutorial!
Bring two copies + Your Job Posting
3. Skills Matrix Due Next Friday @2PM on TURNITIN
4. Tutorials next week!
QUESTIONS?

Tutorial 3 - Ali Jatoi

  • 1.
    COMM 202Tutorial 3:Cover Letters LAPTOPS & PHONES AWAY! NAME TENTS OUT! T15 + T17
  • 2.
  • 3.
    Course Timeline Week 5Week 9Week 6 Week 8Week 7 •  Intro to cover letters •  Skills matrix drafts due •  Cover letter peer review •  Cover letter drafts due •  Skills matrix due Friday, October 14th @ 2:00PM •  LinkedIn / networking •  Event networking / informational interviews •  Cover letter & resume due Tuesday, November 1st @ 2:00PM •  Networking event on November 3rd •  Resume peer review •  Resume drafts due Skills Matrix Due Next Friday!
  • 4.
  • 5.
    Activity •  Take 2min to write down 4-5 words that describe you –  Have them be related to your skills, personality, etc. THINK LIKE THIS: IF YOU HAD JUST 30 SECONDS TO DESCRIBE WHO YOU ARE.. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?
  • 6.
  • 7.
    The application process CoverEmail Resume & Cover Letter interview Get Hired!
  • 8.
    Why do wewrite cover letters anyways?
  • 9.
    Why cover letters • Shows your intentions and interests –  sincerity and research •  Demonstrates ability to communicate –  creative and personal •  Is an opportunity to elaborate on your stories and personality –  drawn from your skills matrix
  • 10.
  • 11.
    Resume is aboutyou Cover Letter is about them!
  • 12.
  • 13.
    Elements of acover letter Opening Skills Matching closing integration branding
  • 14.
    The Opening Dear , Myname is , and I am applying to .
  • 15.
    The Opening Dear , Myname is , and I am applying to .
  • 16.
    Opening the rightway •  Expresses keen and genuine interest and/or passion for position •  Genuine and unique primary and secondary research indicating interest in company (make sure the research you show is tied to your interest) •  Name drop (where applicable) •  Makes a clear expression of the skills/experience matching the job description
  • 17.
  • 18.
  • 19.
    My OWN ta’sopening 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:
  • 20.
  • 21.
    Skills Matching •  Skillsfrom your skills matrix match the job description (use STARL) •  Best relevant experiences •  Link education and other training to the job, and link to the co/position if it’s not obvious •  Any other qualifications If it doesn’t belong, don’t include it!
  • 22.
  • 23.
  • 24.
    Skills Matching… •  Eachline proves you have the necessary skills & aptitudes to perform on the job •  Always link to the company / position if not obvious •  Use skills listed in the job description
  • 25.
  • 27.
  • 28.
    Closing “Thank you forlooking 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.”
  • 29.
    Closing “Thank you forlooking 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.”
  • 30.
    What a closingshould be •  Make a good final impression •  Show your passion •  Restate skills with a different wording •  Give genuine thanks •  Leave a call to action •  Tie to previous examples/stories (tie to hook)
  • 31.
    What closing canalso be •  Address the elephant in the room –  bad grades –  relocation –  year of study
  • 32.
    Elements of acover letter Opening Skills Matching closing integration branding ???
  • 33.
    Branding •  Remember yourbrand? Use it •  Consistent throughout cover letter •  Fits in with the company’s values + yours •  Good impression •  Use Job Research Assignment
  • 34.
    INTEGRATION •  Cover letter+ resume use SAME formatting •  Stands out! •  Cover letter reflects and expands on resume •  Be mindful of spacing
  • 35.
    Some Formatting Help Date ContactName Their Title Company Address City, Province, Postal Code Re: Position Title Dear Mr. / Ms. Their Last Name OR Hiring Manager These spaces are important If unknown, this can be omitted AVOID: “To Whom it May Concern” “Dear Sir or Madam” Country is typically unnecessary unless applying outside of Canada
  • 36.
  • 37.
  • 38.
  • 39.
    Cover emails… •  <150words •  Utilize bold face type to emphasize important points •  Show your brand & personality •  Make them want more! –  ie. resume, cover letter and interview!
  • 40.
    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
  • 41.
  • 42.
    Turnitin registration: o T15: ClassID: 13702978, Enrollment Password: comm202 o T17: Class ID: 13703087, Enrollment Password: comm202 REGISTER FOR TURNITIN ASAP
  • 43.
    Action items 1. Signup for office hours! 2. Cover letter draft due next tutorial! Bring two copies + Your Job Posting 3. Skills Matrix Due Next Friday @2PM on TURNITIN 4. Tutorials next week! QUESTIONS?