This document provides an agenda and instructions for a tutorial on cover letters. Students are asked to bring draft cover letters to peer review in groups of 5. The tutorial will cover formatting of cover letters, including addressing, opening, skills matching, and closing paragraphs. Students will review each other's cover letters and provide feedback on formatting, spelling, grammar, consistency and other areas. The document also discusses writing accomplishment statements to highlight skills and experiences for resumes, using a Results, Action, Task, Situation (RATS) structure rather than a Situation, Task, Action, Results (STAR) structure commonly seen in interviews. Students are given action items to complete a skills matrix, submit resume drafts and cover letters, and review resume

1. COMM 202
W06: Resumes
T35 & T36
Hand in Cover Letter Drafts please :)
Sit in groups of 5.
Tutorial 4

2. Agenda
1.Cover Letter Peer Review
2.Accomplishment Statements
3.Action Items

3. Cover Letter
Peer Review

4. Instructions
1. Write your table number on ALL your documents
2. Put your documents in a pile in the middle of the table
3. Get out your marking utensils
Each new slide section
PASS DOCUMENT TO THE RIGHT

5. Formatting
o Left aligned (NOT justified)
o No indents on paragraphs
o Sections are apparent:
1. Opening paragraph
2. 2-3 Skills-Matching paragraphs
(bullets are fine)
3. Closing paragraph

6. Formatting - Address Line
Date
Contact Name
Their Title
Company
Address
City, Province Postal Code
Re: Position Title
Dear Mr. / Ms. Their Last Name OR Hiring
Manager
[Opening Paragraph]
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
No indented paragraphs in
a business letter

7. Formatting - Address Line

8. Formatting – Sign off
Sincerely,
Your Name
BCom Candidate 20XX
Sauder School of Business
Attached: Resume
Regards,
Best,
Written signature
optional (provide
more space if
including)
Attached: Resume, Transcript
Use “Enclosed: …” only if
sending application by mail
BCom BTM Co-op Candidate
2016
These spaces
are important

9. Opening
o How do you like the hook?
o Is there keen, genuine interest and/or passion for the
position?
o Is there a clear expression of the skills/experience matching
the job posting?
o Is company research integrated (and indicates interest)?
o If name drop is used, was it well-integrated?

10. Skills Matching
o Are there specific skills matched to the job description?
o Do they reference specific examples that leverage
experiences/qualifications?
o Are the highlighted experiences specific and concise?
o Do they indicate transferrable skills?
o Do the results show strength or success?
o Suggested minimum of 2 skills/attributes matched

11. Conclusion
o Are skills reiterated in a different (not redundant!) way?
o Is sincere interest expressed?
o Is there a gracious thank you and call to action
o request for meeting?

12. Branding
o Is their research insightful? Have they gone the distance to
show how they will “fit” into the industry or organization?
o Did they use Industry Terms?

13. Who would you hire?
Of the applications on your table, who has…
o Who had the WOW factor?
o Did they show CAN, WANT, & FIT?
o What was GOOD about their application?
o How can you improve yours?

14. Marking & Errors
Spelling &
Grammar
Typos Formatting
Missing Info
Dashes vs.
Hyphens
Consistency
2 or more errors on resume
2 or more errors on cover letter
Total potential deductions
20% deducted (of total)
20% deducted (of total)
40%

15. Resume
Accomplishment
Statements

16. From this…
(2011 & 2012)

17. To this!
(2016 - Business)

18. Duty Based Accomplishment
vsThis is a
job description!
This is how they know
you’re good at it!

19. Duty Based
Developed website to
boost traffic.
Accomplishment
vs

20. Duty Based
Developed website to
boost traffic.
Accomplishment
Boosted the website’s
average rate of monthly hits
by 34% by updating it with
new features and content
such as an interactive world
map, a student involvement
section, and a homepage
newsfeed—all of which
catered to local business
students
vs

21. A big change to STAR stories…
from STAR to RATS
Why???
o Employers do not want to hear your story, but
your accomplishments!

22. Flip it! (RATS Statements)
Result (proof)
Action
Task
Situation

23. Action Verbs
Attained
Exceeded
Maximized
Increased
Decreased
Eliminated
Minimized
Reduced
Saved
Surpassed
Improved
Created
Generated
Enhanced
Optimized
Established
**Try not to repeat words!!

24. Results Types
Qualitative
o Positive Feedback
o Promotion/Increase in
Responsibilities
o Implementation
o Awards
o Examples?
Quantitative
o How much?
o How many?
o Numbers
o Percentages
o Examples?
R

25. Action A
Do your results match up with your
actions?
Are those skills relevant to the job?
What skills did you see?

26. Task & Situation
o What other context is necessary to understand the information?
TS

27. ACCOMPLISHMENT
Boosted the website’s average
rate of monthly hits by 34%...
—
…by updating it with new features
and content such as an interactive
world map, a student involvement
section, and a homepage
newsfeed
—
…all of which catered to local
business students
RESULT
ACTION/TASK
SITUATION

28. Examples

29. Activity
Take one of your skills matching paragraphs
and rewrite it as an
accomplishment statement!

30. Action Items
Skills Matrix due February 12th @ TurnItIn
2 Hard copies of Resume Draft & an updated
Cover Letter to next Tutorial! (also your job posting)
Watch the resume e-module + review “Outline to a
Chronological Resume” + Resume Style slides
before next tutorial!
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