Getting A Job
Writing a Cover Letter
Read these instructions or you won't know what to do!
If you mail your resume to a potential employer, you will write a cover letter to go with it. Today you will write one in the lab. It will be turned in with your resume.
- Read the following articles (required!).
- Write the letter to the company whose job listing you printed the other day. If possible, use the contact information provided on the job listing. If they didn't give an address, make one up. If they didn't give the name of the contact person, write the letter to me, Mrs. Marcy Beck.
- You must use correct, block letter format. Remember that this letter is a sample of your professional work. What do you mean, you've forgotten how to use block format? Oh, all right—here is a reminder. Pay special attention to spacing and punctuation!
Writing a Thank You Letter
Immediately after your interview, you must follow up with a thank you letter. You want to mail it the same day you have the interview, so that the interviewer receives it within a day or two. That means you want to have it at least started beforehand.
- Read this article: Write Winning Thank-You Letters
- Again, use correct block letter format.
- Above all, remember that the purpose of this letter is to thank the interviewer. Make sure you emphasize how much you appreciate their time and consideration.
Putting the Project Together
That's it! It's all over but the practicing. On the day of your in-class interview, you will turn in the following (in order).
- Cover letter
- Resume
- Application
- Written answers to common interview questions
- Interview outfit picture
- Job listing
- Thank you letter
You will not know which day you will be doing your interview, so you must be prepared to go on the first day.
Make sure you practice your interview answers out loud several times before the big day. If you don't, it will show.
Extra credit is available for dressing up for the interview. Since you don't know which day you will be interviewing, we will have one day designated for the dress-up day. That day is Tuesday.