Good career centers pursue corporate and agency recruiters and coach their students on the best techniques to attract employers. According to Chris Ryan, campus relations manager for Electronic Data Systems Corp., most centers try to schedule either open or closed recruiting sessions. For open recruiting, companies schedule on-campus interviews with any students who sign up for them. With closed recruiting, companies preselect candidates whom they want to meet. You may not need to provide cover letters and resumes to companies conducting open recruiting visits. However, these documents are mandatory for companies doing closed recruiting because they are used in selecting interviewees.
To improve your chances of being chosen for on-campus interviews, you should tailor your cover letters and resumes to each opening that interests you. Start the process by getting a copy of the job description from your career center, then highlight the position's key qualifications and buzz words and match your cover letter and resume to these requirements.
According to Arden Showalter, director of the career center at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, students' biggest challenge when preparing cover letters is to avoid a bland "fill-in-the-blanks" formula and to breathe life into their writing. If you think about it, composing a cover letter is similar to
ROBERT HALF'S RESUMANIA
In a cover letter, a Texas college graduate listed the 10 subjects she enjoyed most during her college career, followed by the subjects she liked least: "1. Ethics; 2. Physical Science; 3. U.S. Government."
This type of information really shouldn't be included in a cover letter. But in her case, there was an even better reason to leave it out. She applied to a company whose corporate motto is "Ethics First." writing a thank-you note. Few people relish either task, so they take the path of least resistance and finish the distasteful chore as quickly as possible. A get-it out-of-the-way thank-you note looks something like this:
Dear Aunt Kate,
Thank you for the new outfit. I really like it.
Love,
Heather
While Aunt Kate may be grateful to get any kind of thank-you note, she's probably disappointed that Heather didn't say anything about the outfit's color or style, where she plans to wear it or whether it coordinates with other items in her wardrobe.
Suppose Heather had written the following letter. Wouldn't it give her aunt the feeling Heather really appreciates her gift?
Dear Aunt Kate,
When I opened your birthday present, I couldn't wait to put it on. Its teal color (my personal favorite, as you know) goes really well with my red hair and coordinates with many of the shoes and belts I already have. It should be just perfect for my interview with JC Penney next week. Thank you so much for finding me such a wonderful and useful gift.
Love,
Heather
Granted, cover letters written to corporations aren't as personal as thank-you notes to loved ones, but tailored correspondence can give corporate recipients the same satisfaction nonetheless and make a strong case for your enthusiasm and qualifications for the job.
Karen Andrews from Kennesaw State College (KSC) in Marietta, Georgia, sent me a copy of the cover-letter guidelines that she gives all students visiting her career center. I'm passing them along since they're right on target.
KSC Cover-Letter Rules
- Send typed originals with all resumes, not copied form letters.
- Use quality paper, preferably the same as your resume.
- Address it to a specific person whenever possible.
- Emphasize achievements that are relevant to a particular position.
- Be brief and concise. Keep your letter to one page with three to five short paragraphs, so it will be easy to skim.
- Your letter should be both professional and personal. The words you choose will speak volumes about you and serve as a deciding factor in whether you are selected for an interview or not.
- Opening. State why you are writing. Mention the position and how you learned about it. Express some knowledge of the company and why you are interested in it.
- Body. This is your chance to tell the employer why you are the best person for the position. Highlight your education and the achievements that qualify you. Be sure to research the company and the opening so you'll know what sells.
- Closing. Reemphasize your interest in the position and what your next step will be: I will call you next week; I look forward to our interview on April 20; and so on.
The following cover letters were written by students graduating from Northwestern University, University of Pittsburgh and Southern Methodist University. These letters showcase the students' academic backgrounds, extracurricular activities and part-time jobs and provide excellent reasons for hiring the applicants-despite their limited paid experience.
CARRIE E. FISCHER
717 University Street North
Rockford, Illinois 61606
January 28, 199X
Ms. Marlene McKasberg
Merrill Lynch & Company
Investment Banking Group
5500 Sears Tower
Chicago, IL 60606
Dear Ms. McKasberg:
Your financial analyst position at Merrill Lynch offers everything I am looking for in a first job, including the opportunity to work in investment banking while staying in Chicago. I won't waste time discussing details of the job since you are well aware of them but I would like to share with you something you will find more interesting: What I can offer Merrill Lynch.
I feel I would be a valuable addition to the Merrill Lynch team. During my academic career, I have striven for excellence in all areas. Through my economics coursework and related classes, I have developed strong quantitative and analytic capabilities as well as written and verbal abilities. Through my summer internships at Detroit Diesel Corporation, I learned to apply these skills in financial and business settings. I also acquired some new skills, including computer applications and an introduction to financial reporting and accounting. I have also been involved in extracurricular activities, both as a leader and as a member of a team or committee. Through campus organizations and volunteer work, I have tried to do my part to make the university and the surrounding community better places to live and work. 1 can offer Merrill Lynch these skills as well as my dedication, motivation and desire to learn new skills.
I am seeking a position as an Investment Banking Analyst with Merrill Lynch & Company's Chicago Industrial Corporate Finance Group. I would like the opportunity to meet with you and share more about my qualifications and the ways in which I can contribute to the Merrill Lynch team. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Carrie Fischer
Mark A. Bohanon
SMU P. O. Box 7S38S3
Dallas, TX 75275-3853
814-239-4485
January 18,199X
Ms. Melissa Stephenson
Recruiting Coordinator
Freeman Consulting
602 Main Street, Suite 212
Dallas, TX 75202
Dear Ms. Stephenson:
I am writing in reference to your advertisement for a staff consultant as listed in the Southern Methodist University Career Center. I will be graduating in May 199X with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and I believe my qualifications to be consistent with those desired by your firm.
Throughout my collegiate career, I have attempted to stay well-rounded combining academic excellence with leadership and work experience. By majoring in Electrical Engineering with a concentration in Biomedical Engineering, I have been exposed to all facets of scientific and analytic disciplines from mathematics to circuit analysis to Fortran. Beginning with my appointment to the President's Developing Leadership for Tomorrow freshman year, I have chosen to actively participate and take on responsibility in community service and campus activities during my four years at SMU. I have also worked continuously while in college. I am currently working at MJ Skyline in Dallas, a technology management company, generating reports and updating their database. My previous work experience has provided me with a strong exposure to both corporate and technical environments and has taught me the importance of team work and open communication with clients and coworkers.
I look forward to meeting with you on January 28 to further discuss my qualifications with you. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Mark A. Bohanon
PAUL MCWHORTER
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
P. O. Box 2131J
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15214
February 7, 199X
Mr., Jeffrey Scanlon
Manager, Executive Recruitment
Marshall's
400 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Dear Mr. Scanlon:
I would like to interview with Marshall's during your February 21 recruiting visit to the University of Pittsburgh. I am particularly interested in a career with your organization because of your excellent reputation as having one of the ten best executive training programs in your industry. As a candidate, I can offer your company strong interpersonal skills, organizational ability and retail sales experience.
As a sales executive at Lantrip's, I developed effective selling techniques, resulting in consistently exceeding my store's quotas. Through extensive contact with customers, assisting in merchandising and performance of daily store operations, I gained valuable experience.
My internship at WKPA Radio and my work-study position at the University of Pittsburgh have provided me with an opportunity to develop oral and written communication skills, as well as experience in researching and analyzing data. I am confident that these skills have provided me with the background for a successful and productive career at Marshall's.
I have enclosed a resume for your review. I am very interested in further discussing my qualifications with you. I will contact your office on February 14 to arrange a mutually convenient time for a meeting. Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Paul McWhorter
412-639-4800
SMU P. O. Box 753853
Dallas, TX 75205
March 18, 199X
2726 Lindenshire
Dallas, TX 75275-3853
Ms. Melissa Stephenson
Recruiting Coordinator
Freeman Consulting
602 Main Street, Suite 212
Dallas, TX 75202
Dear Ms. Stephenson:
Your position in Change Management Services, which I learned about through the Career Center at Southern Methodist University, intrigued me. I am honored to write to you to request an interview. I will be graduating in May with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with Departmental Distinction and a double minor in English and Women's Studies, My current major CPA is 3.88/4.00 scale and my cumulative CPA is 3.66/4.00.
I am excited about the possibility of working with Freeman Consulting because this position is an opportunity for me to combine my skills, interest and experience in a career I would truly enjoy. My ideal job description would include utilizing my psychology degree while working on a team in a business setting, but most important, serving others. Your position provides the perfect fit to realize each of these ideals.
As my resume reveals, several of my personal qualities meet your needs as I understand them:
- Consistent teamwork and leadership ability demonstrated through positions held in numerous extracurricular activities including overseeing editorial policy while serving on the Student Media Company Board of Directors composed of professors, peers, and staff.
- Advanced critical thinking and effective writing obtained through extensive coursework and psychological research including an honors thesis written for departmental distinction analyzing data collected at the Dallas Juvenile Detention Center concerning family variables of violent juveniles.
- Creative planning and efficient delegation skills demonstrated by coordinating and participating in successful programming including serving as New Programs Coordinator and Talent Show Props Director for SMU Student Foundation Parents' Weekend Committee, planning two successful events attended by over 2,500 students and parents.
- Effective interpersonal and communication skills developed through working on numerous committees with administration, professors, and peers to revise and expand the Academic Orientation conducted for 1,300 incoming freshmen.
Sincerely,
Allen Robinson
