PROJECT 3: Employment Communications

A very high percentage of students complete this networking-related project.

OVERVIEW:

To obtain a desired position or to advance with a company you must be able to write effective letters. A cover letter is essential to create interest in your resume but it does not end there. You are evaluated by the competency of your correspondence with recruiters, networking contacts, and companies interested in hiring you. This project will enable you to create a career correspondence portfolio consisting of two error-free letters to be used during your job search and also containing your recruiter resume expanded into a Networking Recommender Resume. Your Networking Resume will be used quite often as you network your way to success. The project will include your Networking Recommender Resume and two letters: a cover letter and a thank you letter.

PROJECT INSTRUCTIONS:

Read Chapter 13 in the textbook. Chapters listed with the project refer to the pages in Career Planning Strategies: Hire Me! (5^th Edition).

Do all three parts of this project. All projects MUST include one cover letter, one thank you letter, and your Networking Recommender Resume.

Each letter must be in a typical business format and be free of grammatical and spelling errors. See Chapter 13 in the textbook.

You may use the sample letters in the textbook as a guide but you must do original work.

If you have accepted employment, you may substitute a letter to someone requesting an informational interview.

Review the Communications PowerPoint lecture before starting these projects as well as the material in Chapter 13 of the textbook.

Part I: Cover Letter

A cover letter over a resume highlights your strong suits and allows you to mention any additional information that is not clear on your resume. It also allows you to tie your qualifications and abilities directly to the requirements of the job. It is critical that your cover letter be error-free.

A. Review the formats and examples from Chapter 13 in the textbook and experiment with different styles for your cover letter. Try to get advice on which style might be most appropriate for your mailings. Make a list of your best action verbs, accomplishments, statements, and personal qualities.

B. Prepare a one-page cover letter following the suggestions from Chapter 13 of the text.

C. Your letter should either ask for a job interview or an informational interview. If you choose to make this letter a request for an informational interview, please read the chapter on “Networking” in your textbook.

D. The cover letter:

1. Address the cover letter to a person that is realistic for your situation.

2. Write an introductory paragraph to your letter that attracts the attention of the employer and explain how you can be a benefit to their company.

3. Write at least two but no more than four paragraphs for the body of your letter that stresses your accomplishments without merely rehashing the content of your resume. Highlight your more personal qualities that would make you an attractive candidate.

4. Write the closing paragraph of your letter. Be sure that it is positive and concise. Request specific, not vague, actions by the reader.

E. Include the entire, completed letter as Part I of your project.

Part II: Thank You Letter

A. Review Chapter 20 on the Thank You letter.

B. Write a thank you letter to a recruiter or an executive with whom you have had a job interview or an informational interview. If you have not yet interviewed, select a hypothetical recruiter and company. Be sure to use the typical business letter style (Figure 20.3), even if you plan to send this letter via email. Be sure to give the details of when you interviewed and list an additional item of information that you think will advance your cause with the recruiter. Use a brief example to support your point. If you are writing about an informational interview, ask another question based on a topic covered in the interview. Check your letter for spelling and grammatical errors before submitting.

C. Include the entire, completed letter as Part II of your project.

Part III: Networking Recommender Resume

A. Review the three chapters in the textbook about resumes and, in particular, review the information on the Recommender Resume.

B. View the PowerPoint presentation called Networking Resume Preparation and write notes from examples that relate to your unique situation.

C. Expand your Project 1 resume into a 2- to 3-page resume suitable for networking purposes.

D. Include entire networking resume as Part III of your project.

This Networking Recommender Resume, Cover Letter, and Thank You Letter project is related to the following upcoming projects:

Ø P13: Networking

Ø P14: The Independent Job Search Strategy

Ø P17: Networking Database Creation

Deliverables: You should turn in to your Career Counselor (via Oncourse email attachment and paper copy):

Ø One-page Cover Letter

Ø One-page Thank You Letter

Ø One- to three-page Networking Recommender Resume.