ENGL 379: introduction to professional writing
short assignment #1: cover letter and resume

parts of cover letters:

A cover letter is a letter of introduction addressed to a potential employer. Its sole purpose is to obtain for its author an interview. This fact should shape every aspect of the letter. A useful and flexible format includes:

1) identification of purpose of the letter, the author, and how she learned of the position,

2) summary of qualifications with reference to resume,

3) statement of reasons author should be considered apart from presumed competition, and

4) tactful request for an interview.

You will find sample cover letters in Chapter Ten: Job-Finding Materials of the Online Textbook.

parts of resumes:

A resume is a formatted list of qualifications. Although the resume's format may vary greatly, it should include the information below.

1) name, address (school and home, if applicable), telephone(s), email address and date

2) overview (optional)

3) job objective

4) education

5) software knowledge

(All categories below this line are optional, but you will be able to use at least a few.)

7) other work experience

8) awards

9) skills

10) natural and artificial languages

11) membership in professional societies

12) publications

13) patents

14) licenses and security clearance

15) military service

16) interests

17) personal data

18) references

Examples of resumes of persons with backgrounds like your own may be found in the online portfolios of last year's program graduates. They are located in the homepage of ENGL 391C: Advanced Software. Other samples may be found in Chapter Ten: Job-Finding Materials of the Online Textbook.

getting started :

For this assignment, I ask that you answer one of these position announcements. As you'll see, Position #1 is for a technical writer; postion #2 is for a copywriter.

In answer to one of these announcements, prepare:

1) a one-page cover letter, and

2) a one-page resume.

For purposes of this assignment, assume that you have completed all course requirements for the degree. In other words, if you expect to graduate in May 2010, pretend it is May 2010. For juniors, assume it is May 2011 (it will be here sooner than you realize!).

logistics:

Formatting of a cover letter is like that of any formal letter: that is, single space between lines, double space between paragraphs. You may use the format of any good business letter as a template. Alternately, you may find further details of formatting in the sample cover letters in Chapter Ten: Job-Finding Materials of the Online Textbook.

Please take this opportunity to have your resume and cover letter prepared as professionally as possible. Both documents should be laser printed on quality bond paper. If expenses seem prohibitive, let me know and we will make arrangements.

NOTE: Do not staple the cover letter to the resume. An employer considering your application may wish to make copies of either or both documents; a staple presents a small but irritating problem for the photocopier.

If you have no intention of seeking work immediately after graduation, but rather expect to apply to graduate programs, you will replace the cover letter with a statement of purpose. A statement of purpose is an applicant's personal justification, in response to two or three broad questions, for wanting to enter a graduate program. The length of the statement is determined by the admissions committee. The more you know about the university, the future of the program, and your place in it, the better you can tailor the statement to the admissions committee. As well, you will need to know the formal presentation guidelines for the statement.