Write a cover letter and resume for your first job application
Write a cover letter and resume for your first job application. Detailed instructions are below. Remember, there are TWO parts to this discussion; and TWO parts to the responses.
Part I: Writing your Cover Letter
Cover letters are recommended, and in some instances required, for job applications. If you want to stand out from other candidates, you will want to write a unique cover letter for each position you apply to.
Cover letters allow you to clarify, detail, and expand upon your most relevant skills and competencies. In addition, a cover letter allows you to showcase your written communication skills.
It is important that you have a compelling cover letter. To write an impactful cover letter you need to answer the following questions before you begin composing it. Starting with these questions will help provide a clear and concise message for the reader of your cover letter.
Why are you interested in the position? Consider what makes the position, organization, or company interesting to you.
What three skills or competencies do you possess that match the skills the employer is seeking in a candidate?
You can find these skills by viewing the job description. These specific skills are the reason every cover letter should be unique for each job for which you apply.
For this discussion, you will explore the components of a cover letter, reflect on your most relevant skills, and assess what action steps you can take to make your resume stronger.
For step-by-step instructions for creating a cover letter, please use the Cover Letters
(Links to an external site.)
material to see additional ways to format your cover letter.
For more in-depth guidance for writing a cover letter please watch the Creating a Compelling Cover Letter
(Links to an external site.)
webinar.
For your Discussion Post:
Identify a position that interests you on www.indeed.com
(Links to an external site.)
(or anywhere else that you find jobs that interest you) as a potential job opportunity and using the job description identify three (3) skills or qualifications that match your background.
Compose an actual cover letter. (Use the format suggestions from both the webinar and cover letter sample, create a second paragraph that communicates the three (3) matching skills and/or competencies you would like to highlight for the employer. Keeping these three skills in mind, develop a three to four sentence paragraph that you can share on the discussion board to obtain feedback from your classmates. The goal is to tailor the body of your cover letter to the position you seek.)
You can copy/paste your letter into the discussion or attach it as a document. Either way is acceptable.
Part II: Developing a Strong Resume
Creating a strong resume is a crucial component in any successful job search. Your resume serves as your personal marketing document, and it serves as your first impression to an employer about your skills and qualifications. In order to create a strong resume, you have to first identify what message you want to send with your document.
For this discussion, you will explore the components of a strong resume, reflect on your own career goals, and assess what action steps you can take to make your resume stronger. Follow these steps to prepare for your discussion.
You are encouraged to watch the Creating a Winning Resume
(Links to an external site.)
webinar to help prepare you for creating or updating your resume.
Visit Marketing Yourself
(Links to an external site.)
. Revisit your career goal and identify the top 3-5 skills or qualifications that make you a strong candidate for this career/position.
For your discussion:
Create your base resume. Use the template to posted in your resources to develop a solid resume to obtain the job of your dreams. If you already have a resume, tweak it and post it here.
You can copy and paste your resume into the discussion or attach it as a document. Either way is acceptable. (Note: To maintain good formatting, it is a good idea to make a PDF of your resume and post it as an attachment.)
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