Constructing an Exceptional Cover Letter

Constructing an Exceptional Cover Letter

Career Zone offers many resources to help you build an exceptional cover letter!

Where can I find cover letter resources?

It’s simple! All you need to do is log onto your Career Zone portal: https://careerzone.brocku.ca. Once you have accessed your portal you can find resources for cover letters under the “Student Resources” tab in the Dashboard drop down menu, under “Cover Letter & Resume”.  ​

What is a Cover Letter?

A cover letter is a professional document that can be attached to your resume when applying to a job. A cover letter gives you an opportunity to explain what you bring to the table that would satisfy employers requirements. This blog will provide you with information on writing an exceptional 4-paragraph cover letter.

General Tips

Before we dive into more detail on the content on your cover letter, here are some important tips for your cover letter:

• 1 page maximum
• PDF or Microsoft Word Doc
• 4 sections total​  
• Concise writing​
• No grammar, punctuation, spelling errors​
• Name and contact header offset from sections using a no-fill box outline (identical to your resume)​​

Content

Always be sure to address the Hiring Manager before writing.

Introductory paragraph

Your introductory paragraph is meant to spark the interest of the employer! You want to state why you are writing, how you heard of the position, and why you’re interested in the specific organization you’re applying to.

Body paragraph #1

Your first body paragraph is meant to create a desire for the employer to read further! You want to refer the reader to your enclosed resume, and demonstrate how your education, experience, and interests match the job requirements for the position you’re applying to. You don’t want to make the common mistake of mentioning that you’re applying for the position to gain experience. Rather, you should focus on showing the employer what you bring to the table.

Body paragraph #2

Your second body paragraph is meant to show the employer that you have taken the initiative to research their organization or company! Be sure to indicate what interests you about the position, and how this relates to your previous experience and skills.

Conclusion

To conclude your cover letter, you should thank the employer for their time! You also want to ensure that you request an opportunity to meet and discuss your qualifications further. Be sure to restate your email and phone number, along with a time you can be reached at.

Remember to include an e-signature and an enclosure statement at the bottom of your cover letter as well. For more information on your exceptional cover letter, check out our Cover Letter Guidelines on CareerZone!

Starting from Scratch

If you’re starting your cover letter from scratch here are some steps on getting you started:

1. Print/refer to job ad (if applicable)

2. Review CareerZone guideline PDFs and resource sections on CareerZone

3. Create T-chart of job expectations vs your qualifications 

4. Apply knowledge and curate new cover letter

5. Submit for review (career@brocku.ca) so we can provide you with feedback!

Connect With Us!

We are here to support you, so don’t be afraid to ask for help! We offer many student resources on our portal (careerzone.brocku.ca) and can be contacted via email at career@brocku.ca to answer any inquiries you may have.

Follow Us on Social Media to Stay Up-to-Date With All our Upcoming Events and Workshops!
Twitter: @BrockCareerZone
Instagram: @brockcareerzone

Written by: Megan Vlahiotis, Career Assistant 
Edited by Kara Renaud, Supervisor of Career Education, CCEE Department

 

Creating a Standout Resume

Resumes play a pivotal role in creating a good first impression of a candidate among several applications being reviewed by employers. Often students don’t invest the time into crafting a customized resume for each position. To create a standout resume it is important to showcase your personality, qualifications, skills, and experiences in a way that highlights your match to a specific role.  Crafting a resume does requires sufficient time and a good understanding of your qualifications and accomplishments communicated in a way that leaves the employer wanting to learn more about you. 

So, how do you create a standout resume? One should keep in mind that a single, generic resume can’t be used for all kinds of job applications. It needs to be tailored based on the job requirements and skills and should only highlight those experiences and skill sets that aligns with it. Keeping your content relevant to the reader helps you convince potential employers that you are a good fit for the position.

Some important tips for crafting a resume are : 

• Keeping your resume to two-pages

• Using CAR (Challenge, Action, Result) statements to highlight experiences and accomplishments

• Choosing a format that works for you (Education, Work experience, Volunteer experience, Achievements, and so on)

• Using keywords relevant to the job industry

• Avoiding grammatical and spelling errors

• Using a readable font style and point size, and consistent spacing

• Listing experiences in reverse chronological order

• Dates and months aligned on the right-hand side of the page

Once you’ve had a chance to create your resume, take the opportunity to get it reviewed.  Having a second pair of eyes on your document can be very helpful to catch general errors or suggestions on how to improve your resume. 

CareerZone at Brock offers resume and cover letter review services, one-on-one student appointments with a Talent Development Specialist, online workshops, as well as various cover letter and resume resources that help students craft the perfect resume. 

So, start crafting your resume now and take that first step towards your successful career journey. We are here to help you in every step of the way!
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Connect With Us!
We are here to support you, so don’t be afraid to ask for help! We offer many student resources on our portal (careerzone.brocku.ca) and can be contacted via email at career@brocku.ca to answer any inquiries you may have.

Follow Us on Social Media to Stay Up-to-Date With All our Upcoming Events and Workshops!
Twitter: @BrockCareerZone
Instagram: @brockcareerzone

Written by : Mansi Vansia, Career Assistant 
Edited by Kara Renaud, Supervisor of Career Education, CCEE Department