Application Letter of Interest (Cover Letter) Assignment
Requirements:
- For this assignment, you may choose to writeeither a solicitedoran unsolicited application (cover) letter.
- If you select the solicitedapplication letter, search the Internet (e.g., CareerBuilder, Monster, company website) and identify a job of interest. See Table 15.1 for additional Job-Search websites. Select a position that you would like to apply to, and create an application letter that is adapted to your audience. See the eText, Figure 16.2 (page 522) for an example.
- If you select the unsolicitedapplication letter, write a general application letter by taking the initiative to write to a company, although the company has not publically announced a job opening that matches your credentials (Thill & Bovee, 2013, p. 521). See the eText, Figure 16.3 (page 523) for an example.
- Remember that your letter is a form of advertising and serves as a representation of you. So, be sure it is visually appealing and well written using effective sentence structure, grammar, and punctuation.
- Review the Handbook of Grammar, Mechanics, and Usage in MyLabsPlus, eText.
- Follow our author's tips (see eText, p. 521-522). Avoid starting your first sentence with a "gimmicky" (Thill & Bovee, 2013, p. 521) statement, such as stating what the company needs in an employee.
- Submit your own original work! DO NOT copy/paste/submit Internet content or prewritten application letter content, or you run the risk of plagiarism and the consequences thereof (e.g., zero, F, grade; etc.).
- Use business letter format and include all of the elements of a business letter (Date, Sender's Address, Inside Address, Salutation, Body, Closing, Signature) in your cover letter assignment.
- Prominently display your name, address, city, state, zip, phone, and mail address, so this perspective employer knows how to contact you for an interview.
- Include the current date
- Be sure to: address the letter to the contact person in the want ad or use Dear Hiring Manager for the unsolicited application letter
- Include a signature (i.e., can be typed with a different font style; does not need to be an original signature)
- After your signature, include an "Enclosure: Résumé" notation
- Be persuasive, and sell yourself in the letter. Highlight as many qualifications as you possess in the company's ad or generally speaking.
- Refer your reader to the résumé to learn more about your knowledge, skills, and abilities.
- Your letter of interest should be no more than one-page in length.
- Refer to the eText Chapter 16, MyLabs Plus Lesson 5, and Appendix A for help hints and examples.