COVER LETTER WORKSHOP: PRE-READING

Please review the following few pages before the workshop. Reflect on the quality of these examples. Consider the
content you could include in your own Hook and Tailoring.

HOOK

HOOK EXAMPLES
WEAK
I was excited to read your ad for the assistant position and decided to apply. Your company has a
great reputation and I know I would be a valuable asset. As my resume shows you, I have a lot of
great experience that makes me a fit for this role. I also have the right skills for the role as I am
extremely organized, work well with others, and am proficient with the software you use.

STRONG – NO PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

While you won’t find the title “community manager” listed on my resume, I’ve actually been
bringing people together online and off for three years while running my own blog and series of
meetups.

STRONG – RESEARCH THE COMPANY

I was inspired when I saw that Yukon Industries was featured in Excel Magazine last month for its
commitment to renewable energy and reducing waste in the workplace—all while experiencing
triple-digit revenue growth. With my track record of reducing costs by 30% and promoting greener
workplaces, I'm excited about the possibility of taking on the account executive role to expand your
company's growth and work toward a more sustainable future.

STRONG - PERSONALITY

I am constantly checking my LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram feeds—and not because of
FOMO. Because I’m someone who wholeheartedly believes in the power of sharing ideas in online
communal spaces, and I’m positive that I can help spark meaningful conversations as your next
social media assistant.

STRONG – PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

Vacasa is synonymous with luxury and escape, known for spaces that inspire. I’ve felt this firsthand
every time I’ve stayed at one of your properties—whether I was throwing a bachelorette party or
working from home in a new locale—and I would love the chance to contribute to this reputation as
your destination manager.

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 HOOK (CONT.)

Review the hooks below and the job posting that follows. Whose “hook” do you think is the most engaging for the
position? Why? Be ready to discuss your opinion in the workshop.

SAMPLE HOOKS FOR JOB POSTING

THEO – HE/HIM

“For every one percent increase in unemployment, 40,000 people die”. This quote is from the movie
The Big Short, although this statement may not be accurate, it highlights the importance of ethical
decision making in a financial environment. Finance isn’t just numbers. Finance is people, pensions,
livelihoods and of course real estate. The broad impact of real estate in the recent decade has raised
many opportunities and attraction to the field. I am interested in the leasing internship because of the
synergies between the knowledge I have gained through my experiences described below, and the
opportunities to build on that experience with the existing team at QuadReal Property Group. I am
eager to contribute my unique perspective, learn from industry professionals and like-minded peers,
and explore options for contributing to the real estate and financial environment in Canada.

ELI – HE/HIM
I am writing to express my interest in the intern position that you have available. I believe that this
position would be a great fit for me, and I would be an asset to your company. I am currently a
senior at Simon Fraser University, where I am majoring in Finance and minoring in Business
Administration. My academic background has provided me with the knowledge necessary to
succeed in this field. Additionally, I have gained valuable experience through my internship at
Remax Realty, which has allowed me to develop my skills and gain confidence in my abilities. My
strengths include my ability to work well independently as well as part of a team, my strong
communication skills, and my willingness to learn new things quickly. I am confident that these
qualities will allow me to contribute positively to your organization.

PAV – SHE/THEY
My name is Pavneet Singh and I am currently a third year Economics major at Simon Fraser
University. I recently had the pleasure of meeting Jennifer Husband, Campus Program Manager
from QuadReal Property Group at a Career Expo at our school last week, and was impressed with
what I learned of your culture and investment strategy. I am interested in pursuing an internship
your company as I am keen to gain experience with an organization that has a global footprint while
also making a local impact. I have years of experience working within my community, first as a
volunteer and now working part-time as an Analyst for the city of Burnaby where I gather market
intelligence and present data and reports to drive Urban Planning strategy.

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TATEMEN

JOB POSTING

INTERN, INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT & LEASING, QUADREAL PROPERTY

GROUP

ABOUT QUADREAL PROPERTY GROUP

QuadReal Property Group is a global real estate investment, operating and development company
headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. Its assets under management total $67.1 billion. From its
foundation in Canada as a full-service real estate operating company, QuadReal has expanded its
capabilities to invest in equity and debt in both the public and private markets. QuadReal invests directly,
via programmatic partnerships and through operating companies in which it holds an ownership interest.
QuadReal seeks to deliver strong investment returns while creating sustainable environments that bring
value to the people and communities it serves. Now and for generations to come.
QuadReal: Excellence lives here. www.quadreal.com

MORE ABOUT THIS JOB

At QuadReal, we are committed to investing in the future of students who are seeking a great opportunity
to start and accelerate their careers. You have a number of unique accomplishments and experiences,
which reflect what we are looking for in future talent. We are happy to provide opportunities to give you
a chance to leverage your skill sets in a supportive atmosphere.
We are actively looking for an Intern, Investment Management & Leasing in Vancouver starting in
September 20XX. This role supports the Investment Management, Leasing and Development teams in a
collaborative effort to drive asset values, enhance returns and position the assets for growth in addition to
executing strategies on a robust development pipeline. Primary responsibilities include providing
financial and analytical support to the Office & Industrial team as outlined below.
RESPONSIBILITIES
• You will contribute to the preparation of annual leasing, operating and capital budgets,
development and execution of business plans, lease deal approval memos and presentation /
reporting materials for key stakeholders.

• You will analyze and review potential lease transactions as well as quarterly reports to monitor
alignment to budget parameters and strategic plans as laid out in the business plans.

• You will gather market intelligence to understand the impact of each asset’s positioning relative
to market rents, lease terms, vacancy, and supply/demand fundamentals.

• You will maintain Argus Valuation models for the IPP portfolio to evaluate the impact of new
lease transactions and inform the strategic decision-making process for the portfolio. You will
also provide the Valuations team with Investment Management view of market fundamentals,
appraisal assumptions and value conclusions in support of quarterly appraisals.

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RESPONSIBILITIES (CONT.)
• You will assist in devising strategies for vacant and expiring spaces and engage with the
brokerage community to provide information on available inventory and development projects
in the pipeline.

• You will engage in strategic initiatives including (re)development feasibility analysis, hold/sell
analysis, capital budgeting and asset re-investment plans.

• You will provide analytical support for the West Region Office & Industrial development
pipeline, including the preparation of Investment Committee materials.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Education – Completing university degree with major in Real Estate, Finance,
Mathematics/Statistics, Computer Science or Economics. Working towards CFA is an asset.

• Analytical – Strong quantitative and analytical skills; detail-oriented and proficient in building
and handling complicated data sets.

• Communication – Excellent communication and presentation skills; demonstrate an ability to

effectively communicate and present results that articulate key themes and messages.

• Organization – Must be able to allocate time effectively and work under pressure to meet tight
deadlines, handle multiple demands and competing priorities, and adapt to new ideas and
change. Comfortable following direction but also contributing to the direction.

• Software – Must have advanced knowledge of Excel, PowerPoint and Word; knowledge of
Argus Enterprise a plus.

• Relationship – Must be extremely proactive and work well in a collaborative environment, with
the ability to take guidance but then move projects forward independently.

• Values – Embrace and pro-actively support QuadReal’s values and its culture of environmental
sustainability and corporate and social responsibility.

• Experience – Previous experience working with a real estate company (asset manager or
developer), real estate brokerage or advisory firm, appraisal firm, or real estate lender is
desirable. A strong interest in developing a career within real estate is essential.

QuadReal will provide reasonable accommodation at any time throughout the hiring process for
applicants with disabilities or for those needing job postings in an alternate format. If you require
accommodation, please advise the Talent Acquisition team member you are working with and include
the following: Job posting #, your name and your preferred method of contact.
QuadReal has introduced a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy that requires full vaccination
against COVID-19 for everyone working in our offices or sites. Accordingly, a successful candidate
offered employment at QuadReal will need to provide proof of full vaccination prior to commencing
employment, subject exemptions permitted under applicable employment and human rights legislation.

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 TAILORING

DEPTH EXAMPLE
Choose one experience and detail it in depth to showcase your skills in action. Suggestion: use the STAR approach to
organize your paragraph. Another depth example would be to pick one work experience and detail a number of strong
accomplishment statements. This approach is especially good if one of your previous work experiences is extremely
similar to the Co-op job you are applying for.

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 TAILORING (CONT.)

BREADTH EXAMPLE
Review the job posting and make note of the most important skills that are necessary for the role that you feel you
possess. Highlight those key skills in your Cover Letter:

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 TAILORING (CONT.)

COVER LETTER EXAMPLE

How tailored do you think Theo’s Cover Letter is to the QuadReal job posting? Be prepared to discuss in the workshop.