Job Application

Are Cover Messages

Still Important?
Career advisors overwhelmingly
support cover messages:
“You may be the perfect
person for the job, but
“No cover you’ll knock yourself right
message – into out of the running with a
the trash!” poor or missing cover
letter.”
“A résumé without
a cover letter looks
suspicious.”

©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 13 / Slide 2
 Three Parts of a Cover
Message

Opening Body Closing

Captures
Sells the
attention, Requests an
candidate and
introduces the interview and
focuses on the
message, and motivates
employer’s
identifies the action.
needs.
position.

©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 13 / Slide 3
 How to Open a Cover
Message

Opening Body Closing

Possible Openings for Solicited

Jobs
• Refer to the name of an employee in the
company.
• Refer to the source of your information
precisely.
• Refer to the job title and describe how
your qualifications fit the requirements.

©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 13 / Slide 4
 How to Open a Cover
Message

Opening Body Closing

Openings for Unsolicited Jobs

• Demonstrate an interest in and
knowledge of the reader’s business.
• Show how your special talents and
background will benefit the company.

©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 13 / Slide 5
 Promoting Your Strengths in
the Message Body
Opening Body Closing
• Explain how your preparation and
experience fill the job
requirements.
• Choose your strongest
qualifications and show how they
fit the targeted job.
• Mention your ability to work on a
team, show initiative, and learn
new tasks easily.
• Refer the reader to your résumé.
©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 13 / Slide 6
 Motivating Action in the
Closing
Opening Body Closing

• Ask confidently for an

interview
(not for the job!).
• Tie your request to reader
benefits, or review your
strongest points.
• Sound sincere and
appreciative.
• Make it easy to respond; tell
when you can be reached.
©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 13 / Slide 7
 Introduction of the company or the person
Reference to previous contact
Opening Purpose of writing letter

• Provide details about the relevant matter

Focus

• What you plan to do

• What you want to know
Action
• Thank the reader
• Mention future communication / Ask reader
Closing to contact back
 Introduction of the company or the person
Reference to previous contact
Opening Purpose of writing letter

• Provide details about the relevant matter

Focus

• What you plan to do

• What you want to know
Action
• Thank the reader
• Mention future communication / Ask reader
Closing to contact back
• How are the points given above organised in
the email?
Paragraph 1 5 the reason for writing the email
2 how you heard about the job Opening
Paragraph 2 9 your CV
1 a summary of relevant work experience
Paragraph 3 6 what you studied Focus

Paragraph 4 7 why you're applying

Paragraph 5 8 when you are ready to be interviewed
3 references from your employers Action

Paragraph 6 A polite closing

Closing
Opening of job application
Skills
• I look forward to hearing from you…
• I would welcome the opportunity to discuss
about my qualifications and experiences in an
interview with you
• Please do not hesitate to contact me …
• Thank you in advance for your time and
consideration.
Write your job application
 Four Possibilities for Submitting
Your Résumé and Cover Message
Submit both cover message and résumé in an
e-mail message. Convert both to plain text.

Send your cover message as an e-mail, and

attach your résumé (plain text, Word
document, or PDF).

Send a short e-mail message with both your

cover letter and résumé attached.

Send your cover letter and résumé as printed

Word documents by U.S. mail.
©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 13 / Slide 22
© Andrey/Fotolia
 Final Tips for Creating
Successful Cover Messages
Revise to avoid too many
1 sentences beginning with “I.”
However, make sure the
sentences sound natural.
2 Use a traditional letter style
in block format.
As with your résumé,
3 proofread several times and
have a friend
do so also!
©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 13 / Slide 23
© leremy/Fotolia