Special Strengths: I have the ability to work well with others and to learn quickly.

I am also
very detail
oriented, reliable and punctual.

Excellent communication and customer service skills

􀀀 Flexible, adaptable and enthusiastic

ABILITIES:
Spanish/English oral, written and technical communication
Bilingual / Bicultural
Friendly, courteous and articulate
Work independently with no supervision
Interact effectively in dealing with diverse groups
Extensive experience dealing with frequent interruptions and time deadlines
Effective preparation of documents, with close attention to detail
Analytical skills, with a demonstrated ability to solve problems
Extensive experience with administration and clerical procedures

The Cover Letter

You should include a cover letter with every resume or application you send.
Your cover letter is really a sales letter that tells the target employer why hiring
you would be beneficial to him or her. It calls attention to your resume, in which
you outline in detail what you can do for the employer. Go the extra mile to find
a specific name to whom you address your letter.
As in any business letter, the cover letter contains three main parts: the introduction,
the body, and the closing. Begin by addressing your reader’s needs rather
than describing your own.
The introductory paragraph needs to announce the purpose of the letter -- your
intent to apply for a particular job opening that you saw in an ad or heard about --
and it should give the reader a compelling reason to read on. Use a strong opening
statement that grabs the reader’s attention. If a mutual friend told you about the
job, use his or her name as an introduction as long as you have their permission to
do so. Do research on the company and demonstrate your initiative and knowledge
by working in a fact about the company that isn’t common knowledge.
The middle paragraph explains why you think you are qualified for the job and,
more importantly, what you can offer to the company. Explain briefly your current
situation and why the position you are writing about interests you. Expand upon
one or two points from your resume. Make reference to the job description and tell
the reader directly what specific qualities you can bring to the job. Only if a want
ad requests salary history or requirements should you include that information.
The closing paragraph specifies the desired next action. You can either tell the
reader that you will call them, or you can ask them to call you to set up a meeting.
Be sure to provide a way for them to reach you easily during business hours.
Some other important points:
• Compose the letter in business letter format: your address, date, their address,
colon after salutation, leave space to sign letter, type name under
signature, type the word Enclosure at the bottom if you enclose your resume.
• Preferably address your letter to the hiring manager of the department to
which you are applying. Ask Human Resources for the correct spelling.
• Focus your letter on the employer’s self-interest.
• Limit the letter to one page and use the same high-quality paper and printer
you used for your resume. Address job qualifications listed in the ad.
• Tailor each letter to a specific job and learn all you can about the employer.
• Write confidently, without bragging or flattering. Be positive and direct.
• PROOFREAD! Have someone else look at the letter. No mistakes allowed.
• Don’t forget to sign the letter. Omitting anything so simple is a sign of carelessness.
Sample Cover Letter
Glen M. Doherty
645 Franklin Square
Hamilton, NJ 08690
April 8, 2005
Patrick Barnett
Director of Operations
RH Company Inc.
1400 Prospect Blvd.
Ewing, NJ 08660
Dear Mr. Barnett:
As assistant manager of customer service at a local supermarket, I have developed
techniques for selling that I believe will interest you. That is why I am
writing in response to your ad in the Trenton Times for a customer service manager.
At a time when the economy is so unstable, I am sure RH Company would
benefit from my background and experience.
I indicated on the enclosed resume that I will graduate with a GPA of 3.7 in Marketing
and am anxious to put my knowledge and skills to work. In my present
employment, I have gone about as far as I can go and am looking for a position
with increased responsibility. Since an expansion in sales is what you need, I
have a proven track record with boosting sales by 40 percent in one year. Also, I
have other revenue generating ideas that I would like to discuss with you. I paid
for my college education while working part time. I am not afraid of hard work
to get a job done.
I will call you during the week of April 14 to learn when a meeting can be arranged.
Should you want to talk to me before that, I can be reached at 609-587-2094.
Sincerely,
Glen Doherty
Enclosure

Sample Cover Letter

Michelle Brooks
19 Forest Blend Lane
Mercerville, NJ 08722
609-566-4097
September 27, 2005
Ms. Dorothy Ramano
Head, Medical Laboratory
St. Johns Medical Center
Cranbury, NJ 08844
Dear Ms. Ramano:
The description of the medical lab technician position related to me by my friend
and your colleague, Laura Birch, sounds like an opportunity where I could make
some significant contributions. Laura explained that you expect top-quality work
and have the highest standards she has observed anywhere.
Since you need someone to step in right away, you wouldn’t need to spend any
great amount of time training me because I have a good grasp of the subject. In
addition I wanted to assure you that:
• In my coursework at Mercer County Community College
I maintained a 4.0 GPA
• On the certification exam given by the American Society for Clinical
Pathologists I scored in the above 90th percentile.
• I had a medical lab internship at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital.
• I participated in over 720 hours of clinical practice as part
of my course work.
St. John’s Medical Center is one of the finest hospitals in the region. I am prepared
to work at the high standards you ask for.
I would like to meet with you soon to discuss some of the ideas I can bring to
this job. I can be reached at the above number during normal business hours.
Sincerely,
Michelle Brooks
Enclosure

Write an Effective Cover Letter

Your cover letter is a writing sample and a part of the screening process. By putting your best
foot forward, you can increase your
chances of being interviewed. A good way to create a response-producing cover letter is to
highlight your skills or experiences
that are most applicable to the job or industry and to tailor the letter to the specific
organization you are applying to.
Your Street Address
City, State, Zip Code
Date of Letter
Contact Name
Contact Title
Company Name
Street Address
City, State, Zip Code
Dear _________:
Opening paragraph: Clearly state why you are writing, name the
position or type of work you’re exploring and, where applicable, how
you heard about the person or organization.
Middle paragraph(s): Explain why you are interested in this employer
and your reasons for desiring this type of work. If you’ve had relevant
school or work experience, be sure to point it out with one or two key
examples; but do not reiterate your entire resume. Emphasize skills or
abilities that relate to the job. Be sure to do this in a confident manner
and remember that the reader will view your letter as an example of
your writing skills.
Closing paragraph: Reiterate your interest in the position, and
your enthusiasm for using your skills to contribute to the work of
the organization. Thank the reader for his/her consideration of
your application, and end by stating that you look forward to the
opportunity to further discuss the position.
Sincerely,
Your name typed
Use complete
title and address.
Address to a
particular person
if possible and
remember to use
a colon.
Make the addressee
want to
read your resume.
Be brief, but
specific.
Ask for a meeting
and remember to
follow up.
Always sign
letters.
• Address your letters to a specific person if you can.
• Tailor your letters to specific situations or organizations by
doing research before writing your letters.
• Keep letters concise and factual, no more than a single page.
Avoid flowery language.
• Give examples that support your skills and qualifications.
• Put yourself in the reader’s shoes. What can you write that will
convince the reader that you are ready and able to do the job?
• Don’t overuse the pronoun “I”.
• Remember that this is a marketing tool. Use lots of action
words.
• Have an OCS adviser proofread your letter.
• If converting to a .pdf, check that your formatting translated
correctly.
• Reference skills or experiences from the job description and
draw connections to your credentials.
• Make sure your resume and cover letter are prepared with the
same font type and size.
Some general rules about letters:
February 21, 2018
Ms. Liza Wideman
Recruiting Coordinator
Great Strategy Consulting Firm
200 Shell Fish Blvd, Suite 199
San Francisco, CA 94080
Dear Ms. Wideman:
I am writing to express my interest in securing an Associate position at Great Strategy
Consulting Firm. I
am a Master of Liberal Arts degree candidate at Harvard Extension School, specializing in
Information
Technology. I come from a solid technical background with a strong interest in business and
a passion
towards strategy. My area of focus and interest varies from quantitative analysis to project
management. I
have maintained a 3.95 GPA through a well-balanced program of study, which is not only
very analytical
and technical by nature but also helps to build leadership and team building qualities. I am
extremely
impressed with Great Strategy’s approach to strategy consulting, especially within the
Business
Development and Innovation practice areas. I believe my academic background, business
knowledge and
industry experiences have provided me with the credentials needed to thrive as an Associate.
Prior to Harvard, I worked as a technology professional, primarily resolving strategic issues
related to
technology process improvement. I gained solid research, analytical and problem solving
skills while
working in Fortune 500 companies. My background in generating innovative ideas and
strategies to
improve processes has provided me with a deeper understanding of multifaceted problems
that companies
encounter in their daily operations. Moreover, because of my work experiences, I fully
understand how
important it is to have great team dynamics in today’s multi-disciplinary business
environment.
To date, my experience as an IT professional has been extremely rewarding and productive.
However, it
is through strategy consulting that I can use my analytical aptitude and creative problem
solving skills to
their fullest. I strongly believe that consulting is a discipline that will force me to view
problems not only
from the client’s standpoint but also from a marketplace, best practices and “think out of the
box” point of
views.
I would appreciate the opportunity to interview with Great Strategy Consulting Firm for the
Associate
position. Please find enclosed my resume for your review. I can be reached via email at
[email protected] or by phone at (617) 555-3456. I enthusiastically look
forward to
hearing from you soon.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Jacob A. McLean
Sample Cover Letter
Sample Cover Letter
October 10, 2018
Ms. Susan Carey
Senior Manager
Wholesale Wine USA
23 Green St.
Boston, MA 02116
Dear Ms. Carey:
I am writing to apply for your position in wine wholesale as advertised on Crimson Careers.
This
exciting opportunity appears to be a wonderful fit with my professional experience, personal
interests, and career goals.
I am returning to Boston to complete my final year at Harvard University Extension School,
where I am majoring in French and economics. Having spent the year working and traveling,
I am
eager to incorporate myself once again into the local wine community, to which I can bring
experience in a number of sectors of the industry.
Through eight years in the restaurant field, I have acquired a deep love of and appreciation
for
wine and cuisine. I have been known to wax rhapsodic over specials; nothing made me
happier
than discussing a bottle with a table. This enthusiasm allowed me to introduce a list of
reserve
selections to Shay’s Pub and Wine Bar. The result was an appreciable increase in sales for the
restaurant and repeat attendance by customers. My position at Aspen's award-winning
Montagna
allowed me to expand upon my knowledge of wine, locally inspired cuisine, and the highest
standards of service. Our weekly blind-tastings fueled my desire to further myself in this
field,
and I am in the process of acquiring certification through both the Court of Master
Sommeliers
and the Wine Spirit and Education Trust.
Most recently, I have returned from France where I was lucky enough to work on an organic
vineyard in Beaujolais. I adored working with the young, dynamic, vigneron who ran the
estate,
the largest of its kind in the region. A position at your wholesale wine company would allow
me
to draw upon this experience and to facilitate the success of such producers. Additionally, it
would enable me to replicate the most enjoyable components of my experience overall:
working
with my colleagues in the local restaurant industry, as well as with distinctive, iconoclastic
winemakers.
I am readily available via email or phone in order to arrange an interview, and have attached
my
resume below per your request. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any
questions. I
appreciate your consideration and look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Georgina Santiago