COMMUNICATING YOUR PERSONAL BRAND | 2024-2028

Resumes, Cover Letters & Networking

INTRODUCTION

You may think in today's job market you don't need to spend time crafting a resume and cover letters since you will
be found on Linkedin anyway. That may be true for some people, but for the vast majority, you need to identify the
benefits you provide to an organisation, articulate what makes you valuable, and know the ideas and skills for which
you Profile. stand. In short, you need to communicate your personal brand, whether it is in a traditional resume or
your online Profile.

We recognize you are not a product to be packaged, labelled and consumed. However, as complex and
multi-faceted as human beings are, we do form quick, shorthand impressions of the people we meet before getting
to know them. We've all heard or even used these descriptors-"she's a dynamic leader," "he's so creative," or "what
a people person." Labels are put upon us, whether we like it or not. Thinking about and developing your authentic
personal brand means you will proactively shape your message rather than letting others shape one for you.

Personal branding is not just about image and glitz;, it's about substance, and it comes from introspection. The
truest personal brands involve a deep knowledge of one's skills, talents and desires. They are also created based on
honest feedback received from close colleagues throughout the individual's life.

You have some years of experience behind you. It takes time and effort to cull a detailed history of who you are into
a concise and consistent presentation, one which employers can easily digest and remember. This guide is designed
to help you at all points in your career search. Before you make a step towards developing effective marketing
collateral for your personal brand, we urge you to spend a few moments on self-assessment, featured in the first
section of this guide. By conducting a thorough inventory of your unique skills, talents, and passions, you will be
equipped with the tools you need to effectively communicate your value to others and bring your personal brand to
life.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

COMMUNICATING YOUR PERSONAL BRAND : BEFORE YOU BEGIN ………………………………………………………………………….​ 1

CAREER PROGRESSION WORKSHEET …………………………………………………………………………….….​ 2
CAREER & LIFE CRITERIA WORKSHEET ……………………………………………………………………..……….​ 3

RESUMES ……………………………………………………………………..…………………………………………………………………..…….…………………..………..​ 5
BEFORE YOU BEGIN …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…​ 5
HBS RESUME BOOK …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..….​ 6
THE HBS RESUME FORMAT ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….….​ 6
CONTENT GUIDELINES ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ​ 7

ACTION VERBS ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………​ 10

STANDARD HBS RESUME FORMAT …………………………………………………………………………………… ​ 11
ANALYZING AN INEFFECTIVE RESUME ……………………………………………………………………………………………………..​ 12
RESUME CHECKLIST ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...……​ 14
COMMON CONCERNS ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………​ 15
SAMPLE RESUMES ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 22

COVER LETTERS ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…​ 53

BEFORE YOU BEGIN SAMPLE COVER LETTERS ………………………………………………………………………………………​ 53
WRITING AN EFFECTIVE COVER LETTER ………………………………………………………………………………………………….​ 56
ANALYZING AN INEFFECTIVE ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………​ 57
COVER LETTER ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……​ 59

NETWORKING …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………​ 69
BEFORE YOU BEGINS ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………​ 69
NETWORKING SAMPLE ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….​ 70
NETWORKING : BEYOND THE EMAIL ………………………………………………………………………………………………….…..…​ 82
SAMPLE INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS …………………………………………………………………………..…​ 82
BIOS ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….​ 83
SAMPLE BIOS ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...….​ 84
SOCIAL MEDIA ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..​ 85

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….​ 90

​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
COMMUNICATING YOUR PERSONAL BRAND: BEFORE YOU BEGIN

PERFORM A COMPREHENSIVE SELF-ASSESSMENT.

The first step in an effective job search is understanding your interests, motivations and abilities. A thorough
self-assessment is the foundation for helping you differentiate yourself from the multitudes of other applicants in a
job search. Take advantage of the many HBS resources to help you conduct your self-assessment. Below are a few:
• Review your CareerLeader results and articulate your vision with a Career Coach. Develop a list of key
ingredients that are important to you in your next job.
• Analyse your career history. Explore your career path by understanding each job you have held and
assessing how it will influence your current career search.
• Make an exhaustive list of your skills and keep an eye out for those that may not be readily
apparent. Decide which skills best synthesise your talents and passions and use those to position
yourself for target roles.
• Visit the "Getting Started: Vision & Strategy" section of the CPD website to explore additional
resources.

BEGIN TO DEFINE YOUR CAREER VISION.

Where do you see yourself personally and professionally in 5-7 years? How clear are your goals and desires?
Begin to reflect on your personal and professional goals, your financial needs and the kind of work environment in
which you perform best. Your time at HBS is an ideal opportunity to research industries and companies that will
allow you to develop your career vision.
• Complete Professor Tim Butler's Career Visioning exercise:
http://www.careerleader.com/getting:unstuck/gu more exercises 01.html
• Establish priorities. Review your career vision and find the parallels and discrepancies between your vision and
past job decisions. Determine which factors are most important in each search or transition
(e.g., job security, positioning, financial opportunities, lifestyle benefits, technical experience, etc.).
• Identify information you need and steps to take to reach your career vision.
●​ Learn from others who have a job similar to your career vision.
●​ Identify different paths that may lead to your career vision.
●​ Identify the companies and industries where you can fulfil your career vision.
●​ Identify your transferable skills for communication to potential employers.

BRING YOUR PERSONAL BRAND TO LIFE.

Personal branding is the process by which you identify and communicate your unique value and skill set with a
consistent message and image.
• Use learning from your self-assessment and career vision work to examine your accomplishments, skills you
used to succeed in the past and those you offer to an employer now.
• Look at yourself objectively; understand your strengths and weaknesses, personal preferences and sources of
motivation. Review your education, career history, and accomplishments.
• Complete the Career Progression Worksheet on page 2 for each target area (industry and/or function) you plan to
pursue. Show how your career progression supports your candidacy for a position.
• Craft your story until it demonstrates a concise and compelling presentation of your qualifications and career
accomplishments. A Career Coach can be a good resource to assist you in bringing your experience, skills
and interests together into a coherent and compelling message.
• Craft your Career and Life Criteria: 7-10 specific elements that are important to you in your life and work.
a coach can assist you in crafting this list.
COMMUNICATE YOUR PERSONAL BRAND BY TELLING A UNIQUE AND COMPELLING STORY.
• Know your customer — review the job qualifications and speak with classmates and alumni to
identify preferred skills and attributes for your target employers. While recruiters appear to seek
similar skills, organisations may prioritise them differently.
• Illustrate skills and experiences accordingly. Clearly outline the benefit of hiring you.
CAREER PROGRESSION WORKSHEET
Once you have completed your self-assessment and identified your career vision, you are ready to create the
marketing collateral for your personal brand. HBS CPD encourages you to complete multiple Career Progression
worksheets, one for each industry and/or function for which you plan to explore.
CAREER & LIFE CRITERIA WORKSHEET

Document specific elements that are important to you in your life and work. Use these criteria throughout your job search to
evaluate different opportunities. If you have questions or wish to further refine your career criteria make an appointment with a
Career Coach.

Example: Ability to manage relationships with multiple parties (peers, customers, direct reports)

Career & Life Criteria Worksheet

1.​ _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

2.​ _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

3.​ _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

4.​ _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

5.​ _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

6.​ _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

7.​ _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

8.​ _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

9.​ _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

10.​ _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

11.​ _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

12.​ _________________________________________________________________________________________________.
RESUMES
RESUMES: BEFORE YOU BEGIN
The resume is one piece of written collateral representing your personal brand. Your resume is a sales piece, teaser, and
does not need to include everything. Think of it as an advertisement; it should support your brand and include only what you
enjoy and is most relevant to your candidacy. As a result, you may need multiple versions of your resume to support different
searches.,

Put yourself in the place of the reader-if you were hiring for this position what would you want to know about the potential
client? Use your top three transferable skills to show the benefit of hiring you. Employers are inundated with resumes from
qualified individuals, so it is up to you to demonstrate how you are unique and the right person for the job.

The proof is in the results and impact you have made. You are trying to demonstrate what you can do in the future by
showing what you have done in the past.

DO:
• Do know your audience and what is important to them. Incorporate transferable skills and experiences.
• Do be concise. Remove unnecessary articles (e.g., the, a, an), words and details which clutter the resume.
• Do make it easy for the reader to understand your career path.
• Do anticipate objections and questions. Do your best to refute or answer them in the resume.
• Do show results (quantitative or qualitative). Include anticipated results or pre-approvals if a project is not
yet finished.
• Do use consistent formatting throughout (e.g. use a period at the end of bullets or don't - don't mix).
• Do limit bullets, descriptors and lengthy paragraphs.
• Do describe accomplishments, not responsibilities.
• Do ask for help. Have peers with relevant industry or functional experience review your resume.
• Do let go of things that you are proud of but do not support your case.
• Do stand out and secure an interview by providing a persuasive presentation of the transferable skills that
you possess (as established by prior accomplishments and current interests).

DON'T:
• Don't list everything you have done. Include only what is most relevant for your target audience and the
roles you are currently pursuing.
• Don't lead with 'responsible for' or 'responsibilities included' - instead, focus on your accomplishments and
how you achieved or exceeded goals and objectives.
• Don't include lingo that is irrelevant or unfamiliar to your target audience (e.g., acronyms, names of
scholarships that are not widely recognized or specific months of work experience vs. years).
• Don't list specific coursework- unless clearly needed to demonstrate aptitude.
• Don't use articles (a, an, the, etc.).
• Don't be afraid of white space (areas without text). If your resume is too dense, it will not be read.
• Don't emphasise activities and responsibilities that you did not enjoy.
• Don't include every past internship/experience (unless each is relevant to your target audience for show work history) to
avoid large chronological gaps in your resume.
• Don't include detail that is insignificant to your target audience.
• Don't force the recruiter to guess what your former employer does if it is not a well-known organization.Be helpful by
embedding useful details (e.g. Led marketing research for $200M boutique market research firm specialising in the retail
sector).
HBS RESUME BOOK

WHAT IS ?
Career & Professional Development publishes an online searchable database of student resumes each year to increase your
exposure to recruiters. Resumes are searchable by career interests, prior experience, undergraduate degrees, other graduate
degrees, language skills, geographic preferences and more.

WHY DO I HAVE TO FOLLOW THE HBS RESUME FORMAT?

A consistent format allows recruiters to focus on each candidate's credentials rather than on how the resume is structured.
While feedback from recruiters is positive about the HBS format, you may use a different format for purposes other than the
resume book.

WHY ARE RESUMES COLLECTED SO FAR IN ADVANCE OF THE START OF INTERVIEWING?

In addition to the time it takes to develop the HBS Resume Book, companies need time to review student resumes so they can
prepare for company-sponsored recruiting functions that occur before interviewing begins. You will have an opportunity to
submit an updated resume to a company prior to your actual interview.

WHICH ORGANISATIONS ACCESS THE RESUME BOOK?

The Resume Book is available to all of our recruiting partners.

THE HBS RESUME FORMAT

MBA employers prefer the concise and consistent format of a one-page resume style like the one detailed below. This format
is required for the HBs Resume Book and recommended for general use. If you are applying for positions outside of the U.S.,
make sure you are aware of the resume conventions for those countries. Refer to GoinGlobal in the International section of the
CPD website for specific guidelines/examples.

ELECTRONIC TEMPLATE
●​ For your convenience, a downloadable resume sample can be found in the Resumes & Cover Letters section of the CPD
website.

HEADINGS
●​ Information headings, including your name, educational institutions, companies, and locations, must be set in
UPPER-CASE BOLD TYPE.
●​ Section headings, such as education, work experience, and personal, must be in lower-case bold type.
●​ Titles (eg., Product Manager) can occupy a separate line or be followed by a period and text. Titles can be bold,
talic, or standard typeface.

LAYOUT
●​ 10-point Times New Roman font throughout entire document
●​ Body text: left- and right-justified margins
●​ Top and bottom margins: minimum 0.5 inches, maximum 1 inch
●​ Left (page edge to section heading) and right (body text to page edge) margins: minimum 0.5 inches, maximum
1 inch*
●​ Lert text margin (page edge to body text): between 1.5 inches and 2 inches
●​ No graphic additions (e.g, no line under name and address)

*.5 is the minimum because text outside of that margin may be cut off as recruiters print, scan and copy resumes.
CONTENT GUIDELINES
​
HEADING
At the top of your resume, include your name, local address, telephone numbers| and e- mail address. You may also choose to
include your Twitter handle and Linkedin URL if you live in an HBS residence hall, you may also include a permanent address.
If necessary, you can consolidate this section to maximise space. put your address all on one line and your telephone number
and email address on another line, with items on the same line separated by a vertical line or bullet).

EDUCATION
This section outlines your educational history, concentration, elective courses, thesis work, cub memberships, FiLD proiect, and
other relevant information to illustrate your personal and/or professional interests. Whenever you are a full-time student, the
Education section should be listed first. if you are targeting positions inside the U.S, consider translating your degrees and
areas of study to U.S. equivalents

Highlight educational experience in this order:

1.​ Harvard Business School-degree and expected date of graduation, honors, distinctions, concentration,appointed offices,
elected offices, campus employment or volunteer work, clubs. sports and other activities include your FiICLD Global
immersion Project The experience adds skills or industry knowledge that supports your career direction.
2.​ Other graduate schools-same as above.
3.​ Undergraduate- degree, major, thesis, honors, distinctions, leadership, dubrs, sports and other activities.
4.​ Non-degreed education (e-g., Exchange programs, Certificate programs, related coursework, etc.)- In general you
should list exchange programs within the institution where you were earning your degree. you took coursework at an
institution that you want to show. you may show the institution's name and list the courses you completed. Online
courses can be listed in education if they are affiliated with a known institution. You may also choose to show particular
skills attained in another section.

EXPERIENCE

Important reminders for the experience section:

●​ List employers in reverse chronological order, but bullets within a given employer section do not need to be in reverse
chronological order.
●​ Within the same employer, Include a listing of all cities/departments, locations, and dates of employment for each
position held.
○​ Do not create separate sections or repeat the same employer name for each position held under the same
employer.
○​ Do not insert blank lines in between different positions held at the same company you only need to insert blank
lines in between different employer sections.
●​ Bullet points should be in order of most relevant (in terms of applicable skill/experiences) and impressive to least
relevant/impressive accomplishment.
○​ If a recruiter reads only the first beo bullets under each job. you want to be sure he/she is aware of your most
significant accomplishments.
●​ Consider converting monetary figures to U.5. dollar equivalents, or add USD figures in parentheses.
●​ If you are targeting positions inside the U.S, translated titles and divisions into English equivalents.
Effective employer sections within the Experience section should include:
●​ One to five bullets which represent your most relevant and impressive accomplishments in that role, unless the one
was a long time ago and/is not relevant to your Future career goals, in which case you do not need to include any
bullets for that position.
○​ Remember that the amount of shoe yau debate on the resume to a particular Job/employer is a signal of how
relevant you think the experience is to your target employer and/or how much you want to incorporate these
skills into your future role.
●​ If employers will not readily understand your job title and/or you cannot effectively explain your role/company in the
context of your first bullet and want credit for some aspect of the company fe.g., that it is a startup or affiliated with an
Industry you wish to highlight experience in), then a one or two sentence overview of the job's key responsibilities may
be useful. Otherwise, save space for far more accomplishment oriented bullets.
●​ For each position that Is relevant to your future career goals, write bullets which represent success stories, or examples
demaristrating and quantifying specific accomplishments.
●​ Consider the PAR Model (problem, action, result) to highlight key accomplishments.
●​ Bullet points should always start with a powerful and relevant skill or
●​ achievement-oriented verb such as:
○​ “Analyzed” if you want credit for analytical skills, or "Led 5-person team" if you want credit for team leadership
Skills.
○​ “Earned opportunity to…”,"Selected by senior management to..", or "Recognized as top.. To signal that you
demonstrated aptitude or capabilities that gave you access to unique opportunities.

Focus on accomplishments, nat general job descriptions:

●​ Avoid starting any bullet with "Responsible for.." "Duties Included.. or any generic description of your role since these
phrases will only describe what you were supposed to do, and whether or not you were effective at daing them.
If you want to set some context, you might use "oversaw." ar managed."to shaw the scale and scope of your
responsibilities
●​ Start each bullet with skill-orlen ted verbs and phrases that directly communicate the specific skills or traits you most
want credit lor from the reader.
○​ For example, a bullet that begins with "Developed marketing strategy for..." emphasises that you have expertise
in Developing marketing strategies while "Led 5 person team to develop marketing strategy highlights your
team leadership skills,
●​ Include quantified or qualified results that demonstrate you have made positive impact in some way, suggesting you are
more likely to do so again In the future.
○​ When you write, "Regularly exceeded sales and revenue objectives," the reader wonders: Exceeded by How
much? What were the objectives? How did you do it?
○​ A more effective way to convey your skills is: "Exceeded sales by 30% and revenue by 5500K through
implementation of a streamlined sales process.
○​ Results can be shown in a number of ways: quantitative, expected, anticipated (if a project is not yet finished) or
approved |if it is pro-implementation).
PERSONAL/OTHER SECTIONS

In these sections, you should add other relevant information recruiters might find impressive or that can serve as a conversation starter
during the interview. Include details that differentiate your resume from others and information that makes you memorable.

For example, you might include:

• Other languages spoken
• Sports and hobbles
• Artistic or creative talents
• Community service or leadership roles outside of work

Avoid generic interests such as "Enjoy travel" or "Enjoy reading" which are so common and overused as to be meaningless. Only include
hobbies or interests if there is a story you would want to tell in an interview that would reveal something positive or interesting about you,
in which case hint at what that story would be in your description, as in "Onesearch for spiciest cuisine on the planet" or "Enjoy reading and
own extensive collection of Shakespearean plays. Also Include any key accomplishments within these hobbles or leadership positions you
may have achieved outside of work in this section.

If you are targeting positions outside of your home country, you may want to include information that removes obstacles for an employer
interested in your candidacy, for example, your work authorization status.

Anything on your resume might become a topic of conversation in an interview. Reflect your personal brand and uniqueness, but do so only
if you are prepared and willing to discuss these personal elements. Avoid Irrelevant Information, such as age, marital status, height, and
weight, which have little to do with your career objectives.
ACTION VERBS: ORGANISED BY SKILL SET
RESUME CHECKLIST:
Before submitting your resume to the HBS Resume Book, you should have checked the following Items:

​ TARGET AUDIENCE: DD YOU HIGHLIGHT THE SKILLS NECESSARY FOR YOUR TARGET INDUSTRIES?
Each industry has its own Jargon and desired skill sets. Make it easy for the reader to identify skills by using relevant
vocabulary (e.g., "product management") for your target industry. Steps to achieve this effect:
●​ Determine what skill set is needed to succeed in the industry.
●​ Use your past experiences as a vehicle to demonstrate that you possess these skills, even if you don't have the
specific Industry experience. Keep your transferable skills in mind when constructing each industry specific resume.
Use your past experiences as a vehicle to demonstrate that you possess these skills, even if you don't have the
specific Industry experience. Keep your transferable skills in mind when constructing each industry specific resume.
●​ If you are undecided about your career direction, you may present a broad range of accomplishments and skills that
represent those you hope to use and target in the future.

​ GRAMMATICALLY CORRECT: IS YOUR RESUME FREE OF ALL ERRORS AND TYPOS?

Spelling grammar or format resume errors are extremely common, but unacceptable. Steps for ensuring that your
resume is ready for submission:
●​ Proofread your resume, paying close attention to margin alignment, spelling, punctuation and dates.
●​ Have friends, classmates and family review your resume,
●​ Reading your resume backward is a good way to check for typographical errors, since you focus on Individual words
rather than the meaning of the text.
●​ Perform spell check but do not rely on it.

​ VISUAL IMPACT: DOES THE RESUME HAVE VISUAL IMPACT? DID YOU USE PARALLEL CONSTRUCTION?
Spelling grammar or format resume errors are extremely common, but unacceptable. Steps for ensuring that your
resume is ready for submission:
●​ Create a concise, visually appealing resume rather than a dense, text-laden document. The reader's first impression
of your resume is critical. An employer will typically scan a resume to get an overall feeling for the writer.
●​ Limit the number of typefaces you use, respect page margins and property space of the text to make your resume
visually appealing and easier to read. The value of white space should not be overlooked.
●​ Avoid using too many bullet points. Eight to ten bullet points on the entire resume will call attention to key activities.
More than ten bullet points on a page can diminish the impact of your resume's content and distract the reader.
●​ Minimise the usage of bold, italicised or underlined text as these become less impactful the more they are used and
signal that non-formatted text is not worth reading.
●​ Select a consistent order of information, format and spacing as parallel construction enhances theresume's
readability. If one experience starts with a brief overview followed by bullet points,subsequent experiences should
as well.

​ KEYWORDS: HAVE YOU INCORPORATED KEYWORDS THROUGHOUT?

The use of keywords is critical in a resume. Many employers will use software to conduct a keyword search in order to
pick out certain words describing target areas. Include multiple variations of your most relevant terms.

​ ACTION VERAS: DID YOU START WITH/USE ACTION VERBS IN THE TEXT?
Beginning bullets with and using strong action verbs (Sea list of Action Verbs on page 9, concrete nouns and positive
modifiers throughout a resume make it easier to read. For brevity, consider paraphrasing rather than using complete
sentences.

​ RESULTS: HAVE YOU INCLUDED RESULTS TO PROVE THE BENEFIT YOU WILL BRING TO THE COMPANY?
Help an employer understand the magnitude of your previous contributions by quantifying them or placing them in
perspective. Demonstrate your positive contributions to your previous employer(s) and school(s). Think Results, results,
results-each bullet should have one. Not all results are quantifiable, so a description of the result is still powerful.
COMMON RESUME CONCERNS

The following examples address common resume challenges HBS students face and strategies for approaching them given
your specific situation.

TYPE​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ PAGE

EDUCATION
Awards and Extracurricular Activities ​ ​ 16
Earlier Graduate Degree ​ ​ 16
Education Time Gap ​ ​ 16
Joint Degree ​ ​ 16
Multiple Undergraduate Institutions ​ ​ 17
Incorporating FG1 Experience ​ ​ 17

EXPERIENCE
Career Change​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 18
Early Career ​ ​ 18
Entrepreneurial Experience ​ ​ 19
Small Company Experience ​ ​ 19
Government or Military Experience ​ ​ 19
Experience from Another Professional Degree ​ ​ 20
Multiple Short-Term Jobs ​ ​ 20
Part-Time ​ ​ 21

PERSONAL/OTHER
Personal ​ ​ 21
Community ​ ​ 21
Technical ​ ​ 21

For personal resumes outside of the HBS Resume Book, you may choose to begin your resume with professional
experience to build your credentials.

Career & Professional Development staff and Career Coaches are available throughout the year for help editing your
resume, E-mail [email protected] if you need additional assistance.
SAMPLE RESUMES
The following resumes reflect the concepts discussed earlier in this guide and offer ideas for your resume's visual appeal, style, order and
content. These resumes are samples of various styles, not flawless documents.

TYPE ​ ​ ​ PAGE

PAST EXPERIENCE
Consulting​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 23
Social Enterprise​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 24​
Real Estate​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 25
Entertainment/Media​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 26
Entrepreneurship​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 27
Clean Tech​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 28
Hospitality​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 29
Retail​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 30
Health Care​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 31
Health Care (joint Degree)​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 32
Consumer Packaged Goods​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 33
Finance&Technology​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 34
Technology &Entrepreneurship​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 35
CPG Finance (International)​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 36
Finance & Technology (international)​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 37
Consulting & VCIPE (international)​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 38

CAREER SWITCHERS
Operating Company to Consulting​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 39
Startup to Consulting​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 40
Finance to Consulting​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 41
Private Equity to Investment Management ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 42
Operating Company to Financial Services​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 43
Consulting to Investment Banking​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 44
Consulting to General Management ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 45
Consulting to Technology​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 46
Engineering to Bliotech or Consulting (joint Degree) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 47
Financial Services to Health Care ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 48
Operating Company to Health & Wellness ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 49
Military to Finance​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 50
Military to Operating Company ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 51

Note: While these resumes are based on those of actual HBS graduates, the names and addresses are fictional.
COVER LETTERS : BEFORE YOU BEGIN
The cover letter provides an opportunity for you to succinctly express your authentic personal brand and make a case for why
you're the ideal candidate for this unique position. To attract attention and distinguish yourself from other candidates, you will
need to conduct research about the company and job in advance . The ability to cite current information about your target
company demonstrates initiative and makes your letter more credible. Your request for an interview should be based on
thorough research and interest in a company, rather than on impulse.

Before attempting to write a letter, research and investigate the target company using the Internet, 12Twenty, and / or
reference materials in the Career Resources Collection of Knowledge and Library Services ( Baker Library ). Attending company
presentations and talking to people and classmates familiar with the firm can also offer valuable information. Remember to
make notes in your own words rather than in recruiting brochure jargon. This will help you convince the reader, in your own
language and style, that you are a good fit.

Seek the answers to these questions when planning your research strategy :
• What is the company's" breaking news ( e.g. , recent acquisition , revised mission statement )? Are there pressing
concerns or specific opportunities ?
• What skills and / or experience does the company expect you to have ? How can you contribute ?
• What is the work environment like ?
• What drives the firm's profits ?

While certain employers will specify that they prefer no cover letter, you should assume that unless otherwise
stated, employers will value some or all of the following aspect of your cover letter :
1. A demonstration of your true interest ( since you've gone through the effort to write a personalized cover letter )
​2. A sample of your writing capabilities and style.
​3. An explanation for your desire to switch to this industry / function or company.

The value proposition that you put forth in your cover letter should be consistent with the main elements of your candidacy
that you will present in the interview. Essentially this is an opportunity to lay down the groundwork / foundation / initial
messaging around your candidacy which can then be reinforced in the interview, making the candidacy more memorable and
credible at the time of the interview.
COVER LETTERS : DOS & DON'TS

DO :
●​ Do focus on the benefit you can offer the organization
●​ Do employ the active voice throughout your letter.
●​ Do use appropriate tenses consistently.
●​ Do write out single - digit numbers ( e.g. , " managed a four - person team " ).
●​ Do leverage company information and contacts gathered at presentations and career fairs.
●​ Do keep your audience in mind. Be sure the formality and tone is appropriate for your reader.
●​ Do write efficiently; be concise and brief, while still meeting your objectives.
●​ Do proofread your letter. Wait one day after completion and proofread again ( or ask a friend or your Career Coach to
proofread it ). Tired eyes may miss mistakes!
●​ Do vary sentence and paragraph length. This will make your letter easier to read and understand.
●​ Do remember to sign your letter if you are sending a hard copy.

DON’T:
●​ Don't use a comma in your salutation; it is too informal for most cover letters. Instead, use a colon.
●​ Don't use " i.e. , " to say " for example. " Instead, use " e.g. "
●​ Don't overuse first person ( me , myself , and I ).
●​ Don't use obvious and easy generalizations . Instead, set yourself apart by describing your skills and experiences in a
very specific manner, providing examples whenever possible.
●​ Don't focus on what you expect from the company; instead make it about them and what they're looking for in a
candidate.
●​ Don't name drop excessively. Only include names if there is a relevant relationship or meaningful introduction
established.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​ ​ ​ ​ ​
COVER LETTER STRUCTURE

First Paragraph : Introduce your value proposition

1. What skills, personal traits, passions, and / or areas of expertise make you a compelling candidate ? ( List 3-4 )
2. What draws you to the role and the company ? ( Reference people you have networked with, and what you've
learned from them, etc. )
3. What role you are applying to?

Second / Third Paragraph ( s ) : Explain your qualifications

1. Share specific success stories and / or examples that directly address each of the 3-4 skills / qualities / passions you
claimed you had in the opening ( just like the resume ) .
2. PROVE that you are the person with the strengths / passions / motivators you claimed to be in the opening .

Closing : Recap your value proposition

1. Show enthusiasm for making an impact there .
2. Outline next steps :
●​ " I look forward to the opportunity to interview with Company X where they are on campus next month."
●​ " I look forward to having the opportunity to share more details about my candidacy in an upcoming interview. "

Opening paragraph Tips

1. State your value proposition . ( What 3-4 skills / qualities make you a compelling candidate? )
2. Explain your attraction to the position and company . ( How do you know / what makes you believe that you are a
strong fit ? Why do you want to work there ? What research or networking have you done that leads you to believe
this ? )
3. Include the name of the position . ( So they know which context to evaluate your skill set. )

Keep order in mind :

●​ Opening with # 3 is the weakest way to open a letter. It sounds generic; any candidate can open with, " I am writing
to apply for the X position in your company."
●​ Opening with # 1 is very compelling if you have directly relevant skills / expertise that will appeal to the reader.
●​ Opening with # 2 can be compelling if you have a great story to tell about how you came to know about this
company, why you feel such a strong connection to them / their industry, or if you have close connections in the
company that can vouch for you ( e.g., one of your closest friends worked for them or you grew up in a household
with family members working in this industry ).
WRITING AN EFFECTIVE COVER LETTER

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Revisit the Career Progression Worksheet on Page 2 to determine what skills and qualifications you bring to the table. Then
research the industry, company, and role to ensure you highlight experience that is relevant to the present opportunity. If you
are making a career change, demonstrate how past experiences qualify you for the position.

CREATE A COMPELLING OPENING

The opening should showcase your enthusiasm for the company and clearly articulate what you find attractive about the
company and the position. Similar to writing a paper, a good opening will serve as a roadmap for the rest of the cover letter.

●​ Demonstrate interest in the company.

• Express your motivation for writing to the company and identify your areas of interest. Citing relevant
information from your research demonstrates sincere interest. It also enables you to explain why the
company interests you and how the company’s qualities are a good fit. Include your positive interactions
with alumni and others at the company. Be specific about what you bring to the table and what the
“good fit” is all about
•. Consider starting with a personal story to convey why you are uniquely interested in the company.
• Example: “After meeting with Tom Harris and Julie Smith, and hearing about your new products, I am convinced
that my strengths in X, Y and Z would be a great fit with your firm’s commitment to ABC.”

●​ Articulate how your key skills/personality traits and passions can fill a need of the company.
●​ Your letter should answer the question, “What can | do for the company?” vs. “How will | benefit from
this Job?” Demonstrate your knowledge and how you can fill the company’s needs by drawing attention
to relevant and specific skills, accomplishments, or experiences.
●​ Example: “Given your firm’s commitment to manufacturing and product development, | believe you will
find that my operational skills, take-charge personality and spirited aspirations will contribute greatly to that
goal."

• Convey your enthusiasm about the specific role/opportunity.

​ • The reader needs to know that you are sincerely excited about your candidacy and for what role in particular you
are applying so that they have context in which to evaluate your candidacy. Each letter should reflect your
passion for the specific position and represent your personality and professionalism.
• Example: “The XYZ position at Robinson Partners combines the two aspects of business about which | am most
passionate: marketing and strategy.”

USE THE BODY TO ELABORATE ON YOUR UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS

• Cite evidence and provide examples that directly correspond to the strengths/qualities you highlighted in the opening
Paragraph.
• Prove to the reader that you invested in company research and networking.
• Directly connect each example to show how you will be successful in the role. Example: “! believe my success in managing
diverse, cross-functional teams at Company X will allow me to effectively navigate the international teams at Company Y to
drive growth in new markets.”
FINISH BY INITIATING ACTION
• Assertively and diplomatically designate who should do what and when. For example, conclude the letter by saying you
will follow-up to discuss the possibility of setting up an interview.
• Example: “I will call you next Wednesday to arrange a convenient time to meet. Thank you in advance for your
Time.”
• Example: “lam eager to speak with you about The Edgemont Group, the state of the L.A. market/economy, and
any advice you may have for an L.A.-based job search.”
• Example: “! look forward to speaking with you when your firm is in Boston for interviews.”
• If your cover letter is part of the application for an on-campus interview, the company will follow-up with you. The
appropriate ending is, “I look forward to seeing you on campus in January (or October if an EC). Please let me know if you
have questions (or need more information).

ANALYZING AN INEFFECTIVE COVER LETTER

The following cover letter contains many common errors . Review and find the errors ; then compare to the errors identified
on the next page.

Jeremy Colbe
1 Western Avenue , # 876
Boston , MA 02163
[email protected]
( 617 ) 432-7799

December 19 , 2018

Mr. Jon Craig

Consulting Company
15 Winter Street
Boston , MA 02116

Dear Jon,
I am a required curriculum (first - year) student at Harvard Business School. I am interested in summer opportunities at
Consulting Company. I was impressed by your firm after speaking to its representatives at Company Information Days. I would
very much like to interview with your firm at HBS in January.

My academic and professional qualifications would allow me to contribute meaningfully. I performed various financial analysis
while at Irving Trust and introduced clients to sophisticated financial advisory services as well as maintained credit
relationships. This work , conducted with team members under rigorous time constraints , strengthened my analytical ,
interpersonal , and creative skills .

I have enclosed a resume for your consideration. If you need additional information, please contact me. I look forward to
meeting you . Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,
Jeremy Colbe

See following page for an explanation of errors in Jeremy's letter

SAMPLE COVER LETTERS

While the following letters can help you generate ideas for your letter's structure , content and order , they should be
considered examples , rather than ideal letters.

A cover letter should always be tailored to the individual company and your specific situation. You may show your interest in
the firm by demonstrating that you are familiar with their business or that you attended their company presentation (if
applicable). Clearly identify the position you are pursuing. Use your discretion as to whether you should establish follow-up
contact. If you are granted an interview, remember that a recruiter may have additional information about your background
from the HBS Resume Book, such as geographical preferences.

TYPE PAGE
___________________________________________________

Summer internship 60-65

Full-Time 66-68
EXAMPLE: COVER LETTER FOR SUMMER OPPORTUNITY IN CONSULTING

John W. Smith
1 Western Avenue, #123
Boston, MA 02163
[email protected]
(617) 123-4567

November 30, 2018

Ms. Kimberly Linsenmann

Campus Recruiter
Monitor Deloitte
25 Broadway
Floor
New York, NY 10003

Dear Ms. Linsenmann:

Based on conversations I've had with fellow HBS classmates, Laura Singer and Drew Daniels, about their pre-MBA
experiences at Monitor Deloitte, my recent one-on-one with Sam King, and several opportunities to learn more about Monitor
Deloitte through networking events, I have developed very strong interest in Monitor Deloitte's Strategy & Operations Summer
Associate position, and am excited to submit my application for that role. l am particularly drawn to Monitor Deloitte' s clear
commitment to executable strategies, collaborative culture, and investment in professional development.

As a Business Analyst at Target, I honed relevant skills in quantitative analysis and project management, and gained
experience in supply chain and inventory management, omnichannel operations, and strategic partnerships- critical strategic
and operational topics for clients acroSs a broad range of industries. More specifically, in my role at Target, I planned,
purchased, and allocated $250M in inventory for the Furniture business line, and worked on multiple cross- functional project
teams to identify and capture financial and operational improvement opportunities. 1 led an initiative to reduce out-of-stocks in
key markets during "Back to College" season which resulted in $11M in incremental revenue, and collaborated with the
merchant team to reduce unproductive inventory by 28%.

In anticipation of making a career transition to consulting, I have taken action to gain additional hands-on advisory experience. I
have been actively involved in HBS' Volunteer Consulting Organization, advisinga non-profit community center on a long-term
funding strategy.

I would be extremely interested to interview with Monitor Deloitte in January for a Summer Associate position in the Chicago
office. Should you have any questions or require any additional information, please don't hesitate to contact me at (617)
123-4567. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

John W. Smith
EXAMPLE : COVER LETTER FOR SUMMER INTERNSHIP

Christopher Topham
12 Meacham Street
Cambridge , MA 02140
[email protected]
( 617 ) 896-0543

January 3 , 2019

Mr. Rob Hunter

Recruiting Coordinator
Credit Suisse Corporate Staffing

Credit Suisse caught my attention when a classmate in my first-year class at Harvard Business School spoke of the company's
mission to enable employee decision making for business development at all levels. Prior to attending business school, I was
training to be a General Surgeon at New York Presbyterian Hospital and learned the importance of support at all ranks of an
organization . During my training, I developed an interest in the financial aspects of hospitals and medical technology
companies. I have come to Harvard Business School with the goal of combining my healthcare experience with my strong
interests in the business, finance, and equity markets. I am seeking an internship at Credit Suisse to contribute my skills and
health care experience to a major investment bank that values employer decision making.

After meeting Dr. Richard Daley at a Credit Suisse on - campus company presentation, and speaking with Joseph Conroy and
Ricardo Allende in New York City, I further understand what sets Credit Suisse apart from all other investment banks:
dedication to teamwork, superior communication with clients , strong and diverse intellectual pursuits, and professional
distinction. My attached resume highlights how I have developed and honed many of these same qualities.

While training in surgery, I worked with and led surgical teams in high - intensity settings such as the operating room and the
intensive care unit. I have developed broader healthcare industry knowledge by initiating a shadowing experience with a high
level hospital administrator, as well as by publishing eight medical research papers . At present, I am interning at a healthcare
venture capital firm where I apply due diligence, market analysis , and valuation skills to the medical device sector. I am
confident that my professional and educational experiences would serve as a solid foundation for an internship at Credit
Suisse.

I would very much like the opportunity to interview with Credit Suisse for a Summer Associate position in New York City. This
summer internship would be an exciting and productive first step towards my ultimate career goal of making a significant
impact in healthcare focused financial services.

Sincerely,
Christopher Topham
​
EXAMPLE: COVER LETTER FOR SUMMER INTERNSHIP

Sally Lin
Western Avenue #300
Boston, MA 02163
[email protected]
(617) 555-2800

January 3, 2019

Ms. Jane Brennan

Deutsche Bank
60 Wall Street
New York, NY 10005

Dear Ms. Brennan:

Deutsche Bank first caught my attention when I spoke with Associate, Mary Smith, who described the environment as
competitive, yet collaborative, where everyone pushes one another to elevate their performance. Prior to business school, I
worked in corporate strategy at Cox Communications, where I learned how truly challenged and ripe for disruption the media
industry is. I came to Harvard Business School with the goal of combining my experience in telecommunications and media,
with my strong interests in business, finance and capital markets. I am seeking an internship at Deutsche Bank to contribute my
skills and media experience to a major investment bank that pushes its employees to realize their full potential.

My experience at Cox and as a management consultant at Deloitte have both provided me with an excellent foundation in
quantitative analysis, research, and problem-solving. At Deloitte, while working at a large cable operator client, I developed
over 15 economic models mapping how money flows throughout the entire entertainment ecosystem for the company's Board.
To do this, I reviewed and synthesized multiple companies' financials, as well as industry trends.This project not only enhanced
my analytical skills, but also rooted me in the various facets of the industry.

Working at Cox, I gained a unique perspective on the TMT sector, especially with regards to mergers and acquisitions. In the
face of escalating content acquisition costs, I executed an analysis on potential strategies Cox could employ to avoid further
video margin compression. One such strategy was consolidation, as the larger the subscriber count becomes, the lower content
costs per consumer. This analysis pushed Cox to not only look at potential acquisition targets, but also to entertain the
possibility of being acquired; the cable industry is poised for change and the M&A activity that we are seeing in the space both
energizes and excites me.

While at the Deutsche Bank dinner with returning Summer Associate Davey Jones, he spoke of how much he learned in just
one summer at Deutsche Bank. I would make a strong contribution in this fast-paced environment in which a large level of
responsibility is delegated to employees across the organization. Furthermore, after meeting Managing Director Molly Johnson,
it is clear that the company's culture and values start at the top.

I would welcome the opportunity to interview with Deutsche Bank for a Summer Associate position in the Los Angeles office.
Through my relevant skills and industry experience, I feel I could make a very strong contribution to the Deutsche Bank team.

Sincerely,

Sally Lin
EXAMPLE: COVER LETTER FOR SUMMER INTERNSHIP

Sandra Morales
2 Soldiers Field Park, Apt. 613
Boston, MA 02163
[email protected]
(617) 496-7185

January 3, 2019

Ms. Linda Hill

Recruiter
IDEO
100 Forest Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301

Dear Ms. Hill:

IDEO's posting for a Business Design Summer Internship brought me back to my first experience with the full range of
JetBlue's Even More program, which IDEO and JetBlue designed together. The design made it possible for JetBlue to
have a premium offering without feeling elitist. When I encountered the Even More service, it shifted how I thought not
just ot JetBlue, but how I thought of design. In the past, I thought of design as purely relating to a product's physical
form, specifically how it looks and how it functions. The Even More service showed me the broader boundaries of
design: the design of the messaging, environment, and service experience. With this shift in thinking, I saw how my skills
in the business could help create new offerings. As I learned more about IDEO's work redesigning a school system in
Peru, reimagining the aging experience through The Powerful Now, and envisioning the future of urban farming with a
startup in Berlin, I saw that the intersection of business and design is immensely valuable, not to mention fascinating.

Given my interest in high-impact design, experience in cross-disciplinary teamwork, and comfort with ambiguity, I would
very much like the opportunity to interview with 1DEO for a Business Design Summer Internship. My conversations with
former interns, Christian Pelo and Sunjun Yei, have convinced me that IDEO is an engaging place to work, and I would
like to help further a company that has inspired me so much. I believe these selected accomplishments demonstrate
why I am an excellent fit for the IDEO team:

●​ Passion for business design. My interest in design and Southeast Asian artwork inspired me to launch a home
accessories business that curates and sources products from several countries. The business was featured in
several publications, including The New York Times.

●​ Cross-disciplinary teamwork. Success in the oil & gas industry has required working closely with technical
experts and general managers. In guiding the post-merger integration of six oil companies, I worked on teams
with staff ranging from platform workers to Board members.

●​ Comfort with ambiguity. As employee number five of my oil & gas business unit in Asia, I learned to thrive in an
unstructured, flat organization in which the management style could be summed up as, "If you want to clarify
your rotation schedule, go and design one!"

As a business school student who is passionate about design, delivering on bold initiatives, and using business to enhance
people's lives, I cannot imagine a better company than IDEO. Thank you for considering my application.

Sincerely,

Sandra Morales
EXAMPLE: COVER LETTER FOR SUMMER INTERNSHIP

Richard Wilson
Boston, MA 02163
[email protected]
617.922.4647

January 2, 2019

Mr. Mike Genere

Danaher Campus Manager for HBS
Danaher Corporation
Radford, Virginia

Dear Mr. Genere,

With general management as my long time career target, I have always admired Danaher’s business strategy focusing on
growth through superior operations, process excellence and well-trained management. I am particularly impressed by
Danaher’s culture of continuous improvement, doing what it takes to deliver results, integrity, and teamwork. With my prior
business experience and fit with Danaher’s culture, I am looking forward to successfully learning and implementing the
Danaher Business System. Danaher’s diverse businesses and brands provide an opportunity to further develop commercial,
operational, and strategic competencies during a career at Danaher. This has drawn me to your company, and Danaher’s
international footprint adds to my enthusiasm. My Mandarin language capabilities could enable me to contribute to Danaher’s
global growth.

My passion for manufacturing, marketing, and selling tangible products developed during my experience at Jeffco Fibres
Inc., a manufacturing company in the textiles and bedding industries. At Jeffco, I led our sourcing team through a 300%
expansion of our East Asian sourcing program. I was directly responsible for merchandising, pricing, and marketing over
$10MM in eCommerce and consumer products. I also developed a new approach to measure profitability for our insulator
padline division. I consistently pursued improvement in the organization, sought creative solutions to production issues, and
challenged the old ways to take the company to a new level.

I am a driven, creative, action-oriented, and collaborative leader with a successful career path leading to general management.
I hope to speak with you this January to discuss how I will be able to contribute to Danaher’s tradition of excellence during an
internship in the 360 GM Development Program. If you would like any additional information, please contact me.

Sincerely,

Richard Wilson
EXAMPLE: COVER LETTER FOR SUMMER INTERNSHIP

Samantha Thomas
1 Western Ave, Apt #10
Cambridge, MA 02139
[email protected], (615) 545-7429

January 3, 2019

Ms. Carolyn Sullivan

Global Talent Acquisition Manager, Collegiate and Diversity Programs
Nike, Inc.
One Bowerman Drive, Edo Building / 2nd Floor, Talent Acquisition
Beaverton, OR 97005

Dear Ms. Sullivan:

Nothing will ever beat the pride and feeling of invincibility that came with my first pair of Nike basketball shoes. Growing up on
a farm in rural Kentucky, sports were a central part of my and my community’s life, from the time I spent in a stroller on the
bleachers of my sibling’s games to my run as a competitive softball player, post for a 16" in the nation AAU basketball team,
and periodic extreme athlete. Nike has been with me (or on me!) through it all, enhancing the sense of power that has allowed
me to succeed in the high performance, competitive and team driven arenas of sports, consulting, and now Harvard Business
School.

As I look forward in my career, I am committed to finding a role that will allow me to blend my passion for strategic problem
solving and teamwork with my core belief in the power that comes from inspiring each person’s inner athlete. The Nike
Strategic Planning role provides that very opportunity. Advising some of the world’s most well-known organizations as a
consultant with L.E.K, I truly enjoyed providing impactful counsel, aligning client leaders, and motivating their employees to
take action. I thrived when tasked with working with a variety of cross-functional teams, leading to an early promotion and
leadership roles far above my initial level. At HBS, I’ve relished the intensity brought to enhancing my financial analysis skills
and would love to apply them to high impact decisions at Nike. I believe the challenging analytical thinking and strategic
advisory capabilities I have developed as a consultant will allow me to serve as a thought partner to Nike business leaders,
while my experiences innovating within a large, matrixed organization will enable me to contribute to keeping Nike at the top
of its game.

For the past three months, I have also had the pleasure of working with Nike to accomplish its strategic objectives through my
FGI project. Partnering with a number of employees from Nike South Africa led by Dominick Kesse, I have served as the
primary Nike contact for our HBS team as we seek to offer recommendations for Nike’s interest in entering the African informal
market. From this incredible experience and discussions with other Nike contacts like Mary Linter and George Bell, I believe I
would both truly enjoy working at Nike and make a positive impact as a Strategic Planning Intern.

I welcome the opportunity to further discuss my skills and fit with Nike. If you would like additional information, please contact
me at (615) 545-7429 or [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Samantha Thomas
EXAMPLE: COVER LETTER FOR FULL-TIME OPPORTUNITY

Amy Scarapino
27 Hill Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
[email protected]
(322) 372-3668

October 13, 2018

Ms. Lynn Foster

Year Up
92 Broadway Street
Floor
New York, New York 10004

Dear Ms. Foster:

I am passionate about Year Up's mission to close the opportunity divide, and I am excited by the prospect of joining the
Year Up movement. Not only am I attracted to Year Up for its impact, but I am also eager to collaborate with the
creative and ambitious team that directs and grows this impact in a shifting economic and political environment. I am
writing to apply for the role of Director of Special Projects at Year Up. I believe my skills and experiences position me
well to excel in the Director of Special Projects role.

First and foremost, I am committed to focusing my career on helping all students succeed, especially those from low-
income backgrounds. Through my education projects at Bain & Company and my Education Pioneers Fellowship with
Crescent City Schools and FirstLine Schools, I have worked to provide students with the best possible education. Though
my education sector experiences have been focused on serving preK-12 students rather than young adults, my passion is
the same: providing urban youth access to opportunities that will enable them to succeed in college, careers, and life.

In my consulting projects, I often navigated complex organizations to support strategic and organizational changes.
These projects have allowed me to consistently develop strong relationships with a diverse set of stakeholders and
solicit and incorporate their perspectives quickly and often. I believe that my comfort in approaching colleagues and
potential partners with humility and a desire to listen and learn will be critical to success in Year Up's Director of Special
Projects role.

In addition to fitting well with Year Up's mission and this specific position, I believe I would be a good fit with the
broader Year Up team. From my conversations with Cara and James, it seems that Year Up team members are
constantly learning and growing and supporting one another. In addition to diving into special projects, I hope to
contribute to the work of other Year Up teams and am committed to being open and flexible as the organization
develops. lam also energized by the possibility of interacting with Year Up's students, either as a small group advisor
through the Year Up milestone events such as graduations.

Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to discussing this opportunity with you further
Sincerely,

Amy Scarapino
EXAMPLE: COVER LETTER FOR FULL-TIME OPPORTUNITY

Mary R. Quinn
[email protected]
(212) 556-3325

October 3, 2018

Ms. Regina Olson

Recruiting Coordinator, Gap Inc.
Two Folsom Street
San Francisco, CA 94105

Dear Ms. Olson:

I was excited to learn about Gap Inc.’s decision to acquire Athleta during CEO Art Peck’s on campus presentation last week.
Gap Inc. is clearly on the forefront of meeting consumer’s fashion needs through its stable of diverse brands and focus on
creative, high quality apparel. Moreover, your leadership in marketing, merchandising and operations makes it a company that I
am very interested in. As a former equity analyst at Citibank specializing in the retail sector, I have long admired Gap Inc.’s
savvy strategic partnership moves and constant fashion innovation. A summer internship with Kate Spade confirmed my
passion for identifying retail growth strategies. As a second year student at Harvard Business School, I believe that my
financial and analytical skills, sector knowledge and passion for the retail consumer would be a strong fit for a position with
Gap Inc.’s strategic planning group.

While my attached resume includes details on my applicable skills, | believe the following differentiates me:

●​ Inspired by retail. During my summer internship with Kate Spade, | focused on identifying new consumer fashion
trends through consumer research and collaboration with retail managers. | am equally comfortable talking with a store
manager about latest merchandise trends as | am modeling earnings projections for a retail company.

●​ Global market and competitive understanding. have extensive background in understanding and analyzing successful
retail expansion strategies in the US and globally, and identifying new growth opportunities, through product
innovation or acquisition.

●​ Passion for fashion. At HBS, I launched a startup offering outdoor hiking apparel and accessories, via online and pop
up stores. I gained an in-depth appreciation for the needs of consumers and the importance of offering creative,
meaningful product assortment.

I feel that my experiences in the retail operating environment and passion for women’s fashion combined with my analytical
background and knowledge of the global retail sector, will allow me to make a significant contribution to the strategic planning
group at Gap Inc. I would appreciate the opportunity to interview with Gap Inc. and discuss my qualifications in more detail. If
you require additional information, please contact me at (212) 556-3325.

Sincerely,

Mary R. Quinn
EXAMPLE: COVER LETTER FOR FULL-TIME OPPORTUNITY

David Kwong
644 HBS Student Mail Center
Boston MA, 02163
[email protected]
(617) 555-6466

October 15, 2018

Mr. Josh Burns

Candidate Lead
Bridgewater Associates
One Glendinning Place
Westport, CT 06880

Dear Mr. Burns:

Bridgewater caught my attention when I first learned about its global macro investment approach and transparent culture.
Having worked in various countries and industries, I bring global perspective, and proven analytical skills. After attending
Thomas Aboud’s talk on the global economy, and meeting George Carbonneau and Liz Zhou at the info session, I became
fascinated by Bridgewater’s openness and vitality, and eager to contribute to its thought leadership as a senior investment
associate [needs to be consistent with concluding sentence].

As the attached resume details, I believe the following qualities further differentiate me:

●​ I see the big picture and am able to execute around it. To manage risks and deliver sustainable results, | look ahead and
around. Most recently, I went to Niger to bring clean water using bio-sand filter technology. To ensure the supply of
clean water even after we are gone, I built a business model that would incentivize villagers to use the filter without our
aid. We implemented the model this January, and the mothers at the village reported significant drop in their children’s
illness. The filter usage has been growing steadily at about 5% a month to date.

●​ I am proactive. When Inforich Technology Solutions, a healthcare start-up in India, asked me to address declining
customer retention, I started by setting specific milestones. And I hit all of them: starting with the market and product
analysis, engaging the relevant functional groups, and leading the groups to implement my proposed actions. Five
months later, the founder emailed me to give me credit for how their retention trend reversed to growth and share the
positive feedback they received from their customers.

●​ I have strong analytical skills. At Microsoft, c-level executives approved the proposals I backed with detailed
quantitative analysis. When I discovered that Outlook users in certain emerging markets were showing declining
engagement pattern, I looked into the market trend of the affected countries and derived an analysis. My analysis
presented a solution to bring more long-term revenue in expense of marginal opportunity cost. The proposal
immediately won the CEO’s approval, was implemented in four days, and started delivering results a few months after.

I would appreciate the opportunity to interview for Bridgewater's Senior Investment Associate position. Please feel free
to reach me if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

David Kwong
NETWORKING: BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Networking is using an email to reach out and make a connection with alumni, prospective employers and/or a referral.
Making these connections is an integral form of communication in the job search. Your message can reinforce your personal
brand and build your network. On the other hand, poorly written messages can end relationships before they have an
opportunity to begin. Throughout your job search, your email messages are sending signals about who you are and how you
conduct yourself professionally.
.
The key to Networking is to assume that everyone with whom you are emailing is very busy and that your message will be
competing with hundreds of other messages your addressee receives daily. Given this assumption, your message must stand
out. You must catch the reader’s attention to ensure his/her motivation to respond.

The tone and length of your email will depend on where you are in the relationship with the recipient. If you are reaching out
to someone you do not know, your message should be short. Once you have established a connection or already have a
relationship with someone, your message may be a bit longer.

DO:
• Do be mindful of the length of your message; it should ideally fit on the screen of a smart phone without scrolling.
• Do provide a hook/connection with the addressee (e.g. referral, HBS, insight into his/her business). Give an additional
example clearly focused on the recipient (e.g. “Your recent presentation at HBS...”).
• Do compliment your addressee on their work, career, or presentation (if sincere).
• Do make it easy for the reader to respond (e.g. provide your availability).
• Do acknowledge respect for their time and work demands.
• Do follow up on all conversations, interviews and other interactions with a thank you note.
• Do be clear about why you are contacting them (e.g., industry advice, geographic information, career path questions, etc.).
The purpose of an initial email is to establish a time to talk for 15-20 minutes about these tonics

DON'T:
• Don’t write a lengthy message.
• Don’t explain your entire work history.
• Don’t claim to have an insincere connection.
• Don’t overlook typographical errors or incorrect grammar.
• Don’t be overly casual. Remember, you are still representing yourself professionally.
• Don’t assume senior executives will never answer your message.
• Don’t forget to do your homework on the person or company you are addressing in your message.
NETWORKING SAMPLES

The following are examples of email communications. While these samples can help you generate ideas for your email’s
structure, content and order, they should be considered examples, rather than templates. Differentiate your email with your
own writing style. Be yourself; you are your best advocate.

You may hear there is a “formula” for the perfect outreach email. Classmates, alumni, outside speakers may suggest they have
the “email formula that never fails.” Clearly, following key principles will increase your chances of engaging your addressee,
but more important than any one format is developing a message that communicates your personal brand.

TYPE ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ SAMPLE ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ PAGE

INFORMATIONAL MEETING/INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW REQUEST

Alumni ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Company or Industry Advice ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 71

Geographic ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 74

Referral ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Specific Opportunity ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 75

Information Request ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 76

POST MEETING/INTERVIEW EMAIL

Thank You​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 77

Turndown Response​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 79

Withdrawing from Interview Process ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 80

Declining an Offer ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 81
INFORMATIONAL MEETING/INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW REQUEST

ALUMNI
Many HBS graduates state a willingness to advise students and alumni via the Alumni Directory, which can be found on
myHBS. You may contact alumni to learn more about an industry, a specific company, or a regional business climate. You
should not, however, explicitly ask for a job. You may first want to reach out to MBA Career Advisors. These are HBS alumni
who have volunteered to be contacted regarding career topics. To search for Career Advisors in the alumni directory, go to the
“HBS” — “Volunteer/Committee” filter and select the “MBA Career Advisor” criteria.

An email to an alumnus/alumna is your chance to introduce yourself and explain what type of assistance you would like.
If relevant to your questions, include a resume and discussion of your career objectives. You will need to detail the required
action or next steps. Additionally, you may find it appropriate to telephone more recent graduates directly, depending on the
information you are seeking.

SENIOR EXECUTIVES OR RECENT ALUMNI?

Deciding who to contact can be confusing and there is no one right answer. Your confidence level will define what you need
and will help you determine your contact list. Pros and cons of reaching out to senior executives versus recent alumni:

●​ Senior Executives are used to delegating and if they delegate your message (to a more junior manager) you have the
power of citing their referral (“Ms. Smith, the CEO, suggested | contact you”). Alternatively, the more senior manager
usually has more control over his/her time so he/she might agree to speak with you directly. If you accept that offer, you
should be incredibly prepared; don’t waste the contact. Remember, these more senior managers also have hiring
authority.

●​ Recent Alumni may be more willing to take time to speak with you since they were “in your shoes” recently. Some
students prefer starting low in the organization to ask their basic questions about the firm. Once you learn more, you
can ask who has hiring authority and contact them.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK
Some informational interviews may become actual interviews! Be prepared to answer general and industry specific questions,
as well as discuss salary ranges.

EXAMPLE: ALUMNI EMAIL (COMPANY OR INDUSTRY ADVICE)

To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: Follow-up to Your Presentation at HBS

Dear Mr. Cohen:

Your presentation at the Harvard Business School last week truly inspired me. I am a first year HBS student and I have
led teams facing significant budget reductions where we had to do more with less. I would like to talk to you about how
you motivated your staff and explore how I might contribute to your firm’s success in the future. What is the best way
to get on your calendar for a 15-minute phone call in the next few weeks?

Best,
Stan

The message is short; it compliments the addressee, cites a shared experience, and is clear on the objective. The author
could attach a resume but could also wait for a response. If the resume is attached, add “For a more complete
understanding of my background please see the attached resume.”
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: Harvard Business School Student — Information Request

Dear Mark:

As a 1st year student at Harvard Business School, I am presently exploring career opportunities in [X INDUSTRY]. Given
your own success within the industry [OR SOME MORE PERSONALIZED STATEMENT], I am hoping that you are available
for an informational conversation in the coming weeks. Any advice or suggestions that you have would be greatly
appreciated. Please let me know when you are free to schedule a 15-minute conversation at a time convenient for you.
Thank you very much.

Sincerely,
Ellen

The message allows for personalization, does not overtly mention job searching, and clearly asks for informational
Conversation.

To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: Social Media Inquiry

Hi Leah:

I’m Beth Davis, and I’m a second-year MBA student at Harvard Business School. I’m interested in a full-time position in social
media. I was hoping that I could speak with you for 15 minutes about your work at LinkedIn. Might you be available during any
of the following times?

Mon. Apr. 11 4:00-6:00 pm EST

Tue. Apr. 12 5:00-8:00 pm EST
Wed. Apr. 13 2:45-5:30 pm EST
You may reach me by 555-444-2222 or by [email protected].
Thanks!
Beth
555.444.2222

Some students feel uncomfortable with the casual (use of exclamation mark in closing) and very direct tone (“I am
interested in a full-time position”) of this email but others have had remarkable success following this format. Giving
times to the addressee increases the likelihood of making an appointment but you must be available as promised.
Always give times in the addressee’s time zone.
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: Intrigued by the Gizmo

Hi Dan,

Your firm’s new Gizmo product truly excites me. I am a first year HBS student and I helped optimize a product like the Gizmo at
my former employer. I’m eager to talk to you about your experience. What is the best way to get on your calendar this week?

--Bob Martin

Alternative 1° Sentences:
●​ After having worked for three years in a related field facing a similar challenge, I am very impressed with what you
have accomplished in your firm.
●​ Your comments in the Business Week article of last September resonated with me and I was struck by your insight
Into________. I would like to discuss this further.
●​ I am interested in your experience with XYZ corporation. I'd like to learn more about your career choices

To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: Harvard Business School Student — Information Request
Attached: Yu-TingSun_resume.doc

Dear Ms. Palmer:

Your insights shared at the Entertainment/Media professional panel confirmed my passion for the music industry. As a first year
student at Harvard Business School, I hope to leverage my background in the business to contribute to the Asia music industry.

Prior to Harvard, I was an Assistant Marketing Director in the International Marketing Department at Sony Music Entertainment
in Seoul. At Sony, I co-directed sales and marketing programs for all international repertoires and advised
senior management in Hong Kong and New York on Korea-specific media and retail strategies. In 2010, I assumed additional
responsibilities in A&R, having initiated and produced “The Bridge,” the platinum debut album by Korean- American electric
violinist, Eugene Park.

Having had the opportunity to closely observe competitor activities in Asia, | gained significant respect for EMI’s Asia franchise
and your commitment to the region. | was impressed by your investment in the Korean subsidiary, particularly in local and
classical A&R. The recent restructuring initiatives at the Seoul office seem to complement current market changes, in particular,
the highly anticipated market opening of Japanese repertoire.

For your reference, my resume is enclosed. | would greatly appreciate your advice on how someone with my background and
skills could pursue career opportunities in the music industry. Ideally, | would like to work on Asia-related issues in New York,
Hong Kong, or Seoul. Any information you can share with me about your career path and experience at EMI would be greatly
appreciated. Should you require additional information, please feel free to contact me at
[email protected] or 663-336-3333.

Sincerely,
Yu-Ting

This message is longer because there is more of a shared experience.

EXAMPLE : ALUMNI EMAIL (GEOGRAPHIC)

To : [email protected]
From : [email protected]
Subject : Harvard Business School Student - Information Request
Attached : Maria Lida_resume.doc

Dear Mr. Bruno :

While researching marketing - focused companies in Sao Paulo, AmBev caught my attention as it combines two aspects of
business I am most passionate about: marketing and beverages. As a second year student at HBS eager to return to Brazil, I
am interested in speaking with you about your experiences at AmBev during its recent meteoric growth period. I am interested
in your perspective on the Brazilian market / economy and any advice you may have for my Sao Paulo based job search .

Prior to business school, I spent five years developing online strategies for start - up beverage companies. I specialized in
consumer research both in the United States and abroad. The firms I worked for were fairly small, and I was therefore given
significant responsibility to lead the strategy efforts and interface with our clients ' top officers . This summer I worked on
product and marketing strategy for Putnam Investments.

I will be back in Brazil during March and I hope to meet you for coffee or lunch . I look forward to hearing from you and setting
up a time for us to meet . You may reach me at +1 444-222-3333 or [email protected] .

Sincerely ,
Maria Lida

This message is longer because the sender feels a unique connection with the addressee (Sao Paulo based) .
REFERRAL EMAILS
These emails provide you with an opportunity to expand your network and gain valuable insight into your target industry or
company. A strong referral, preferably from someone who knows the person you are addressing is likely to win you a few
minutes of the individual's time.

Start the email by identifying who referred you in order to establish a relationship . Next , explain the purpose for meeting and
cite your experience . You might wish to include a brief disclaimer so that the person does not think you are asking for a job .
Close the email by requesting time to meet . Take the initiative to suggest a convenient time and follow up with a phone call

EXAMPLE : REFERRAL EMAIL ( SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITY )

To : [email protected]
From : [email protected]
Subject : Harvard Business School Student - Referred by Jerry Leonard
Attached : W Anson Resume doc
Dear Ms. Savage:

Jerry Leonard, my Leadership professor at HBS, informed me that you are looking for a summer intern. He explained that you
are in the midst of launching an on - line, interactive book series, which sounds like a challenging and fascinating project.

As a first-year student at Harvard Business School, I am intrigued by the possibility of interning in the Books for Young
Readers Strategic Planning Department because of my interest in both innovation and education. The enclosed resume
demonstrates my creative problem - solving experience from my work on the launch of SoBe Life Water and Lipton Flavored
Iced Tys. The marketing and strategy skills I developed there would be immediately applicable to the launching of an on-line
book series.

Your current initiative is of great interest to me, and I would very much like to explore this internship opportunity. I will call you
next week to request a convenient time to discuss the details of the position. In the meantime, please contact me if you need
additional information. You may reach me at 617-443-9090 or [email protected].

Sincerely,
Wes Anson

Wes Anson
32 Park Place
Brookline, MA 02454
wanson@ mba2020.hbs.edu
( 617 ) 443-9090
EXAMPLE : REFERRAL EMAIL ( INFORMATION REQUEST )

To: GCariopolis@cari&bell.com
From: [email protected]
Subject: Harvard Business School Student - Referred by Warren Wilcox
Attached: Regina Miranda resume.doc

Dear Mr. Cariopolis:

Mr. Warren Wilcox mentioned that you are launching a promising tech consulting practice. He suggested that you would be a
good source of information for me regarding telecommunications consulting because of your significant research of and
contributions to the industry. Regina Miranda 10 Main St.

I am a second - year student at Harvard Business School. My previous experience has been in strategy consulting, but I would
like to transition to a firm focused on technology.

Please understand that I do not expect you to know of an opening, nor am I soliciting a position with your firm, Rather, I would
appreciate your insights regarding the state of telecommunications consulting and how I might pursue my interest in the field.
Any information that you have about career paths and how my skills would transfer from strategy consulting would also be
helpful .

I will call you next week to arrange a brief meeting at your earliest convenience. If you need any information in the meantime,
please feel free to contact me. Thank you in advance.

Sincerely,
Regina Miranda

Regina Miranda
10 Main St.
Cambridge, MA 02138
[email protected]
(617) 442-3337
POST MEETING/INTERVIEW EMAIL

THANK YOU
You must thank everyone who assisted you in your job search, including Alumni and interviewers. A well-written email
conveys that you are thorough, courteous and efficient.

The email should:

●​ Briefly express thanks to the person for meeting or speaking with you.
●​ Mention your continued interest in the company (if valid).
●​ Succinctly highlight your ability to add value.
●​ Serve as an opportunity for you to ask any follow-up questions.
●​ Highlight something you may have failed to mention during the interview or conversation.
●​ Describe your understanding of the next steps.

EXAMPLE: THANK YOU EMAIL (FOLLOWING AN INTERVIEW)

To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: Thank You

Dear Mr. Bolletaris:

Thank you for providing me with an excellent introduction to Alpha Galactic. I enjoyed meeting you and learning more about
summer and long-term career opportunities. The information that you shared with me about your unique company culture and
dedication to innovation and creativity has only reinforced my belief that Alpha Galactic would be a good match with my
strengths and career goals. Likewise, the interview schedule that you arranged provided a valuable opportunity for me to
understand the projects this year’s interns will be managing.

As I mentioned, I continue to be exceedingly interested in Alpha Galactic, particularly the AGO Division. My consulting
background and health care experience would allow me to make a significant contribution to the division’s marketing
department. Not only do I have the analytical skills you require, but I also enjoy working on cross-functional teams.

My understanding is that you will be contacting me next week regarding your decision. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Sarita Jordish

Sarita Jordish
8 Shaler Lane
Cambridge, MA 02138
[email protected]
(617) 446-7332
EXAMPLE: THANK YOU EMAIL (FOLLOWING A MEETING/CONVERSATION)

To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: Thank You
Attached: KKeefeResume.doc

Dear Dr. Schultz:

Thank you for taking the time to discuss career opportunities at Pet Depot with me. The in-store veterinary care program you
are spearheading sounds like a promising initiative. I look forward to speaking with Roc Suttees and Peter Toro further about
Pet Depot’s development plans and my ongoing interest in joining your team.

As we discussed, I have enclosed my resume for your review. I believe that my financial planning abilities and project
management skills will allow me to make a significant contribution to Pet Depot’s Strategic Planning Team as you move
forward with increasing client services.

Please let me know if you learn of any appropriate opportunities. Thank you again for speaking with me.

Sincerely,

Ken Keefe

Ken Keefe
1342 Holden Green
Cambridge, MA 02344
[email protected]
(617) 493-6555
TURNDOWN RESPONSE

Even if you do not receive a job offer, you will be remembered if you take the time to thank an interviewer for the chance to be
considered for a position. A turndown response demonstrates considerable professionalism, maturity and flexibility. It also
increases the likelihood that you will be reconsidered for a position if circumstances change.

EXAMPLE: TURNDOWN RESPONSE

To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: Thank You

Dear Mr. Goode:

Thank you for considering me for the Production Manager position at Title Insurance. It was disappointing not to be selected
but I am pleased that you think highly of my qualifications.

Your position was very interesting to me. I believe that my experience in quality assurance, my ability to motivate production
workers, and my sensitivity when obtaining behavioral changes are of potential value to your organization. If, for some reason,
circumstances change, I would be pleased to be reconsidered for the position. In any case, I would welcome the opportunity to
obtain feedback and suggestions regarding my career search.

I appreciate the time you and Bill Macintosh spent with me. I will call you next week to see if you have any feedback regarding
my interviews at Title Insurance.

Sincerely,

Doug Jones

Doug Jones
1256 Piper Memorial
Allston, MA 02166
[email protected]
(617) 441-5566
WITHDRAWING FROM INTERVIEW PROCESS
If you are withdrawing from consideration for an internship or full-time opportunity, particularly in later rounds, it is best to call
the recruiter and then follow-up with an e-mail. If you are withdrawing in an early round, then it may be appropriate to simply
send an e-mail to the recruiter.

EXAMPLE: WITHDRAWING FROM INTERVIEW PROCESS (EARLY IN PROCESS)

To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: Withdrawal from Interview Process

Dear Mr. Smith:

Thank you for inviting me to a second-round interview with your company. While I enjoyed meeting you and learning more
about Target Corporation, I have decided to withdraw myself from the interview process at this time. After careful
consideration, I have decided to focus on pursuing other opportunities for my summer internship.

Thank you for the opportunity.

Regards,

Joe Simons

Joe Simons
HBS Student Mail Center
Boston, MA 02163
[email protected]
DECLINING AN OFFER
When declining an offer, always call and speak with the recruiter or hiring manager directly. It is then appropriate to follow up
with a letter or e-mail. Particularly when declining an offer for a summer internship, a phone call will allow you to express your
continued interest in the company and leave the door open for possible full-time employment.

EXAMPLE: DECLINING AN OFFER

*ONLY TO BE USED AFTER CALLING THE HIRING MANAGER

To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: Follow-Up and Thank You

Dear Mr. Jones:

As a follow-up to our conversation, I would like to thank you again for the offer to join Amazon.com as a Product Manager.
I have given the offer careful consideration and believe at this time that I would like to pursue a different opportunity for my
summer internship.

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience interviewing with Amazon and will definitely be in touch in the fall.

Regards,

Antonia Micelli

Antonia Micelli
82 Summer Street, #6
Cambridge, MA 02141
[email protected]
NETWORKING: BEYOND THE EMAIL

Checklist:
​ Research the company/industry of interest prior to reaching out to your contact.
​ Use the time with your contact to ask and obtain more subjective, qualitative information rather than factual information
that you could find on the company’s website.
​ Show awareness of recent news developments in the company and industry.
​ Appeal to the ego — many people like to give advice.
​ Start with more general questions; ask for additional contacts or ask targeted questions around job prospects at the end
of the conversation.
​ If you have spoken to other people at the company, weave in points you took away from those conversations.
​ Be gracious, appreciative and sensitive to contact’s time.
​ Always follow-up with a thank you.
​ Develop your personal networking skills by using the many available resources available to you at HBS. Key resources
can be found in the Networking & Communications section of the CPD website.
​ Start now. It is never too early or too late to have networking conversations.

SAMPLE INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

●​ How did you decide to work in this field? For this company?
●​ What is your background? How did you position yourself for this field?
●​ What do you see as the strategic goals for the company? For your department?
●​ What kinds of challenges do you face in this industry? What keeps your CEO up at night?
●​ What have you learned through your position? What skills do you typically use?
●​ What skills are most important to be successful in your organization?
●​ What advice do you have for me as I go through the job search process?
●​ What are the most difficult problems/decisions/challenges you face?
●​ Is there anything that has surprised you about this field/company, either positive or negative?
●​ When people leave this organization, what types of positions do they pursue?
●​ If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?
●​ Is your firm currently hiring in the XYZ division?
○​ [If yes] I would be very interested in applying. How would you suggest I follow up or learn more about
hiring in the XYZ division? If I sent you my resume, how should I follow up with you?
○​ [If no] Which other divisions might have roles that could be a fit with my background and interests?
I appreciate your keeping me in mind if positions surface at your firm in the future or if you hear of other
opportunities in this industry that might be a fit.
●​ Which books/trade journals you would recommend that I read to best prepare for a career in this industry?
●​ Which professional associations or conferences that are especially relevant for this industry?
●​ If you were in my position, embarking on a career in this industry, what companies would you suggest I target?
●​ How would you suggest I contact other people I might talk to in this industry?
BIOS: BEFORE YOU BEGIN

A biographical statement (“biography” or “bio”) is often used to provide a summary of your background and succinctly
communicate your personal brand. Regardless of your past work experience, a bio is an efficient and | professional way to
communicate key information, especially when a resume isn’t appropriate. For example, you may want to:

●​ Include your bio in an email requesting an informational interview.

●​ Provide your bio to the organization for which you are doing a consulting or field study project. This will be helpful to
your contact there and allow you to shape what is communicated about you.
●​ Use your bio when you are serving on or organizing a panel, doing volunteer work or updating your alumni '
profile.
●​ Consult your bio as you develop your positioning statement and Linkedin profile.
●​ For more senior level positions, provide your bio in conjunction with your resume. A recruiter will frequently go to the
bio to get the executive summary on you before proceeding to the resume.
●​ Refer to your bio when asked to provide information for company websites, promotional materials or program with
speakers or panelists.

DO:
• Do write your bio in the third person.
• Do be sure your bio supports your brand. Your bio, positioning statement and social media content should all be in sync
with each other.
• Do adjust the length of your bio so it is appropriate to your level and years of work experience.
• MBA students or recent graduates: one paragraph may be appropriate.
• More experienced professionals: one to two paragraphs (short version) and three-quarters of a page (long version).
• Do have a professional looking headshot available if your bio is being included in a program or on a website. A photo is
neither necessary, nor appropriate for informational interview requests.
• Do present your work highlights in reverse chronological order (most recent experience first).
• Do emphasize transferable skills and key experiences.
• Do ask peers in the company or industry you are targeting to review your bio.

DON'T:
• Don’t regurgitate your resume. Your bio should contain your most noteworthy positions and accomplishments.
• Don’t send outdated information. Spend time periodically updating your bio so that you are able to send the most current
information at a moment’s notice.
• Don’t describe responsibilities. Instead, describe your accomplishments.
SAMPLE BIOS
SAMPLE BIO : CONSUMER PACKAGED GOODS

John MacDonald brings several years of experience working with global Fortune 500 consumer product organizations. He
has expertise in marketing strategy, and business development Most recently, he has worked in Strategic Planning and
Business Development at leading organizations such as Danaher and Toys R Us . John was formerly an Account Executive
and Assistant Brand Manager for Procter & Gamble where he developed and implemented a highly effective brand
merchandising strategy which led to significant growth for a leading national retailer. He also managed a brand
repositioning and relaunch and was responsible for pricing, packaging, advertising and PR, channel distribution, as well as
project team management. John has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing Harvard Business from the University of Notre
Dame and is currently completing his Masters in Business Administration degree at runner.

SAMPLE BIO : TECHNOLOGY

Jennifer Groves has significant experience influencing multiple stakeholders to produce revenue-generating initiatives in a
cutting edge technology. She gained increasing responsibilities at Intuit in the marketing function developing on-line features
for Quicken, QuickBooks and finally as the Product Manager for Turbotax.com. Jennifer brought divergent stakeholders
together to accomplish the launch of Turbotax.com on accelerated timing to exceed revenue goals. She merges her drive as a
previously competitive athlete with her passion for business success. Following her years at Stanford University, Jennifer
completed her Masters of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School.

SAMPLE BIO : CAREER SWITCHER

Madeleine Collier is a marketing professional with experience in Consumer Product Goods. In her previous roles Madeleine
was a marketing intern with L'Oreal where she conducted research and analysis to drive the growth and strategy of this $
50MM hair styling brand. Prior to L'Oreal, Madeleine was an associate with Mitchell Madison Group (currently known as
MarchFirst), a global management consulting firm. At Mitchell Madison, Madeleine worked with client teams to develop
operations, marketing and business development strategies for leading Fortune 500 companies. Madeleine started her
career as a White House Intern. She is currently completing her Masters in Business Administration at Harvard Business
School in Boston, MA

SOCIAL MEDIA: BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Most recruiters use social media to source and / or evaluate candidates. Your online presence can enhance or damage your
personal brand and along with it your career development efforts

Don't, however, take a purely defensive approach to social media. Social media provide a range of very powerful tools and
forums to help you communicate your personal brand and can turbo - charge your networking efforts. Consider social media
as critical a part of your marketing collateral as your resume and cover letter. How you convey yourself via social media is all
the more important for career switchers. If you are currently in, or attempting to switch into, a field for which your Twitter
handle or Linkedin Profile would be of value, we recommend you list them within the personal information section at the top
of your resume (see pages 35 & 50 for examples)

OVERVIEW OF THE RECOMMENDED TOOLS

There are dozens of social media sites and tools available (and more are introduced every day). To enhance your overall
online personal brand, we encourage you to focus on three in particular: Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter Below are a few key
pointers for these sites and for managing your digital footprint. Take advantage of the workshops offered by CPD, student
clubs and professional organizations to learn how to leverage these tools.

General Tips :
●​ As a general social media strategy, try to use a consistent handle across all of your social media accounts Whenever
possible, try to use your full name. When that is not available, add a professional prefixes or suffixes that will endure
over time, e.g. for Jane Doe: @msjanedoe @therealjanedoe @janedoeOFFICIAL @janedoeventures.

●​ Be familiar with the settings tab on each network on which you are active. Make sure notifications are set that you
can receive messages immediately (especially Linkedin). Similarly, double check notifications that confirm what you
would like to keep private.

●​ Consider using social media platforms like Hootsuite, SocialOomph, Social Sprout for greater efficiency and tracking.

YOUR DIGITAL FOOTPRINT

DO:

●​ Do use the same name on all social media profiles. Don’t use nicknames.
●​ Do “Google” yourself or “view profile as” on Facebook and Linkedin. Find out what others see when they search for you.
Always check the first page or two of Google results when entering your name (or common variations of your name). It is
difficult to get content removed, but you can enhance your image by increasing your online activity. You can also see how
connections and the public see your profiles.
●​ Do Enhance your digital footprint. Tweet, write online reviews of books or consumer products, start a blog, or write
articles for online media. Participating in activities like conferences or volunteer projects can also enhance your online
presence since they will most likely have some online component (e.g., website, newsletter, press release).
●​ Do add relevant links to your email signature. When you have your online presence in good shape, include links to your
LinkedIn profile, blog or other vehicle as part of your email signature. Do keep your ear to the ground for other and new
social media. For example, there may be regional preferences (e.g., Renren in China, Skyrock in France) or industry
preferences (e.g., YouTube for Media/Entertainment) where you might want to build your digital presence.
●​ Consider using tools like BrandYourself and Klout to objectively gauge the effectiveness of your social media efforts and
to have greater control over how your name shows up in Google search results.
●​ If there are any negative or unhelpful entries, consider the following actions to boost entries that are positive
●​ Reserve your name as a website. It is one of the best ways to tell your own story via inevitable Google search that
will be done on your name.
●​ Write blog posts
●​ Take part in relevant online communities/forums and guest blog
●​ Create a Wikipedia entry
●​ Create an https://about.me/ page

DON'T:
●​ Don't assume that your digital presence isn't important because the particular job, company or industry you're interested
in doesn't" do that. "They will soon if they don't already . It takes time to build a strong Don't use grammatically incorrect
colloquialisms . Slang and typos are recruiter pet peeves. digital profile, so start now.
●​ Don’t use grammatically incorrect colloquialisms. Slang and typos are recruiter pet peeves.

LINKEDIN
DO:
●​ Do create a LinkedIn profile — it is a must for every professional.
●​ Include a professional headshot. Profiles with a picture are 7x more likely to be viewed.
●​ Your location should be Boston, MA, Greater Boston Area, or a specific geography target.
●​ Do maximize your profile to increase exposure to new connections and recruiters.
●​ Customize your LinkedIn URL.
●​ Connect with former colleagues, friends, family, peers from volunteer activities, section mates, etc. The more
connections you have, the larger your network becomes! Aim for 500+.
●​ Add Skills and collect Endorsements. Choose the 10 best skills that represent your skillset and are applicable to
your target jobs.
●​ Add custom sections to your profile such as Languages, Publications, or Honors & Awards.
●​ Do write a Summary including what you have done, what you are passionate about, and the types of opportunities that
interest you. Take a look at profiles of those in your target industry to ensure your profile appeals to your audience and
that you are using appropriate industry key words.
●​ Use bullet points or small paragraphs so it is easy to read. You may also choose to adopt a conversational tone by
writing in the first person.
●​ Do ask for high quality recommendations from managers, peers, and reports. Aim fora minimum of 5. Pay it forward and
write recommendations for those who you highly recommend.
●​ Do update your profile with all of your experience (e.g. professional, academic and volunteer).
●​ Do join Groups. Your schools, employers, and industries of interest most likely have Groups on LinkedIn. LinkedIn Groups
provide a place for professionals in the same industry or with similar interests to share content, find answers, post and
view jobs, make business contacts, and establish themselves as industry experts. You will also appear closer to the top
of searches due to relevancy.
●​ Do follow Influencers. As leaders in their industries, geographies, and seniority, they discuss topics of interest, such as
leadership, management, hiring and firing, disruption, and how to succeed.
●​ Do consider syncing with Twitter or WeChat.
●​ Do add a link to your LinkedIn profile in your personal email signature once your profile is complete. This will open
opportunities for those with whom you have email correspondence to connect with you on LinkedIn.
●​ Get involved and engage with others to fully leverage LinkedIn. Share an article, comment on others’ posts, or write
original content to further establish your professional identity by expressing your opinions and sharing your experiences.
You can strengthen current connections and make new ones by staying active on LinkedIn.

DON'T:
●​ Don’t let your profile become outdated. This should be a living document that is updated periodically.
●​ Don’t wait until you need something to reach out. Spend 15 minutes a day on LinkedIn, learning more about what
your network is up to and engaging with your connections.
●​ Don’t use the default message when sending connection requests. Craft a tailored message to show you
put thought into who you want to connect with and why.
LINKEDIN PROFILE BEST PRACTICES

Profile Sections

Photo Summary
●​ Choose a clear, professional-looking headshot ●​ Provide a narrative to your experience in the first
●​ Closely crop the photo around your head and person
Shoulders so the focus is your face ●​ Showcase your personality and warm up to recruiters
●​ Dress for your desired company culture by talking about the type of projects you enjoy
●​ Smile! working on, the type of work environment you enjoy,
etc.

Customized URL Recommendations

●​ This makes it easier for people to find you and has a ●​ Ask a few current/former colleagues or clients to
cleaner look write a short recommendation for you
●​ Include the URL on your resume, business cards, or in ●​ Aim for 1 recommendation per position
your email signature. ●​ Adds credibility and can help promote your current
endeavours

Headline Experience
●​ SEO-friendly - add keywords ●​ Add a few explanatory sentences or bullets to each
●​ Should entice the reader to click into your profile to of your positions
learn more about you ●​ You can take this information right from your resume
●​ A few examples:
●​ Marketing Manager, XYZ Corp | Social Media |
Product Development Skills and Endorsements
●​ Financial Analyst, ABC Corp | Professional ●​ Zero in on the 10 that best represent you skillset and
Guitarist | Trilingual are applicable to future jous (i.e. get rid of anything
●​ Healthcare professional ideally suited for pharma that you don’t want to be known for, or simply don’t
positions in New York practice anymore)
●​ The more endorsements you have for your skills the
higher you rank in search results

Location Education
●​ Use current location or location you are looking to ●​ Add any clubs/groups that you were a part of sports,
relocate to extracurricular, or any honors you received

Connections Additional Sections

●​ Aim for 500+ connections - the more connections you ●​ Add additional profile sections such as Projects,
have the more doors open! Volunteer Experience, and Foreign Languages
●​ Connect with those you met at HSB, undergrad ●​ Include work that highlights skills that would be
friends, family, former coworkers, etc. attractive to an employer
●​ Connect with recruiters in your desired industry
●​ Include a message with your connection request

FACEBOOK
DO:
●​ Do create your own Facebook page to differentiate between your personal and professional pages if Facebook is your
main social network with friends.
●​ Do become a fan of companies for whom you are interested in working.
●​ Do post content related to your job search or industry interests.
●​ Do join groups related to your professional interests which can expand your network.
●​ Do customize your privacy settings. Be sure you are sharing appropriate information with the correct
people. Ensure all photo albums are visible to Friends only.
●​ Do be aware of outside content that is posted on Facebook via other apps (music from Spotify, pins from
Pinterest). Ensure this information is not damaging to your personal brand.
●​ Do remove inappropriate photos or posts from your profile. If you would not want something to come
up in an interview, don’t post it. Watch comments and information posted by others on your wall. Hide
information you don’t want seen by employers.

DON'T:
●​ Don’t assume recruiters or your professional colleagues do not look at Facebook. While you may draw a line between
what is personal and professional, others may not make that distinction. What they see online contributes to their
impression of you, whether you intend it or not.

TWITTER
DO:
●​ Do take advantage of hashtags during conferences and trending events in your target sectors or companies to both
curate perspectives as well as have your own point of view.
●​ Do choose who you follow strategically. Who you follow conveys a particular image of your personal brand. Following
the Economist and WSJ creates a particular image as does following AdAge and Lady Gaga. Being a follower can be a
great learning opportunity and a convenient way to stay current on particular industries or companies.
●​ Do follow companies for whom you're interested in working. This is an easy way to do a bit of “company research.”
●​ Do choose an appropriate handle. If you are going to use Twitter to make professional connections or be part of your
brand, make sure your Twitter handle is appropriate and identifiable.
●​ Do try to secure your full name as a handle, ensuring that no one else is tweeting from your name and misrepresenting
your brand.
●​ Do keep a balanced ratio of followers/following.

DON'T:
●​ Don’t tweet about what you ate for breakfast; unless it was notable (e.g. “Got great career advice from Warren Buffet
@Starbucks on 47/Lex”). Be sure your tweets contribute to your personal brand.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
There are many guides available to help in the mechanics of revising your resume and writing cover letters. The
following is a list of useful websites and guides available in Baker Library and via HOLLIS—the Harvard Library catalog.

Books

Bennett, Scott. The Elements of Résumé Style : Essential Rules for Writing Résumés and Cover Letters That Work. 2nd ed.
New York: AMACOM, 2014. Available in HOLLIS http://id.lib.harvard.edu/aleph/014170587/catalog

Beshara, Tony. Unbeatable Résumés : America's Top Recruiter Reveals What Really Gets You Hired. New York, NY:
AMACOM, 2011. Available in Baker Library Stacks HF5383 .B4335 2011

Bernstein, Brenda. How to Write a Stellar Executive Resume : 50 Tips to Reaching Your Job Target. New York, NY:
Skyhorse Publishing, 2018. Available in Baker Library Stacks HF5383 .B427 2018

Bolles, Richard Nelson. What Color Is Your Parachute? : A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers. 2016
edition, Revised ed., Berkeley, Ten Speed Press, 2016. Available in Baker Library on Reserve HF5382.7 .B64 2016.

Burnison, Gary. Lose the Resume : Land the Job. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley, 2018. Available in HOLLIS
http://proquest.safaribooksonline.com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/9781119475200

Criscito, Pat. How to Write Better Resumes and Cover Letters. Third ed. Hauppauge, New York: Barrons Educational
Series, 2013. Available in Baker Library Stacks HF5383 .C742 2013

Enelow, Wendy S., and Kursmark, Louise. Modernize Your Resume : Get Noticed ... Get Hired. Modernize Your Career
Series. Coleman Falls, VA: Emerald Career Publishing, 2016. Available in the Baker Library Stacks
HF5383 .£47893 2016

Hanson, Charles W. Resume Writing 2017 : The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Resume That Lands You the Job! : Get Hired
Today! [United States]: Leopard Publishing, 2016. Available in Baker Library Stacks HF5383 .H36 2016

McDowell, Gayle Laakmann. Cracking the Tech Career : Insider Advice on Landing a Job at Google, Microsoft, Apple, or
Any Top Tech Company. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, 2014. Available in HOLLIS
http://proquest.safaribooksonline.com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/9781118968086?uicode=harvard

Noble, David F. Gallery of Best Resumes : A Collection of Quality Resumes by Professional Resume Writers. 5th ed.
Indianapolis, IN: JIST Pub., 2012. Available in HOLLIS http://proquest.safaribooksonline.com.ezp-
prod1.hul.harvard.edu/9781593578589 ?uicode=harvard

Provenzano, S. (2012). Top Secret Executive Resumes : Create the Perfect Resume for the Best Top-level Positions (2nd
ed.). Boston, Mass.: Course Technology. Available in Baker Stacks HF5383 .P7387 2012

Wendleton, Kate, and Five O'Clock Club. Packaging Yourself : The Targeted Résumé. 5th ed. Five O'Clock Club Basic Book
Series. Boston: Cengage Learning, 2014. Available in HOLLIS http://proquest.safaribooksonline.com.ezp-
prod1.hul.harvard.edu/9781285753584 ?uicode=harvard