b'HOW TO WRITE A RESUME FOR\nINTERNSHIPS, CO-OP POSITIONS,\nSUMMER, OR PART-TIME JOBS\n\n08/07\n\n\x0cRESUMES FOR INTERNSHIPS, CO-OP\nPOSITIONS, SUMMER, OR PART-TIME JOBS\n\nTABLE OF CONTENTS\nPage\nIntroduction\n\n1\n\nInternships, Cooperative Education\n\n2\n\nThe Big \xe2\x80\x9cS\xe2\x80\x9d Referral System\n\n3\n\nWhere do I look for Career Related Positions?\n\n4\n\nWhere do I look for a Summer Job?\n\n5\n\nHow Resumes for Undergraduates differ\n\n6\n\nResume Writing Tips\n\n7\n\nInformation that appears on most resumes\nSample Resumes\n\n8-9\n10-17\n\nThe Cover Letter\nExamples of Cover Letters:\nReferral from Faculty Member or Other\n\n18\n19\n\nAnswer to a Newspaper Ad\n\n20\n\nDirect Solicitation to an Organization\n\n21\n\n1\n\n\x0cINTRODUCTION\nDo you want an interesting, challenging, well-paid position\nwhen you graduate? Does the idea of securing an entry-level job\nwith good long-term career growth appeal to you? If so, act now.\nThere is a lot that you can do to make such a position become a\nreality.\nStudies consistently show that the Number One factor in\nhelping college graduates transition to meaningful paid positions is\ncareer related experience.\nCareer related experience can be gained in a variety of ways.\nThese include internships (paid or unpaid), cooperative education,\nsummer positions, voluntary experience, and part-time jobs. All\nwork experience is valuable, but experience directly related to\none\xe2\x80\x99s long-term career goals is the most meaningful.\nThis booklet is designed to help you write a resume that can\nbe used while you are still an undergraduate. Hopefully, a good\nresume will help you obtain career-related experience before you\ngraduate.\n\n2\n\n\x0cINTERNSHIPS\nAt the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, the Office of\nCareer Services has been designated as the initial point of contact\nfor internships. Employers who are seeking interns from UPJ are\ndirected to this office. They work closely with academic\ndepartments and faculty to refer students to employers. If you are\ninterested in an internship, talk to your faculty advisor or visit the\nCareer Services Office.\n\nCOOPERATIVE EDUCATION\nCooperative Education is a formalized program where\nstudents alternate between semesters of full-time school and\nsemesters of full-time work. Co-op students normally have more\nthan one semester of co-op work experience prior to graduation.\nThe University\xe2\x80\x99s School of Engineering in Pittsburgh has a\nCooperative Education program through which UPJ\xe2\x80\x99s Engineering\nTechnology students can be placed in co-op positions. ET students\nwho are interested in co-op should see their faculty advisor.\n3\n\n\x0cTHE BIG \xe2\x80\x9cS\xe2\x80\x9d REFERRAL SYSTEM\n\nThe Big \xe2\x80\x9cS\xe2\x80\x9d program is a computerized job referral system\ndeveloped by Career Services to notify UPJ students of part-time\nand summer job opportunities. After job openings are received in\nthe Career Services Office, they are matched to the fields of\ninterest which are listed on the registration form. Once matches are\nmade, students are then sent a notice with a description of the job.\nIf the student is interested in the position, it is up to him/her to\ncontact the employer, usually by sending a resume and cover letter.\nRegister with the Big \xe2\x80\x9cS\xe2\x80\x9d in Career Services if you want to receive\nnotices about part-time and summer positions.\n\n4\n\n\x0cWHERE DO I LOOK FOR CAREER\nRELATED POSITIONS?\nBy referring to the directories seniors use in their full-time\njob hunt, you can start a list of all the companies for which you\nwould most like to work for. Most of the companies listed in\ndirectories are very large and/or nationwide, but obviously, they\nare also the companies that are able to conduct large summer\nhiring programs.\nBecause smaller companies do not hire in great volume, it\ncan be more difficult to seek them out, but do not rule them out. A\ngood rule to follow is: don\xe2\x80\x99t leave any stone unturned. Joe\nSchmo\xe2\x80\x99s Fish Market may need summer help to balance the books.\nA good place to look for summer positions is with the state or\nthe federal government. There are a vast number of opportunities\nin the many agencies. A good way to find out about these\nopportunities would be to check the websites;\nwww.usajobs.opm.gov and www.scsc.state.pa.us.\nThe best ways to find summer employment are to research,\nwrite letters, talk to as many people as you can, and distribute your\nresume as much as possible. Remember \xe2\x80\x93 Career Services can\nprovide you with a lot of good resources. It\xe2\x80\x99s to your advantage to\nutilize this office.\nAnd also, even if you don\xe2\x80\x99t get a position that provides\nexperience in your profession, you can gain valuable\ncommunication and organizational skills simply by delivering\npizzas or waiting tables.\n\n5\n\n\x0cWHERE DO I LOOK FOR\nA SUMMER JOB?\nMany people don\xe2\x80\x99t realize that they have an effective job\nreferral system at their fingertips. This network uses no forms,\ncosts nothing, and has an amazing success rate \xe2\x80\x93 as high as 80\npercent. All you need to do to take advantage of this job network is\n\xe2\x80\x9cget the word out\xe2\x80\x9d to friends, relatives, professors, etc. Many jobs\nare found just by asking people you know to keep an eye out for\njob openings. Give your resume to these people. Ask them to\ncirculate it to those who might need a person with a background\nlike yours.\nWhen picking up and dropping off an application, or a\nresume (it\xe2\x80\x99s always best to do these things in person), look sharp.\nIf a person\xe2\x80\x99s appearance is sloppy and unkempt, a potential\nemployer will take an application and file it away under \xe2\x80\x9cNO\nWAY!\xe2\x80\x9d If the position requires that you complete an application,\nfill it out in blue or black ink, NEATLY. The appearance and\ncondition of your application could tell a great deal about you to an\nemployer. A great looking application may not get you a job, but a\nsloppy application will most certainly stop you from being hired.\nIf you are asked to interview for a position, make sure you\nare dressed properly. Neatness counts in any interview, so try to\nlook your best. Remove any facial piercing, cover tattoos, and\navoid extreme hairdos and clothing. Men should have facial hair\nneatly groomed. Women should use make-up conservatively.\nWhen interviewing for professional positions, professional\nattire is expected.\n\n6\n\n\x0cHOW RESUMES FOR\nUNDERGRADUATES DIFFER FROM\nTHOSE OF SENIORS AND ALUMNI\nWhereas college graduates typically do not include information from\ntheir high school years on their resumes, undergraduates may, and normally\ndo use such information. The younger you are, the more likely it is that you\nwill use information from your high school years.\nYour objective (if you include one) should say that you are seeking a\nsummer position, a part-time job, an internship, or a co-op position. You\nmay choose to include your QPA if it is average or above.\nIt may help to list the courses that you have taken (in high school or\ncollege) that relate to the position for which you are applying. It is generally\nadvisable to list your computer skills.\nEven though career related experience is most significant, all work\nexperience is valuable. If you mowed lawns, worked in fast food, baby sat,\netcetera, don\xe2\x80\x99t shy away from putting it on your resume.\nYour activities and interests can be a real asset. They can display a\ngreat deal about you. They show how active you are, how willing you are to\nserve others, and frequently indicate leadership traits and communication\nand organizational skills.\nYou should have at least three references. Those that you list as\nreferences should not be personal friends or family members. Teachers,\nprofessors, and supervisors from places at which you worked make the best\nreferences. List their name, title, place of employment, address, and\ntelephone number. References are normally typed on a separate sheet of\npaper and given to the employer upon request.\n\n7\n\n\x0cRESUME WRITING TIPS\nWriting a resume can be a daunting experience. The following is a\nlist of tips compiled from the advice of employers, career\ncounselors, and recent graduates whose resumes helped them land\nmeaningful employment.\n\xc2\x99 Pay careful attention to spelling, punctuation, grammar, and\nstyle.\n\xc2\x99 Proofread your resume carefully, using a dictionary and\nstylebook, and have several other people proofread it as well.\n\xc2\x99 Organize information in a logical fashion.\n\xc2\x99 Keep descriptions clear and to the point.\n\xc2\x99 Confine your information to one page.\n\xc2\x99 Use a simple, easy-to-read font.\n\xc2\x99 Use good-quality white or off-white bond paper.\n\xc2\x99 Include as much work experience as possible, even if it\ndoesn\xe2\x80\x99t obviously relate to the job you\xe2\x80\x99re seeking.\n\xc2\x99 Tailor your information to the job you\xe2\x80\x99re seeking.\n\xc2\x99 Seek help at your career services center.\nFor more information on preparing a resume and other jobsearch ideas, visit your career center.\nNational Association of Colleges and Employers\n\n8\n\n\x0cINFORMATION THAT APPEARS ON\nMOST RESUMES\n1.) Personal Information: Name, Campus/Permanent Addresses, Telephone Numbers,\nand an E-mail Address.\n2.) *Employment Goals: (This is normally called the \xe2\x80\x9cCareer Objective\xe2\x80\x9d or simply\n\xe2\x80\x9cObjective\xe2\x80\x9d). Describe the type of work you desire. The objective should reflect your\nshort-range plans. For those with little or no full-time work experience, the development\nof a concisely described job objective may be the most difficult task in compiling a\nresume.\nIf you find that a specific career objective is too confining, or doesn\xe2\x80\x99t meet your needs,\nthere are options available:\na.) You may decide to write your objectives in functional terms that describe the type of\nwork activities you prefer instead of a description or title.\nb.) Eliminate the employment goal section on your resume and incorporate your objective\nin your cover letter.\nc.) Have several resumes with different objectives that you would send to the appropriate\nemployers.\n3.) Education: Name of College(s), Location, Dates, Degree(s), Major(s), Quality Point\nAverage*, Honors, and perhaps courses of particular value if they are related to\nemployment for which you are applying. Whereas college graduates typically do not\ninclude high school background, undergraduates frequently find it advantageous to do so.\n4.) Skills: You may decide to include a section that lists your computer skills, foreign\nlanguages, licenses (CPR, commercial driving, etc.) and other skills.\n5.) Experience: Part-time employment, summer employment, applicable college\nprojects, internships, volunteer work. (This section may be divided into three areas:\ncareer-related experience, part-time employment, and summer experience). For\nundergraduates with little or no full-time professional level work experience, it is very\nimportant to include part-time and summer jobs\xe2\x80\x94even if the type of work has no bearing\non academic or career plans. Remember that career related experience is most valuable,\nbut a proven track record of other successful experience also makes you a more attractive\ncandidate.\nNOTE: It is much more important to emphasize what your experiences were\n(description, explanation) rather than when and where (dates, places).\n6.) Military Service: For those who have completed military obligations, the dates of\nactive duty and rank upon discharge should be included. When appropriate, include a\nbrief description of duties and responsibilities, particularly if the experience relates to\nfuture employment. If you do not have any military experience, omit this section.\n\n9\n\n\x0c7.) Activities and Interests: These include extra-curricular college and/or community\nexperiences, and any leadership positions. A brief listing of hobbies or avocations is\nacceptable. Teacher-education candidates should include all experiences working with\nchildren and adolescents. Candidates for teaching positions might choose to include their\nown high school activities.\n8.) *References: List 3 or 4 persons. Give name, professional title, business address,\nand business phone. These are normally listed on a separate sheet of paper. If you\ndecide not to list your references on your resume, you could indicate that \xe2\x80\x9cReferences are\navailable upon request.\xe2\x80\x9d Do not use personal friends and relatives as references.\nTeachers, faculty, and former supervisors make the best references.\n* indicates optional\n\nPlease Note:\nTraditional advice has been to use \xe2\x80\x9caction verbs\xe2\x80\x9d when writing resumes and\ncover letters. A list of \xe2\x80\x9caction verbs\xe2\x80\x9d you might consider using in your resume is\nprovided in the back of this booklet.\nAlthough the use of \xe2\x80\x9caction verbs\xe2\x80\x9d is still considered important, you also\nshould be aware of a recent trend. Many large organizations are using computers\nto do the first scanning of resumes. When scanned, these computers can quickly\nreview thousands of resumes. However, be aware that they normally scan for nouns\nnot verbs. Action verbs may have a greater effect when a human being does the first\nscanning of your resume, but verbs may not impress a computer.\nIn essence, both action verbs and important descriptive nouns that describe\nyour qualifications (such as titles or positions) are important.\n\n10\n\n\x0cSAMPLE RESUMES\n\nPlease use the following resumes as examples only.\nLook at all the resumes before you begin to\nconstruct your own. Your resume will serve you best\nif it is unique and highlights your own personal\nqualifications. Choosing a format that you like and\nthen blending bits and pieces of a variety of\nexamples will make your resume appear as if it is\noriginal. Resumes copied from somebody else or\nproduced from a template are normally not as\neffective as original resumes.\n\n11\n\n\x0cDuncan Donaldson\nDuncan444@upj.com\nHome Address\n84 Trueman Avenue\nAltoona, PA 15947\n(814) 555-8444\n\nCampus Address\nP.O. Box 1200, UPJ Box 112\nJohnstown, PA 15907\n(814) 555-0023\n\nObjective:\nTo secure a summer position in marketing or sales.\nEducation:\nUniversity of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Johnstown, PA 15904\nAnticipated Graduation:\nJune 20_ _\nMajor:\nBusiness\nGPA:\n3.12\nConcentration:\nManagement, Marketing Track\nMajor Course Work:\nPrinciples of Marketing\nMarketing Management\nMarketing Research\nConsumer Behavior\nExpert Systems in Marketing\nAdvertising Management\nExperience:\nSubway, Hollidaysburg, PA 15912\nCashier and Sandwich Artist\nDuties: Assisted with customer relations, prepared sandwiches, handled\ncash register transactions, responsible for closing store and calculating\ndaily receipts. July 20_ _ \xe2\x80\x93 April 20_ _\nYoung Men\xe2\x80\x99s Shop, Altoona, PA 15650\nSales Associate\nDuties: Sold men\xe2\x80\x99s clothing, assisted with customer relations, handled\ncash register transactions. Summer 20_ _\nAltoona Park and Recreation Board, Altoona, PA 15947\nCounselor\nDuties: Planned activities for the children. Summer 20_ _-20_ _\nReferences:\nAvailable upon Request\n\n12\n\n\x0cDavid Ensor\n13 Coolidge Street\nKansas City, MO 64155\n816/555-0499\ndensor@aol.com\nObjective:\nA Cooperative Education Position in Electrical Engineering\nEducation:\nUniversity of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Johnstown, PA 15904\nMajor: Electrical Engineering Technology\nAnticipated Graduation: Dec. 20_ _\nQ.P.A: 2.74\nCore Classes Completed as of May 20_ _: Engineering Drawing,\nMechanics/Statics, Circuits I and II, Computer Programming \xe2\x80\x9cC\xe2\x80\x9d, Electronics I,\nEngineering Design, and Mechanics/Dynamics\nComputer Skills:\nHardware: IBM-Compatible, Macintosh, Internal and External Components\nOperating Systems: Windows 95/98/NT/MF/2000/XP\nSoftware: Spreadsheets, Graphics/Drawing/Painting Tools, PowerPoint, and\nAutoCAD\nLanguages: True Basic, Microsoft Visual Basic, \xe2\x80\x9cC\xe2\x80\x9d\nExperience\nUniversity of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Johnstown, PA 15904\nTutor for peer engineering students, Aug. 20_ _-April 20_ _\nDuties: Gave study tips, answered questions, helped calculate math problems,\nassisted in deciphering professors lectures and prepared students for upcoming\ntests.\nFox\xe2\x80\x99s Pizza Den, Ebensburg, PA 15931\nDeliverer/Pizza Maker, Summer 20_ _\nDuties: Prepared pizza for local customers and hand delivered their order to their\nhome.\nReferences Available Upon Request\n\n13\n\n\x0cJames Sharp\n9 Central Avenue\nMorristown, NJ 07869\n(201) 555-1212\nSharkj13@hotmail.com\n\nOBJECTIVE\nA summer position in the Civil Engineering Field.\n\nEDUCATION\nUniversity of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Johnstown, PA 15904\nMajor: Civil Engineering Technology\nAnticipated Graduation: May 20_ _\nGPA: 2.74\nCourses taken to date: Calculus I and II, Communication I and II,\nEngineering Drawing, Physics I with Lab, General Chemistry with Lab,\nEngineering Technology Freshman Seminar\n\nWORK EXPERIENCE\nSummer Handyman. Kise\xe2\x80\x99s Trailer Park, Boswell, PA 12345\nResponsible for mowing lawns, conducting general maintenance, operating a\nweed eater and electric hedge clippers. June 20_ _- Present\n\nACTIVITIES\nAmerican Society of Civil Engineers\nIntercollegiate Baseball\nStudent Tour Guide and Admissions Representative\nLittle League Baseball Coach\n\nREFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST\n\n14\n\n\x0cThomas J. Horton\n19832 Brookside Way\nJohnstown, PA 15904\n(814) 555-7857\nOBJECTIVE\n\nTo secure an internship in the field of Public Relations.\n\nEDUCATION\n\nCommunication major, Junior status, University of Pittsburgh at\nJohnstown, Johnstown, PA\nAnticipated date of graduation: April 20_ _\nQ.P.A. \xe2\x80\x93 3.79/4.0\n\nEMPLOYMENT\n\nPublic Affairs Work-study \xe2\x80\x93 University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown,\nJohnstown, PA\nFiled newspaper clippings, wrote press releases, assisted with alumni\nnewsletter, answered telephones, produced forms and brochures, assisted\nin bulk mailings, gained experience in Desktop Publishing and Power\nPoint.\nAugust 20_ _ \xe2\x80\x93 April 20_ _\nResident Assistant \xe2\x80\x93 University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Johnstown,\nPA\nSupervised a 70-room dorm, programmed activities, conducted dorm\nprojects, chaired dorm council, and supervised Resident Clerks, assisted\nResident Director.\nAugust 2003 \xe2\x80\x93 April 2005\nSalesperson \xe2\x80\x93 Boscov\xe2\x80\x99s Department Store, Johnstown, PA\nWorked in sales and advised customers on purchases. Assisted with\nplanning and set up of displays.\nJune 20_ _ \xe2\x80\x93 August 20_ _\n\nACTIVITIES\n\nPresidential Scholar, Phi Eta Sigma Honorary Society, Treasurer of\nNewman Association, President of UPJ Ambassadors, and Member of\nTrails Yearbook Staff.\n\nREFERENCES\n\nJames Williams, Assistant Director Office of Alumni Affairs,\nUniversity of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Johnstown, PA\n(814) 555-7000\nHarry Hilton, Director of Housing and Residence Life,\nUniversity of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Johnstown, PA\n(814) 555-8000\nJoan Mabry, Manager of Infants and Children\xe2\x80\x99s Department,\nBoscov\xe2\x80\x99s Department Store, Johnstown, PA\n(814) 555-0707\n\n15\n\n\x0cSTEPHANIE LOSSON\nSteph@abc.efj.com\nHome Address\n3127 Box Car Alley\nMonroeville, PA 15111\n(412) 555-4212\n\nCampus Address\nP.O. Box 1200, UPJ Box 321\nJohnstown, PA 15904\n(814) 555-1232\n\nObjective\nTo obtain an internship in Accounting.\nEducation\nUniversity of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Johnstown, PA\nGraduation Date:\nJune 20_ _\nMajor:\nBusiness\nConcentration:\nAccounting\nQ.P.A.\n2.91\nComputer Skills\nSoftware:\n\nMicrosoft Word\nWordPerfect\nPower Point\n\nInternet skills:\n\nNetscape\nInternet Explorer\n\nExperience\nWallet Works, The Galleria, Johnstown, PA\nAugust 20_ _ - Present\nSales Associate/Assistant Manager (full-time, salaried)\nDuties: Merchandising and display, customer relations, inventory control,\nin charge of opening and closing and cash reconciliation in the absence of\nthe manager\nFamily Toy Land, Somerset, PA\nAugust 20_ _ \xe2\x80\x93 July 20_ _\nSales Associate\nDuties: Handled cash register transactions, maintained dining area,\nassisted with customer relations\nBrett\xe2\x80\x99s Subs, Johnstown, PA\nMay 20_ _ \xe2\x80\x93 August 20_ _\nCashier, Sandwich Maker\nDuties: Handled cash register transactions, maintained dining area,\nassisted with customer relations, prepared sandwiches\nActivities and Honors\nJason E. and Heather M. Edwards Senior Accounting Award\nAlpha Kappa Psi (Business Fraternity)\nStudent Senator\nReferences available upon Request\n\n16\n\n\x0cAnita L. Dime\ndime@yahoo.com\nPermanent Address:\n777 Standard Street\nPittsburgh, PA 15555\n(412) 555-8431\n\nCampus Address:\nP.O. Box 1200, UPJ Box 112\nJohnstown, PA 15907\n(814) 555-2692\nOBJECTIVE\n\nTo obtain a summer position in either print or broadcast media which will utilize news and sports gathering\nskills.\nEDUCATION\nUniversity of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Johnstown, PA\nDate of Graduation:\nApril 20_ _\nMajor: Journalism\nMinor: Psychology\nQ.P.A. 3.49/4.0\n\nCompleted Junior Year\n\nCOURSE HIGHLIGHTS\nReporting I, Reporting II, Editorial Writing, Feature Writing, Copyreading/Editing, Layout/Design,\nMagazine Writing, Informative Writing.\nACTIVITIES AND HONORS\nAssociate Editor of The Advocate, Music Director of WUPJ, Vice-President of Time-Out for Christian\nFellowship, Programming Board Member.\nPhi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, Chi Lambda Tau Honorary Leadership Society, Dean\xe2\x80\x99s List.\nEXPERIENCE\nUniversity of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Johnstown, PA\nAugust 20_ _ \xe2\x80\x93 April 20_ _\n\nWork-Study Position\nCareer Services\n\nPaul\xe2\x80\x99s Pizza, Pittsburgh, PA\nApril 20_ _ \xe2\x80\x93 August 20_ _\n\nSummer Position\nWaitress\n\nAM-PM Mini Mart, Johnstown, PA\nApril 20_ _ \xe2\x80\x93 April 20_ _\n\nPart-time Position\nCashier\nREFERENCES\n\nThomas Martin, Coordinator of Journalism Department, University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown,\nJohnstown, PA 15904\n(814) 555-9661\nMathew Mark John, Manager, Paul\xe2\x80\x99s Pizza,\nPittsburgh, PA 15344\n\n(412) 555-6767\n\nJoseph Jennings, Assistant Director of Career Services, University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown,\nJohnstown, PA 15904\n(412) 555-9661\n\n17\n\n\x0cDAVID M. RUSSELL\nR.D. #2 Box 247\nJohnstown, Pa 15904\n(814) 555-1212 Email: dmr@lenz.avx\nCAREER OBJECTIVE\nTo obtain an internship in mechanical engineering involving research and development\nEDUCATION\nUniversity of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Johnstown, PA\nDate of Graduation:\nDecember 20_ _\nMajor:\nMechanical Engineering Technology\nQ.P.A.:\n3.03/4.0\n\nCompleted 76 credits\n\nACTIVITIES & HONORS\nUniversity-\n\nDean\xe2\x80\x99s List (UPJ)\nAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers\nSociety of Undergraduate Engineers\nCommuter Organization of General Students\n\nCommunity-\n\nChurch Choir\nChurch Youth Group Vice President\nWORK EXPERIENCE & BACKGROUND\n\nSummer 20_ _\n\nSportspal, Inc., Johnstown, PA\nPosition: Factory Worker\nPERSONAL STATEMENT\n\nRaised on a 500-acre farm. Throughout college and high school years, helped to manage the twoman operation. Repaired machinery, did welding, overhauled engines. Operated high lifts and a\nvariety of tractors and other farm machinery.\nREFERENCES\nDr. Jonathan Westcoff, Department of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown,\nJohnstown, PA 15904. (814) 555-0987.\nMr. James Bryce, Sportspal, Inc., Johnstown, PA 15904. (814) 555-6543\nRev. Mark McGyre, First United Church, Johnstown, PA 15905. (814) 555-2112\n\n18\n\n\x0cTHE COVER LETTER\nThe purpose of a cover letter of application is to let an employer\nknow that you are interested in employment and that you are\nqualified for that employment. Through this letter, you must make\nthe employer want to give you an interview. The cover letter\ncorresponds to the first five minutes of an interview, and your\nmanner and attitudes are conveyed as readily on paper as in person.\nTherefore, you must follow certain standards to carefully write\neffective cover letters. Some guidelines are the following:\n\xe2\x80\xa2 Every cover letter should be individually typed.\n\xe2\x80\xa2 Quality paper should be used. (If your resume is on colored\npaper, your cover letter should be on matching paper.)\n\xe2\x80\xa2 The letter must conform to good business style and be free of\nerrors.\n\xe2\x80\xa2 The letter should be no more than one page in length\n\xe2\x80\xa2 The cover letter should indicate a special interest in the\norganization. Receiving a generic resume and letter gives the\nimpression that you distributed them indiscriminately to any\norganization that you pulled out of a hat.\nThese are some basic guidelines to preparing a cover letter.\nWhat follows are some examples of cover letters dealing with\ndirect solicitation to employers, response to newspaper ads, and\nreferral from the placement office. These are provided to give\nyou an idea of how cover letters are written; remember that the\nones you write should reflect your qualities to the potential\nemployer. DO NOT SIMPLY COPY THESE EXAMPLES \xe2\x80\x93\nBE CREATIVE!\n\n19\n\n\x0cReferral from Faculty Member or Other:\n701 Forbes Avenue\nPittsburgh, PA 15555\nMarch 25, 20_ _\nMs. Forest Mead\nPersonnel Director\nX-caliber Engineering Company\nWest Middlesex, PA 16656\nDear Ms. Mead\nI wish to be an applicant for internship with the X-caliber Engineering Company. I\nlearned about this position through Professor James Smith in the department of Electrical\nEngineering Technology at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.\nI am currently a second term junior Electrical Engineering Technology major at the\nUniversity of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. The EET program here, 90 credits of which I will\nhave completed by April, provides a solid background for work in the systems area.\nRelevant courses include Computer Systems and Programming, and Programmable\nControl Systems. For further details of the EET program, please refer to the enclosed\ndescription sheet.\nIn addition to maintaining a 2.8 quality point average here at UPJ, I have been quite\ninvolved in campus activities. I have held various offices in organizations, which have\nhelped me to develop management skills.\nThe resume accompanying this letter provides further details of my qualifications. I look\nforward to hearing from you in the near future.\nSincerely,\n\nAgustin Storm\nEnclosures\n\n20\n\n\x0cAnswer to a Newspaper Ad\n258 Pine Street\nConemaugh, PA 15905\nJanuary 11, 20_ _\nMr. Russell Banker\nUnited States Steel Corporation\n600 Grant Street\nPittsburgh, PA 15789\nDear Mr. Banker\nYour May 11 advertisement in the Pittsburgh Press stated your need for a computer\noperator trainee during the summer months. I would like you to know that I am actively\nseeking that position.\nAs a Computer Science major at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, I have\nworked in the computer center as a consultant for three years. I assisted undergraduates\nwith the formulation and debugging of their programs, in addition to working on more\nadvanced projects with faculty members. Also, last summer I worked at the IBM plant in\nBoca Raton, Florida, and have gained experience with the IBM S/370 computer system\nthat you have mentioned in your ad.\nA copy of my resume is enclosed. Your time and consideration are appreciated, and I\nlook forward to talking with you.\nSincerely,\n\nWarren Peace\nEnclosure\n\n21\n\n\x0cDirect Solicitation to an Organization:\n717 Sun Road\nPittsburgh, PA 15234\n(412) 555-2789\nFebruary 11, 20_ _\nGeoff Moore, News Director\nWARD Radio\nCover Hill\nJohnstown, PA 15907\nDear Mr. Moore\nI am currently a junior journalism major at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. By\nApril I will have completed 83 credits in this program dealing with subjects such as\nReporting, Feature and Editorial Writing and Public Relations. In addition, I have spent\nthe last three years as a disc jockey on WUPJ, the campus radio station, and the past two\nyears as a music director.\nBecause of my enthusiasm toward my academic and extracurricular work, I am quite\neager to find a summer position to learn more about the broadcasting media. I am\nespecially interested in a station of your size because I will be able to work closely with\nall employees. It is also close to school where I will be taking spring and summer\ncourses.\nPlease examine the enclosed resume for further details of my qualifications.\nI am quite willing to discuss appropriate summer positions available at WARD Radio. I\nam available to work anytime after April 19, 20_ _. Please contact me at the above\naddress or by calling (814) 555-1234.\nI look forward to hearing from you.\nSincerely,\n\nCandy Sweet\nEnclosure\n\n22'