Cover Letter Assignment
What is a cover letter? The cover letter is sent with the resume. You have written an application letter in your language arts class that will be your cover letter to send to high schools with your resume when you apply for high school.
- Go to Criterion Writing. Copy the letter that you have already written, then paste it into Word.
- Format the cover letter. Please view the sample cover letter template.
- Make note of the fonts and font size you use. You will use the same font and font size to format the resume that you will write. Go to Edit and “Select all”. Then use the Format Font Menu to set the font, size, and line spacing.
- Use the “Save As” function to save the document to “My Documents”. Name the document letter firstname lastname
- Ensure that all formatting is correct and consistent. Is the spacing consistent through the letter? Is spacing around punctuation correct?
- The cover letter should fit on a single page. Adjust paragraph spacing and line spacing if necessary to fit the letter on a single page.
- Spell check and and grammar check, then proofread carefully. Correct errors.
- Save the cover letter again. (Note: Use Save not Save As)
- Monday class, please submit the cover letter to http://drop.io/ICStech8_1
- Wednesday class, please submit the cover letter to http://drop.io/ICStech8_2
Resume Assignment
- Read the quote below from JobStar.
- Examine both the chronological and functional resumes on the JobStar site.
- Read your cover letter to get ideas for the resume.
- Begin to plan what you will say and how you will organize your resume. What type of resume seems to be the best for you, chronological, functional, or a combination? What categories will you use?
- Begin a draft resume, if you have time.
- Homework: Next week in class, you will write, format and submit your resume to the drop.io for the class. Between today and then, you will talk to your family and friends about your resume. What do they think you should include on it? What are your important characteristics, skills and accomplishments should be mentioned?
- You will use the Formatting Guidelines from this blog to format the resume.
What is a resume? (Quote from JobStar) In the following, when it says “employer”, think “high school admission officer”. When it says “workplace”, think “high school”.
The resume is a selling tool that outlines your skills and experiences so an employer can see, at a glance, how you can contribute to the employer’s workplace.
Your resume has to sell you in short order. While you may have all the requirements for a particular position, your resume is a failure if the employer does not instantly come to the conclusion that you “have what it takes.” The first hurdle your resume has to pass–whether it ends up in the “consider file” or the “reject file”–may take less than thirty seconds.
The most effective resumes are clearly focused on a specific job title and address the employer’s stated requirements for the position. The more you know about the duties and skills required for the job–and organize your resume around these points–the more effective the resume.
You will need information to write a good resume. Not just information about jobs you’ve held in the past but also information to select the most relevant accomplishments, skills and experience for THIS position. The more you know about the employer and the position, the more you can tailor your resume to fit the job.
Resume Samples for Students (Note: the resume must fit on a single page.)