Writing the Cover Letter. What is A Cover Letter? Marketing Tool: Product = YOU Persuasive...

Writing the Cover LetterWriting the Cover Letter

What is A Cover Letter?What is A Cover Letter? Marketing Tool: Product = YOUMarketing Tool: Product = YOU Persuasive Writing: Invitation to find out Persuasive Writing: Invitation to find out

more about you and land you an interviewmore about you and land you an interview A way to make the reader’s job easierA way to make the reader’s job easier Targeted Response to A Job Description Targeted Response to A Job Description

and/or a Particular organization—not genericand/or a Particular organization—not generic ANSWERS THESE QUESTIONS:ANSWERS THESE QUESTIONS:

Can you do the job?Can you do the job?Will you do the job?Will you do the job?Will you fit in?Will you fit in?

Writing SampleWriting Sample

Four Steps for Cover Letter Four Steps for Cover Letter Writing From Idealist.orgWriting From Idealist.org

1.1. Conduct Research on The Conduct Research on The OrganizationOrganization

2.2. Deconstruct the job or internship Deconstruct the job or internship descriptiondescription

3.3. Consolidate and prioritize the key Consolidate and prioritize the key requirements you have extractedrequirements you have extracted

4.4. Plug yourself into the organizational Plug yourself into the organizational and job requirementsand job requirements

The Job DescriptionThe Job Description

Climate and Energy Program (CEP) Climate and Energy Program (CEP) Internship, WRIInternship, WRI

Position Summary

WRI's Climate and Energy Program (CEP) seeks a WRI's Climate and Energy Program (CEP) seeks a motivated, well-organized, and detail-oriented motivated, well-organized, and detail-oriented intern to support our climate change and energy intern to support our climate change and energy policy work. The successful candidate will support policy work. The successful candidate will support CEP staff in a wide variety of activities including CEP staff in a wide variety of activities including publications management, event coordination, publications management, event coordination, database management, financial management, database management, financial management, and other tasks related to general program and other tasks related to general program administration. administration.

1. Research: 1. Research: World Resources InstituteWorld Resources Institute

Climate, Energy and Transport Climate, Energy and Transport Division Projects:Division Projects:– COP-15: Countdown to CopenhagenCOP-15: Countdown to Copenhagen– U.S. Federal Climate Policy U.S. Federal Climate Policy – International & U.S. ActionInternational & U.S. Action – Business & MarketsBusiness & Markets – Technology & Green PowerTechnology & Green Power – Energy Security & Climate ChangeEnergy Security & Climate Change – Information & Analysis Tools Information & Analysis Tools


From Dec. 7-18, 2009, the world will From Dec. 7-18, 2009, the world will convene in Copenhagen, Denmark to create convene in Copenhagen, Denmark to create a new global climate agreement to reduce a new global climate agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the United greenhouse gas emissions at the United Nations Climate Change Conference Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-(COP-15). 15).

WRI’s experts have been actively involved in WRI’s experts have been actively involved in the negotiations leading up to the negotiations leading up to COP-15COP-15 and and are analyzing various dimensions of a new are analyzing various dimensions of a new agreement, among them: Vulnerability and agreement, among them: Vulnerability and Adaptation; Adaptation; Forestry and Reduced Emissions Forestry and Reduced Emissions for Degradation and Deforestation (REDD);for Degradation and Deforestation (REDD); Technology and Technology Transfer; Technology and Technology Transfer; Developing Country Actions; and Finance.Developing Country Actions; and Finance.


Staff Staff Jonathan Pershing Jonathan Pershing Director, Climate, Energy and Pollution Program Director, Climate, Energy and Pollution Program Rob Bradley Rob Bradley Director of International Climate Policy Director of International Climate Policy Debbie Boger Debbie Boger Director of U.S. Climate Policy Director of U.S. Climate Policy Pankaj Bhatia Pankaj Bhatia Business/Climate Change Associate III Business/Climate Change Associate III GHG Protocol GHG Protocol


News from Website:News from Website:

On January 15, 2009, the US Climate On January 15, 2009, the US Climate Action Partnership (USCAP) issued the Action Partnership (USCAP) issued the Blueprint for Legislative Action—a Blueprint for Legislative Action—a detailed framework for legislation to detailed framework for legislation to address climate change.address climate change.

2. Deconstruct the Job 2. Deconstruct the Job DescriptionDescription

Climate and Energy Program (CEP) Climate and Energy Program (CEP) Internship, WRIInternship, WRI

Position Summary

WRI's Climate and Energy Program (CEP) seeks a WRI's Climate and Energy Program (CEP) seeks a motivated,motivated, well- well-organizedorganized, and , and detail-orienteddetail-oriented intern to support our intern to support our climate changeclimate change and and energy energy policypolicy work. The successful candidate will work. The successful candidate will support support CEP staff in a wide variety of activities including CEP staff in a wide variety of activities including publications managementpublications management, , event coordinationevent coordination, , databasedatabase management, management, financialfinancial management, management, and other tasks related to general program and other tasks related to general program administration. administration.


QualificationsQualifications

Key qualifications for this position include: Key qualifications for this position include: • An • An undergraduate degreeundergraduate degree with an with an excellent excellent academicacademic record. Administrative support and/or record. Administrative support and/or nonprofit work experience a plus.nonprofit work experience a plus.• Mastery of • Mastery of Microsoft OfficeMicrosoft Office (Word, Excel, (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and the Outlook, PowerPoint) and the Internet.Internet. Experience Experience with constituent with constituent database systemsdatabase systems a plus. a plus.• Excellent • Excellent written and oral communicationwritten and oral communication skills. skills. • Ability to • Ability to juggle multiple prioritiesjuggle multiple priorities and work and work under pressure with tight under pressure with tight deadlines deadlines is a must.is a must.• Familiarity with and interest in • Familiarity with and interest in climate and climate and energy issuesenergy issues a plus. a plus.


ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

The intern will work in the following key areas:The intern will work in the following key areas:• Assisting with production and tracking of CEP • Assisting with production and tracking of CEP publications.publications.• Assisting with • Assisting with events coordinationevents coordination and setup. and setup. • • Entering contactsEntering contacts into WRI's Constituent Relationship into WRI's Constituent Relationship Management system (Raiser's Edge) and maintaining the Management system (Raiser's Edge) and maintaining the accuracy of contacts.accuracy of contacts.• Serving as a • Serving as a point of contactpoint of contact for internal requests for CEP for internal requests for CEP information.information.• Processing • Processing contracts and payment requestscontracts and payment requests for for consultants, grantees, partners, vendors, etc.consultants, grantees, partners, vendors, etc.• Assisting with preparation and tracking of project • Assisting with preparation and tracking of project budgets, budgets, grant reportsgrant reports, and funding proposals. , and funding proposals. • Organizing and • Organizing and updating the program's internal wikiupdating the program's internal wiki and and network drives.network drives.• Providing general office and administrative support as • Providing general office and administrative support as needed. needed.

3. Key Requirements3. Key Requirements DEGREE:DEGREE: Minimum: BachelorMinimum: Bachelor

KNOWLEDGE:KNOWLEDGE: Energy policyEnergy policy Climate changeClimate change

TECHNICAL SKILLS:TECHNICAL SKILLS: MS Office SuiteMS Office Suite DatabaseDatabase

PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE:PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE: PublicationsPublications Program Administration Program Administration

SupportSupport Event CoordinationEvent Coordination

PERSONAL QUALITIES:PERSONAL QUALITIES: Motivated, organizedMotivated, organized

FINANCIAL EXPERIENCE:FINANCIAL EXPERIENCE: Processing paymentsProcessing payments

TRANSFERABLE SKILLS:TRANSFERABLE SKILLS: Oral and written Oral and written

communication, dealing with communication, dealing with public, detail-orientedpublic, detail-oriented

WORK ENVIRONMENT WORK ENVIRONMENT EXPERIENCE:EXPERIENCE:

Juggling, Pressure, DeadlinesJuggling, Pressure, Deadlines

4. Plug Yourself In4. Plug Yourself In DEGREE:DEGREE: Minimum: BachelorMinimum: Bachelor

KNOWLEDGE:KNOWLEDGE: Energy policyEnergy policy Climate changeClimate change

TECHNICAL SKILLS:TECHNICAL SKILLS: MS Office SuiteMS Office Suite DatabaseDatabase

PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE:PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE: PublicationsPublications Program Administration Program Administration

SupportSupport Event CoordinationEvent Coordination

PERSONAL QUALITIES:PERSONAL QUALITIES: Motivated, organizedMotivated, organized

FINANCIAL EXPERIENCE:FINANCIAL EXPERIENCE: Processing paymentsProcessing payments

TRANSFERABLE SKILLS:TRANSFERABLE SKILLS: Oral and written Oral and written

communication, dealing with communication, dealing with public, detail-orientedpublic, detail-oriented

WORK ENVIRONMENT WORK ENVIRONMENT EXPERIENCE:EXPERIENCE:

Juggling, Pressure, DeadlinesJuggling, Pressure, Deadlines

Two Types of Cover LettersTwo Types of Cover Letters

1) Letter of Application1) Letter of ApplicationSpecific jobSpecific job

2) Letter of Inquiry2) Letter of Inquiry Interesting company, or leadInteresting company, or lead

Cover Letter StructureCover Letter Structure

Your nameYour name AddressAddress PhonePhone EmailEmail Date—February 14, 2009Date—February 14, 2009 Contact Person's NameContact Person's Name Contact Person's PositionContact Person's Position Company NameCompany Name Company Address (Don't forget this.)Company Address (Don't forget this.)

Cover Letter StructureCover Letter Structure

Dear Ms. Jones, (Try to learn the NAME of Dear Ms. Jones, (Try to learn the NAME of the person you are applying to)the person you are applying to)

First paragraphFirst paragraph I am writing to apply for the position of I am writing to apply for the position of

………. advertised in ......... on ........ (date). ………. advertised in ......... on ........ (date). I am extremely interested in the work of .. I am extremely interested in the work of ..……, particularly....... I feel I can ……, particularly....... I feel I can bring…….to……..(bring…….to……..(why are you interested in why are you interested in the job and employer, a succinct the job and employer, a succinct demonstration of your knowledge of them, demonstration of your knowledge of them, and why they should look at you)and why they should look at you)

Paragraph One SAMPLEParagraph One SAMPLE

I am writing to apply for the Energy and I am writing to apply for the Energy and Climate Change Internship currently Climate Change Internship currently posted on World Resources Institute’s posted on World Resources Institute’s website. I have been actively following website. I have been actively following WRI’s role in the negotiations leading up to WRI’s role in the negotiations leading up to COP-15 and am very interested in COP-15 and am very interested in supporting this and other programs supporting this and other programs through this internship. I believe I would through this internship. I believe I would bring valuable skills, experience and bring valuable skills, experience and knowledge to the support of publications, knowledge to the support of publications, events and other priorities in the Climate, events and other priorities in the Climate, Energy and Transport division.Energy and Transport division.

Second ParagraphSecond Paragraph

In broad terms and in one or two In broad terms and in one or two sentences, list the top experience, sentences, list the top experience, knowledge, training, and skills that are knowledge, training, and skills that are relevant to the selection criteria and the relevant to the selection criteria and the job description. job description.

Select one or two relevant highlights to Select one or two relevant highlights to explain in more detailexplain in more detail

Paragraph Two SAMPLEParagraph Two SAMPLE At Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies

I am a candidate for a Master of Environmental Management with a focus on Global Climate Change Science and Policy. I have two years of non-profit work experience; excellent interpersonal, communication, computer and internet research skills; and significant event coordination experience. At _____, I served as administrative support to the Director and excelled at organizing the weekly roundtable program, managing multiple deadlines for grants and publications, and keeping the website up-to-date. As co-leader of ________, I initiated and have been responsible for organizing two semester-long lecture series focusing on climate change and energy policy.

Third ParagraphThird Paragraph

CONNECT THE DOTS FOR THE CONNECT THE DOTS FOR THE EMPLOYEREMPLOYER

Tell them why you are a great fit for Tell them why you are a great fit for the company and how your skills will the company and how your skills will meet their needs. meet their needs.

Paragraph Three SAMPLEParagraph Three SAMPLE

I hope to be attending COP-15 as part of I hope to be attending COP-15 as part of the ______ class at FES next winter, and am the ______ class at FES next winter, and am very enthusiastic about the possibility of very enthusiastic about the possibility of supporting WRI’s “Countdown to COP-15” supporting WRI’s “Countdown to COP-15” and other projects this summer. I would and other projects this summer. I would love to learn more about the planning for love to learn more about the planning for COP-15, and believe my combination of COP-15, and believe my combination of climate change science knowledge and climate change science knowledge and administrative experience would make a administrative experience would make a valuable contribution to the Climate, valuable contribution to the Climate, Energy and Transport division.Energy and Transport division.

ClosingClosing

Thank them for considering your Thank them for considering your application, tell them that you have application, tell them that you have attached a copy of your resume, and when attached a copy of your resume, and when you would be available for an interview. you would be available for an interview. Provide your contact details (Phone / Fax / Provide your contact details (Phone / Fax / Email)Email)

Yours sincerely,Yours sincerely, Your signatureYour signature Print namePrint name

Closing SAMPLEClosing SAMPLE

My resume and a writing sample are enclosed for your My resume and a writing sample are enclosed for your review, and I am happy to answer any additional questions review, and I am happy to answer any additional questions you might have. I would welcome the opportunity to visit you might have. I would welcome the opportunity to visit Washington, DC to interview for the internship, and can be Washington, DC to interview for the internship, and can be reached at [email protected] or (203)333-4444. I look reached at [email protected] or (203)333-4444. I look forward to hearing from you.forward to hearing from you.

Thank you for your consideration.Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,Sincerely,

(hand sign here after printing if sending by mail)(hand sign here after printing if sending by mail)

Fes StudentFes Student

Writing TipsWriting Tips Use Keywords from job descriptionUse Keywords from job description Always use a reader or readers to review Always use a reader or readers to review

your materialsyour materials Develop a standard set of phrases for the Develop a standard set of phrases for the

basics of the cover letter, but target all basics of the cover letter, but target all content to a particular employer or jobcontent to a particular employer or job

SPELL AND GRAMMAR CHECKSPELL AND GRAMMAR CHECK No more than one pageNo more than one page Standard fonts, single-spacedStandard fonts, single-spaced Print on quality paper if sending by mail, Print on quality paper if sending by mail,

white or off-whitewhite or off-white Make a pdf if emailing to avoid track Make a pdf if emailing to avoid track

changes showing upchanges showing up

CDO/FES Resources for Cover CDO/FES Resources for Cover Letter and Resume WritingLetter and Resume Writing

Peer Career Advisors (PCAs)Peer Career Advisors (PCAs) Office Hours:Office Hours:

– Meredith~Meredith~ Mondays, 9-12 , Donaldson Cafeteria Mondays, 9-12 , Donaldson Cafeteria – Audrey~ Audrey~ Tuesdays, 2pm-4pm, Knobloch Environment Tuesdays, 2pm-4pm, Knobloch Environment

Center Center

Communication CoachesCommunication Coaches Website: environment.yale.edu/cdoWebsite: environment.yale.edu/cdo CDO Staff, by appointmentCDO Staff, by appointment Career LibraryCareer Library

Writing the Cover Letter. What is A Cover Letter? Marketing Tool: Product = YOU Persuasive...

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