11-Cover Letter Workshop (AYCE)

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AYCE Is a division of

TROPICANA

COMMUNITY SERVICES

505 Consumers Rd.

Su

it

e 102

North York, ON

M2J 4V8

HWY 401

Map showing AYCE new location not drawn to scale

Cover Letter

Workshop

www

. ayce.on.ca

(416) 491·7000

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. Whatis a cover letter?

A cover letter is a formal document that is attached with the resume. It expresses your interest in the position you are applying for DS well as highlights your qualifications. It is meant to be brief, and customized to the position you ore applying for.

Cover letter and resume should have the some format, as it is considered a single application. In addition, this document serves as a covering sheet for the resume and it is meant to

complement the resume.

Often employers approach the cover letter first; therefore, it is essential that it clearly states the purpose and covers the essential information (job requirements) that the employer requires.

A COVER LETTER:

 Explains why you are sending your resume

 states how you learned about the position

 Convinces reader to review your resume

 Draws attention to relevant elements of your background

 Reflects your interest and attitude

 States or highlights any information specifically requested

A COVER LETTER SHOULD BE:

 Addressed to specific individuals (NOT: To Whom It May Concern)

 In paragraphs (NOT point form or bullets)

 Free of spelling and grammatical errors

 Limited to one page

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BENEFITS OF A COVER LETTER:

 Helps you market yourself well to an employer

 Shows off your reading and writing skills

 Demonstrates your strong interest in the position

ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS:

 Your mailing address

 Date

 Employer's contact information

 Job title and company name

 Knowledge, skills, achievements, education, and other attributes relevant to the position

 Request for an interview

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COVER LETTER SKELETON

Your Address (Line 1)

Your Address (Line 2) Your Address (Line 3)

Date

Employer Name

Employer Job Title

Employer Address (Line 1) Employer Address (Line 2) Employer Address (Line 3) Salutations (Dear Mr. /Mrs./Ms.):

Paragraph 1: Briefly state the purpose of your letter and state how you learned about the position. Be sure to include the job title. It is recommended that you briefly highlight a few vital skills and experiences required for the position.

Paragraph 2: Tailor this paragraph to employers needs/job requirements. It is a good idea to carefully review the "Qualifications" and/or "Job Requirements" section of the job ad. Be sure to include relevant knowledge, skills, education, and other attributes required for the job.

Paragraph 3: This is an optional paragraph. It is best used for matching the goals of the employer to that of your own. In other words, you could briefly demonstrate your knowledge about the organization, and how you would be a good fit for the position.

Paragraph 4: Make sure you request/ask for an interview. Thank the employer for taking the time to consider your application and provide the employer with your phone number to contact you. Sincerely,

Signature

First and Last Name

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SAMPLE JOB AD

7087 - Office Assistant

Individuals will process work orders and customer purchase orders to various stages of production. Important elements to this job include faxing, filing, photocopying, mailing, and invoicing and telephone relief. Applicants must pay attention to detail, have the ability to multi task, and must be willing to work in a team environment. Individuals must be at community college or university level and must be proficient in Microsoft Office, Excel and Word.

Interested applicants should email the i rresumet [email protected] indicating the job order number and job title in the subject line of the email.

Job Order #:

7087

Intersection:

Dufferin & HWY 7

Shift:

Mon.-Fri 9:00-5:00

$ per hour:

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SAMPLE COVER LETTER

123 Evergreen Terrace Toronto, ON

M9X 2JP

September 4, 2009

Mr. John Smith

Office Administration Manager 78679 Corporate A venue Toronto, ON

K4P 6X3

Hello Mr. Smith:

I wish to be considered for the Office Assistant (Job Number: 7087) position. I learnt about the position through the Alternative Youth Centre for Employment's website.

Iam currently pursuing my Bachelor of Commerce degree at Ryerson University, and will be returning to university full-time in September. With over 2 years of experience working as an Administrative Assistant, I have gained expertise in faxing, filing, photocopying, emailing, and answering phone calls. Occasionally, I processed paperwork at the office. My previous work and volunteer experience has helped me become an excellent team player.

Furthermore, the Operations Management (OMGT101) course helped me gain a solid understanding of the stages of operations, production, and familiarized me with work order and purchase forms. In addition, I possess strong computer skills, especially in MS Office, e-mail and the Internet.

Iwould welcome the chance to discuss my qualifications further in an interview. Ican be reached at (416) 123-555. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Jane Doe

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COVER LETTER REMINDERS

Do’s:

 Research the company

 Obtain employer's information (name, address, and the like)

 Review the job ad carefully and highlight areas you plan on addressing on the cover

letter

 Limit it to 3-4 brief paragraphs tailored to the position

 Send a customized cover letter for every position

 Address it to specific individual(s)

 Use simple and easy to understand language

 Proofread

 State that you will be giving the prospective employer a follow up call soon

Don’ts:

 Misspell employer's name

 Write wrong department

 Be negative

 More than one page

 Write in point-form, bullets

 Use a font size bigger than 12

 Send a resume without a cover letter for jobs you are very much interested in

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COVER LETTER RESOURCES

Quint Career - Sample Dynamic Cover Letters for Job-Seekers

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Canada Training and Careers - Cover Letters

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Monster.ca - Resume Centre - Cover Letters and More

http://resume.monster.ca/section

197 6

.

asp

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Canada Training Careers

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University of Toronto (Mississauga) - Career Centre - Resume and Cover Letter Toolkit