 Oh, sorry. Go back. So the cover letter is 101. And I'm going to be giving a presentation on this. So what is a cover letter? A cover letter is a cover letter works together with your resume to introduce you to potential employers. It serves as a starting point for potential phone conversation or in-person interview. A cover letter is an important way to showcase your skills and experience meet the key requirements of the job description. That meet the key requirements of the job description. It's an opportunity to demonstrate your written communication skills while you're meeting, while you're letting them know why you're the right person for this job and introducing yourself. Always include a cover letter with your resume and not be requested, but it is implied. Sometimes it will also, an application will be put aside if it doesn't have a cover letter included. So it's always implied. So how to format a cover letter. So a cover letter is a standard business letter and the format does not vary. Cover letters are always single page. Applicants who do not stick to a single page are often dismissed immediately for not meeting the standards. Maintain a consistent look with your resume and your cover letter. Sorry, I'm having problems here. And use the same header in formatting as your resume. This is an example of the formula. So basically a cover letter is a formula. There's a formula to writing one. It's a business letter above here. So this is what you need. These are the elements that you need to have and components that you have to have in your cover letter. And then this is the body of what you work of your cover letter of what you're writing of the content. So the first paragraph is an introductory paragraph. The second is you're talking about your skills and then the third why you want to work for them specifically. And then your closing paragraph. And then you want to sign it and make sure that you type you sign it type your name and put your enclosures so that you've enclosed your resume with it as well. Your one page resume. Addressing your cover letter. The following is required for formatting for addressing a business letter. So you need your full name address phone email website or link to your online portfolio. You want to make sure that if you are going to put your phone number down that you can receive messages on your on your answering machine. So that's a good thing. If you can't then really I wouldn't even put your phone number down. But you have to have an email. You have to have some way of connecting for them to connect with you. Also make sure that there's no typos in this. And then it's correct. Because that happens right. So the date is important for noting when you submitted your application. Make sure that it's under the they can note that you met the deadline. And then the contact person. I don't know why what's going on here. Sorry about that. The contact person their title the company name address. You can address it you know they're either their full name or Ms. Carr or Mr. Carr. And then you also want to include in here. I'm trying to sorry just give me one second here. I can't see my screen because the grid is is too small. Oh there we go. That's perfect. Okay. So the dear so then you and then you also want to make sure that you have every you're referencing either job number or the job title that you're applying for. Then your cover letter recipient. This is important to make sure that you find the direct person that you want that you're applying to. So who's going to be on the hiring committee who you'll be reporting to that type of person. So you want to be able to you want to address your cover letter to that person whenever possible. So that way it improves proves your chances of the materials being seen by the correct person. If you're unsure who to address the letter to check the posting on or online. Sometimes recruiters or human resources professionals are listed by name in the posting professional networking sites such as LinkedIn mail so offer clues to who might review your resume. Call or email the company and ask who the hiring manager is or head of HR is. Also do a Google search or you know search do an internet search to find out who you might be either working for or who would be on the hiring committee or who the head of HR is and avoid using to whom it may concern instead use if you can. So if you can't find a contact person then at least address it to hiring manager or selection committee. So this is your introduction who you are and what the position you're applying to your relationship to them. Introduce yourself and identify that you're applying for specific position. It is important to let them know that what position you're applying for is sometimes they'll have multiple positions available. Where you found the position posted or if you have been referred to apply by an individual identify them in this paragraph. So what's important about that is when say you've been referred you know somebody that works at the company or is a professional colleague of the individual that you're applying to applying for a position with. If they if you have a name then it's almost it's it's the beginning of a reference almost like you were referred to apply. So it is it's it it helps boost your position with the ability to maybe get this position because it's all almost working as a mini reference. So which is great. Explaining one or two concise statements why you are a match for the position for example due to my combined education experience. I believe I'm an excellent candidate for this position and you are. So what will you contribute. So this paragraph so why you so what will you contribute what's relevant about you to them. Here you want to demonstrate how your skills and experience match the job requirements and impress upon the reader why you were the best person for the job. So highlight the relevant parts of your resume that most qualify you for the position. Choose skills that match closely relate to those in the job description. So go through your job description and highlight though and highlight those in your cover letter as you would with your resume. Site specific examples that demonstrate what you what you would be bringing to the employer. What unique strengths do you have and how can they be utilized in this role. And then we're going to get into paragraph three so why them why you like them what's relevant about them to you. So an employer will be impressed that you've done your homework on them. So doing that research it demonstrates to them that you actually care about the job and you care in you you've taken the time to learn about the company the person or the position. It's it's great to do that. So the other research the company using their website and take notes of projects or ideals that you're you're impressed with and make note of those in your cover letter. Mention a few examples of and share why you see yourself fitting in at their company specifically in this role and how well this fits with your practice. Of all the jobs people companies out there why do you want to work with them. So really stress this this is almost this is it's wooing them as well because every they want to know that you care about what they're doing as well so it's it's good to do this. So the why you and the why them paragraphs are interchangeable. And like I said this is a formula and we'll get to that further along I have an example and I'll show you a sample cover letter and we'll go through it and I'll show you how it's for how this formula works. So the paragraph of four is the closing. So you're going to have your thanks your enclosures contact website next step. So close by thanking the prospective employer for their time and consideration. Mention enclosure enclosures such as your resume or your portfolio samples and or direct them to your website or online portfolio. Clearly request an interview and tell the reader how to contact you. And I know a lot of people are uncomfortable doing that it seems presumptuous but it isn't just it's just being assertive it's being clear and all you need to say is I look forward to discussing this opportunity further and I can be contacted to schedule an interview by either email or phone. So it's very clear that you're applying for a position and not just requesting information about their company or you know it shows an assertiveness so it's good. Restate your email and telephone number don't simply tell the reader to see above as this creates an unnecessary extra step for them. And finally and I can stress this enough and finally proof read before sending get your ask your friends your family your classmates the writing center or us in the career development to take looks and take a look for typos for medical errors etc. This is I can't stress it enough how important it is to to get it to proof read and I honestly just Lane and Jeff and I don't mind it all if you want to well you know email just Lane or myself and we're happy to take you know the you know five or 10 minutes it is just to look it over before you send it in. So we're happy to do that and that's what are the services that we provide and in my car so I'm going to go through a sample cover letter for you right now and I'll show you how this formula works. So as you can see here I've got my title up here Shannon McKinnon and I put everything I've got my address and how to contact me is all above and my link to my portfolio. I found the person that I'm applying to I've addressed it to them their title the name of their company address the date I'm applying for because say I want to get a summer internship so I'm applying April 18th and I guess would be 2021 not 2020. Dear Ms. Lewenstein so this is the introduction paragraph. I'm working so I'm just going to read through this I'm writing to inquire about working with you this summer as a photography intern which I saw post on arts work. I'm currently pursuing my BFA with a major in photography at Emily Carr University of Art and Design. I believe my professional educational and personal experience with photography film and video make me an excellent candidate for this position and I know working alongside along someone with your invaluable wealth of expertise like yourself will be an exciting opportunity for me both as a photographer and as an aspiring entrepreneur. So there is your introduction. And we sorry. And I've changed it up here I put why them first. So after exploring your website seeing your work I'm immediately drawn not only to your photographic style but your wide variety of subjects with whom you work. I'm interested to learn more about your artistic approach and your process on capturing that perfect image. I would be fascinated to see how you scout locations and choose environments in which to depict the artists the musicians you were photographing would also be a fascinating to witness. So that's the why them. So now we're getting to the why you. So let me share some of my experience I feel would be most relevant to this internship through previous internships with working photos and Lazar studios. I have had experience assisting in professional photo shoots there I assisted with location scouting setting up lighting social media marketing researching and archiving images. I am very comfortable using Adobe Photoshop Lightroom and Lightroom to process and retouch. And then we've got our closing. Thank you for taking the time to review my application. I can be contacted to schedule an interview by email at blah blah blah Shannon McKinnon our call. I look forward to discussing a potential internship experience with you at your earliest convenience. My resume is attached to for your consideration of my portfolio can be viewed online by visiting portfolios at equity.ca. And then I have sincerely I don't know if you can see this somehow it looks like it's blocked itself out sincerely. I've signed it and then I've typed my name down below. So that is how to write a cover letter. We can I can I'm happy to share these slides with you. We can if you want to email Jeff at co-op at ecuad.ca. We can mail. We can email those out for those of you that missed the beginning of this presentation. And if you have any questions, you know, let's is there any questions that anyone has and thanks for joining us today. OK, please stop recording Jeff.