Crafting an Effective Cover Letter

Crafting an Effective Cover Letter

Cover letters are recommended and, in some instances, required for job applications. If you want to stand out from other candidates, you will want to write a unique cover letter for each application you submit. Cover letters allow you to clarify, detail, and expand upon your most relevant skills and competencies. In addition, a cover letter allows you to showcase your written communication skills. The goal is to tailor the body of your cover letter to the position you seek.

To prepare for the assignment,

• Explore the components of a cover letter by viewing the following sources:
  • For step-by-step instructions for creating a cover letter, please use the Cover Letter and Sample (Links to an external site.) to see additional ways to format your cover letter.
  • For more in-depth guidance for writing a cover letter, please watch the Career Jump Start Series Part 1: Developing a Professional Cover Letter and Resume (Links to an external site.) webinar.
• Determine which of the positions you are applying for at the Ashford Multigenerational Center (Links to an external site.), and using the job description (Links to an external site.), identify three skills or qualifications that match your background. You must craft your letter to reflect one of the positions listed in your respective program in the Ashford Multigenerational Center Job Board (Links to an external site.).

In your assignment,

• Create a cover letter using the format suggestions from both the webinar and cover letter sample. At a minimum, your cover letter assignment must
  • Include a separate title page.
  • Address your letter to the Center Director, Dr. Tony Farrell.
  • Include a statement of the job title for the Ashford Multigenerational Center Job Board (Links to an external site.) and your interest in it.
  • Identify three matching skills and/or competencies you would like to highlight for the center director that are mentioned in the job description that you possess.
  • Identify two additional skills and/or competencies that are not mentioned in the job description that you would bring to the table.
  • Explain why you would be a good fit for the position and the Ashford Multigenerational Center.
• Create a one-page reflective response that includes the following:
  • Describe why you did or did not find this assignment beneficial.
  • Identify at least one thing that you wish you could add to your cover letter, but you don’t think you should add.
  • Identify what you would like to do as professional development to be able to add to your cover letter.
  • Explain whether or not you think you will be able to use this letter as you apply for jobs after graduation.
  • Identify at least one question you would like your instructor to answer about applying for jobs.
  • Include one scholarly source to support your ideas; use APA (Links to an external site.) formatting.