Instructor: Mrs. Lindy Brazil
English 98/98R

  A cover letter is a letter of introduction in which you present yourself to your prospective employer.  It has to be clear, self-contained, simple and a good read the first time around.  your assignment.

RESEARCH TIP #1: This is the "why I am the best person for the job". Why are you interested in this position or organization? Hiring managers are looking to understand why you would be right for their position and company. Write the cover letter with the employer's needs in mind - not your own. Don't describe what YOU want, but explain what you can do for the employer.

RESEARCH TIP #2: This is the "why I'm qualified and why you should hire me" part. Choose one of your greatest accomplishments and re-tell it in a "story-like" narrative. the employer will remember your "stories" and see that you are an exceptional candidate.

RESEARCH TIP #3: Show that you know something about the company and the industry. This is where your research comes in. Don't go overboard--just make it clear that you didn't pick this company out of the phone book.

The Cuyamaca Library recommends you look at these library sources:

***Occupational Outlook Handbook is a starting point to get career background, job trends, working conditions, salaries. Examine the job descriptions and explain how your skills relate to the job requirements.

***Occupational Outlook Quarterly  is a website with traditional and unique careers (e.g dogwalkers, flavorists).
Examine the job descriptions and explain how your skills relate to the job requirements.

***Magazines such as US News and World Report is a magazine that reviews current job trends. Examine the job descriptions and explain how your skills relate to the job requirements.

RESEARCH TIPS #4: If you have the time, you may want to check out these career websites:

CareerBuilder

http://www.careerbuilder.com

Job listings searchable by job title or company name, also links to professional associations and online job fairs as well as a host of resources for the job seeker. Includes a salary calculator and resume assistance.

GovernmentJobs

http://www.governmentjobs.com

A government sector job board.

Idealist

http://www.idealist.org

Looks for paid and unpaid opportunities in the nonprofit sector.

Indeed

http://www.indeed.com

Like SimplyHired, allows you to set up searches and have the results emailed to you daily and/or pushed to you via RSS. Easy to limit to a particular location.

Juju

http://www.job-search-engine.com

A job search engine which provides access to jobs found on thousands of employer websites and job boards all around the web and offers features that will help you find the jobs you're looking for more efficiently.

LinkUp

http://www.linkup.com

A job search engine that only lists jobs taken directly from company websites.

Monster

http://www.monster.com

You can search by company name, location, discipline, industry, job title, or combinations of these. Site also has a Career Advice Community, where users can post and answer each others' questions on topics including job search tips, changing careers, interviewing, networking, self-assessment, and many, many more. Featured boards are "hosted" by monster-designated experts.

Simply Hired

http://www.simplyhired.com

Allows you to have results of searches emailed to you daily and/or set up RSS feeds. Easy to limit to a particular location.

Networking

LinkedIn

http://www.linkedin.com

Profession focused network that allows you to link to people you know. Hosts its own job board and allows you to post a version of your resume. Has JobsInsider, a browser toolbar widget that can link you into someone at your targeted employer.