Assignment

Do not use a template or table. These formats limit your creativity and, because other people use the same templates, may decrease your ability to use design to make you stand out. Use a Word document without tables or cells so you can easily manipulate the information.

Use strong style and design principles. If you have questions, email or call the professor.

Again, you will create ONE document: the cover letter (that references the job with a link to the description so the recipient knows for what job you are applying) and a resume (up to two pages) with a separately formatted page of references. The organization of a good cover letter is

1. Introductory Paragraph (THE JOB)-Identify the job you found with details (where you found the ad, what the posting number is, what the title is, etc.) and state that you are applying for the job. Do not leave anything to guesswork.

2. Body Paragraph/Section (THE JOB AND YOU)-Note the requirements for the job and link your skills to those wanted for the job. Address the characteristics that you bring to the job. Describe projects that you have completed and additional skills and characteristics you offer. This can sometimes cover more than one paragraph, particularly if you bring expertise that the employer can use but did not request

3. Final Paragraph (CALL TO ACTION)-Include a "call to action," asking the recipient to contact you and telling the reader how to do so. Include your contact information here. Thank the recipient, and close with a signature block.

The first page of the cover letter does not need a page number, but the second does. Similarly, the first page of the resume does not have a page number, but the second page does.

For this document you need to format section and page breaks in Word. The cover letter always comes first.