bs2 week 2_0.pptVIP

Business Skills 2 The Cover Letter : Gateway to success!! Your Cover Letter What it the main objective of this important document? __________________ How can I improve my chances of this? Writing with style Be casual but not informal Don’t use overly formal language Show your personality Choose words that show confidence and sincerity Use action verbs! Check your grammar, spelling and punctuation Hint 1 Friendly writing exercise: Write down as you speak Re-read them and check Key Points for your letter Good introduction Friendly last paragraph Be concise Understand your reader’s goals Suggest the next step Be thankful Showing confidence Choose words that show confidence! Exercise: 1.Perhaps I might like to meet you. 2.Maybe sometime next week we could find time to meet. 3.I might be a good candidate for the job. More confidence please! 1.I’d like to meet with you. 2.Next week is a good time for me to meet with you. 3.I’m the one for the job. Sincerity Too much “I” is bad Do not use be vague Direct yourself to the employer’s goals, or mission statement Personalise the letter Be assertive – boldly positive! Be appreciative Active vs. Passive A letter with action verbs shows a person who delivers results A letter filled with passive verbs says you watch things happen Which do you think is more persuasive? Examples Passive: I was awarded a special award which led to the start of an employee contest called “Employee of the Month.” Active: After I earned a special award for my achievement, I started a new company-wide contest called “Employee of the Month.” Proof Reading Always keep a good paper dictionary next to you. Consult any material for grammar such as “The Student’s Guide to Writing.” Remember – Don’t embarrass yourself by having spelling or grammar errors on your letter. More secrets revealed! Your letter should indicate the following: What kind of personality you have What types of things you have to talk about in your meeting/in