Cover Letter and Networking

1. COMM 202:
Career Fundamentals
T24 & T25 with Samyta Rai

2. Today’s Agenda:
1. Course Timeline
2. TA Feedback Debrief
3. Cover Letter Peer Review
4. Networking
5. Action Items

3. Course Timeline
Where are we and what’s coming up?
Week 9 (today) Week 10 Week 11
• Lecture: Interview Prep
• What’s due: Networking
Reflection due on
March 21st at
11:59pm on Turnitin
• Have your info interview
date/time confirmed.
• Tutorial: Cover Letter
and Networking
• What’s due: Submit
Cover Letter Draft to
Turnitin before tutorial
• Tutorial: Info Interviews
• What’s due: Resume &
Cover Letter Assignment
due on Mar 12th at
11:59pm on Turnitin and
COOL
• Networking Event on
Mar 13th 6-8pm in CPA
Hall

4. TA Feedback Debrief
2

5. TA Feedback Debrief
Continue:
Ø Caring and energetic TA
Ø Playing music
Ø Fostering comfortable and safe environment
Ø Always quick response to emails
Ø Easy to talk to and relatable
Ø Not a typical student-teacher relationship
Ø Engaging slides
Ø Weekly reminder emails
Improvements:
Ø More peer-review
Ø LinkedIn feedback
Ø Less Drake (Kayne, Lady Gaga, Jay Z)

6. Cover Letter
Peer Review
3

7. Instructions
1. Write your name on ALL
documents – make sure your
documents are attached
2. Put all documents in a pile in the
middle of the table
3. Trade to the person on your left
when a new section starts
4. Get out your marking utensils!

8. Is the Resume and Cover Letter
Consistent?
Header? Margins? Font?

9. Cover Letter Formatting
• Left aligned (NOT justified)
• No indents on paragraphs
• Bullet points vs. paragraphs
• 2-3 relevant skills
• Consistent font size (minimum size 10)
• Appropriate font
• Margin sizes
• Spacing between paragraphs
• White space
• One page
**Headers of the cover letter and resume
MUST MATCH, it’s all about branding**

10. Addressing the Cover Letter
Date
Contact Name
Title
Company
Address 1
City, Province Postal Code
Re: Position Title (reference number if given)
Dear [First name Last name],
or Dear Hiring Manager/Committee,

11. Addressing the Cover Letter: Examples
Unknown person Specific person
Use sex and marital status only if
known

12. Ending Format
Sincerely, / Regards, / Best,
(Written signature if you want)
Your name
BCom Candidate 20XX
UBC Sauder School of Business
Enclosed or Attached*: Resume
* Enclosed: physical copy
* Attached: electronic copy

13. Opening
Ø How is the hook?
Ø Interest/passion for the position?
Ø Skills/experience matching the job posting?
Ø Is primary or secondary research integrated?
Ø Name drop? (when applicable)
Ø Branding: CAN-WANT-FIT

14. Other Opening Examples

15. Skills Matching (Body Paragraphs)
Ø Skills to match the position?
Ø STARL format?
Ø Are there examples – specific and concise?
Ø Transferrable skills?
Ø Do results show strength and success?
Think about the link:
Why should the employer care?

16. Other Body Paragraph Examples

17. Closing
Ø Are the skills reiterated?
Ø Is sincere interest expressed?
Ø Graciously thanks employer for consideration
Ø Call to action (aka request for meeting)
Ø Tie back to hook/intro, wrap it up in a nice bow

18. Cover Letter Content
Opening
-How is the hook?
-Interest/passion for the
position?
-skills/experience
matching the job
posting?
-is primary or secondary
research integrated
-Name drop?
Body
-Skills to match the
position?
- STARL format?
-Are there examples –
specific & concise?
-Transferrable skills?
-Do results show
strengths or success?
Closing
-Are skills reiterated?
-Is sincere interest
expressed?
-Thank you & call to
action
-Tie back to intro
Proofread
no grammar mistakes,
typos, spelling errors -
proofread then proofread
again

19. What Counts As An Error?
Spelling &
Grammar
Incorrect
Information
Improper
Formatting
Missing
Information
Incorrect order
of Information
Inconsistency
**Not including a Job Posting is 2 errors
**Please note errors are not limited to this

20. Networking
4

21. Chance Meetings

22. Facilitated Events

23. VIA Direct Request

24. Why We
Network
• get your foot in the door (faster)
• gain insight about a company, industry, or
career path
• practice your interview and networking skills
• find a potential mentor
• show them who you are beyond your resume
and cover letter

26. Researching
Delegates 1. Check out the delegate info on the course blog
2. Look at the LinkedIn profiles of delegates you’d like to
speak to
• Note any interesting topics
• Hone in on similar experiences or shared groups
• Think about questions to ask
3. During the event, be interested and self aware!

27. What do you
mean ”self
aware”?
• Having conscious knowledge of one’s own character
and feelings
• Treat the delegates the way you would want to be treated
• Put yourself in the shoes of a delegate – how would you
feel if a student came up to you holding your LinkedIn
profile picture?

28. Dress Code

29. Talk About…
“Lurking around the food station is a really good trick.
People will ask you what things are, and you can offer advice
on what’s tasty.”
Compliment them
Talk about food
“People love talking about themselves and people love
compliments. Be genuine though!”
Smile
“Just stand on your own and soak in the environment and
smile at people. You will be a beacon of light for the other
people who don’t know who to talk to.”
Open up the circle
“You might be getting bored with the first 2 people so
make sure you make room for other people to join the
circle party!”

30. Still not sure?
Here are more tips on networking:
http://www.bampowlife.com/blog/2015/7/14/10-
networking-hacks-for-the-terrified-
socialite?rq=networking

31. Ending A Conversation
Thank them for
their time
Ask to connect
after the event
Be polite &
gracious
Leave with a
handshake

32. Follow Up After great conversations, send a personalized email or
LinkedIn request (or maybe an informational interview
request? )
Hi Rachel,
It was so great to get the chance to speak with you at last night’s networking event. I was
really inspired by what you said about “building your personal brand”, and I am looking
forward to putting your advice into practice.
I would love to continue our conversation about your experience at KPMG. I understand
that you are very busy, but it would be great to meet for about 20 minutes. Would you be
available to meet on Monday or Tuesday next week? Coffee is on me!
Thank you,
Sally

33. Networking Event Reflection
• Your paper needs to include:
• Your goals in attending the event
• What is your purpose in going? What do you want to know about Sauder?
• Define SMART goals beforehand – How will you define the success of your
evening?
• How did you prepare for the event (research potential delegates)
• What was it about these people that motivated you wanting to talk to them?
• A brief summary of who you spoke with and what you learned in the
conversations
• A reflection on the lessons you have learned about the networking process
• Next steps you will take to continue building a relationship with your new contact
(if you plan to)
Due on Mar
21st at
11:59pm on
Turnitin

34. So How Do You Feel Now?

35. Action items for next week:
1. Sign up for office hours
2. Resume and Cover Letter due March 12th @
11:59pm on Turnitin and COOL
3. Networking Reflection: March 21st at 11:59pm on
Turnitin
4. Networking Event: March 13th at 6-8pm in CPA
Hall
5. Tutorial Next Week!

36. 1. Email: comm202.7@sauder.ubc.ca
2. Tutorials: Approach me before or after tutorial
3. Office hours: Sign up on COOL
How to get in touch with me:

37. Thanks!
Any questions?
Have a great day!