Module 4: Draft a Cover Letter or Personal Statement

Draft a Cover Letter or Personal Statement

Overview

A cover letter is a persuasive essay that tells a hiring team why you are the best fit for a role. If resumes cover the breadth of your experiences, cover letters let you go more in-depth about several of your skills and experiences that are most applicable to the position. Personal Statements let you go even more in-depth and give more of a voice to your passion for entering a given field.

A cover letter:

Creates interest for your resume. It can also add details that might not have another place in your other application materials (i.e. Mention who referred you for the position or your connection to the industry).
It is a persuasive essay that answers the question, "Why you?"
It gives an employer a chance to hear your voice.
It can be used as a writing sample.

Cover Letter Structure

Remember that a cover letter is your opportunity to show what you can bring to the role, NOT what you will get out of it. Let's assume that a cover letter is 3 paragraphs. It can be more, but it should be in business letter format and should be ¾ of a page to 1 page in length. Following is the structure for the 3 paragraphs. Click each + icon to learn more.

Interactive Activity

Text Version

Why them?

Here is your chance to "hook" your audience. Mention something that will keep them reading.
This is your chance to show off your research of the company and state that you know a little bit about them.
What is your interest in this role? Make sure you tell them that you're excited about this position, not just any position.
Include your major and that you are studying at Tulane.
Mention here if you were referred by anyone or if you have a special connection to the company.

Why you?

What are your experiences, skills, and coursework that make you qualified for this position?
- This is your chance to go more in-depth. Don't reiterate your resume bullet points word for word. You have the chance to share details about your accomplishments, skills, and experiences that show what you can bring to the role!
You will want to share 3-4 points to support "why you" should be hired for this position.
If you do not have a lot of relevant experience, think about your personal qualities and how you exemplify them.

Why/How together?

How do your experiences connect to this role/organization?
This is also your chance to conclude your writing and summarize.
Ask: Finally you want to ask for the opportunity to meet and further discuss your qualifications.

Activity

Uploaded Image Use ChatGPT to write a cover letter! Enter Your Resume to refine the prompt. DID IT WORK? Enter the job description and ask for a cover letter.

Prompt: write me a cover letter based on the following job description...
Prompt: write me a cover letter based on the following job and my resume as follows

Read the cover letter, did it follow the formula? Is it accurate? Does it sound like you? If you put it into GPTZero will it come back as having been written by a person?

AI will give you a generic output, but you will want to personalize it further.

Personal Statements

Personal Statements are introductions that are typically used for graduate school and professional school. It is about you, your interest in the field of study, and your relevant experiences. (FYI: Statements of Purpose are slightly different. They will detail your research experience and your future research goals and interests - they are future focused).

Big Picture Items

Answer the prompt.
Make sure that your essay is within the word count/character count.
Make sure that you upload the correct essay to the correct school—it happens more than you think!
Check for grammatical errors.

Format

General format: Narrative, Experience, Why Them, and Future Directions.
Most schools will have a character count or a word count, and as a general rule, you should use most of your allotted space.
Consider your length if they do not give you a limit; 1-2 pages are a good range.

Picking a Narrative

What is something significant about you that is not evident from your resume/CV?
Why did you choose this field of study for your work?
How did you become passionate about your field? You might want to discuss an experience in life, school, volunteering, or work.

Answer the Prompt

Read and answer all parts of the prompt.
Make sure that your essay is organized and does not feel like a list. Have a thesis statement – themes – organize your essay by concept.
Do not just say that you are good at something, show it. "Show, Don't Tell."
Typically obstacles will not be mentioned in a personal statement.

Best Practices

Provide specifics to support your answers.
Be concise, and use fewer words with more meaning.
Use a professional and formal tone.
Make sure that you have excellent grammar and spelling.
Stay on topic and make sure that you connect your introduction to the body and conclusion.
You can use lived experiences to tell the story of the challenges you faced, how you overcame them, and what you learned.
Make sure you have the correct name of the program to which you are applying.
Get several readers before submitting and consider making a career coaching appointment.

Things to Avoid

Avoid reading other personal statements until you have written a draft of your own (don't blur your voice).
Avoid cliches or "save-the-world statements."
Avoid inappropriate or unrelated anecdotes.
Avoid complaining, and avoid mentioning money motivations.
Avoid the duplication of other application materials.