On Tuesday, November 7, I attended the STARR Cover Letter Workshop.
The first thing we learned about at the workshop was the importance of cover letters. Cover letters are basically our first impressions to potential employers. Because potential employers spend only a couple of seconds on each application they receive, it is important to know how to write a cover letter that stands out and this workshop taught me how to do just that.
After discussing the importance of cover letters, we learned about the difference between the two types of cover letters – the letter of application and the letter for networking. Although they are similar, the letter of application is specific to a job posting, while the letter for networking is not specific to a job posting and instead focuses on expressing interest.
We then learned about the process of cover letter writing. We learned about the three paragraphs of a cover letter – introduction, body, conclusion – and what goes into each of them. We were given tips to help us write successful cover letters such as using key words and being personal and specific.
After learning the basics of cover letter writing, we split into groups for an activity. Each group was given three samples of cover letters. Our job was to analyze these cover letters and determine who we would and would not hire. We went around the room and shared the different elements of the cover letters that made them either successful or unsuccessful.
Attending the workshop opened my eyes to all the resources provided by STARR and their determination to help students succeed in finding internships and opportunities. The two hosts of the workshop were extremely engaging and kept us actively participating by helping and teaching us through activities and quizzes. The workshop was very informative and helped me feel more confident in taking that first step when it comes to new opportunities.
