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CSTW Center for the Study and Teaching of Writing

College of Humanities

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Job Letter and Résumé Checklist

Includes material from Kitty Locker, Business and Administrative Communication, 6th ed. (Boston: McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2003)

Checklist for Job Letters

Format
  1. Include your address, the company address, and the date.
  2. Address the letter to a specific person at the company, including his or her job

title; do not use “To whom it may concern” or “Mr. President.”

  1. Use first paragraph to demonstrate that you possess the major credentials (if a

specific job was advertised) or to capture the reader’s interest (if no job was advertised).

  1. Use the second paragraph to focus on your relevant skills and experience.
  2. Use the final paragraph to requests an interview and/or to relate when you are

available for it.

  1. Refer to your resume if it is enclosed or attached.
  2. Use a professional close, such as “Sincerely.”

Content

  1. Use first paragraph to specify which position you are applying for and to discuss

            how you learned about the job.

  1. Include your contact information.
  2. Tailor the letter to the specific company and position to which you are

applying.  Exhibit specific knowledge of the company.

  1. Use keywords and terms from the field.
  2. Make sure that the details you provide support your qualifications for the position,

            and that there is a clear link between your experience and what you could
            contribute to the company in the future.

  1. Make sure your content sets you apart from other applicants.
  2. Conclude in a positive way.

Visual Impact

  1. Make your text visually fill the page (if you need to, list courses or references, or add “Summary of Qualifications”).
  2. Make your name easy to read – large font, surrounded by white space.
  3. Make headings clear and easy to skim – bold rather than all caps or italicized

Style and Mechanics

  • List duties and accomplishments in parallel structure.
  • Do not use I.
  • List jobs in reverse chronological order (starting with most recent).
  • On any subsequent pages, put your name and page 2.
  • Avoid typos and other errors.

Other handouts

  1. Getting Started
  2. Plagairism
  3. Paragraphs
  4. Developing a Thesis Statement

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