201 Alvarez College Union ♦ careers@davidson.edu

davidson.edu/careers ♦ 704-894-2132

COVER LETTER GUIDE

Purpose A cover letter typically accompanies your résumé when you apply for jobs and internships. This letter introduces you as a candidate and articulates your qualifications for the position. It also gives employers the opportunity to see the quality and style of your writing. Cover letters should always accompany résumés, except when the employer has clearly stated that they only wish to receive a résumé (through WildcatLink, for example). You will want to spend a significant amount of time and energy on your cover letters, seeking feedback from the Center for Career Development, the Writing Center, and/or other peers or professionals before submitting them to an employer.

Preparing to Write a Cover Letter 1) Research the employer thoroughly. Spend time on their website, their LinkedIn page and their other social media accounts. Consider talking with alumni, friends, and/or family with knowledge of the organization. 2) Read and analyze the position description, when available, carefully. Get a comprehensive understanding of what you will be doing in the position and what experiences, skills and qualities the employer is seeking. Highlight key terms and phrases. 3) Review your past experiences and skills and determine which are most relevant to this particular employer and position. Use the position description as a guide. If you plan to submit a cover letter for a position that is not advertised, reflect on how, specifically, you feel that you can add value to the organization. 4) Look for the name of a specific person to whom you will address the letter and locate the company’s address. If you cannot find the name of a person after a comprehensive search, use Hiring Manager, Search Committee, or Internship Coordinator.

 

Cover  Letter  Assistance    for  Students  

 Walk-­‐in  Hours  with  Career  Advisors:  

Stop  by  the  Center  for  Career  Development  from  Monday  to  Friday,  10:00  am  to  12:00  pm  and  1:30  pm  to  3:30  pm  

 Scheduled  Meetings  with  Career  Advisors:  Call  704-­‐894-­‐2132  or  Stop  by  the  Center  for  Career  

Development  to  Schedule  a  Meeting    

Academic  Breaks  &  Students  Off-­‐Campus:  Call  704-­‐894-­‐2132  or  Email  careers@davidson.edu  to  

be  Matched  with  a  Career  Advisor      

 

 201 Alvarez College Union ♦ careers@davidson.edu

davidson.edu/careers ♦ 704-894-2132

Writing the Letter 1) Keep it to one page. Use approximately one-inch margins on all sides and 11 or 12 pt font. Use the same font that you use for your résumé when possible. 2) Format your cover letter appropriately using block style. The entire letter should be left justified and single spaced except for a double space between paragraphs. 3) Tailor your cover letter to the specific employer and position. There is no such thing as an effective generic cover letter! Avoid general statements, instead explaining how your specific past experiences and skill set will benefit the employer. 4) Focus on what you would bring to the employer and the position, as opposed to how they would benefit you. 5) Use the attached rubric to decide what content to include in your introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. 6) Craft clear and concise paragraphs with effective topic sentences, varying your sentence structure so that sentences do not consistently begin with the word “I.” 7) Avoid superlative phrases, e.g. “extremely excited” or “highly motivated.” 8) Edit and proofread carefully. A single grammatical or spelling error can immediately disqualify you for a position. The CCD staff can review your cover letter during walk-in hours using the attached rubric, but you may also wish to ask a friend, family member, or Writing Center tutor to review it. 9) Do not draw attention to weaknesses and/or discuss or apologize for experience and accomplishments that you feel you lack.

Submitting the Letter 1) Craft your letter in Word but submit it as a PDF whenever possible to avoid unexpected changes to your formatting. 2) When submitting the letter by e-mail, attach both your cover letter and your résumé as PDFs. In the body of the e-mail, write a short note to the employer introducing yourself, indicating the position you are applying for and noting that a résumé and cover letter are attached. If submitting the letter as an attachment, create a single PDF with your cover letter on page 1 and your résumé on page 2. Writing a Letter When You Do Not Have a Job Posting Occasionally, you may wish to submit a letter expressing your interest in a job or internship with an organization that has not published an actual posting or position description. The advice in this guide still generally applies to these letters. Since you may not know exactly what the organization may be seeking in an intern or hire, it is up to you to highlight the strengths and skills that you feel would be the most relevant to them. See the Community Prep Public School letter for an example.

Using the Sample Letters and Rubric The majority of the following sample letters in this guide worked, literally—they helped these students to land the internship or job to which they were applying. That said, they are only samples—read and refer them while writing, but use your own voice and language. The attached rubric will also help you as you draft and edit your cover letters. Refer to it often to ensure that your letters are in excellent shape before submitting them to an employer.

 

COVER LETTER RUBRIC NAME: ______________________________ REVIEWER: ________________________________ TARGET: (organization and position): _________________________________________________

E=Excellent S= Satisfactory but could use improvement R=Revise

E S R Formatting: Header and font match those on résumé. Font is easily readable (e.g. Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri, Trebuchet MS ) and 11-12 point. Margins are approximately 1 inch on all sides. Block-style business letter format is used and the letter contains today’s date and the name, title, company name and address of the recipient. The letter is addressed to a specific person and a colon follows the salutation (Dear Mr. Griffith:). If no specific recipient has been found, the letter is addressed to Search Committee or Hiring Manager (for entry-level/full-time) or Internship Coordinator. Closing is professional (e.g. Sincerely or Respectfully).

E S R Introductory Paragraph: States the position you are applying for and how you learned of it. If you are applying for an unadvertised position, states the position you hope to fill. Expresses your enthusiasm for the position and/or states that you are qualified for it. Ideally ends with a thesis statement that summarizes your qualifications for the position. Limited to 2-3 sentences in most instances.

E S R Body of Letter: Includes 1 – 3 paragraphs. Shows knowledge of and passion for the industry, organization and position. Expresses how you are qualified to meet the specific requirements and demands of the position. Refers to specific and relevant experiences and skills from your résumé, but rather than simply restating your résumé, effectively links these experiences and skills to those the employer is seeking. Does not point out or apologize for weaknesses or a lack of experience. Focuses mainly on what you can bring to the employer, not what the employer can bring to you.

E S R Concluding Paragraph: Thanks the employer for their consideration of your candidacy. Refers to your attached résumé and/or any additional application material. States when you will follow up IF you plan to do so. Encourages the employer to reach out to you if they have questions and/or states that you would appreciate the opportunity for an interview.

E S R Style, Grammar and Spelling: Contains zero spelling or grammatical errors. Is organized logically. Includes smooth, effective transitions between paragraphs, clear topic sentences, and varied sentence structure (without multiple sentences in a row beginning with “I”). Expresses appropriate enthusiasm while avoiding superlative phrases such as “extremely excited” or “highly motivated.” Fills the page well without appearing overcrowded.

 

Alexander Smith

alexsmith@davidson.edu / (555) 546-5098 / Davidson, NC November 27, 201X Mr. Gregory Flint Equity Analyst Slate Capital 165 South Tryon St, #1023 Charlotte, NC 28204 Dear Mr. Flint: I am writing to apply for the spring semester intern position at Slate Capital posted on your website. I am excited about the opportunity to lend my skills and knowledge of financial markets to your firm as I continue to build investing experience. As the attached résumé indicates, my work with the Davidson College endowment exposed me to a variety of investment philosophies and understandings of risk. I learned about the qualitative characteristics exhibited by successful fund managers and sought to apply them to Davidson’s investment clubs. During this internship, I constructed fund summaries, exposure reports, and built an appreciation for different valuation methods while paying close attention to macroeconomic factors. Ultimately, I was able to use custom financial ratios to make recommendations for Davidson’s fiscal policies. In addition to augmenting my finance skill set, this internship instilled in me the passion for investing that you are seeking in interns. My summer experiences and time at Davidson have provided me with a strong set of communication and analytical skills. As a volunteer firefighter, I learned how to become a dependable team member and pay close attention to detail, even under intense pressure. As a Chidsey Leadership Fellow, I have worked with a diverse group of students and recently created a workshop on effective communication. By focusing my studies in economics and political science, I have become adept at finding and articulating relationships in increasingly complex data and situations. I thrive in a variety of areas requiring rigorous analysis, clear communication, and creative problem solving. I would be thrilled to have the opportunity to discuss the spring intern position with you further. Thank you for your consideration; I look forward to hearing from you soon. Sincerely, Alexander Smith

 

Samuel Balay 555-756-1435, sabalay@davidson.edu, Baltimore, MD

April 1, 201X Henry Reed Director of Research National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts 1875 I Street, N.W., Suite 600 Washington, District of Columbia 20006-5413 Dear Mr. Reed: I am writing to express my interest in the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts Research Activities Manager position, as advertised on LinkedIn. I believe that I have the skills to collect, compile and communicate industry information and perform the commercial real estate data analysis necessary for this position. My research experience includes working in a collaborative environment as an intern for American Action Forum two summers in a row. While there, I worked with the Director of Economic Policy and the Director of Fiscal Policy to conduct in-depth research, analyze data, and write articles about prevalent economic policy issues in America, publishing one in The Weekly Standard and two on AmericanActionForum.org. After returning for a second summer, my supervisors recognized my growth and gave me the opportunity to speak with several prominent former Congressional and White House economists about their work and solutions to the debt crisis. This experience made me a more capable and confident researcher and communicator. Performing research and analysis for the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts would also allow me to directly draw from my year studying economics in the highly unique tutorial system at University of Oxford. My course performance in England was based not only on how well I understood the material, but also on how well I communicated it in papers and orally during weekly hour-long tutorials. After over 50,000 words and 52 hours discussing complicated material with economic experts, I have honed both my analytical problem solving skills and my ability to communicate intricate information in an understandable way. I believe my internship experiences coupled with my formal academic work at Davidson and Oxford have prepared me for a future of making effective contributions to your organization. Attached to this application you will find my résumé and Davidson transcript. I look forward to meeting you and further discussing my candidacy for this position. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Samuel Balay

 

Christopher Teo chteo@davidson.edu

(555) 536-5196 Davidson, NC

October 1, 201X Mr. Jack Harvey Senior Programmer Datalytics 101 West Worthington Street, Suite 350 Charlotte, NC 28203 Dear Mr. Harvey: I am pleased to apply for the internship position at Datalytics for the upcoming summer. The prospect of working at your start-up company is attractive to me because of its focus on analytics and technology development. My combined interests in math, computer science and finance make Datalytics an ideal fit for me. The summer internship experience can help broaden my programming background and apply much of the math that I have learned during my time at Davidson and abroad in Budapest. As someone who enjoys solving problems and analyzing data, I am excited to have the opportunity to learn how systems like Hadoop work and to participate in the development of new algorithms. Working for Datalytics will also provide me with a great opportunity to learn how a small start up company operates and grows its business. What sets me apart from other candidates who may be applying for this position is my previous experience in computer science and mathematical research. Last summer, I assisted a faculty member in the Davidson College Math Department in coding an alternative ranking system to PageRank. This experience required me to learn how to code in MATLAB, and it introduced me to analyzing data output. I also handle challenges very well, which is evidenced by my abroad experience in Budapest, Hungary. While I was there, I managed a heavy workload as well as navigating my way through a country whose national language ranks as one of the toughest to learn. I feel like the lessons I learned there will transition nicely into the summer internship position. Finally, what I may lack in experience, I make up for in tenacity. I am a first generation college student with a blue-collar background, and I am constantly out to prove myself. In addition to this cover letter, I have submitted my résumé, which highlights my qualifications for this internship. As part of the Davidson Entrepreneurship Program, the summer experience at Datalytics will provide me with invaluable training in many areas of interest to me and could propel my future career. I look forward to hearing from you and hope to interview with you on campus next week. Sincerely, Christopher Teo

 

Brittany Knox 555-215-5203, brknox@davidson.edu, Davidson, NC

March 2, 201X The American Beverage Association 1210 I Street NW, Suite 300W Washington, D.C., 20005 Dear Internship Coordinator: I am applying for the Government Relations American Beverage Association Summer Internship advertised on the WildcatLink posting system at Davidson College. With my interests in government, law, and politics, I am enthusiastic about this opportunity to lend my administrative, organizational and leadership skills to support a national trade association. I am attracted to the ABA because the association represents such a large number of workers who can be positively impacted and protected by legislation. Through my work in Senator Hagan’s and Senator Gillibrand’s offices, I gained insight into the legislative process and observed the important role trade associations play in guiding government. I am excited about and capable of researching political issues impacting the beverage industry, attending Congressional hearings, drafting letters, and providing other assistance to the government relations team. This summer opportunity would offer additional exposure to the legislative process and allow me to contribute to your team as well as to our nation’s politics. In addition to the administrative experience gained through my internships, I would bring strong organizational and leadership skills honed through my Davidson activities to this position. As President of the Patterson Court Council, I have worked to hone my decision-making and interpersonal communication. Through this position, I have assumed more responsibility, learned time management, enhanced my communication skills, and grown as a team player. As a participant in the Leadership Davidson program, I have learned successful leadership traits from Davidson College staff, other student leaders, and a community mentor. I have also polished my research and analytical capabilities through my experiences with the Emerging Issues Academy and my intensive liberal arts coursework at Davidson. I am a hardworking, motivated student, and would love the opportunity to lend my skills to the ABA this summer. Attached is my résumé, which illustrates my qualifications for this position. I am eager to hear from you and discuss how I could contribute to the ABA team. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Brittany Knox

 

Madchen Schmidt maschmidt@davidson.edu, 555-714-4924, Davidson, NC

November 10, 201X Ms. Angelika Fischer Vienna Global Seminar Leopoldskronstrasse 56-58, Box 129 A-5010 Salzburg, Austria Dear Ms. Fischer: I am applying for the Vienna Global Seminar Intern Program, advertised on Davidson College’s job posting system WildcatLink. As a Nicaraguan-born, German citizen, I have developed an insatiable curiosity about international political, social and economic issues; I would love the opportunity to promote conversation about these issues through this position. I see this internship as a unique opportunity to hear from leaders across the globe and to participate in ongoing discourse to promote the survival of democracy. I was also drawn to the internship program after speaking with Kelsey Green, who did the internship in the summer of 201X, and Annette Hazar, who is still in Vienna. Both interns raved about their many opportunities to learn about international affairs and interact in a multicultural environment. My experience and education have equipped me with the administrative skills and initiative to succeed in this role. My passion for and knowledge of French, Spanish, and conversational German will help me communicate in this multicultural setting. I also have directly relevant experience as the publicity chair for Davidson College’s Dean Rusk Student Advisory Committee (SAC), a student-led group that promotes educational programming about global events on campus and in the wider Davidson-Charlotte community. One of my primary tasks as head of publicity includes designing posters in Publisher or InDesign to advertise for the one to three events that we host each week. In a successful attempt to advertise in an unconventional fashion, I established a partnership with our dining hall, introducing a menu and creating publicity to bring a special Peruvian lunch to campus. This meal in turn served to promote a benefit dinner that we hosted for an impoverished town outside of Arequipa. I also regularly use research tools, like JSTOR and Project Muse, to investigate and write briefs about the topics that our speakers present, and lead student discussions about global occurrences. I would bring the language, administrative and publicity skills that I gained through these experiences to this position. I look forward to the possibility of joining the Vienna Global Seminar team this fall. If you have any questions about my attached résumé, please let me know. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Madchen Schmidt

 

Lydia Michaels 555-820-7741, lymichaels@davidson.edu, Brooklyn, NY

April 18, 201X Ms. Cynthia Jenart, Principal Community Prep Public School 205 East 122nd Street New York, NY10030 Dear Ms. Jenart: I am writing to express my interest in joining Community Prep as an elementary teacher this fall. Vice Principal Jane Kopen mentioned that you are always interested in hearing from passionate educators and encouraged me to submit this application to you. I am excited by the opportunity to foster my skills as a teacher and to work to close the achievement gap. Due to my desire to improve education, I am drawn to Community Prep Public School’s commitment to academic growth for all students. Democracy Prep’s “no excuses” mentality and proven charter school practices have prepared countless students for college and life beyond. I am driven to provide a high-caliber education to students who might normally be overlooked or underestimated, and believe that by working at your school, I will develop my capacity to do so. Beyond an attitude of determined optimism, I would bring a diverse set of applicable skills to Community Prep. As a docent for the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, I lead tours for 7th graders 4 times a week, educating students about the museum’s art as well as introducing the fundamental themes of art history. Working at the Bechtler, I have not only learned how to develop and convey a specific educational message to students, but also how to maintain authority and control while doing so. I also have four years of coaching basketball fundamentals to elementary school students (ages 5-7) and would enjoy the opportunity to coach alongside my teaching duties. As an English major at Davidson College, I have developed strong oral and written communication skills, and have become used to producing quality work under pressure in order to meet tight deadlines. I am both highly organized and creative, qualities that have characterized my work as Public Relations Chair for Davidson’s Patterson Court Council and as secretary for Turner Eating House. Holding these demanding positions also helped me to cultivate strong time-management skills—skills that also enabled me to achieve my goal of a double major. Ultimately, while I believe my experience has given me excellent groundwork for starting a career in teaching, I know that there are challenges and realities I cannot anticipate. I know that inner-city teaching will be difficult, and I will be tested as a person and educator. In response to this, I can only say that I am passionate about education. I am a determined, positive, intelligent, creative person, and I believe I can become an excellent teacher. With this letter, I have submitted my résumé, which will further illustrate my qualifications for the position. Thank you for your time; I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Lydia Michaels

 

Madeleine David sarahdavid@davidson.edu, (555) 526-5114, Davidson, NC

January 2, 201X Ms. Eleanor Bruner Property Manager Ballantyne Village 114 Ballantyne Village Way, Suite 145 Charlotte, NC 28204 Dear Ms. Bruner: I am applying for the Marketing and Events Coordinator position advertised at Davidson College. Carey Thornburg, a former classmate of your son, referred me to this opportunity. I am excited about the opportunity to work with multiple constituents, including the media, tenants and retail clients, to promote your innovative, upscale shopping destination to the Charlotte community. I would bring to Ballantyne Village a professional background in customer service entailing prompt problem solving for clients ranging from senior executives to technicians to upscale retail shoppers. I have a particular passion for planning events, which have spanned small, team-building gatherings to a larger charitable fundraiser that exceeded its goal by almost 20%. All utilize my extensive communications, creative and organizational skills. I have honed my ability to publicize through print and online means, including designing invitations and creating a website honoring a celebrated town citizen. A motivated self-starter, I have demonstrated success in pioneering a new job, completing technical training in half of the expected time, performing at a professional level within weeks of joining a company, and working independently while also conscientiously working within a team. Attached you will find my résumé, which illustrates my qualifications for this position. I am eager to meet with you and discuss how I might best contribute to Ballantyne Village. I will contact you next week to be sure that you have received my application. Thank you in advance for your consideration. Sincerely, Madeleine David

 

Katelyn  Johnson    (847)  924-­‐6557,  kajohnson@davidson.edu,  Davidson,  North  Carolina    

 December  31,  201X    Ms.  Samantha  Smith  Charlotte  Magazine  309  E.  Morehead  St.  Suite  50    Charlotte,  North  Carolina  28202    Dear  Ms.  Smith:    I  was  pleased  to  learn  about  the  Charlotte  Magazine  Editorial  Internship  advertised  on  the  Davidson  College  Career  Development  website.  Your  organization’s  efforts  to  celebrate  Charlotte’s  people,  culture,  and  talent  are  admirable  and  align  well  with  my  personal  commitment,  skills,  and  experience.  Please  find  my  résumé  and  writing  samples  enclosed  with  this  letter  in  application  for  this  position.    My  experience  working  with  a  diversity  of  people  in  the  Charlotte  area  makes  me  an  excellent  candidate  for  this  internship.  During  my  past  three  years  as  a  student  at  Davidson  College,  I  have  worked  alongside  local  farmers,  coached  female  social  entrepreneurs  in  a  seed  funding  competition,  conducted  interviews  with  burgeoning  start-­‐ups,  and  assisted  Charlotte  artists  with  gallery  events.  Throughout  these  experiences  I  have  worked  in  fast-­‐paced  environments,  managed  multiple  projects,  and  collaborated  with  a  range  of  people  and  organizations.  All  of  these  skills  are  essential  for  working  in  at  a  magazine  that  seeks  to  write  Charlotte’s  story.    As  an  English  major,  I  regularly  proofread,  fact-­‐check,  and  conduct  research.  While  all  of  my  English  classes  demand  creativity  and  strong  writing  skills,  the  creative  nonfiction  course  I  took  last  semester  has  been  my  most  challenging  and  rewarding  writing  experience.  The  class  not  only  developed  my  interviewing,  reading,  and  writing  skills  but  also  helped  me  begin  to  find  my  voice  as  a  writer.  Throughout  the  semester  I  wrote  several  pieces  ranging  from  satire  to  personal  essays;  I  have  included  two  of  these  pieces  with  this  letter  of  interest.    I  have  also  advanced  my  writing  and  reporting  skills  outside  of  the  classroom.  Through  summer  internships  with  Know  Your  Farms  and  the  Food  and  Water  Watch,  I  interviewed  farmers  and  wrote  press  releases.  Last  fall  when  I  studied  development  and  human  rights  in  Thailand,  I  interviewed  villagers  about  how  mining,  food  insecurity,  and  waste  issues  affect  their  communities.  In  addition,  I  helped  draft  and  execute  a  research  proposal  to  establish  an  organic  market  in  a  Thai  rural  village  and  shared  my  research  with  community  members,  NGOs,  and  leading  academics.    I  am  eager  to  contribute  my  skills  and  experience  to  Charlotte  Magazine’s  mission.  I  am  certain  I  could  be  a  valuable  contributor  to  the  magazine  while  furthering  my  writing  skills  and  learning  how  a  successful  publication  operates.  I  will  follow  up  with  a  phone  call  in  one  week  to  ensure  you  have  received  my  application.  Please  let  me  know  if  you  need  any  more  information.    Sincerely,      Katelyn  Johnson  

 

Andrew Hall (555) 676-8978, anhall@davidson.edu, Union, New Jersey

November 5, 201X Ms. Linda Chambers Campus Recruiter Oliver Wyman 1166 Avenue of the Americas, 29th Floor New York, New York 10036 Dear Ms. Chambers: I am applying for the Entry-level Consultant position posted on Davidson College’s WildcatLink job posting system. The unique problems I would face on each new project, the team environment where I can work alongside intelligent and engaging coworkers, and Oliver Wyman’s emphasis on collaborating with clients make this position a perfect fit for me. As a mathematics major, I have developed the strong skills in quantitative and analytical thinking that you are seeking in consultants. I am task-oriented and have strong communication skills, allowing me to work well with colleagues as well as senior-level employees. This past summer I interned with General Sentiment, a small media analytics firm in Charlotte, where I worked on multiple assignments both individually and collaborating as part of a team. I initiated a project to expand General Sentiment’s services to analyze foreign languages. After my internship, this project was assigned to a full time employee for further development. In the spring, I also spent a semester abroad in China, further developing my language skills and broadening my understanding of global issues. My international experience coupled with my analytical and communication skills provides me with a solid foundation for a successful and productive career with Oliver Wyman. I have submitted my résumé and transcript for your review. I would welcome an opportunity to discuss my qualifications and learn more about this opportunity. I can be reached by email or telephone at your convenience. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Andrew Hall  

 

Sasha Green (555) 699-5961, sgreen@davidson.edu, Davidson, North Carolina

January 15, 201X Ms. Patricia Hall Chrysler Group LLC 878 Auto Drive New York, NY 10001 Dear Ms. Hall: I am applying for the Management Consultant position advertised at Davidson College. I am thrilled about this opportunity to lend my research and analytical toolkit to your Business Transformation Services Unit. This position would provide extraordinary exposure to the consulting industry, as well as the unique opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of how strategic recommendations are implemented in automobile companies. I am eager to support Chrysler in its vision to become the world’s leading supplier of commercial transport solutions. I would bring to this position direct experience with market research and analysis and a deep understanding of how to work effectively with professional colleagues across a variety of groups within a firm. As the Consumer Insights Intern for Guideposts Foundation, I managed several market research, strategy, and presentation projects simultaneously. Through my deep involvement with non-profit foundations and organizations on and off campus, I have developed excellent communication skills, a strong attention to detail, and an unrelenting desire to get deeply involved. My experience in economic and financial research, through courses such as Corporate Finance, Econometrics, and Quantitative Data Analysis makes me the ideal candidate to support Chrysler’s business from analytical, business development, and administrative perspectives. Attached you will find my résumé, which will illustrate my qualifications for this position. I look forward to speaking with you, and hope that we can discuss how I may be able to best contribute to Chrysler Business Transformation Services. Sincerely, Sasha Green

 

Benjamin Grey Driscoll bwdriscoll@davidson.edu / 555-810-5107 / Davidson, NC

March 14, 201X Dr. David Jetson Mountain Area Health Education Center 121 Hendersonville Road Asheville, North Carolina 28803 Dear Dr. Jetson: I am interested in pursuing further experience and knowledge in the field of health administration and public health, specifically through an internship with Buncombe County’s Mountain Area Health Education Center. The Center for Career Development at Davidson College referred me to this opportunity, which is the perfect fit for my skills and background. I have been fortunate enough to have had ample experience in the field of public health that I would bring to this internship. For the past two summers, I have worked for a primary care office, most recently as the Medical Records coordinator. I have also had the opportunity to travel to San Lucas, Guatemala and Fort Portal, Uganda, and have expanded my knowledge and understanding of public health as a global issue during both of these experiences. As a medical humanities concentrator at Davidson, I have taken coursework on ethics, medical sociology, and epidemiology. These experiences have created a strong platform for this internship as well as for a future career in health administration and public health. I believe a summer internship with MAHEC will broaden my exposure to the field of health administration and public health and provide me with a better understanding of the management and public health industries. Asheville has always been one of my favorite places in the southeast, and I would bring my knowledge of and love for the region to this internship. Finally, I have significant personal interest in this opportunity. Having had experiences with sexual and domestic violence, I would appreciate the chance to work with these critical social and safety issues. Thank you for taking the time to review this letter and my résumé. I would be happy to meet with you or members of your staff either in person or over the phone to discuss my application further. Sincerely, Benjamin Driscoll

 

Bethany  Milton    (555)  733-­‐5257,  bemilton@davidson.edu,  Davidson,  North  Carolina  

 December  7,  201X    Internship  Coordinator  EnviroAmerica  456  26th  Street  San  Francisco,  CA  94114    Dear  Internship  Coordinator:    I  am  writing  to  apply  for  the  research  intern  position  with  EnviroAmerica  advertised  on  the  InternMatch  website.  I  would  bring  my  research  skills  and  passion  for  improving  awareness  of  climate  change  effects  and  making  environmental  issues  accessible  to  the  public  to  this  internship.    My  relevant  experience  comes  from  both  outside  and  inside  of  the  classroom.    I  have  become  increasingly  aware  of  climate  engagement  initiatives  as  part  of  an  active  group  of  students  interested  in  environmental  solutions  and  sustainability  on  Davidson’s  campus.  I  also  wrote  an  interdisciplinary  thesis  with  independent  primary  research  on  the  perception  and  bottom-­‐up  strategies  for  climate  change  adaptability  among  rice  farmers  in  Northeastern  Thailand.    The  type  of  social  science  research  that  EnviroAmerica  produces  is  the  type  I  love  to  do-­‐-­‐compiling  and  making  connections  between  findings  in  behavioral,  social  and  political  facets  of  climate  change.  The  implications  of  this  research  could  apply  broadly  to  businesses,  non-­‐profits  and  individuals  aiming  to  shift  behavior  and  increase  environmental  awareness.    In  addition  to  my  knowledge  of  climate  change  and  my  research  proficiency,  I  have  the  other  skills  that  you  are  seeking  in  summer  research  interns.    I  enjoy  and  am  capable  of  working  independently,  but  my  experience  as  an  NCAA  Division  I  Lacrosse  player  has  also  taught  me  to  work  effectively  in  team  settings.  I  am  able  to  speak  articulately  and  openly  about  issues  related  to  the  environmental  movement  and  understand  the  challenges  in  appealing  to  the  broader  public  to  catalyze  change  for  the  mainstream.  Most  importantly,  like  EnviroAmerica,  I  too  believe  that  engaging  the  complexities  of  an  unpredictable  climate  is  imperative,  and  that  real  change  must  start  with  individual  people.    I  am  eager  to  work  as  a  research  intern  this  summer.  Please  contact  me  with  any  questions  about  my  past  experience  and  skills  as  detailed  on  the  attached  résumé.    Thank  you  for  your  consideration.    Sincerely,    Bethany  Milton