I’m not gonna lie, I joined this event because it was the only one that fit my schedule this week, but I’m glad I went.  Sam taught us valuable tips for writing over letters and personal statements.

For example, he mentioned the importance of cover letters and personal statement in distinguishing yourself from other applicants; these writings “humanize” you to the recruiters.  Looking at a typical resume, you see the typical list of experiences, skills, etc.  Nevertheless, you could remove your name from the resume and slap another name, and it wouldn’t be much different, meaning you need a cover letter or personal statement to stand out to the recruiter.

During the seminar, we read and critique a sample cover letter and personal statement.  I particularly enjoyed this part, since we had concrete material to work on. We were able to apply the tips that Sam taught us about writing quality information.  Thing he emphasized included the importance of weaving personal anecdotes to show your personal development and how you’re a good fit for the company.  Additionally, the cover letter that we analyzed was able to show different qualities of themselves (being responsible, determined, ambitious) in an efficient manner.  I tend to ramble whenever I write, but I will definitely keep these tips in mind, since there are often word limits on cover letters/personal statements.

Honestly, I have yet to write a cover letter for any job or internships, but applications for summer internships are already up, so I have the opportunity to apply these tips.