On Thursday, I attended the Rose Seminar entitled “The Secret Behind the Cover Letter.”  Although I had some idea on the purpose of cover letters and how they are written prior to the seminar, this event really solidified my understanding and offered many helpful tips.  We also had the opportunity to try writing a cover letter or resume and have it reviewed by Dr. Cynthia Hill and GRF Shiv.  

They emphasized important aspects of writing a resume first, since it provides the foundation for the cover letter and plays a crucial role in the job application process.  One of the most important things I learned was keeping a master record of all of your accomplishments, and then working on resume versions tailored to each job application.  Dr. Hill particularly emphasized that your cover letter should be concise and make you stand out, while creating a narrative as to why you would be a good fit for the position.  I also learned that you should keep relevant accomplishments on your resume when applying for a job, even if the accomplishment is an older one (from high school, for example).  Dr. Hill and GRF Shiv also stressed trying to reach out to current employees if possible to show interest and learn more about the company, since networking strongly increases the chances of being hired for a job.  

This seminar highlighted that even if you don’t meet every qualification for a job posting, that you should still apply.  After all, there is always a way to demonstrate that your past accomplishments and interests align with a prospective employer’s requirements.  This event was the first of the several planned Rose Seminars on job applications.  I look forward to attending these events later in the semester and sharpening these skills.