Cover letter

Information on writing a cover letter, including for an open application, can be found here:

> Cover letter

Assignment:

• Read the information on Career Zone about writing a cover letter and just as important is the information about the vacancy analysis.
• Take a vacancy you've previously found or find a vacancy that appeals to you. This could be for a part-time job, internship, volunteer work, etc., and study it based on the tips you've read and highlight or write down the key words you consider important for this application.

Note: Generally, it's a guess what a vacancy means or requires. If you're actually applying, it's advisable to always gather (additional) information before sending out your application. You can do this, for example, by contacting the contact person listed for a vacancy. You may have already read more about this on the ‘vacancy analysis’ page 

• Writing is a matter of doing. In this exercise, we're not aiming for a perfect result, but for experience. Based on the vacancy, the vacancy analysis, and the tips on the website, create a draft for your cover letter. Don't focus too much on flowing sentences, but rather on capturing the essence of what you actually want to convey, keeping the reader of the organisation in mind if you're keeping the reader of your letter, such as a recruiter, in mind.
• Use the information from your personal profile and (career) profile for this!
• Save your cover letter(s) in your Career Planning folder.
• Have a friend/family member/fellow student read your letter. What feedback/tips did you receive on your cover letter?

Note: You can always have your cover letter reviewed by a Career Service staff member at your faculty. Or you are very welcome to attend a workshop on writing a cover letter.