MODULE: Job Search Methods and Employment SUBJECT TITLE: Cover letter and job search Solveiga Sama
Subject title
Purpose of the activity
Duration
Location and tools Number of participants
Acquaintance/ team building methods
Practical tasks
Cover letter and job search
The aim of the activity is to educate youngsters why a cover letter is needed in a job finding process and how to effectively and successfully write it. This seminar is designed for all people who want to know why and how to write a cover letter (motivation letter, letter of intent) when applying for a job.
2 hours.
Sheets of paper, printed CV templates, writing tools, projector.
10–20 participants.
At the beginning of the session and before preparing for the theoretical and especially for the practical part, participants are asked to divide into groups of 4–5 people, in which they share the jobs and positions they would like to apply to and in which they would like to gain work experience. Another variant of the task: several printed job advertisements are distributed to the groups of participants and participants are invited to share their views in groups, about what personal qualities are important in the job positions in question. In the end of the theoretical part of the workshop, participants are asked to write a cover letter themselves. On the white board, the presenter may write in brief the paragraphs description and on the project may project a random job description for which to write a cover letter. The best is to choose a very starting position for everyone, such as a job advertisement for a waitress or local guide. Moreover, it has proven to be also useful to print out sample cover letters and hand out to everyone after the theoretical part to read out and get to see how the letter looks in general. When writing a new cover letter, it will also be helpful to have such an example nearby. Then presenter gives out white paper sheets, sample cover letters and pens and participants are asked to write a cover letter, based on their experience, according to that real job advertisement. It takes around 30 minutes to complete the task and the presenter walks around from time to time and checks participants’ writings. The best is to accompany this task with a CV writing before, because when participants already would have their CV, it is way easier to write a cover letter.
End of session reflection methods
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At the very end of the seminar, the presenter may ask the following questions: • Was it hard to write a cover letter based on a random job advertisement? • Was it easy or hard to connect your experience with company’s culture and show why they should choose exactly you? • How do you feel, would you be recruited? • Was there something missing in this seminar, what you feel like should be discussed about the cover letter?
