Cover Letter Sample

Your Name Cover letter Sample
Mailing Address
City, State, Zip
Telephone

Date

Manager’s Name
Title or Position
Company’s Name
Mailing Address
City, State, Zip

Dear Mr. or Ms. Last Name:

Your need of an Experienced Heavy Equipment Operator caught my interest, as the notice calls for skills and training that match my background. The enclosed resume will provide you with a brief outline of my experience and accomplishments.

*Over five years equipment operation on reclamation sites.

*Over fourteen years total experience operating equipment on road, mine and other projects.

*Current MSHA certification.

Given the combination of these factors, I’am confident I will be a valued and contributing member of your team. Your consideration of my qualifications is appreciated. Should you require additional information before a personal interview, I would be happy to accommodate you.

To ensure your receipt of my material, I will follow up by telephone during the upcoming week and look forward to speaking with you at that time.

Sincerely,
Your Signature
Your Typed Name

Enclosure


Taken from: CCSD#1 Website

Cover Letter Instructions

Your Name Cover letter Sample
Mailing Address
City, State, Zip
Telephone

Date

Manager’s Name
Title or Position
Company’s Name
Mailing Address
City, State, Zip

Dear (Ms. or Mr.): If you do not know the name of the person that will read your resume; do everything possible to fin out the name; then address the letter to the person.

Seize Attention. Grab the readers’ full attention by telling them exactly what you want. In one short, bold sentence.

Perk Interest. If you were referred to a company, tell them how. If a friend or relative etc. gave you the referral, ask them if you can use their name in your letter.

Get down to business. First, explain that you would like to “learn about the career opportunities in their department.” Second, explain why your chose their company - perhaps you will know someone who works there, you’re familiar with their good name or reputation, or you’ve used their products. Third, ask if the manager could spare some time to explore career opportunities with you.

Show your stuff. If you just graduated from school, if you just got out of the service, or if you have some hands-on experience say so. Then show that you’re qualified to handle the job by listing a few of the skills needed to do the job.

Wrap it up. Since managers will probably not call you unless the company is actively recruiting, tell them that you’d like to follow-up and see if they could schedule some time to talk with you.

Sincerely,
Your Signature
Your Typed Name

Interview Do's
 1. Be 5 minutes early.
 2. Dress the part.
 3. SMILE-SMILE-SMILE!!!
 4. Shake Hands.
 5. Sit up straight.
 6. Maintain good poise, body language and eye      contact.
 7. Be interested and enthusiastic.
 8. Be attentive and alert.
 9. Try to relax.
10. Ask questions.
11. Avoid controversy.
12. Talk in positive terms.
13. Be sure to do your home work prior to the       interview. (What does the business sell, how       long in businesses, etc.)
14. Sell yourself.
15. Ask for the job.
16. Be alert to closing signals.
17. Set a definite time when you should call back.

Interview Don'ts
 1. Don't be late.
 2. Don't complain about anything - not the weather, not      your former employer, and not your personal      problems.
 3. Don't think ahead of the conversation.
 4. Don't be cute or personal with anyone in the      company. Remember, your every action is being      closely watched the moment you enter the building.
 5. don't be a name dropper.
 6. Don't smoke - even if offered a cigarette.
 7. Don't chew gum.
 8. don't overwhelm with cologne, perfume, or shaving      lotion.
 9. don't attempt to control the interview.
10. Don't interrupt.
11. Don't be too quick to give your answers.
12. Don't ramble, i.e., don't talk and not say anything.
13. Don't be vague.
14. Don't allow your resume to speak for you.
15. don't belabor negatives.
16. Don't permit yourself to be interviewed by       telephone, if you live in the same town. Ask for a       personal interview.
17. Don't rest your arms and hands on the       interviewer's desk.
18. Don't talk with your hands over your mouth.
19. Don't swear or use slang.
20. Don't ask a lot of questions about what the       company will give you; stress the contributions you       think you can make.
21. Don't try to keep the interview going when you see       they want to end it.
22. Don't sit down until offered.
23. Don't take anyone with you.
24. Don't forget to smile.

Questions Frequently Asked on Interviews

Portfolio
What is a portfolio?

A portfolio is a record of goals, growth, achievement, and attributes developed over time and in collaboration with others. Your portfolio is a record of your learning process; what you have learned and how you have gone about learning; how you think, question, analyze, produce, and create; and how you interact intellectually, emotionally, and socially, with others.

What should be included in a portfolio?

o Goals and Values
o Work Samples
o Resume
o Letters of Recommendations
o Works in Progress
o Transcripts – if Received
o Certificates, Diplomas, and Degrees
o Community Service
o Profession Memberships
o Academic Plan of Study
o References

Why do you need a portfolio?

A portfolio is a tool you can use to sell yourself in your search of employment.

Take the portfolio to your interview and show a potential employer what you have. Show them why they need you on their team. Use the portfolio to stress your strengths in different areas.

Competition is tough in the job market. A personalized portfolio can help you when competing with other good candidates.

It will help you improve you confidence because will have information to back up what you tell employers.

Guideline for Organizing a Portfolio

The following guidelines are intended as tips for ease of assembly and effective organization.

1. Use a good quality three-ring binder. Choose a color      that does not soil easily.

2. Begin with an identification page that includes     names, address, and telephone number. Pictures     are optional.

3. Place irregularly shaped entries in plastic sleeves or     pockets. Do not damage any artifact in order to     include it. For example, do not hole punch a     certificate, rather put it in a plastic sleeve.

4. Remember that portfolios are representative, not     comprehensive. For example, choose one or two     representative notes from the staff when you left; not     all thirty of them, or one or two of your best English     paper, not your entire semester’s work.

5. Include a table of contents that identifies the overall     organization of the portfolio. Indicate and label the     sections clearly. Color coding and/or oversize     dividers may be helpful.

6. In general, arrange your portfolio in a way that makes     it easy for you and reviewers to identify goal you set     and your subsequent progress or achievement.

7. Remember that portfolios are dynamic. To facilitate     easy changes, set-up word processing files for your     statement or rationale, reflections, and table of     contents etc.

Resume Sample

Your Name Your Street, Your City
Your Home Phone

Career Objective:
Describe the job or field you want to work in, within your objective.

Qualifications:
List qualifications you have that are most related to the job you are applying for (i.e. journeyman electrician or medical secretary) and list your years of experience.

Education:
Name of High School, College, or Trade School City, State
Degree or Certification received
Other applicable information (i.e. GPA)

Employment:
Employers Name City, State
Job Title Employed from date to date

o Brief description documentation specific duties of the job

Employers Name City, State
Job Title Employed from date to date

o Brief description documentation specific duties of the job
Experience:
List equipment or other things you have experience working with.

Computer Skills:

Do not enter person information such as age, marriage, children etc. on your resume.

Resume Do’s & Don’t's

Tip #1 – Always have an Objective or Summary
You want to hook the employer’s attention within a 5-second glance. Start off on the right foot and describe the job or field you want to work in, within your objective. Without an objective, you force the employer to read all the way through your resume to figure out what kind of job you’re well-suited for - if they even take the time to read it all. Beginning your resume with a clear objective or a focused summary tells readers exactly what you want to do for them. This message establishes rapport, sets the stage for the rest of your resume and will improve your results.

Tip #2 – Do not focus on you or your needs
Your resume should always answer quickly the question on every employer’s mind: “What can you do for me?” Most resumes tend to state something about seeking career advancement or learning new and applicable skills, which an employer does not care about. Employers do not want to hire someone who is going to use them as a springboard for achieving their own personal aspirations. They are seeking an employee that can add value to their operations or contribute to efficiency, someone that can focus on helping the employer meet their goals.

Tip #3 – Focusing on results without forgetting duties and responsibilities
The duties you have preformed at each job are important for a resume, but focusing on the results, what you accomplished and how you made yourself valuable to past employers is more significant. Always offer any positive results/outcomes from doing your job well. For example: increasing sales, contributing to efficiency, training 21 people… Results are the bottom line; most people who move up in a company are the ones who can communicate their results and achievements as opposed to just listing job duties.

Tip #4 – Using too many big words or the wrong words
Do not hide behind your vocabulary. When a resume is not clear and to the point, the reader gets bored and pitches it in the trash. Write your resume as if you were speaking, because if you land an interview with a resume containing many large words, you may be expected to continue using that type of vocabulary in person. Use power words or verbs that match the level of the position you are targeting.

Tip #5 – Watch for errors in spelling and punctuation
Read your resume over for accuracy, correct numbers, dates, city names and other facts, then read it a second time for missing or extra words and a third time for spelling. Never rely completely on your word processor’s spell-check. Allow friends and instructors to read your resume. Reading a resume out loud can help detect a lot of mistakes. Revise the resume and make it error-free.

Tip #6 – E-Mailing a garbled resume
Many employers ask candidates to e-mail resumes. Some resumes received are garbled and unreadable. It has been suggested to both send the resume as an attachment and in the body of the e-mail message. Save and attach your resume in rich text file (RTF) format, which is readable by nearly all word processors. If you use both methods, you can be certain that one way or another, your resume will be read.

Good Jobs Go to Good Employees

Look at how a "typical" teenager normally operates when he or she has a "teenager-type" job. The teenager comes into work. The employer gives him or her a task. The teenager often does it poorly. The teenager shows no interest or excitement in the job. He complains about having to do it. When the employer goes to see what he is doing, the teenager is chatting with friends on the phone, goofing off or doing something other than the requested task. "Teenagers don’t care" is the message that most adults carry in their heads because of this sort of behavior.

Now imagine that the employer finds you to be completely different. When the employer asks you to do something he gets an "OK, I’ll do it right away!" Then you do it. Perhaps you do more than required. You do it well. You are happy about it. If it is a task that takes four hours and your employer comes up half way through and asks, "How is it going?" you say, "It is going well. I have just finished blah blah blah and am starting on the blah blah blah." It does not matter what you are asked to do; you are always ready to do it.

Now imagine what the employer thinks when he compares you to a "typical" teenager. If you respond to your job in this way for a good employer you will be tagged as someone who actually does things and does them well. You will be successful very fast. It is as simple as that.

" Good jobs" go to "good employees." That is a fact of life. What are employers looking for in "good employees"? Here are some of the qualifications:

• Good employees take the initiative. There is a huge difference between an employee who does things on his or her own and one who doesn't. Imagine yourself as a boss. You have two employees. One does nothing unless told exactly what to do, then does it poorly. The other one does any assigned task well, but in addition she is always happy to be helping and never sits idle. She always seems to be doing something to make life easier for customers or other employees. Who would your rather work with? Who will you promote? The choice is obvious.

• Good employees take responsibility. When they are given a task they do a good job and see the task through to completion. Good employees are responsible for their own actions and the work they produce.

•Good employees understand the financial side of the business. They know what activities make the business money and focus on them. They understand their paychecks depend on the business making money.

•Good employees keep their commitments, both large and small. Simple commitments are important: returning calls, showing up on time, etc.

• Good employees know that customers (and other team members) matter. Good employees take the time to ask people how they are doing and show concern and empathy for the needs of others.

•Good employees do a job cheerfully, even if it is not their favorite. Who wants to work with a person who is complaining all the time?

• A good employee consistently does what is best for the company.

• A good employee is disciplined and stays on track.

• A good employee is a consistent performer. Tasks are done well all the time, so the employer can depend on you.

• Good employees are self-motivated. If there is a period of time where there is nothing to do, they find something useful to fill the void. Or they spend the time learning something new that will help their performance on the job.

•Good employees give credit to others on the team.

•Good employees exceed expectations. They do more than they are asked to do, and they do a better job than expected. If you never do more than you are paid to do, you will never be paid more for what you do.

Obviously no one is perfect in all of these areas. A person works to improve at them all through life. As a teenager you want to be conscious of the different areas and strive for improvement each day. That will take time because there is a lot to learn. Work to distinguish yourself as a good employee, learn new skills that make you better at your job, do more than expected, offer new ideas and do things important to the business. For example, if you work in a store, learn to treat customers in a special way. Perhaps try remembering their names and greeting them personally when they come in the store. You will be a fundamental reason for people to come to the store, and your employer will notice that. You can learn to do new things so that you can perform more tasks. You can make life easier for your employer. By demonstrating these qualities your employer will assign you tasks that have more and more responsibility.

Let’s say you do all of this and you find your employer is totally non-responsive to it or hyper-critical. Or you find that your job involves flipping burgers and only flipping burgers and there is no room for creativity or advancement. Then that is your cue to get a new employer. Simple as that. If an employer is consistently assigning you a toilet scrubbing job, you are probably thinking, "What’s the point?" That’s a good question. Get any job in a growing SMALL BUSINESS instead. Make yourself useful. Learn the trade. You will be pushed into higher levels of responsibility by default. Make yourself indispensable.

Once you are in a small business, apply the following strategy: Learn all tasks in the business so you can start a business just like it. Learn the operations, the money, the marketing, the inventory, the payroll and the processes. Learn the entire business. It is amazing how complicated a business is, and it can take several months or years or more to learn it all. The education, however, will be invaluable. Your knowledge will allow you to run any part of the business at any time. That will give you an incredibly wide range of freedom within the business.

Another strategy to apply, especially if you are in a larger company, involves looking up. Look up in the organization and find a position or a person you admire. Then talk to people and find out about the skills, qualifications and personality required to get that job. Talk to the person who holds the position you seek and find out how he or she got there. You will generally find it was a crazy path. Ask his or her advice on what you should do to get there. Then start accumulating what you need. It will take time. Everything does You might as well start now.
Taken From: The Teenager's Guide To The Real World

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