Resume and Cover Letter Prep

As part of the selection criteria for admittance into the Co-op Program students must come prepared to the interview with a resume and cover letter. During the first two weeks of each semester the Co-op teacher will work with students to develop, refine, and improve these resume and cover letters as students apply for their Cooperative Education Placements.

Some students will be required to apply for their Co-op placements before they have the opportunity to experience these lessons (Centralized Placements). Please use the tools and resources below to help refine your resume and cover letter and make it as competitive as possible with other candidates.

The Cover Letter

A cover letter is meant to introduce a candidate(student) to a potential employer and provide a snapshot of the knowledge, skills and attitude the candidate possess and how they would be a good match for the organization/workplace. A cover letter allows students the opportunity to highlight key experiences and skills, as well as provides the employer with some idea of who you are, your personality, and why a student would be a good match for a particular workplace.

A cover letter IS not a letter about why you want a particular Co-op placement and all the things you want to get from the experience. 

Think of it as an introduction to yourself that will set you apart from the competition.  So make it count, remember you never get a second chance to make a first impression! 

Students should be researching the organization/company they are applying to and integrating key words, thoughts and phrases into their cover letter.

A cover letter should include the following items:

• Personal Information of Student (same as on resume - including Full Name, address, contact information)

• Date of submission of application

• Information of Interviewer (including name, position, title, address)

• Formal Salutation (Dear....)

• Introductory Paragraph with clear objective

• Body paragraph(s) outlining key knowledge, skills, attitudes and experiences that student has which makes them an excellent candidate. Connections should be made to the job description and/or organization and why student is a good fit.

• Final paragraph thanking interviewer for time; any additional closing remarks or action statements

• Formal Sign off (Sincerely,)

• Signature (blue or black ink)

• Full Legal Name typed

A cover letter can be a maximum of one page typed . The general structure of all four cover letters will remain the same, or at least similar, regardless of your cover letter’s intent. This structure can be broken down into three steps:

1. Introduce yourself and explain why you are interested in the position.

2. Highlight your relevant skills and experience.

3. Thank the employer for their time and express your interest in meeting with them to discuss the role further.

See sample cover letters.