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Analyzing Effective Cover Letters

The document provides details about three cover letter samples. For the first sample, the applicant Martin is applying for an internship in marketing. Martin has experience in marketing and statistics. The second applicant Michelle has over 11 years of experience in project management and is applying to be a project manager. The third applicant Enzo has an accounting background and wants to transition to public relations. The document then analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of each cover letter sample, noting elements like confidence, research conducted, clarity of message, and lack of cultural awareness. It concludes by explaining how the samples will help guide the development of the author's own professional communication skills.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
55 views5 pages

Analyzing Effective Cover Letters

The document provides details about three cover letter samples. For the first sample, the applicant Martin is applying for an internship in marketing. Martin has experience in marketing and statistics. The second applicant Michelle has over 11 years of experience in project management and is applying to be a project manager. The third applicant Enzo has an accounting background and wants to transition to public relations. The document then analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of each cover letter sample, noting elements like confidence, research conducted, clarity of message, and lack of cultural awareness. It concludes by explaining how the samples will help guide the development of the author's own professional communication skills.
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

1. Research and select three examples of your selected communication.

For this assignment, I will be sticking to the cover letter I choose for milestone 1 assignment.

A cover letter is a business letter that you send alongside your CV. It highlights other additional

skills that your CV does not mention. It tells an employer how best you are suitable for the role

you are applying for.

With a cover letter, the hiring manager will have more information about how you can make

positive impact in to the company you want to work for.

2. What is the business context for each of the samples (for example, if you select three

cover letters, you would want to describe the applicant, type of job, work environment

and tone of the samples).

For the first cover letter I choose, the job applicant called Martin is hoping to begin his

internship with a marketing company called Optimal Workspace Inc. He found the opening

through his University Student center and he visited the company’s website to get more

information.

Martin is a marketing student with a minor in statistics and will be getting his degree the

following year. He has an extensive background in marketing and would like to learn more

about government campaigns and he feels that Optimal Workspace Inc. will help him achieve

this feat.

He has previous experience working for another company as an intern where he learned

Adobe Creative Suite of Product which includes Photoshop and InDesign.


For Martin, working with optimal Workspace Inc will give him the needed experience he

needs to break inti the marketing world and hopefully give him the same experience to run

his own marketing agency.

In his cover letter, Martin sounds persuasive. He is trying to rub his skills and experience in

the face of the hiring manger. He is trying to make them understand that he is the best intern

they would ever have. With his skills, he would impact positively to the company while

gaining the needed knowledge and experience. The work environment for Martin seems to be

the ideal since he says that he would learn the necessary skills.

For the second cover letter, Michelle is sound too professional, friendly and at the same time

persuasive. Michelle is a skilled project manager with over 11 years of field experience. She

is throwing her work successes into the face of the hiring manager. She wants them to know

that she is qualified, if not over qualified for the job. She is applying for the role of a project

manager in ArikFly and says she will do her best to bring the company more successes.

She has her first and second degree in Project management with about 2 other professional

certificates in the same field.

She sounds convincing and professional and says the work environment will let her explore

new skills. She talks about performing her duties in aptness and ensuring that the company

business stays in the company without third parties.

For the third sample cover letter I will be analyzing is that of Enzo who has a background in

accounting and extensive experience in retail. He is hoping to transition in public relations

and her feels TransPerfect is the best for him. TransPerfect is a perfume brand that sells to
celebrities. Enzo has immersed himself in reading about the company and using its products.

This has given an edge already into the position.

He feels that in TransPerfect, he will be able to use his skills, learn more skills and develop

these skills for the profit of the company and himself.

Though he is knowledgeable, he sounds unsure because he is not a master in the field he is

going into. He might have a good start but I think the hiring manager will not be convinced

enough that he is ready for a job transition at this point in time.

3. What are the strengths and weaknesses of each sample (be sure to reference your learning

materials and the elements of good professional communication to support your review).

A good professional communication includes the sender, the message, the environment, the

receiver and the feedback.

For effective professional communication to take place, a sender will have to send a message

either by words or as he pleases. This message is then sent to the receiver which in turn will

give feedback as to whether or not he understands the message.

A successful communication will pass through this process.

For the strengths in the chosen sample, all job applicants showed confidence in their tone of

speaking. They wasted no time in letting the hiring manager know how well they are skilled

for the job they are applying for.

They also showed that they understand the audience and what the audience wants. They did

their research and felt they had the needed skill for the job position.
They were clear in passing out the information and the information was enlightening. They

made sure that the hiring manager knew that they have the skills the position required and

they are willing to use this skill in pushing the company to greater heights.

For weaknesses, they avoided not giving enough information. This is a great way to impress

a hiring manager. They also avoided sounded unqualified for the job. They made sure they

knew everything necessary for the position and in the letter, they explained how their

previous work experience will enable them to act in the position they are applying for.

Cultural background plays a great role in communication. They did not show thy will adapt

to the company’s background or how their cultural background will impact the company.

4. How will you use these samples to help guide your own professional communication

development?

These samples are greatly helpful for my own professional communication. The outline how

a cover letter should be understandable, professional and persuasive if I am to land any job I

will apply for. It outlines how my message should be simple, concise, and understandable.

It has helped me understand that for an effective communication I to take place, I should be

mindful of who I am talking to. I should not use the same tone of communication for friends

when I am talking to a hiring manager.

Talking to a hiring manager requires that I sound professional and go straight to the point.

This way, I give the hiring manager the impression that I am suitable and can work in a

professional manner.

References
 Lombardo, J. (2021, October 6). Elements of Effective Communication in the
Workplace. [Link]. Retrieved October 1, 2022, from
[Link]
[Link]

 Barot, H. (n.d.). 11 Strengths And Weaknesses In Communication. Frantically


Speaking. Retrieved October 1, 2022, from [Link]
strengths-and-weaknesses-in-communication/

Common questions

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The document emphasizes the importance of professional certificates and degrees by illustrating how applicants like Michelle leverage their educational qualifications, including multiple degrees and certificates, to build a case for their suitability for high-level positions. This educational background is used as evidence of competence and dedication to the field .

The applicants utilized their previous work experience to strengthen their applications by linking specific skills acquired in past roles to the job they are applying for. For instance, Martin highlighted his experience with Adobe Creative Suite to demonstrate practical skills for a marketing role, while Michelle, with her extensive field experience, emphasized her ability to bring success to ArikFly .

Understanding the audience—such as the hiring manager's expectations and the company environment—is crucial in constructing an effective cover letter. Applicants like Martin and Michelle succeeded in showing they had researched their respective companies and tailored their letters to demonstrate direct alignment with the job roles. This consideration enhances persuasiveness and engagement with the potential employer .

Lessons from these cover letter samples include the importance of clarity, relevance, and concise messaging in professional communication. An applicant should tailor their message to the audience, as a professional tone is crucial when addressing hiring managers, different from informal communication with peers. This understanding helps present oneself as suitable and professional, aligning with job expectations .

Enzo's cover letter might be less convincing because, despite his enthusiasm and product familiarity, he displays uncertainty about his mastery in the new field of public relations. This lack of confidence might undermine the strength of his case for transitioning into a different career path, which requires clear evidence of relevant skills and readiness for the new challenges .

The tone in the cover letters ranges from persuasive to professional depending on the applicant's objectives. Martin's letter uses a persuasive tone to assert his suitability for the internship, while Michelle blends professionalism with persuasiveness to reflect her extensive experience and qualifications for a project management position. The tone impacts effectiveness by aligning with the expected communication norms of the industry, helping to convince the employer of their suitability .

A cover letter can enhance a job applicant's suitability for a role by highlighting additional skills not mentioned in the CV, and providing the hiring manager with more information on how the applicant can make a positive impact on the company. It serves as a persuasive tool to demonstrate the applicant's skills and experience, as exemplified by Martin's approach in his cover letter for the internship at Optimal Workspace Inc. .

The key elements of successful professional communication in job applications include clarity, understanding of the audience, and a persuasive tone. The cover letters reviewed show confidence, with applicants like Martin and Michelle effectively demonstrating their skills and understanding the job role, ensuring the hiring manager is clear on their qualifications. However, the letters could improve by addressing cultural adaptability to better fit the company's environment .

Cultural background plays a significant role in effective professional communication by influencing how well an applicant can integrate into a company's environment. The document suggests that applicants failed to demonstrate adaptability to the corporate culture in their letters. Addressing this aspect could enhance their applications by showing an understanding and appreciation of the company's values and practices .

The weaknesses in the cover letters primarily involve a lack of demonstrated adaptability to company culture. While the applicants exhibit strong individual skills and experiences, they fail to address how their cultural backgrounds or personal values align with the company’s values, potentially missing an opportunity to fully integrate themselves into the prospective employer's environment .

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