Practical application : Writing your own cover-letter. (1)

     Now, you should write your own cover-letter.  For this example, we will “reverse-engineer” the process, using Claire’s example cover-letter.  We will use the same procedure as before: 
       (1)  General brainstorming. 
       (2)  General plan (Parts 1 to 8). 
       (3)  Brainstorm each section (Parts 1 to 8). 
       (4)  Organize each section into a “section plan” (Parts 1 to 8). 
       (5)  1st Draft. 
       (6)  Peer review (content, structure). 
       (7)  2nd Draft. 
       (8)  Peer review (grammar, spelling, etc.) 
       (9)  Final Draft (print, or on the computer). 
 
     (1)  General brainstorming, for cover-letter.  You need to ask, “Do I know where I am going with my life?”  Do you know what you want?  You can choose two directions: (a) build the cover-letter, based upon what opportunities life gives to you (i.e., you respond), or (b) your cover-letter is based upon what you want, and what you are intentionally “hunting” for (i.e., you initiate). 
     (a) You respond.  You hear of a job, and you must design the cover-letter so that your life and experience match what you think the Human Resource people are looking for.  There will be many other people like you, who may also write similar letters, as they all have the same goal : to “match” themselves against what the Human Resource people seem to want.  This results in a high level of job-competition, many application letters, and the Human Resource people throwing out as many application letters as they possible can.  The Human Resource people will scan an application package in seconds, and use summary criteria to “thin out” the pile. 
     (b) You initiate.  You research a company, find out many things about it, find some area or skill they need, and try to persuade them you have the skills they need.  In this way, you are the only applicant.  Or, you find out who you are, and what you want, and you look for a company that you like, and want to join. 
     Which method you take (respond, or initiate) will determine how you go about writing your cover-letter.  So... how will you dream?  Remember, the cover-letter is all about you, and your life, not about them, and their company.  You are looking for a job–one step in your “career road”–that will benefit you; you are not looking for uncertain scraps from an unseen path. 
     Your cover-letter must be more a reflection of your dreams, compatibly linked with their needs, than a mere reflection of what they are looking for.  You have to ask, “What do I want to say about myself–not only through my direct words, but also indirectly through the spirit of my words?”  After all, the cover-letter is about, “Who am I, what do I want, and how do these things match up with what the Human Resource people want?” 
     The (real) dream must come first, and be the driving force behind all that comes after it–not the other way around!  Let a little time go by, to see if any “late ideas” come to you; then, add them in. 
 
     (2) General plan, for cover-letter (Parts 1 to 8).  First, on a piece of paper, list the eight parts of the cover-letter (i.e., Greetings – Summary of request – Why I am good for this job – Past job experience – Past problem-solving, and successes – What I will do for you, if I am hired – Summary – Invitation to call me for an interview).  Next to each part, put down some general ideas.  Do not work out the details (yet).  “Step back”, as it were, and look at the “big picture”, to see if the general direction of your letter is what you want.  If it is, then go on; if it is not, then start again.  It is very important that you set your general direction accurately, at the beginning of this process.  In addition, you should often ask yourself if the main ideas conveyed in your plan are what you want, and if they reflect the image you want to present to a prospective employer.  (However... it doesn’t always work out well that way.  Unfortunately, cover-letters are not just about one’s dreams and life-facts; they are also about the image one projects to others, such as the prospective employers.)  Then, set aside this “general plan”.  You will use it later on. 
     Here is an (imaginary) example, using Claire’s information: 
 
       (1) Greetings – Dear Xxx, etc. 
       (2) Summary of request – business secretary. 
       (3) Why I am good for this job – English, computer, hard-working, character.
       (4) Past job experience – translator, “freelance”. 
       (5) Past problem-solving, and successes – “problem” client, organize, solve. 
       (6) What I will do for you, if I am hired – grow with company, discreet, service, creative.
       (7) Summary – spirit, devotion, skills. 
       (8) Invitation to call me for an interview – interview. 
 
     (3) Brainstorm each section, for cover-letter (Parts 1 to 8).  Now that you have clearly established the “general direction and shape” of your cover-letter, you can take each section, one at a time, and develop their ideas.  For each section, write down all the ideas that you can.  Do not “screen” your thoughts; just write them down.  Perhaps you can do this with a friend, so as to get more (potential) ideas; you can later help your friend, and do the same thing for her. 
     Take your time : sometimes the ideas come out over a period of time, and not “all at once”; under conditions of stress and urgency, some ideas will refuse to come out at all.  You want your cover-letter to “smell” of your own life, and its uniqueness.  Do not just write down the things that everyone else in your class is writing! 
     Here are some (imaginary) examples, again from Claire’s information.  Remember, each of these sections can be written on small scraps of paper, which you can move around the table-top.  I think this way is good for “messy brainstorming”: 
 
       (1) Greetings – Dear Xxx, etc. 
       (2) Summary of request – apply, secretary, Xxx Company, begin at once. 
       (3) Why I am good for this job – Yyy College, good at English (debating society, competitions, TEM-8 certificate, good in class), can use many software programs (Excel, Power-Point, Adobe, and others), work hard, help classmates, do “monitor” work in class, regulate class activities, honest, character often praised. 
       (4) Past job experience – translator at ABC Company, colleagues, hours, anecdotes from work, type of work, translate documents, gather information for boss, immigration surveys, understand how office works, “free-lance” translation, home, learn independence. 
       (5) Past problem-solving, and successes – can solve problems, about angry customer, what happened, praised by ABC Company, successful at work tasks, class party, 50 students, in Beijing area, much logistical preparation, class monitor, solve student problems, liaise with teachers and school administration, many meetings. 
       (6) What I will do for you, if I am hired – grow with company, professional and social confidentiality, trustworthy, excellent service, be creative, solve company problems, versatile worker. 
       (7) Summary – the best candidate, team spirit, patient, devoted to the work, can organize. 
       (8) Invitation to call me for an interview – interview, your convenience.