Module 4: Letters - Humber College

Work Preparation eManual
Developing Content for your Letters
Its challenging to write a good letter. If you have not done this recently, here is an approach to
developing content for your letters, in particular, the “body” of your letters:
Review your Self‐Assessment: From the results of your personal self‐assessment, you can start
to describe the components of a job and work environment that would be a good fit for you.
Even if you haven’t identified a specific “job title”, you should be able to clearly describe
A career direction and your interests (your employment goal)
Your top technical skills and some of the things you can do well,
Your personal qualities that will help you succeed in the workplace, and
The factors that are important to you in a job or work environment.
Complete as many of the following sentences as possible by “filling in the blanks” with your
findings from the self‐assessment exercise.
I am interested in a (...add your list eg. summer, Co‐op, contract, consulting, full‐time....)
position.
I am interested in exploring opportunities in (....add the industry/sector you are
interested in targeting.....).
I am interested in a position that would utilize (....add your strengths/experience....).
I am interested in opportunities that will provide (.....add your workplace
preferences....).
I have been described by others as (.....add your personal qualities....).
I tend to work best in an environment that (....add your workplace preferences....).
The group of statements will be a starting point to describe yourself in “sentence form”. The
finished sentences in a letter will be based on these statements.
Next, rephrase the statements into sentences, and keep modifying the wording until it flows:
Example:
Please accept my resume as application for a Co‐op placement this summer. I am currently a
second year honours student in the Civil Engineering Technology program at Humber College.
I am most interested in a role that would utilize my strengths in surveying and inspection, and
where I would have the opportunity to spend a good part of my time in the field. I tend to work
best in a fast‐paced environment that demands a lot of time and energy, and where the job
duties are varied. My previous supervisors have described me as very conscientious and
committed to the work I am doing, no matter how large or small the task.
In the September issue of “The Ontario Technologist”, I noticed the major development work
your firm has been doing. It is my career goal to be involved in managing projects one day, and
for this reason I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to join your organization.......etc
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