Because the ability to compose a cover letter and résumé is so essential, in this application you are going to search for a job posting that interests you and create a cover letter and résumé that can be used to apply for the position. You can search for job postings using search engines on the Internet, online job boards, your local newspaper, or even the website of specific companies and organizations. Once you have found a job posting that interests you, make sure to save a copy of it for submission to your instructor. Reading over the job description, think carefully about the skills needed for the job and the kind of candidate whom the employer would like to hire. Take a look at the notes you jotted down during the Warm-Up activity and consider which of those items are applicable to the job you have selected.

Before you begin organizing your information, make sure that you look again at the samples provided in the presentation of this topic. It is also a good idea to do an online search of sample cover letters and résumé in order to view a variety of formatting options. Before you begin, review the Cover Letter and Résumé Checklist to make sure that you include all of the items required for full credit.

Once you have completed your cover letter, be sure to print out a copy and sign your name. Then, scan an electronic copy of your cover letter with your signature and submit it along with your résumé and a copy of the job posting to the dropbox.