When You Cant Submit A Cover Letter
Many companies now use online application systems that dont allow for a cover letter. You may be able to figure out how to include one in the same document as your résumé, but thats not a guarantee, especially because some systems only allow for data to be entered into specific boxes. In these cases, use the format youre given to demonstrate your ability to do the job and your enthusiasm for the role. If possible, you may try to find someone to whom you can send a brief follow-up email highlighting a few key points about your application.
Basic Mistakes In A Harvard Application Letter
- Cliches and generic information: Harvard admissions officers have read it all, so its important to give them something that stands out. Cover letters about hard work, athletic achievements or tragedies will need to be revised carefully so that they dont come across as too generic.
- Poor tone: Your tone should be authentic without ever sacrificing professionalism. You dont need to beg for admission, but you should also be careful to avoid coming across as entitled or demanding.
- Spelling and grammar mistakes: When the competition is this fierce, any little typo or grammar mistake can be a big deal. Avoid these issues by using spell check and asking a trusted mentor to proofread.
- Formatting issues: If you need to upload a cover letter sample as its own file, youll want to make sure that your layout and design is as attractive as possible. A free cover letter templatecan help you do this quickly.
How To Write A Great Resume And Cover Letter
Linda Spencer offers helpful tips and resources to help you write your resumé and cover letter.
What makes a great résumé and cover letter? Linda Spencer, associate director and coordinator of career advising at Harvard Extension School, shares examples of a few strong résumés and explains what makes them stand out.
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Action Verbs For Your Resume
LEADERSHIPAccomplished Achieved Administered Analyzed Assigned Attained Chaired ConsolidatedContracted Coordinated Delegated Developed Directed Earned Evaluated ExecutedHandled Headed Impacted Improved Increased Led Mastered OrchestratedOrganized Oversaw Planned Predicted Prioritized Produced Proved RecommendedRegulated Reorganized Reviewed Scheduled Spearheaded Strengthened Supervised Surpassed
COMMUNICATIONAddressed Arbitrated Arranged Authored Collaborated Convinced Corresponded DeliveredDeveloped Directed Documented Drafted Edited Energized Enlisted FormulatedInfluenced Interpreted Lectured Liaised Mediated Moderated Negotiated PersuadedPresented Promoted Publicized Reconciled Recruited Reported Rewrote SpokeSuggested Synthesized Translated Verbalized Wrote
RESEARCHClarified Collected Concluded Conducted Constructed Critiqued Derived DeterminedDiagnosed Discovered Evaluated Examined Extracted Formed Identified InspectedInterpreted Interviewed Investigated Modeled Organized Resolved Reviewed SummarizedSurveyed Systematized Tested
TECHNICALAssembled Built Calculated Computed Designed Devised Engineered FabricatedInstalled Maintained Operated Optimized Overhauled Programmed Remodeled RepairedSolved Standardized Streamlined Upgraded
TEACHINGAdapted Advised Clarified Coached Communicated Coordinated Demystified DevelopedEnabled Encouraged Evaluated Explained Facilitated Guided Informed InstructedPersuaded Set Goals Stimulated Studied Taught Trained
Address The Letter To A Specific Person
“To whom it may concern” is one of the fastest ways to get your application deleted. Always try to address your letter to a specific person usually the hiring manager or department head. Include their name, title, company and address at the very top below the date.
If you don’t know who to address, is a great place to start. Simply enter the company name and some keywords into the search bar and a variety of related profiles will appear.
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What The Experts Say
The answer is almost always yes. Sure, there will be times when youre submitting an application online and you may not be able to include one, but whenever possible, send one, says Jodi Glickman, a communications expert and author of Great on the Job. Its your best chance of getting the attention of the HR person or hiring manager and an important opportunity to distinguish yourself from everyone else. And in a tight job market, setting yourself apart is critical, says John Lees, a UK-based career strategist and author of Knockout CV. Still, as anyone whos ever written a cover letter knows, its not easy to do well. Here are some tips to help.
Best Format For A Harvard Cover Letter
As with any cover letter, your Harvard college essay should contain sections that make it easy for the admissions officer to find the information they are looking for. Here are the essential components of your Harvard cover letter sample:
- The cover letter header
- The middle paragraphs
- The ending paragraph of your cover letter
This structure helps your letter flow from one section to another and keeps an admissions officer interested in what you have to say. Unlike a normal cover letter which discusses much of the experience on your resume, a Harvard cover letter should tell a personal story without needing much detail about your high school clubs or leadership roles
You can find more guidance on writing each of these sections in our comprehensive cover letter guide. Thats also a great place to look for specific formatting tips that will help ensure you keep a sense of professionalism throughout your cover letter sample.
Below is a Harvard cover letter example to help you get started in writing your own.
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Emphasize Your Personal Value
Hiring managers are looking for people who can help them solve problems. Drawing on the research you did earlier, show that you know what the company does and some of the challenges it faces. These dont need to be specific but you might mention how the industry has been affected by the pandemic. For example, you might write, A lot of health care companies are overwhelmed with the need to provide high-quality care while protecting the health and safety of their staff. Then talk about how your experience has equipped you to meet those needs perhaps explain how you solved a similar problem in the past or share a relevant accomplishment. You want to provide evidence of the things that set you apart.
Lees points out that there are two skills that are relevant to almost any job right now: adaptability and the ability to learn quickly. If you have brief examples that demonstrate these skills, include those. For example, if you supported your team in the shift to remote work, describe how you did that and what capabilities you drew on.
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Be Consistent In Formatting
Visual consistency makes a big difference. Keep your letter to just one page and use the same font as you did for your resume. If you’re converting the letter to a PDF, make sure the formatting is translated properly.
Dustin McKissen is the founder of McKissen + Company, a strategic communications firm in St. Charles, Missouri. He was also named one of LinkedIn’s “Top Voices in Management and Corporate Culture.” Follow him on LinkedIn here.
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Resumes: What You Need To Know
The resume is an opportunity to market yourself to a prospective employer. It should be succinct, target an employer’s needs, and distinguish you from your competitors. Before you get started, think about your strengths, weaknesses, personal preferences, and motivations. You should also consider the company’s needs, who your competition might be, and your unique skill set. The best way to convince employers that you will add value is to show them that you’ve done it before.
Use Action Words And Don’t Overuse The Pronoun I
Instead of using flowery words and cliche claims like “fast thinker” and “highly creative,” go for action words.
Here are a few examples of action verbs to use when highlighting specific skills:
- To demonstrate leadership skills: Accomplished, contracted, assigned, directed, orchestrated, headed, delegated
- To demonstrate communication skills: Addressed, translated, presented, negotiated, moderated, promoted, edited
- To demonstrate research skills: Constructed, examined, critique, systematized, investigated, modeled, formulated
- To demonstrate creative skills: Revitalized, redesigned, developed, integrated, conceptualized, fashioned, shaped
Avoid using too many “I” statements because it can come off as though you’re mostly interested in what you can gain from the company. The focus should be on what the company can gain from you.
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Writing Psychology: How To Tell Your Story
A college essay or application letter is different from a traditional cover letter in several ways. It usually offers you more space to tell your story and doesnt require you to focus as much on achievements as it does lessons learned and experiences that shaped you.
In order to succeed in writing a Harvard cover letter sample, youll first need to reflect on your own life and look for interesting stories to share. Here are some questions to consider:
- What experiences have I had that were particularly memorable?
- Have I lived through any situations that are unusual for people my age?
- Who or what has influenced me the most in life?
- Where do I get my drive and inspiration?
- What are my strongest personality traits and where do they come from?
- What are some of the biggest lessons Ive learned at this stage in my life?
There are no right or wrong topics for a Harvard cover letter, but make sure to choose one that you are truly passionate about. By weaving a narrative throughout your cover letter and focusing on your authentic experiences and tone of voice, you can be sure the admissions officer will feel your passion and desire to be part of their university.
Do Your Research First
Before you start writing, find out more about the company and the specific job you want. Of course, you should carefully read the job description, but also peruse the companys website, its executives Twitter feeds, and employee profiles on LinkedIn. This research will help you customize your cover letter, since you shouldnt send a generic one. Itll also help you decide on the right tone. Think about the culture of the organization youre applying to, advises Glickman. If its a creative agency, like a design shop, you might take more risks, but if its a more conservative organization, like a bank, you may hold back.
If at all possible, reach out to the hiring manager or someone else you know at the company before writing your cover letter, advises Lees. You can send an email or a LinkedIn message asking a smart question about the job. That way you can start your letter by referencing the interaction. You might say, Thanks for the helpful conversation last week or I recently spoke to so-and-so at your company. Of course, its not always possible to contact someone or you may not get a response. Thats OK. Its still worth a try.
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Resume Makeover Using Vmock And Aspire
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Perfect Your Marketing Documents
Spencer stresses its important to know that your résumé and cover letter are marketing documents. Also keep in mind that the average employer takes about seven seconds to review these documents. Theyre not reading: theyre skimming. So you need to make it clear right off the bat how you can add value.
Strong résumés dont have to be lengthy. One to two pages that feature your most top accomplishments works well.
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Use Action Words And Customize Your Pitch
When highlighting your professional experience, use accomplishment statements rather than descriptions of your role. Start with an action verb. Then detail the impact that action had: Did you increase, decrease, modify, or change anything in your work? Finally, be sure to quantify the accomplishments. Data helps.
Your cover letter should be one page, highly customized to each position youre applying for. It answers two questions: why are you the right fit for the position? And how will you add value to the organization?
How To Write A Cover Letter
Perhaps the most challenging part of the job application process is writing an effective cover letter. And yes, you should send one. Even if only one in two cover letters gets read, thats still a 50% chance that including one could help you. Before you start writing, find out more about the company and the specific job you want. Next, catch the attention of the hiring manager or recruiter with a strong opening line. If you have a personal connection with the company or someone who works there, mention it in the first sentence or two, and try to address your letter to someone directly. Hiring managers are looking for people who can help them solve problems, so show that you know what the company does and some of the challenges it faces. Then explain how your experience has equipped you to meet those needs. If the online application doesnt allow you to submit a cover letter, use the format youre given to demonstrate your ability to do the job and your enthusiasm for the role.
No one likes job hunting. Scouring through online job listings, spiffing up your résumé, prepping for grueling interviews none of it is fun. For many, the most challenging part of the process is writing an effective cover letter. Theres so much conflicting advice out there, its hard to know where to start. Do you even need one, especially if youre applying through an online system?
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Write A Different Cover Letter For Every Application
A cover letter should show a match between you and the position for which you are applying. To be a fit for a position, you need to also be a fit for the organization. Do your homework! What goals and opportunities excite you about the organization? What makes it a good place for you to work and advance your career? Which of your skills and accomplishments match those requested in the job posting?
Youll be a more exciting candidate if you demonstrate that you understand and are enthusiastic about the organizations mission. Find specific words or phrases that the organization uses to describe its own values . Echo these ideas in your letter. Highlight experiences and interests of yours that correspond to these values.
In the AAE section, we have provided an example cover letter that was tailored to the example job posting, and was written to demonstrate how the candidate matches the employers desired traits.
Whether Youre A Prospective Undergrad Or Graduate Student A Resume That Pairs Unpretentiousness With High Performance Will Get You Past The Gilded Ivy League Gates
When applying to one of the of most prestigious institutions of higher education in the country, confidence is key. But confidence doesnt mean arrogance, and a Harvard resume should expertly balance humility with conviction. That goes for both undergraduate applications to Harvard College and submissions to one of the 10 graduate and professional schools at Harvard University.
Its likely you agree with Nelson Mandelas famous aphorism: Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. But youll need to be perspicacious enough to get to the kind of education youre seeking, and if youre submitting a resume, being humble while strategically listing your achievements will give you an advantage. This shows that youre a leader-in-the-making whos already self-aware, with values that go beyond overbearing swagger.
For undergrads, emphasize the following in your Harvard College resume:
- extracurriculars
- awards, scholarships, and publications
For graduate school, opt for a Harvard resume that pinpoints:
- a high GPA and accolades from your undergraduate degree
- specific work in the field you want to get an advanced degree in
- relevant internships
- skills youve already acquired that will help in your industry
Generally, keep the design elements uncomplicated and coherent, and review our Harvard resume template to gather more enterprising pointers.
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A Resume Must Be Consistent In Format Italics Underlining Capitalisation And Font It Must Also Look Pleasing With An Adequate Amount Of White Space States Harvard University
Knowing how to write a resume and a cover letter are basic skills for anyone trying to look for a job. However, given that there is no universally accepted writing format, things can get confusing. We could all use a little help when it comes to writing a good resume. Interestingly, Harvard University, one of the top institutes in the world, has free online resources explaining the nuts and bolts of writing a great resume and cover letter.
It even has multiple samples to give users a better idea of what to do. One particular document provided by Harvard starts by stating guidelines regarding the language of the resume. Candidates must make their resumes specific and write in an active tone rather than a passive one. You must keep in mind that you are writing for someone who will scan your resume quickly. Applicants have to be articulate and make their resume fact-based to obtain the best results.
Did you know that Harvard has free Resume, CV and Cover Letter resources – including action verbs, templates and samples?Ive compiled a list of them –
Vibali Joshi
Personal pronouns, slang words, writing in a narrative style, and including your picture, age or gender are all strict no-nos. Ensure that all spelling and grammatical errors are removed and essential information such as email address and phone number is not missed. Your resume must not be too long or unorganised, it added.
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