Purposive Communication Module 4.2

A business letter has distinct parts: header, date, recipient's address, salutation, body, closing, and signature.

A business letter's format is more formal compared to a personal letter.

The recipient's address is placed before the salutation, not after.

A business letter aims to communicate with a person first, and the company second.

Addressing a letter to a specific person enhances the chances of receiving a response.

Business letters are formal and structured, contrasting with personal letters' flexibility.

A compelling cover letter can make a positive first impression & show understanding recipient needs.

Effective business communication focuses on the recipient as a person and their company's needs.

Review and wait at least one day between writing an important letter and sending it.

The date on a business letter should be placed above the recipient's address.

Writing and sending letters (physical mail) remains important aspect of business communication. Even electronic communication needs written confirmations.

A middle paragraph that clearly showcases applicant's skills and experience relevant to the job.

Captivating opening that immediately grabs the employer's attention, clearly stating why you're interested in the specific job. Includes the job title and how you learned of it.

Opening is adequately written, touching on key elements like interest in the organization and the specific position, but may be a little vague.

A middle paragraph lacking specific detail, failing to highlight relevant skills, or not connecting applicant's experience to the job description

A closing paragraph that encourages a call, shows interest in the position and leaves a good impression.

Opening lacks key elements required for a compelling opening—missing reasons for interest, job titles, or sources of the job opportunity.

A closing paragraph that leaves the employer unsure about next steps, or lacking a clear call to action.

The first paragraph of a cover letter designed to pique the reader's interest.

A component needed within the opening paragraph, ensuring the letter's effectiveness.

Highlighting skills and achievements aligning with job description keywords.

Include numerical data (e.g., $ raised, people served) to show impact.

Use strong action verbs to describe your accomplishments.

Use phrases emphasizing results and achievements, including how you achieved those results.

Include numbers when describing your accomplishments.

Include links to and citations of relevant publications and presentations in your field.

Avoid graphics, tables, or columns - ATS systems can't read them.

A resume is a professional summary of your skills and accomplishments, not a list of hobbies.

Include education, work experience, abilities and skills relevant to the position.

Submit resume electronically via email, respecting ATS and recruiters.

A resume is a formal summary showcasing professional abilities and experience.

Give enough details about your experience to showcase your knowledge to an unknown reader.

Include volunteer work if relevant to the job description.

Formatting and appearance matters in conveying your potential as an employee.

Avoid slang or informal language in a professional resume.

A resume focused on skills, suitable for those with limited work experience.

A resume's purpose is to highlight the applicant's qualifications, skills, and achievements.

Maintaining an up-to-date resume showcasing skills, achievements, experience, and education.

A business letter follows a specific order of components (header, date, recipient's address, salutation, body, closing, and signature). Each component has a correct placement for clarity and organization

A business letter might be missing key components, making it incomplete or unclear.

Well-written business letters use fluent and effective sentences. Errors in mechanics, punctuation, and word usage are minimized for clarity.

A business letter often exhibits minor errors in sentence structure, word usage, and punctuation, affecting clarity and professionalism.

Proper arrangement of all required letter elements in a business letter improves readability and understanding of the message.

Spacing elements correctly in a letter is important in layout, enhancing readability and visual appeal.

Errors in grammar and mechanics (punctuation or usage) within business letters can diminish the impact and professionalism of the message.

Ensuring all components of a business letter are present in the proper order.

Noticeable inconsistencies in the use of punctuation, spelling, or grammar in a letter indicate potential issues with its quality.

Specific instructions for creating a letter, including page size, font size, and required signatures.

A guideline to evaluate the quality of a résumé based on specific criteria.

Explanations of what constitutes an exceptional, admirable, acceptable, or attempted résumé, based on the rubric.

Includes complete, accurate, and easy-to-read formatting of the name, address, phone number, email, and other necessary information.

Headings clearly organized with appropriate structure for a resume, and each heading has a clear purpose, with relevant information for the job objective.

References format is complete, but may need some clarifications or additional information. Missing some details.

Overall presentation of the résumé. The document needs fewer grammatical errors, better organization and layout, better use of a professional font and single page.