Targeted Resume and Cover Letter Assignment Page 1 of 5
Course Code: BUSN702
Course Name: COOP/Employment Preparedness
Targeted Resume and Cover Letter Assignment – 30% of Final Grade
PURPOSE: The purpose of this assignment is to help you develop the skills needed to
produce a targeted effective resume and cover letter for a specific job.
INSTRUCTIONS: Apply the course concepts covered for targeted resumes and cover
letters. Review the rubric carefully (below) to ensure that you have a clear
understanding of how your assignment will be assessed.
This is a course assignment, you are not actually applying for a job.
Later in this course, you will participate in a mock job interview assignment using this
same target job.
TASK 1 – Select a target job advertisement OR use advertisement provided by your
instructor.
Select a relevant job posting to work with for this assignment. You will be provided with
tips on how to evaluate a job posting, and how to locate one; OR your professor may
provide you with a job posting.
TASK 2 – Create a Targeted Resume
Refer to the sample resumes provided by your professor (or in HireCentennial).
Recreate or upgrade your current resume, based on the resume Assessment rubric
below. Resumes should include:
• Contact Information (Resume Header)
• Job Title/Tagline/Headline or Profile Statement
• A section which summarizes your fit for the position you are applying for
(e.g., Highlights of Qualifications or Summary of Skills)
• Education, Relevant Training and Certifications
• Work/Volunteer Experience/Projects which includes examples of
accomplishment statements (use the A+D+D model)
• One Page (maximum 2 pages)
• Proofread before submitting
Targeted Resume and Cover Letter Assignment Page 2 of 5
TASK 3 – Create a Targeted Cover Letter
• Create a targeted cover letter corresponding to the job advertisement used
to create your targeted resume.
• Add Resume Header to Cover Letter (Letterhead)
• Follow the format and principals covered in the course lesson and outlined
within the rubic (AIDA model)
• Proofread before submitting
Task 4 – Submission
• Submit the job posting you are using for this assignment in PDF format (if it has
been selected by student). Students should not submit the link for the job
advertisement as this may become inactive. This may mean you will have to
copy/paste the job posting details into Word format first then save as PDF.
Ensure job details, such as description, duties, qualifications, etc. are visible
within the PDF copy. Submit to assignment dropbox in eCentennial.
• Submit your Targeted Cover Letter and Resume in ONE file. Many employers
often request the Cover Letter and Resume together in one file. You will
probably need to copy/paste your cover letter into the top of your resume file.
Save as PDF and submit to the assignment dropbox in eCentennial. Up to 5
marks may be deducted for incorrect file format.
Targeted Resume and Cover Letter Assignment Page 3 of 5
Targeted Resume Rubric
Criteria Excellent
10
Very Good
8-9
Fair
6-7
Needs Work
0-5
Visual Appeal / Initial
Impression
Format, Style, and
Appearance
Resume format is visually
appealing. Information is
easy to read. Makes an
immediate positive
impression.
Margins are balanced with
even tab margins and
spacing between lines and
sections.
Uses capitalization, bold,
or italics, to highlight
headings consistently and
well.
Bullet points used
appropriately.
Font sizes and styles are
used consistently and are
not distracting.
Sections are arranged and
aligned in an appropriate
manner.
Section headings reflect
content and content
substantiates headings.
Resume is organized and
easy to read. Section
headings and content are
appropriate. Contains
one or two minor errors.
Resume is mostly
organized. Section
headings may not be
effective.Contains
some formatting errors
which may make the
resume more difficult to
read.
Resume spacing, fonts,
formatting is ineffective
and needs work. Contains
multile errors. Difficult to
follow and is not visually
appealing.
Resume Header and
Profile/Summary
Sections
Resume header is clearly
presented at the top of
each page (if two pages).
1 element is ineffective,
inappropriate, or missing.
2 elements are
ineffective,
3 or more elements are
ineffective, inappropriate, or
missing.
Targeted Resume and Cover Letter Assignment Page 4 of 5
Targeted Includes all required
information, name,
location, email, phone
(e.g.,416-555-5555).
Name stands out on the
resume.
Email is professional.
Succinct and compelling
profile statement, headline,
or job title.
Summary includes points
of major successes and
relevant skills.
Contains several key
words that are job relevant
and show the candidate’s
fit for job.
inappropriate, or
missing.
Education Section
Targeted
Consistently uses
appropriate business
vocabulary.
Describes relevant
accomplishments using
strong and varied action
verbs, lists education
details, and identifies other
relevant activities. Lists
relevant courses.
Effectively targeted to job
ad. Contains several key
words and clearly shows
candidate’s fit for the job.
Appropriate information is
included with minor and
few incorrect elements.
Some information is
ineffective or
inappropriate or
missing.
Several elements are
ineffective, inappropriate,
or missing.
Targeted Resume and Cover Letter Assignment Page 5 of 5
Entries listed in reverse
chronological order.
Uses the A+D+D method.
Experience Section
Relevant Work
Experience (if none,
then volunteer,
academic projects,
courses not listed
under education, etc.)
Targeted
Consistently uses
appropriate business
vocabulary.
Job titles, name/location of
employers, dates
employed, are in reverse
chronological order.
Effectively targeted to job
ad. Contains several key
words and clearly shows
candidate’s fit for the job.
Relevant accomplishments
are described using strong
action verbs.
Uses the A+D+D method.
Appropriate information is
included with minor and
few incorrect elements.
Some elements are
ineffective,
inappropriate, or
missing.
Several elements are
ineffective, inappropriate,
or missing.
Positive Professional
Language
Grammar and
Mechanics
Sentences and/or points
are strong and varied using
positive, professional
language with correct
spelling, grammar, word
choice, verb tense,
personal pronouns, and/or
punctuation. No errors.
1-2 errors in spelling,
grammar, word choice,
verb tense, personal
pronouns, and/or
punctuation.
3-4 errors in spelling,
grammar, word choice,
verb tense, personal
pronouns, and/or
punctuation.
5 or more errors in speling,
grammar, word choice,
verb tense, personal
pronouns, and/or
punctuation.
Total /50
Targeted Resume and Cover Letter Assignment Page 6 of 7
Targeted Cover Letter Rubric
Excellent
5 marks
Very Good
4 marks
Fair
3 marks
Needs Work
0-2 mark
Overall
Syle/Appearance
Cover letter creates a highly
effective layout and design.
Length, font, and point size are
appropriate.
Look and feel is consistent with
resume and uses the same
header.
Small errors but the overall
meaning comes through
and formatting looks
professional.
Formatting makes content
difficutl to read or looks
unprofessional.
Format of the letter is not
appealing. Look and feel
is not consistent with
resume. Page is
unbalanced or letter is
too long/short.
Introductory Section The cover letter includes an
attention-grabbing introduction
that identifies the position.
Identifies why applicant is
interested in the job.
Builds reader’s interest to read
further.
Uses the AIDA model.
Appropriate information is
included with minor and
few incorrect elements.
Some elements are
ineffective, inappropriate,
or missing.
Several elements are
ineffective, inappropriate,
or missing.
Middle Section
Targeted
Section presents a compelling
picture of the value the applicant
can offer the company for this
particular job.
The most important selection
criteria are addressed through
connections between knowledge,
skills, experience and education
and the position given. Examples
are used to support points.
Section demonstrates applicant
has a good understanding of the
company’s needs.
Appropriate information is
included with minor and few
incorrect elements.
Some elements are
ineffective, inappropriate,
or missing.
Several elements are
ineffective, inappropriate,
or missing.
Targeted Resume and Cover Letter Assignment Page 7 of 7
Clearly demonstrates the ability
to perform the majority of the job
duties and meet qualifications.
Uses the AIDA model.
Concluding Section Concludes with confidence and
indicates the next steps. Ends
with a “call to action”.
Closing thanks the reader for
their time.
Complimentary close and
signature are included.
Uses the AIDA model.
Appropriate information is
included with minor and few
incorrect elements.
Some elements are
ineffective, inappropriate,
or missing.
Several elements are
ineffective, inappropriate,
or missing.
Positive Professional
Language
Format, Grammar
and Mechanics
Sentences and/or points are
strong and varied using positive,
professional language with
correct spelling, grammar, word
choice, verb tense, personal
pronouns, and/or punctuation. No
errors.
1-2 errors in spelling,
grammar, word choice, verb
tense, personal pronouns,
and/or punctuation.
3-4 errors in spelling,
grammar, word choice,
verb tense, personal
pronouns, and/or
punctuation.
5 or more errors in
speling, grammar, word
choice, verb tense,
personal pronouns,
and/or punctuation.
Total /25

Published by

Essays

View all posts