Katie May

746 Kingsland Ave, Apt. 2

University City, MO 63130
katie.v.may@wustl.edu
601-421-9558

January 31, 2018

Shell Chemicals
910 Louisiana Street
Houston, TX 77002-4916

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am writing to apply for a summer Internship. I heard about this opportunity through a family
friend, Gordon Johnson, who works for Shell. I will be graduating from Washington University
in St. Louis in May of 2019 with a Bachelors of Science in Chemical Engineering and a second
major in Japanese. My interest in Shell’s internship opportunities stems from my desire to
explore and to learn through real-world application of chemical engineering concepts, as well as
to be exposed to the energy industry, which could lead me to further specialization in my studies.

In addition to the rigorous coursework required for my primary major, my work in Olin Library
as a student coordinator has supplemented my analytical, organizational, and problem solving
skills. When it became apparent that I could handle managing the other student workers and
overseeing library wide projects, I was promoted from Student Worker to Student Coordinator.
Such projects often include only an end goal and a timeline with the freedom to achieve its
implementation and completion how I see fit, which allows my creativity to flourish. Some
smaller projects that I have been a part of include rewriting the manual we use to train new
student workers so that it is more easily referenced, and redesigning the procedures concerning
shelving books in the face of construction that drastically decreased the size of our staging area.
Also, as a student coordinator, I facilitate solving any of the smaller problems that crop up in the
shelving department among the student workers. Such work has increased my managerial,
organizational, and problem solving skills.

I am highly adaptive and learn new skills rapidly. As a result of my interest in Japan, I spent 11
months of my junior year of high school in Japan, having only studied Spanish before that.
Despite the difficulty of the language and the culture shock, I truly enjoyed the immersive
experience to the point that I continued my studies with a Japanese secondary major and another
study abroad experience last spring. I believe that all of these skills would make me an asset to
any project I could become involved in through Shell’s internship program.

Please see the resume included with this application for more information about my education
and experience. I am happy to talk with you at any time at (601) 421-9558 or at
katie.v.may@wustl.edu. I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss what I can bring to Shell
through this internship. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,

Katie May