Sample Cover Letters

December 20, 2006 Ms. Elizabeth Novak Recruiting Coordinator PricewaterhouseCoopers Management Consulting 11 Madison Avenue, 18th Floor New York, NY 10010 Dear Ms. Novak: I had the pleasure of having lunch with Will Melson after the September 22nd Duke Corporate Presentation. I spoke with him again after the December 6th PricewaterhouseCoopers corporate visit where I learned even more about your firm. Mr. Melsons compelling description of PwC couple with my desire to work in such a dynamic environment convinced me to apply for PricewaterhouseCoopers Analyst position. I sharpened my leadership and decision-making skills while supporting operations for an industrial supply company over three summers. The environment was fast-paced and intense, thus I was constantly analyzing data to determine the root causes of given problems. I would then identify and evaluate all possible alternatives before suggesting solutions. Most of these decisions had to be quick, concise and clearly conveyed to people at all organizational levels. As a result of my efforts, the company was able to save over $25K in material costs. During my tenure, I was often praised for thinking about problems innovatively and for never losing sight of the big picture. These skills will definitely aid me in consulting. At Duke, I continue to look for leadership opportunities within a team setting. In the Small Business Consulting Program, I currently lead a team of four classmates redesigning marketing, sales, and distribution strategies for one of North Carolinas largest microbreweries. I am also deeply involved in Habitat for Humanity and have been an active member of the team working on building the Fuqua House. Please consider me for your January 19th closed interview schedule when I can discuss my qualifications with you. Should you need to contact me, I can be reached at (919) 555-5555 or alfred.jones@fugua.duke.edu Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Alfred Jones

December 10, 2005 Ms. Alice Wonderland Senior Recruiting Coordinator Bain & Company The Monarch Tower, Suite 1 1234 Peachtree Road NE Atlanta GA 30326 Dear Ms. Wonderland: [colon, not comma] After hearing from Alex Newman and Sean Halliwell about Bain & Companys innovative and resultsfocused culture, I am writing to apply for an analyst position. I believe you will find my consulting experience and personal strengths would align with Bains excellent traditions.

Analytical Ability - A finance degree from Notre Dame, a 740 GMAT and current 4.0 GPA at Fuqua demonstrate my academic success. At A.C. Nielsen BASES, I analyzed consumer
response data and advised clients on how to improve their product brand strategy. This year, as a Kauffman Scholar with Sustainable Jobs Fund, a venture capital firm, I am strengthening my quantitative skills. Specifically, I have mastered preparing term sheets, performing investment due diligence and estimating private equity returns. Initiative - While teaching high school in Belize, I founded VOICE (Volunteers Offering Introductory Computer Education). Using computers and volunteer teachers from the day school, we created a self-sustaining evening education program, helping over 70 Belize adults learn basic computer and word processing skills. These skills improved their ability to find employment. Leadership - At BASES I led a cross-functional group redesigning core tasks that streamlined the deliverable process. For example, we helped assure continuity of quality by developing clientspecific relationships in the support departments. We then transferred the redesigned quality process to newly trained staff, freeing the analysts to spend more time solving clients problems. In recognition of my leadership ability to bridge gaps between departments, senior management honored me with the Partnership Award, which commends employees whose long term initiatives strengthen our organization. While I am applying to the Atlanta office, I am also interested in the Dallas and Madrid offices, or wherever Bain can best use my skills. I would appreciate an interview on January 31st to further discuss my relevant experience. Should you need any additional information, please contact me at (919) 123-5555 or cindy.smith@duke.edu . Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely, Cindy Smith

December 18, 2006 Andrew Priftis Marketing Manager BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc. 675 West Peachtree Street, NE Atlanta, GA 30375 Dear Mr Priftis: I enjoyed speaking to Lisa Fox and Stephanie Safran at the Duke Career Fair, and to you at your October 1 on-campus presentation. As an MMS student, I seek opportunities to develop and market exciting, powerful technologies, such as those found at BellSouth. As I shared with you in October, I believe BellSouths new Project PRIDE program would leverage my talent for technology and passion for marketing to quickly generate benefits for BellSouth and its customers. In fact, its emphasis on consumer and small business marketing mirrors my experience at the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association (CEMA). At CEMA I served as an industry spokesperson for manufacturers and was quoted extensively in the media. I analyzed markets in which BellSouth is active, including wireless phones and Internet products, and worked closely with top executives of member companies developing media promotion plans for new products. Additionally, I helped to manage media coverage of the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which draws 100,000 people from around the world. During my tenure at CEMA, I built a solid knowledge base about the retail technology marketplace. The excellent management and teamwork skills I developed at CEMA and while at Duke will help me contribute to BellSouths growth as a global telecommunications leader. I would appreciate being included in your January 28 closed interview list. If you would like to reach me before then, please feel free to call (919) 489-7256, or e-mail jason.doe@duke.edu. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Jason Doe

December 4, 2006 Mr. John Salisbury National Director of Recruiting Deloitte Consulting First Union Capitol Center, Suite 1800 150 Fayetteville Street Mall Raleigh, NC 27602 Dear Mr. Salisbury: I am a MMS student at the Fuqua School of Business, and I would like to be included on your Associate interview closed list for January 19, 2006. I enjoyed attending Deloittes presentation at Duke, and then meeting Ms. Roopa Foley in New York, where she graciously hosted me at your offices. I was impressed with your firms teamoriented environment that not only gets better results for Deloitte clients, but also allows your firms consultants to enjoy their work. I further appreciate Deloittes decision not to require early specialization; this clearly illustrates Deloittes broad-minded approach to todays complex business environment. At Ford Motor Company, I developed the core competencies needed to succeed in a rigorous, team oriented environment. My assignments at Ford took place at a local level, providing me with diverse responsibilities and independence. For example, as a Regional Growth Specialist and team member of Fords newest initiative, Around the Wheel, I organized regional meetings and implemented process changes at numerous dealerships. I also contributed to dealership strategy teams, representing Fords perspective and developing creative market-specific ideas. Much like the Deloitte environment, keen analysis played a vital role in the Ford project. For example, I worked on the companys annual business plan by analyzing the Long Island car market, Fords worst performing market in the nation. Since I interacted regularly within our network of dealerships, relationship building became a crucial part of my core competencies. Again, I would appreciate being included on your Associate interview closed list. Should you wish to contact me, I can be reached at (919) 444-5558. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Joe Student student@mail.duke.edu

December 2, 2006 Mr. Steve Cassi Product Director Hewlett Packard 4380 South County Road 9, MS 72 Fort Collins, CO 80525-9790 Dear Steve: I enjoyed meeting you at the Duke Career Fair and seeing you again at the Hewlett Packard presentation. As we discussed, the fast-paced, ever-changing world of technology product development and marketing is a fascinating place to work. I am convinced that I possess the creativity, quick thinking, and sharp customer focus required to succeed in this industry. I am very interested in the marketing internship opportunities at HP and would like to be considered for your closed list. Prior to attending Fuqua, I obtained work experience in Marketing at Eli Lilly and Company. I am very interested in applying this experience in the high tech industry. The business knowledge I am gaining through my Masters of Management Studies education, in combination with the following skills, put me in a position to contribute significantly to the marketing of Hewlett Packards products. Strong leadership skills: As a Consumer Research Analyst, I led a consumer segmentation study that clarified our brands strategy and improved the effectiveness of marketing interventions. This resulted in an enhanced annual Return On Investment (ROI) from break-even to over $1 million. Ability to initiate and implement change: As part of a newly formed Consumer Market Research organization, I recognized the need to quickly define optimal research methods across brands. I led a five-member Market Research Team that shared research learnings and improved our ability to recommend marketing interventions and measure their impact. Teamwork and interpersonal skills: Throughout my work experience, I have been a member of several teams. As a Project Engineer, I enjoyed working with technicians, utilizing their expertise to improve business processes. While partnering with a group of technicians who developed equipment procedures, I implemented streamlining initiatives that improved customer service and reduced our procedure backlog by 40%. I hope to be invited to your January 11 closed interview schedule at Duke. Should you wish to contact me, I can be reached at (919) 322-1111 or mimi.james@duke.edu . Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Mimi James
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