Name of reviewer: Name of letter and resume author:

Draft Worksheet for Cover Letters and Resumes

Use the following questions to structure your review. Answer the entire set of questions twice once for each job the writer is applying for. Ta e your time as you review! wor slowly and carefully. "e sure to as these very review questions of your own pac age as you draft your final version. Review questions for resumes: #. $oes the resume%s content seem appropriate for the job ad& 'f yes( how so& 'f not( how might the author adjust the resume%s content to better fit the ad& ). $oes the resume include the language * eywords( terms( etc.+ from the job ad& 'dentify both places where it echoes the ad and places where it should echo the ad. ,. -ow is the resume organi.ed& /ou should be able to identify both logical and rhetorical organi.ing patterns. *0emember the difference& 1ogical patterns rely on basic organi.ations li e chronology! rhetorical pattern are more strategic( highlighting the most important elements of the resume.+ 2. -ow are the design elements appropriate for the audience%s needs( attitudes( and purposes& -ow does the design accommodate multiple audiences& 3. 1oo at issues of style. -ow does the writer employ language& 4or e5ample( are the descriptions of job e5perience worded using action verbs& Are bulleted lists worded in parallel form& 's the resume free from errors in grammar( spelling( typography( and punctuation& $oes the wording lend an appropriate ethos to the jobsee er& 6hat overall impression do you have of this job candidate as a writer( based on the resume& 0ecall that your first communication with an employer will be through your writing. Review questions for cover letters: 1. 6ho is the letter addressed to& 's this an appropriate audience& 6hy& -ow do the contents of the letter address the reader%s concerns& 'n other words( does it show how the jobsee er can contribute to the company& $oes it draw upon research about the company& 2. 6hat concrete evidence does the body of the letter provide to support its claims& 3. -ow does the introduction grab the reader%s attention and establish why the applicant is qualified for the job& -ow is the body of the letter organi.ed( and does the first paragraph

clearly forecast that organi.ation& -ow does the letter end( and is this ending effective& 4. 1oo at issues of style. -ow does the writer employ language& -ow does the writer use tone& -ow does the writer ma e a persuasive case for their job candidacy& -ow do they create an ethos that is confident( but not arrogant or pushy& 's the letter free from errors in grammar( spelling( typography( and punctuation& 6hat overall impression do you have of this job candidate as a writer( based on the letter& . -ow is the letter formatted& $escribe any deviations from conventional business letter format and ma e a judgment about whether these deviations are effective or not.