Sample Resignation Letter

Sample Resignation Letter The sample resignation letter below is a general, all-purpose resignation letter. Use this sample resignation letter as a guide for writing your resignation letter. Todays Date Managers Name Company Name Company Address Dear Mr./Ms. Manager With this letter I wish to inform you that I will be resigning from my position with (company name) as (position) as of (last day of work). I regret any inconvenience that this will cause, and will do my best to have my current projects finished before my last day. I wish you and the company much success.

Sincerely, (sign here) Your Name cc: name of HR Manager

SAMPLE
Dear Mr./Ms. Manager: It is with reluctance that Im submitting this letter. Although my time with (company name) has been, on the whole, satisfying and productive, for quite a while now I have become less and less satisfied with the work situation. The direction of the company, the group in which I work, and the new targets and the methods of accomplishing them are making it increasingly difficult for me to feel that Im contributing sufficiently. Therefore, it is with regret that I ask you to accept this as my resignation from (company name) effective (last day of work).

Sincerely, (Sign Here)

Letter of Resignation
Use this letter of resignation as a guideline for resigning from your job. This is a general, all-purpose letter of resignation that can be used for any circumstances. For technical careers, you could either leave this as is, or customize it with details about your specific position. Resignation letters should be printed out and signed, not delivered via email. Todays Date Managers Name Company Name Company Address Dear Manager: Effective (two weeks from the date, above), I resign my position as (title). I have enjoyed working here and appreciate all that I have learned. I wish you all the best going forward. Sincerely, (sign here) Your Name cc: (names of those being copied on the letter HR Manager, Group Director, etc)

Resignation Letter Sample

Use this resignation letter sample as a guideline for resigning from your job. This is a general, all-purpose resignation letter sample that can be used for any circumstances. Todays Date Managers Name Company Name Company Address Dear Mr./Ms. Manager: Please accept this letter as my formal notice of resignation from (company name), effective on (last day of work). I have enjoyed my employment here and appreciate all I have learned. I hope that this two-week notice is sufficient for you to find a replacement for me. If I can help to train my replacement or tie up any loose ends in the next two weeks, please let me know. Thank you very much for the opportunity to work here. Sincerely, (your signature) Your Name cc (s to copy letter to HR Manager, Director, etc)

Sample Letter of Resignation

Use this sample letter of resignation as a guideline for resigning from your job. This is a general, all-purpose sample letter of resignation that can be used for most circumstances. Todays Date Managers Name Company Name Company Address Dear Mr./Ms. Manager: Please accept this letter as my notice of resignation, effective (date). This was not an easy decision to make. I am grateful for the rewarding employment I've had with (company name). After much consideration, though, I have accepted a position with another company. Sincerely, (Your Signature) Your Name cc: (names of those being copied on this letter)

Reference Letters - Writing References

Here is an example of a positive reference letter. Use this is a guideline for writing your reference letters. Either on letter head or addressed as follows: Company Name Company Address City, State, Zip Phone number

Name of Recipient Title of Recipient Recipient Company Name Recipient Company Address City, State, Zip Date To Whom It May Concern: (or contact name requesting reference) I've been Joe Employees Manager at XYZ Company since 1997, and even promoted Joe to the role of Senior Software Engineer last year. Joe has proven to be a reliable employee with excellent communication skills. He is well respected by other members of our team. Joe is a fast learner and has excellent problem solving abilities. Although I will be disappointed to lose Joe as an employee, I am happy to recommend him as a solid addition to your company. If you'd like more information, please do not hesitate to contact me at (555) 555-5555. Sincerely, Manager Name Manager Title

References - A Sample Reference Letter for a Technical Writer

Following is a sample reference letter for a Technical Writer that was laid off after the position was outsourced. This reference letter can be customized and used for other positions as well. Use this sample reference letter as a guideline for writing your references. Either on letter head or addressed as follows: Company Name Company Address City, State, Zip Phone number

Name of Recipient Title of Recipient Recipient Company Name Recipient Company Address City, State, Zip Date To Whom It May Concern: (or contact name requesting reference) Joe Employee worked for me at XYZ Company for three years, as a Senior Technical Writer. I was Joe's manager at XYZ Company and would like to recommend him for employment with your organization. While at XYZ Company, Joe's performance was exemplary. Joe is a conscientious, highlyskilled technical writer. He is detail oriented and has a firm grasp of technical terms. Joe has a great ability to write in a way that can be understood by technical and non-technical personnel alike. Joe's recent lay-off from XYZ Company was a result of outsourcing decisions made at a corporate level, not as a result of any performance issues. If conditions at XYZ Company change, I wouldn't hesitate to hire him back. If you would like to speak to me about Joes skills, accomplishments or work habits, please do not hesitate to call me directly at (555) 555-1111. Sincerely, Manager Name Manager Title

References - A Sample Reference Letter for a Technical Writer

Following is a sample reference letter for a Technical Writer that was laid off after the position was outsourced. This reference letter can be customized and used for other positions as well. Use this sample reference letter as a guideline for writing your references. Either on letter head or addressed as follows: Company Name Company Address City, State, Zip Phone number

Name of Recipient Title of Recipient Recipient Company Name Recipient Company Address City, State, Zip Date To Whom It May Concern: (or contact name requesting reference) Joe Employee worked for me at XYZ Company for three years, as a Senior Technical Writer. I was Joe's manager at XYZ Company and would like to recommend him for employment with your organization. While at XYZ Company, Joe's performance was exemplary. Joe is a conscientious, highly-skilled technical writer. He is detail oriented and has a firm grasp of technical terms. Joe has a great ability to write in a way that can be understood by technical and non-technical personnel alike.

Joe's recent lay-off from XYZ Company was a result of outsourcing decisions made at a corporate level, not as a result of any performance issues. If conditions at XYZ Company change, I wouldn't hesitate to hire him back. If you would like to speak to me about Joes skills, accomplishments or work habits, please do not hesitate to call me directly at (555) 555-1111. Sincerely, Manager Name Manager Title

Reference Letter Sample - Previous Employer

Reference Letter Sample - Employment Sample Reference Letter from a Previous Employer To Whom it May Concern: I highly recommend Jane Doe as a candidate for employment. Jane was employed by Company Name as an Administrative Assistant from 2002 2005. Jane was responsible for office support including word processing, scheduling appointments and creating brochures, newsletters, and other office literature. Jane has excellent communication skills. In addition, she is extremely organized, reliable and computer literate. Jane can work independently and is able to follow through to ensure that the job gets done. She is flexible and willing to work on any project that is assigned to her. Jane was quick to volunteer to assist in other areas of company operations, as well. Jane would be a tremendous asset for your company and has my highest recommendation. If you have any further questions with regard to her background or qualifications, please do not hesitate to call me. Sincerely,

John Smith Title Company Address Phone Email ===========

Requesting Letters of Recommendation

Who To Ask For References Who should you ask to provide references? On the average, employers check three references for each candidate, so have at least that many ready to vouch for you. It's important to know your references, to select the right people, and to get their permission to use them. You need responsive people that can confirm that you worked there, your title, your reason for leaving, and other details. It's also very important to have a good idea idea of what they are going to say about your background and your performance. It's perfectly acceptable to use references other than your employer. Business acquaintances, professors/academic advisors, customers, and vendors can all make good references. If you volunteer consider using leaders or other members of the organization as personal references. When leaving a position you should ask for a letter of recommendation from your manager. As time passes and people move on, it's easy to lose track of previous employers, so with letters in hand, in advance, you'll have written documentation of your credentials to give to prospective employers. If you haven't done so already, it's never to late to go back and ask for letters from previous employers to include in your personal files. How To Ask For a Letter of Recommendation Don't ask "Could you write a letter of reference for me?" Just about anyone can write a letter. The problem can be what they are going to write about. Rather, ask "Do you feel you know my work well enough to write me a good recommendation letter?" or "Do you feel you could give me a good reference?" That way, your reference writer has an easy out if they are not comfortable writing a letter and you can be assured that those who say "yes" will be enthusiastic about your performance and will write a positive letter. Offer to provide an updated copy of your resume and information on your skills and experiences so the reference writer has current information to work with.

If your recommendation writer asks you to provide a sample, here are recommendation letter samples you can use. In addition to references, you may be asked for contact information concerning your supervisor. However, prospective employers should get your permission before contacting your current supervisor to avoid jeopardizing your current position.

Targeted Cover Letter Example

Targeted Cover Letter Example Your Your Your Your Your Date Name Title Organization Address City, State, Zip Code Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name: In response to your advertisement in the Milliken Valley Sentinel for Vice President, Operations, please consider the following: Develop and implement strategic operational plans. 15+ years aggressive food company production management experience. Planned, implemented, coordinated, and revised all production operations in plant of 250+ employees. Manage people, resources and processes. Developed and published weekly processing and packaging schedules to meet annual corporate sales demands of up to $50 million. Met all production requirements and minimized inventory costs. Coach and develop direct reports. Designed and presented training programs for corporate, divisional and plant management personnel. Created employee involvement program resulting in $100,000+ savings annually. Name Address City, State, Zip Code Phone Number Email

Ensure operational service groups meet needs of external and internal customers. Chaired cross-functional committee of 16 associates that developed and implemented processes, systems and procedures plant-wide. Achieved year end results of 12% increase in production, 6% reduction in direct operational costs and increased customer satisfaction rating from 85% to 93.5%. I welcome the opportunity to visit with you about this position. My resume has been uploaded, per your instructions. I may be reached at the number above. Thanks again for your consideration. Sincerely, Your Signature Your Typed Name

Sample Targeted Resume Cover Letter

This cover letter takes the position requirements and matches the applicants skills to those requirements. This way, the resume reviewer can see the candidates relevant qualifications at a glance. Sample Targeted Cover Letter Your Your Your Your Your Date Name Title Organization Address City, State, Zip Code Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name: I am interested in the Coordinator position advertised on XYZ. My resume is enclosed for your review. Given my related experience and excellent capabilities I would appreciate your consideration for this job opening. My skills are an ideal match for this position. Your Requirements:

Name Address City, State, Zip Code Phone Number Email

Responsible for evening operations in Student Center and other facilities, including managing registration, solving customer problems, dealing with risk management and emergencies, enforcement of department policies. Assists with hiring, training, and management of staff. Coordinate statistics and inventory.

Experience in the supervision of student staff and strong interpersonal skills are also preferred. Valid Minnesota driver's license with good driving record. Ability to travel to different sites required. Experience in collegiate programming and management. My Qualifications:

Register students for courses, design and manage program software, solve customer problems, enforce department policies, and serve as a contact for students, faculty, and staff. Hiring, training, scheduling and management of staff, managing supply inventory, and ordering. Minnesota driver's license with NTSA defensive driving certification. Extensive experience in collegiate programming and management. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. I appreciate your taking the time to review my credentials and experience. Again, thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Your Signature Your Typed Name

Sample Cover Letter - College Senior

Sample Cover Letter - College Senior Review more cover letter samples. Your Contact Information Address City, State, Zip Code Phone Number Cell Phone Number Email Employer Contact Information Name Title Company Address City, State, Zip Code Date Dear Mr./Ms. LastName, I am a senior at the State University interested in interviewing for a job as a Marketing Assistant with ABCD. I believe that ABCD has the ideal culture in which to pursue my goal of becoming an innovative and responsible arts administrator and contributing to the ABCD company's outstanding record as a center for exhibition and discussion of contemporary art and culture. Academically, my extensive course work in the art history department at the State University has allowed me to gain an understanding and appreciation for the art you're your Company exhibits. I also have studied broader elements of arts management, including audience development and fundraising as a part of my recent arts management class at State University. As a part of that class, I worked for the BCE Museum examining their marketing strategies, as well as other institutions, in an effort to discover the most

effective and efficient manner to promote their upcoming exhibition. This rewarding experience working for the BCE Museum sharpened my desire to continue in this field and helped me develop the tools I need to be an? effective arts administrator. I have also been able to spend time working for BCE Museum specifically as a survey assistant, which has further strengthened my interest in museum studies. My previous summer work experience as a staff reporter for The XWZ newspaper, as well as my experience working for my school's paper, has provided me with a strong base of communication knowledge and helped me learn how to develop and work on several projects at once, write about a diverse range of topics, work quickly and efficiently, and further developed my interest in becoming a better marketer. I firmly believe that I will be a good fit in ABCD's innovative environment. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Your Signature Your Typed Name

Sample Email Cover Letter

Sample Email Cover Letter With Resume Attached Subject Line of Email Message: Communications Director Position Email Message: Dear Hiring Manager, I read your job posting for a Communications Director with interest. In my position as Communications Director for XYZ Company, I wrote articles for the company website, managed guest author submissions, and wrote and sent a weekly email newsletter to subscribers. While Assistant Communications Director for Assemblyperson Susan Smith, I researched, drafted and amended legislation, wrote press releases, and was responsible for office communications and correspondence. I also have extensive experience writing on a freelance basis on labor issues, which, I believe, would be an ideal match for this position. Articles are available for your review at: URL URL URL Additional writing samples and my resume are attached. If I can provide you with any further information on my background and qualifications, please let me know. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your consideration. Jane Doe Address Email

URL Home Phone Cell Phone

Cover Letter Template

The following cover letter template lists the information you need to include in the cover letter you submit with your resume. Use the cover letter template as a guideline to create customized cover letters to send to employers. Then review cover letter samples to get ideas on writing your own cover letter.

Cover Letter Template

Contact Information The first section of your cover letter should include information on how the employer can contact you. If you have contact information for the employer, include that. Otherwise, just list your information. Your Your Your Your Your Date Employer Contact Information Name Title Company Address City, State, Zip Code Salutation Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name: Name Address City, State, Zip Code Phone Number Email Address

Body of Cover Letter The body of your cover letter lets the employer know what position you are applying for, why the employer should select you for an interview, and how you will follow-up. First Paragraph: The first paragraph of your letter should include information on why you are writing. Mention the position you are applying for. Include the name of a mutual contact, if you have one. Be clear and concise regarding your request. Middle Paragraphs: The next section of your cover letter should describe what you have to offer the employer. Convince the reader that they should grant the interview or appointment you requested in the first paragraph. Make strong connections between your abilities and their needs. Mention specifically how your skills and experience match the job you are applying for. Remember, you are interpreting your resume, not repeating it. Try to support each statement you make with a piece of evidence. Use several shorter paragraphs or bullets rather than one large block of text. Final Paragraph: Conclude your cover letter by thanking the employer for considering you for the position. Include information on how you will follow-up. State that you will do so and indicate when (one week's time is typical). You may want to reduce the time between sending out your resume and follow up if you fax or e-mail it. Complimentary Close: Respectfully yours, Signature: Handwritten Signature (for a mailed letter) Typed Signature

Entry Level Resume Template

The following resume template lists the information you need to include on your resume when applying for an entry level position. Review more resume templates and sample resumes.

Resume Template - Entry Level

Contact Information The first section of your resume should include information on how the employer can contact you. First Last Name Street Address City, State, Zip Phone (Landline or Cell) Email Address Education In the education section of your resume, list the colleges you attended, the degrees you attained, and any special awards and honors you earned. College, Degree Awards, Honors Experience This section of your resume includes your work history. List the companies you worked for, dates of employment, the positions you held and a bulleted list of responsibilities and achievements. If you have completed internships, it's fine to include them in the experience section of your resume. You can also list summer jobs. Company #1 City, State Dates Worked Job Title Responsibilities / Achievements Responsibilities / Achievements

Company #2 City, State Dates Worked Job Title Responsibilities / Achievements Responsibilities / Achievements Skills Include skills related to the position / career field that you are applying for i.e. computer skills, language skills. References available upon request There is no need to include references on your resume. Rather, have a separate list of references to give to employers upon request.

Resume Format
Use the following information to format your resume. Generate a list of information to include on your resume, then compile the details to format your resume into a customized resume to send to employers. Review sample resumes and a resume template you can use to create a resume. Resume Format Your Contact Information First Last Name Street Address City, State, Zip Phone (Cell/Home) Email Address Objective (optional) What do you want to do? If you include this section it should be a sentence

or two about your employment goals. A customized objective that describes why you are the perfect candidate for the job can help your resume stand out from the competition. Career Highlights / Qualifications (optional) A customized section of your resume that lists key achievements, skills, traits, and experience relevant to the position for which you are applying can serve dual purposes. It highlights your relevant experience and lets the prospective employer know that you have taken the time to create a resume that shows how you are qualified for the job. Experience This section of your resume includes your work history. List the companies you worked for, dates of employment, the positions you held and a bulleted list of responsibilities and achievements. Company #1 City, State Dates Worked Job Title Responsibilities / Achievements Responsibilities / Achievements Company #2 City, State Dates Worked Job Title Responsibilities / Achievements Responsibilities / Achievements Education In the education section of your resume, list the colleges you attended, the degrees you attained, and any special awards and honors you earned. College, Degree Awards, Honors

Skills Include skills related to the position / career field that you are applying for i.e. computer skills, language skills. References available upon request There is no need to include references on your resume. Rather, have a separate list of references to give to employers upon request

Sample Combination Resume: Management Position

Jose A. Adelo
1525 Jackson Street, City, NY 11111 555-555-555 email: [email protected]

OBJECTIVE
To obtain a position where I can maximize my multilayer of management skills, quality assurance, program development, training experience, customer service, and a successful track record in the Blood Banking care environment.

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
Results-oriented, high-energy, hands-on professional, with a successful record of accomplishments in the blood banking, training, and communication transmission industries. Experience in phlebotomy, blood banking industry, training, quality assurance, and customer service with focus on providing the recipient with the highest quality blood product. Fully compliant with FDA cGMP, Code of Federal Regulations, AABB accreditation, and California state laws. Major strengths include strong leadership, excellent communication skills, competent, strong team player, attention to detail, dutiful respect for compliance in all regulated environment, as well as supervisory skills including hiring, termination, scheduling, training, payroll ,and other administrative tasks. Thorough knowledge of current manufacturing practices, and a clear vision to accomplish the company goals. Computer and Internet literate.

PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Facilitated educational projects successfully over the past two years for Northern California blood centers, a FDA regulated manufacturing environment, as pertaining to cGMP, CFR's, CA state and American Association of Blood Bank (AABB) regulations, and assure compliance with 22 organization quality systems. Provided daily operational review/quality control of education accountability as it relates to imposed government regulatory requirements in a medical environment. Assisted other team members in veni-punctures, donor reaction care and providing licensed staffing an extension in their duties by managing the blood services regulations documentation (BSD's) while assigned to the self-contained blood mobile unit (SCU). Successfully supervised contract support for six AT&T Broadband systems located in the Bay Area. Provided customer intervention/resolution, training in telephony and customer care, Manpower Scheduling, Quality Control, Payroll, and special projects/plant extensions and evaluations to ensure proper end-of-line and demarkcation signal. Reduced employee turnovers, introduced two-way communication to field employees, enhanced employee appearance, and spearheaded the implementation of employee (health) benefits. Supervised and maintained the position of System Technician in charge of status monitoring and the integration of monitoring devices in nodes and power supplies. For the reception and transmission of telemetry to the network operation centers (NOC's) located in Denver, CO and Fremont, CA. Designed plant extensions, improved the paper flow and inventory control for the warehouse. Provided preventative maintenance at the system level, face to face customer interaction when required ,and traveled to several telephony/@home systems in the U.S. for evaluation and suggestions in using the status monitoring equipment. Chief point of contact for the AT&T telephone and the ABC Affiliated TV stations, as it relates to complaints and diagnosing communicational problems either at the site or remote broadcasting. Also tested/repaired prototype equipment for possible consideration or for future use. Reviewed FAA safety requirements and procedures to ensure compliance for aircraft and passenger safety. Communication expert and programming specialist for the intermediate range Lance and Persian missile systems. Trained to operate and repair the (FDC) fire direction control computer system and field satellite communications. Served as Instructor/Supervisor (during my off time) for military personnel and their dependents in various recreational classes to include; automotive repair/preventative maintenance, wood making, stain glass, photography, and pottery.

WORK HISTORY

Acting Education Manager, American Red Cross, Oakland, CA: 2004 - 2008 Education Coordinator, American Red Cross, Oakland, CA: 2003 - 2004 Phlebotomist, American Red Cross, Oakland, CA: 2001- 2003 Cable Television CATV Supervisor, Core Communication Inc, Sunnyvale, CA: 1998 - 2001 CATV System Technician, TCI Cablevision Inc, Fremont, CA: 1991 - 1998 Technician/Day Shift Supervisor, Avantek Inc, Milpitas, CA: 1984 - 1991 Airport Security Supervisor, Wackenhut, San Jose, CA: 1983 - 1984 Multi Craft Instructor, APO NY Germany: 1981 - 1983 Communication Expert, US ARMY, APO NY Germany: 1979 - 1983

EDUCATION
Associate of Art, Administration of Justice, San Jose University, San Jose, CA NCTI Certified, CATV System Technician, Denver, CO ABM Certified, Cornerstone Technician, Denver, CO References and work sample available upon request

Sample Chronological Resume - Retail

============= Paul Jones 6 Pine Street Arlington, VA 12333 555.555.5555 (home) 566.486.2222 (cell)

[email protected]

Experience

Key Holder, Montblanc April 2001 - February 2005

 Opened new specialty boutique Placed orders to restock merchandise and handled receiving of products Managed payroll, scheduling, reports, email, inventory, and maintained clientele book and records Integrated new register functions Extensive work with visual standards and merchandising high-ticket items

Sales Associate, Nordstrom - Collectors and Couture Departments July 1999 - April 2001

Merchandised designer women's wear Set-up trunk shows and attended clinics for new incoming fashion lines Worked with tailors and seamstresses for fittings Scheduled private shopping appointments with high-end customers

Bartender Jigg's Corner February 1997 - July 1999

Provide customer service in fast-paced bar atmosphere Maintain and restock inventory

 Administrative responsibilities include processing hour and tip information for payroll and closing register

Education

Ramapo College, Arlington, Virginia

Computer Skills

Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and Internet

============

Curriculum Vitae Format

The following curriculum vitae sample shows the appropriate format for an international curriculum vitae. Review the format, then take a look at curriculum vitae samples to get some ideas for writing your own CV.

Curriculum Vitae Format

Your Contact Information Name Address Telephone Cell Phone Email Personal Information Date of Birth Place of Birth Citizenship Visa Status Gender Optional Personal Information Marital Status Spouse's Name Children Employment History List in chronological order, include position details and dates Work History Academic Positions Research and Training Education Include dates, majors, and details of degrees, training and certification High School University Graduate School Post-Doctoral Training

Professional Qualifications Certifications and Accreditations Computer Skills Awards Publications Books Professional Memberships Interests

Curriculum Vitae Template

A Curriculum Vitae, commonly referred to as CV, includes a summary of your educational and academic backgrounds as well as teaching and research experience, publications, presentations, awards, honors, and affiliations. International employers often expect to read the type of personal information on a curriculum vitae that would not be included on an American resume. When writing a CV for graduate school or academia the personal information included in this curriculum vitae template would be omitted. The following curriculum vitae template will give you an example of what to include in your CV and shows the appropriate format for a curriculum vitae, then take a look at curriculum vitae samples to get some ideas for writing your own CV.

Sample Curriculum Vitae Template

CONTACT INFORMATION Name Address Telephone Cell Phone Email PERSONAL INFORMATION Date of Birth Place of Birth Citizenship Visa Status Sex Optional Personal Information: Marital Status Spouse's Name Children EMPLOYMENT HISTORY List in chronological order, include position details and dates Work History Academic Positions Research and Training EDUCATION Include dates, majors, and details of degrees, training and certification High School University Graduate School Post-Doctoral Training PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS Certifications and Accreditations Computer Skills AWARDS PUBLICATIONS BOOKS

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS INTERESTS

Sample Academic Curriculum Vitae

The following curriculum vitae sample will give you an example of what to include in your academic CV and shows the appropriate format for a curriculum vitae. More Sample Curriculum Vitae Sample Academic Curriculum Vitae CONTACT INFORMATION Name Address City, State, Zip Telephone Cell Phone Email SUMMARY STATEMENT (Optional) Include a brief list of the highlights of your candidacy. EDUCATION List your academic background, including undergraduate and graduate institutions attended. Graduate Institution, City, State Degree, Major Date of Graduation Dissertation Graduate Institution, City, State Degree, Major Date of Graduation Thesis

Undergraduate Institution, City, State Degree, Major Date of Graduation EMPLOYMENT HISTORY List in chronological order, include position details and dates. POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING List your postdoctoral experiences, if applicable. FELLOWSHIPS List internships and fellowships, including organization, title and dates. LICENSES / CERTIFICATION List type of license, certification or accreditation and date received. PUBLICATIONS / BOOKS PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS SKILLS / INTERESTS ============

Curriculum Vitae (CV) Example

FRANCISCO PIRES PERSONAL DETAILS Full name: PIRES, FRANCISCO Manuel Prego de Ocha e Azevedo Nationality: Portuguese (born in Lourenzo Marques, Mozambique) DOB: 17:12:62 Marital status: Married Address: Rua Augusto Gil, 41 4460-211 Senhora da Hora, Porto, Portugal Mob.: (+355) 932 687 548 / (+355) 964 644 718 Fax. : (+355) 220 125 439 E-Mail: [email protected] PROFILE My career has led me to specialize increasingly in the management of complex multi-cultural projects and their staffs at international levels. I have experience in: strategic forward-planning; operating within the tight financial disciplines imposed by ambitious budgets which I have helped to plan; methodical administration to deadlines (not to speak of crisis management where necessary); and the application of modern leadership methods (through staff motivation and involvement in both decision-making and target-setting, clarity in communication, and easy personal inter-relations). My own cosmopolitan background and analytical interests in other cultures, together with a command of several European languages, have also left me confident in handling negotiations that require the reconciliation of different national approaches to otherwise common problems. Skills Base Familiarity with both the artistic and the commercial worlds, the culture of government, and European regulations Tested management techniques in both continental and British contexts Proven leadership and human management skills Budget design and monitoring Time-efficient, systematic working methodology Rapid adaptability to new problem-solving and new locations Languages: Portuguese, English, Spanish, French, and Italian IT: Word, Excel, Windows Clean driving license

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Vinyl,laminate,epoxy,cementitious.www.aclcapital.com.pk In An Accounting Career?Work with other Finance Pros to further your career. Free signup!Finance.Toolbox.com

PROFESSIONAL CAREER: Head of Public and Building Services at The Casa da Msica Concert-Hall (Porto) September 2006 - Present Head of Public Services at the Casa da Msica, responsible for: Coordination and management of the Front of the House staff team and services Coordination and management of the information desk and call centre team Coordination and management of the guided building tours team Coordination and management of the commercial department, which is responsible for the commercial exploitation of The Casa da Msicas facilities, either for private or corporate functions, shows, etc. Coordination and management of the contracts and activities of the outsourcing companies responsible for the catering and parking at The Casa da Msica.

Head of Building Services at the Casa da Msica, responsible for: Coordination and management of the Maintenance team, responsible for the buildings maintenance. Coordination and management of the outsourcing companies of Security and Cleaning.

Consultant for multi-cultural projects mainly in the following matters: Strategic Planning for multi-cultural projects. Establishing a venues main purpose in line with the artistic project; Definition of a buildings specifications for architectural programmes; Design and planning of the organizational structure and future operational strategy for the uses of activities in different venues. Planning and definition of requisite profiles for different departments, from Production and Maintenance to Marketing and Front of House staff.

Creator and Director of the course Specialization on Production and Management of Performing Arts Events, held at Universidade Lusfona the largest private University in Portugal. T his course provides wide information about the different aspects and specialized matters involved in the management and production of cultural events and venues. Production and Operational Director of the Casa da Msica Concert-Hall (Porto) April 2005 August 2006 Production and Operational Director of the Casa da Msica, responsible for:

Coordination of the Production team (stage, light and sound technicians) and the production of Casa da Msica events (Pop, Rock, Jazz, World Music, Classical and Contemporary Music performances - .educational workshops exhibitions and multimedia installations conferences receptions, etc.) Coordination of the Maintenance team, responsible for the buildings maintenance Coordination of the outsourcing companies working for Casa da Msica such as, Catering, Security and Cleaning.

Production Director and General Coordinator of the Casa da Msica Concert-Hall Project (Porto) 1999/2005 (The Concert Hall was designed by the acclaimed Pritzker prize-winner, the Dutch Architect, Rem Koolhaas. A multi-auditorium venue for music and a base for musicians, its role is to celebrate the whole spectrum of music-making [including recording] and so to eliminate cultural barriers to communication between performers and audiences. For further details see www.casadamusica.com) Responsibilities Oversight and execution of all building specifications and the launch of the architectural programme: Supervision of the projects development in close cooperation with the architects office (OMA), often in Rotterdam, in order to optimize its functionality and future operation with special reference to acoustics, sight-lines, seating and public space in separate parts of the building dedicated to different uses Planning and definition of the conditions for concessionary spaces in the building Planning, definition of requisite profiles for the Production and Technical areas, including team responsible for the provision of lighting, sound, video, scenography and acoustics Design of future operational strategy for the uses of activities in the building Production planning of, and budgeting for, the seasons performances (up to 12 months ahead) in close association with the Head of Artistic Planning

Key Achievements Mastery and detailed application of highly complex brief comprehending the overall development of the project Successful negotiating at national and international levels

Technical and Production Director of PORTO 2001 European Cultural Capital (Headhunted) 1999/2001 Responsibilities Coordination of production and execution of all musical events programmed for Portos year as European Cultural Capital. This involved over 200 musical performances ranging from opera, concerts by classical and symphony orchestras, period music (Rennaissance and Baroque) and recitals, to contemporary musical ensembles, jazz, and Fado etc. Coordination of up to 800 visiting technicians overall for the various productions brought in at different times during 2001

Key Achievement Major regional, national, and international musical impact.

Concerts Manager for the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (Glasgow) 1997/1999 Responsibilities Coordination of 100 orchestral players Clockwork organization of all concerts, numerous tours in the UK and overseas, recording sessions etc. Arrangements concerning visiting conductors and soloists

Key Achievements Rapid familiarization with UK standards, professional requirements, and networks Successful communication with British players and technical staff Acquisition of new personal perspective on sophisticated working procedures and company organization schemes in another culture (especially given that I was the first Portuguese citizen to be appointed to orchestral-management levels in the UK)

General Manager/Orchestra Manager of Orquestra Nacional do Porto, the Oporto Symphony Orchestra 1989/1997 Member of the team that was set up to create the previously named Orquestra Clssica do Porto and Orquestra do Porto da Rgie Cooperativa Sinfonia Responsibilities Programming all orchestral activities, such as rehearsals, concerts, tours and recording sessions Detailed budget forecasting for each season in conjunction with the Board of Directors Supporting the Artistic and Musical Director over the programming of the concert season, booking conductors, soloists and extra players for the orchestra Dealing with 50 players of 33 different nationalities from five continents

Founder and Partner of ESTREIA Agncia de Espectculos, Lda, an Artistic Agency 1994/1996 Responsibilities Organization and production of artistic events e.g.

- Musicals: Porgy and Bess with the New York Harlem Company; the Macdonalds Sisters (Negro Spirituals and Gospel); - Dance: Ballet Nacional de Espaa (Spain); - Orchestral Tours: Orquestra Sinfnica da Galicia (Spain); Orchestra of Yale University (USA); Orquestra Sinfnica Portuguesa (Lisbon);

- Events for Private Sponsors: chamber-music concerts, dancing and singing performances Contracting artistes: musicians, dancers, actors, performers etc. Technical advisers to Coliseu do Porto (the biggest Concert Hall in Oporto City 3,200 seats)

Export Department of Tudor Group Batteries and Dry Cells (the largest European producer of batteries and dry cells) 1987/1989 Responsibility Fostering commercial relations with the Peoples Republic of China, Taiwan, Japan, United Kingdom, France, Zaire, Ivory Coast and Spain

Various Departments in AGRIA-WERKE, Portugal Agricultural Machines Ltd 1976/1987 Responsibilities Assistant to the Executive Director (from 1985) Sales Manager responsible for all salesmen and agencies around the country Supervision of the invoicing process and computer system in Accounts

EDUCATION (by part-time study after work) Lusada University of Lisbon 1982/1987 Graduate in History, with Honours (Consequently invited to teach at university level) Gregorian Institute of Lisbon 1979/1983 General Music Studies including a singing course CULTURAL INTERESTS AND PHYSICAL RECREATION History, music, sociology, psychology Working-out and swimming * The Casa da Msica: Created out of the program of activities undertaken during Portos year as European Capital of Culture in 2001, the Casa da Msica is designed to enable the performance and recording of classical, folk, popular and progressive music in the different auditoria and recording studios contained within its spectacular building. The highest standards of public service are offered to the people of Porto and its region on a specifically non-elitist basis so as to widen musical involvement. The Casa da Msica structure encompasses an Education and Research Department which is focus on the schools sector and socially deprived areas of the city through the floating and design of special projects, plus a

publishing and music research program. Casas artistic project also included the creation of an Ensemble of Contemporary Music in the year 2000, the Remix Ensemble, which is becoming a reference in the European contemporary music groups. These initiatives further include the Opera Studio, which already provides a post-graduate training for young singers.

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VOCABULARY
Your CV (curriculum vitae) is a summary of your work experience and education, used for job applications. A resume (properly written as resum) is an American English term for a CV. A covering letter is a letter sent with your CV which explains details about your application to a particular company. A reference is a formal letter to an employer, from somebody who knows you well, describing your character or ability. A referee is a person who provides a reference for you. Back to top

DESIGN
How should I design the layout of my CV?

There are many ways to design a CV. This section gives an example Always type your CV. Print your CV on good quality white paper. The paper size should be A4 (this is 21.0 cm wide and 29.7cm tall). Usually you should not attach a photograph. Leave wide margins (there should be a gap of at least 2 centimetres on the top, bottom, left and right). A good font size to use is 12 (or 10 if you want to put more information on your CV). The document should use only one font style, for example Times New Roman. Use bold (Bold) or italics (Italics) to emphasise important words. Only underline section titles (or do not underline any words). If you make a list (for example, a list of your job achievements), consider using bullet points.

Try to keep the CV on one side of paper, or use two sides if you have a lot of relevant work experience or qualifications. Keep your sentences short and simple. A typical section order is: - Name - Address - Employment - Education - Other skills - Personal details An explanation of how to complete the various parts of a CV is shown below. There is an example CV shown below. Name When writing your name, always put your own name first and your family name last (even if you write the family name first in your own country). Address Include the full postcode in your address. Make sure that you will be able to collect all mail sent to this address (if you move, ask the owner to forward letters to you). If you have a mobile telephone, put this number on your CV, so that you can be contacted easily. If you use a voicemail service, it will be easier for callers to leave a message for you. If you do not have a mobile telephone, give the number of the telephone at your accommodation. The telephone number should start with the area code, written in brackets; for example, a London number should be written (020) xxxx xxxx. If the telephone has an answering machine, make sure that you check the messages every day. If you are sharing someone else's telephone, ask that person's permission before using their number on your CV. Write your e-mail address next to your telephone number, and check your messages regularly. Employment Create two columns Use the left-hand column for dates. For start and end dates, use either full years (eg 1998-2000) or the first three letters of the month followed by the last two digits of the year (eg Jun 98-Sep 00) In the right-hand column, provide information about each of your job roles. Start by writing the name of the company (in bold) and its location. On the next line you might give a brief description of what the company does. You might give a title for your job (and perhaps a department name) on another line

(highlighting this in bold italics) You should list your main responsibilities and achievements within each role (perhaps using bullet points) List the most recent jobs first. Give more detail for recent jobs. Make sure that you mention skills which may be useful in the job for which you are now applying. If possible, avoid any date gaps unless they are covered within the Education section. Don't mention how much you were paid. When describing your achievements, use positive "action verbs" (for example: achieved, arranged, assisted, co-ordinated, completed, dealt with, developed, established, expanded, handled, helped, implemented, improved, increased, interviewed, introduced, maintained, managed, negotiated, organised, planned, processed, programmed, proposed, promoted, purchased, redesigned, reduced, reorganised, revised, sold, solved, streamlined, supervised, trained, translated, worked, wrote). You should not use the word "I" on your CV; this is understood. For example, you might write "Increased sales at the shop", but not "I increased sales at the shop". Education Remember that the person reading your CV may not be familiar with the education system in your country. Create two columns Use the left-hand column for the dates. For start and end dates, use either full years (eg 1998-2000) or the first three letters of the month followed by the last two digits of the year (eg Jun 98-Sep 00) In the right-hand column, list the name of the school or university on one line, followed by further details (the course name or the number of exam subjects passed) on the next line. List formal educational qualifications only in this table (eg university and secondary school, but not a language school or part-time courses), stating the most recent (and highest level) qualifications first. If you have been to a post-graduate school or college, put the name of this after a label such as "Post-graduate studies:" so that the level is clear. If you have been to a university, use the word "University" in the name, or put a label such as "University:" before the name so that the level is clear. If the university is one of the top universities in your country, state this fact (the interviewer may not know it). State the name of the town and country after the university's name. In the description, put the name of the main subject studied (try to avoid using the words "major"

or "minor", which are used in American English). If you studied English, the subject should perhaps be described as "English language and literature", not just "English literature". Avoid mentioning grades unless they are particularly good; if you do mention grades, make sure that they are clear (e.g. "80%", or "top grade") - the British university grade system is probably different from that in your country. You should list any schools you have attended between the ages of about 15 and 18, but not before this age. You should add the label "Secondary school:" before the name of the school, or include the words "High School" in the name. If you took exams in a wide range of subjects, you may prefer to list only the number of subjects passed instead of the subject names, or if you have been to university you may choose not to list any secondary school qualifications. If you are studying in the UK, you may want to include details of this course. If so, write this in a line under the main table. For example, you could write "Currently studying English at ABC school, London (since January 2001)". Other skills If you have other skills or qualifications which you believe may be relevant, you can list these. For example: English exams which you have passed (eg "Passed Cambridge First Certificate of English"). Computer skills (eg "Good knowledge of standard office software, including e-mail and the internet") Typing speed (only mention this if you are applying for data entry or secretarial jobs) An international driving licence (only mention this if you may need to drive for the job) Personal details Create two columns; use the left-hand column for labels and the right-hand column for information. The exact list of personal details you want to give may depend on your circumstances and what the job requires, but the list below will give you a guide. Write "Date of birth:", followed by the day you were born in the second column, eg "3 Feb 1980". Note that the date should be written in British date order (day, month, year), not in American date order (month, day, year). Write "Nationality:", followed by your nationality eg "Japanese". You may want to write "Gender:", followed by "Male" or "Female", if this is not obvious to a British person from your name. Whether you are a man or a woman may be relevant for some jobs. Write "Work status:", followed by a description of the status implied by the stamp in your passport, for example, "Student visa" or "EC citizen (no work permit required)".

Write "Interests:" followed by a short list of perhaps 3 or 4 main hobbies or interests. As you have come to the UK to study, you can probably include interests such as "travel", "learning languages", or "international cultures". Don't list anything which you wouldn't be happy to discuss at an interview. Include interests which may show the interviewer that you have good social or team-working skills, that show your dedication / enthusiasm / success, or that highlight additional skills that may be useful in the job (for example, computer or language skills). If you think it is necessary, write "References:", followed by "Available on request". You should only provide references if your employer asks for them. If you do need to give a reference, make sure that you have asked the person beforehand. Possible referees include a teacher or previous employer. It may complicate your application if you give the name of a referee who lives abroad; if you want to do this, make sure that the person will be able to provide comments in English, and give an e-mail address so that delays can be minimised. Back to top

EXAMPLE CV

AKIKO TANAKA 52 Orchard Street, London W2 3BT Telephone: 020-7654 3210; Mobile: 07960 999999; E-mail: [email protected] Employment
1999-2001 Natural Group, Tokyo, Japan A manufacturer and retailer of natural foods and supplements in Japan

Sales Assistant Advised the main shop's customers about organic and health foods Developed new business in smaller satellite stores, explaining the benefits of supplements and organic food to potential new customers Increased sales at both the main and the satellite shops. The extra profits were used to expand the business by establishing a new shop

1997-1999

Sony Corporation, Tokyo, Japan A Japanese conglomerate which develops and manufactures consumer and industrial electronic equipment world-wide

Administration Assistant, General Affairs Department Examined incoming mail and redirected this to the appropriate division Translated foreign letters (written in English) into Japanese

Customs Clearance Officer, Import Division, Sony Air Cargo Completed reports (e.g. bills of entry) to facilitate the import of goods from abroad Dealt with customs enquiries and procedures

Education
Sep 2001 Britannia School of English, London English language school; passed Cambridge First Certificate exam in June 2002

1993-1997

Meikai University, Chiba, Japan Degree in International Relations

Other Skills Computer literate: good knowledge of Word and Excel, as well as e-mail and the internet Fluent in Japanese; practical knowledge of English and Korean Personal Details
Date of Birth Nationality Gender Work status 6 January 1975 Japanese Female Student visa

Interests

Studying English, visiting museums, playing golf

Back to top

COVERING LETTER
If you are sending an application directly to a potential employer, you should write a one-page letter to accompany your CV (a "covering letter"). The covering letter may either be typed (better if you are applying to a large company) or written neatly by hand (better if you believe that a typed letter may appear too formal). There is an example covering letter shown below. If you know the name of the person who is dealing with the job applications, you can start the letter with "Dear Mr Smith" or "Dear Ms Smith" (you can use "Dear Mrs Smith" if you know she is married; if the person has a title you should use it, for example "Dear Professor Smith"), and in this case you should end the letter with "Yours sincerely". If you do not know the name of the person, you should start the letter with "Dear Sir" or "Dear Sir/Madam", and end the letter with "Yours faithfully". If you are applying for a particular job vacancy, write which job you are applying for (including a reference number if there is one) and where you saw the advertisement. Briefly describe why you think you are suitable for the job; mention any relevant work experience or qualifications which you have. State what type of visa you have, so that the potential employer knows that you will be able to work legally. You may want to mention the level of your English ability. Explain in your letter how you can be contacted. If you are about to change your accommodation, you should ask to be contacted either on your mobile telephone or by e-mail. If you give the telephone number of your host family, you should ask them for their permission first, and you should check if they have an answering machine. Back to top

EXAMPLE COVERING LETTER

Akiko Tanaka 52 Orchard Street London W2 3BT Mobile: 07960 999999 E-mail: [email protected] Fortnum & Mason's 181 Piccadilly London W1A 1ER 3 August 2002

Dear Sir/Madam,

Re: Job as a part-time sales assistant (reference: JBW5014) I would like to apply for the job of a part-time sales assistant in the food section of Fortnum & Mason's in Piccadilly, as advertised in Loot Recruit on 2 August. Please find attached a copy of my CV. My previous jobs include two years as a sales assistant in an organic food shop in Japan. This has given me experience of dealing with customers, as well as cashier skills and a basic knowledge of food retailing. I have been living in London since last September, and am currently studying English at a language school. I have good English communication skills (recently I passed the Cambridge First Certificate in English exam). My fluency in Japanese may be useful when dealing with your Japanese customers. I am an enthusiastic worker, and enjoy working in a team. My student visa entitles me to work up to 20 hours per week (or longer during my school holidays), and I could start work immediately.

I would welcome the opportunity to discuss the job vacancy with you on the telephone or at an interview. I can be contacted most easily on my mobile telephone or by e-mail (see details at the top of this letter).

Yours faithfully,

Akiko Tanaka

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SENDING YOUR APPLICATION

Check your CV and covering letter carefully before you send them. Use the spell-checker on the computer (set the language to British English rather than American English). Ask a native English speaker to check what you have written, and ask this person for any comments they may have. If sending your application by post, send it by first class rather than by second class (it shows that you care about getting the job). If you send an application by e-mail, telephone to make sure that it has arrived, or send an application in the post as well. Alternatively, you may wish to hand in your application personally; if so, use this opportunity to find out more about the company and ask when you can expect to hear from them. If you have not heard from the company two weeks after you sent your application (or before the closing date for applications, if there is one), telephone the company to check that your job application has been received and that there haven't been any problems contacting you.

It is often the case that people are invited for an interview for only a small number of the jobs to which they apply. Try not to feel depressed if it takes a long time to get a job. If you are rejected by a

company, ask them to give you some comments, so that you can improve the quality of your later applications.

Portfolios for Employment

An online portfolio provides a way to reveal your credentials to the world. It allows you to package the best evidence of your candidacy for employment such as your resume, artwork, reports, lesson plans, transcripts, certifications, articles, letters, and more in a form easily accessible via the Internet. The Purpose of a Portfolio A well-prepared portfolio provides "evidence" to an employer of your accomplishments, skills, abilities and it documents the scope and quality of your experience and training. It is an organized collection of documentation that presents both your personal and professional achievements in a concrete way. Portfolios can range in from something as simple as an online version of your resume to a web site full of materials. A portfolio can include word processing files of your resume and writing samples, digital images of your graphic and artwork, and video and audio files. Portfolio Design Designing your web site well can significantly alter your user's reaction to your work. Your goal in creating a portfolio is to present your credentials and personal information in a manner that is functional, user friendly, and aesthetically pleasing. If you have some HTML or other web programming skills, you may want to consider creating a web portfolio that utilizes a more interactive and presentational effect. If not, you may want to utilize a

portfolio service where you can simply upload your documents to a portfolio web site. There are sites which offer free web hosting and other sites like Portfolios.com which offer a free option specifically for portfolios. You can show five samples of your work in a two page layout. Other, more extensive, portfolio options are available for a fee. Build Your Portfolio Remember that your portfolio is a work in a process. You don't need to upload everything at once. Take it one step at a time and take the time to create a professional, polished portfolio. Shoddy work won't reflect well on your candidacy for employment. Keep your portfolio current. Check to make sure everything is in working order on a regular basis. That means no broken images or broken links to other sites or outdated information. If you have a link to your email address test it to make sure it works. Add a link to your portfolio to your resume and mention it in your cover letters so employers can access the information quickly and easily.

Step: 1 EXPERIENCE Many people underestimate the importance of experience. It seems the common thought is that we will be discovered in a resturaunt one day, and placed in a major motion picture with the likes of Brad Pitt the next day. Many famous celebrities were at one point struggeling actors, often times taking several months to land their first audition. But they continued to gain experience by going to every audition they could. Not only does experience help dictate your work ethic, you also put yourself in a position to be noticed by more industry executives. Go to auditions as often as possible. Search for auditions and casting notices

Step: 2 BIOGRAPHICAL STATS Casting directors often get a black and white headshot and a resume. But what does the rest of your body look like? What color are your eyes or your hair? This is vital information for a casting director to have, and many actors often times forget to include it. Height, weight, eye color, hair color, measurements, etc. These are commonly the first things a casting director looks for when searching for talent. Develop your resume online Step: 3 HOBBIES/SKILLS When a casting director looks at your portfolio, they may like your look, but will you fit the part? Your hobbies and skills not only tell them what you like to do, but it illustrates the kind of person you are. Some people like to read, some people are into extreme sports. Two actors with similar looks may not both fit the part. The activities actors enjoy in real life are often times portrayed on the screen. It is important to be sure your personality comes out here. Develop your resume online Step: 4 TRAINING Even some of the best actors that are born with outstanding talent have to study and practice for every role. Some actors will never get the part because they lack the training and experience. Most professional actors hire training coaches every time they are working on a major production. Such professional training may cost a substantial amount of money; however, it will play an important part in actor's life. At first you should take some basic training at a local acting school or college. For more inexpensive training try well recommended acting workshop.

Search for acting schools, workshops and acting coaches MODELING A small runway show in your local mall might land you the biggest audition with a beauty magazine. You never know where that opportunity will come up. You don't have to look "perfect " there are tall models, short models, skinny and full size models. Modeling Auditions First step is always to research on auditions in your local area. If you leave in a small town your best bet is to audition in a near by City. Most of major casting is done in California, New York, and Europe. Every city has a well established modeling agency that is affiliated with major players in the industry. Audition for a few different agencies and see what they say. Usually if they like you a lot, you will notice it in the first 2 minutes. The key to success here is to pick an agent that is well known and established! Ask for their references and credentials before signing any contracts. Search for auditions Modeling School / Training Modeling might seem easy. Nevertheless often models don't get the part because of lack of training and modeling experience. You can be the best looking individual for the spot, but someone else with more training and experience will take it. At least get some basic training from a specialized modeling school. The industry has many standards that you need to follow when you audition for major players. If you are considering modeling as full time career then you must invest into a portfolio and schooling. Besides knowing how to walk down the runway, how to turn, and pose, you have to keep on training to become the best model possible. Great training cost good money, but be careful in your selections there are many scams. Check school references & credentials. Search for photographers

Modeling Portfolio/ Resume Unlike basic headshots which an actor uses, a model must go through various photoshoots and create a modeling portfolio. Putting together a processional modeling portfolio is a MUST! In the portfolio, should be a variety of pictures, black and white and in color, different poses, and a variety of appearance ( such as picture in a bathing suit, riding a horse, or wearing glasses and a teacher uniform.) Your portfolio is the main tool that will sell you in the entertainment Industry. Remember modeling casting directors

and agents will only look through your portfolio once, so you have only one chance to capture their interest. The better your portfolio the better will be your responses! You should spend anywhere between $800-$2000 depending on the photographer. The best photographers also have awesome connections so here is your chance to get referred to a great modeling agency. All your pictures must be presented in an organized order. A modeling resume is much simpler. Just have all your current contact information, your height, size, weight, and clothing measurements. Be sure to include all the training and work you were involved in. Processionals like to hire processionals so include all your modeling experiences. Example: Modeling Portfolio

What to Include in Your Web Design Portfolio

A portfolio should include examples of your best work, the work you are proud of, and the work that best demonstrates your skills. But Web designers and Web developers have special needs for their portfolios especially if you want to show off your programming, Flash, or dynamic HTML skills. So the first step in deciding what should go in your portfolio is to decide how you're going to maintain your portfolio:

Print or hard copy This is the traditional form of a portfolio. If you are doing graphic design as well as Web design, many employers and clients will expect to see hard copies of your portfolio. Having a hard copy portfolio is also helpful for inperson interviews, you can bring it with you and display your work right away. Online Most Web design portfolios are online. If you do a lot of programming, Flash, or dynamic HTML, an online portfolio is the only way you can showcase your skills so that employers and clients can see it in action. Always Use Only Your Best Work If you have a lot of items to choose from, choose at most 5 to 10 items to put in your portfolio. It can be very tempting to put everything you've done

or even everything you like a lot, but the reality is that nobody is going to look at the pieces beyond 5 to 10. More than that and you risk the client or employer getting bored with the portfolio. Don't use anything you're not happy with, even if the client was pleased. If you have reservations about a project or wanted to make changes that were not approved by the client, those qualms will be apparent when you discuss it with new clients. You want to use items that you are excited about, that make you happy, and that show off. This is not a time to be modest. What to Include in a Web Design Portfolio 1. Complete websites Whenever possible, you should include a copy of the complete website in your online portfolio. Make a copy of the files and place them on your own Web server. You never know when a client is going to change the site, so pointing to their website is risky, unless you still work for them. Always get permission. I recommend having a clause in your contracts that you can store a copy of your work on your personal server for use in your portfolio. 2. Screen shots of Web pages If you can't get the complete site for your portfolio, be sure to take a screen shot of your work once it's live. The screen shot should include the entire browser window, including the site URL. This shows your clients that the site was live. 3. High resolution images If you did graphic design work you should save high resolution versions of your images for your portfolio. Remember that even if the image is only used on the Web, if you have a print copy of your portfolio, high resolution images look better than images at Web resolution.

Graphic Design Portfolio Presentations

You've assembled all your best projects into a nice-looking leather case. Where you were weak in real-world projects you've filled in with some great made up examples that show you know your stuff. Now what? Now you have to present that great graphic design portfolio you've created to potential clients or employers and explain your work.

When to Present a Graphic Design Portfolio

There is no single best time to present your desktop publishing or graphic design portfolio. You'll probably find during the course of an interview that its presentation naturally fits into the conversation. The client may come right out and say "Show me what you can do." At some point while discussing the type of work they want done it will be the perfect time to show them similar work you've done in the past or ways you've solved problems similar to one they've mentioned. When discussing the specific samples in your graphic design portfolio, always listen to the client for clues as to what they want to know about the piece. Focus on how a particular piece solved a problem or filled a specific need. Some interviewers may want to know more about the mechanics of how a piece was created. Others may be more interested in how you came up with the idea. "Make sure you know what typeface you're using and why. I have a friend who was very interested in the interviewee's choice of a typeface. He asked the person; 'Why did you choose this particular typeface?' The interviewee responded: "It was the only one I had on my computer." Steve Fleshman, Founder/Creative Partner DR2 Don't push your graphic design portfolio on the interviewer. Not all clients want to see work you've done for someone else. They are more interested in hearing about you and your ideas for their business. Don't feel obligated to show every page in your graphic design portfolio. "There will be times where the employer doesn't want to see your portfolio. Please don't take this personally. It could be that you have already WOWed them with your interview and further proof is not necessary." Brian Mairs, former About.com Guide to Job Searching Canada Sometimes you must present your graphic design portfolio without an in-person interview. Some clients or employers may ask for your sample work before scheduling an interview. With Web portfolios, anyone can view your work at anytime. In these cases, it may be appropriate to include explanatory notes outlining key points about each sample. Don't write a thesis on the piece but do include a few brief statements about why you chose a particular

style or the reaction the piece was designed to evoke or specific requirements of the client that the design met. Your Assignment Do some role-playing. Get a friend or family member to play the role of the prospective client or employer and let you present your portfolio in connection with conducting a mock interview. Try out different scenerios for presenting your portfolio and discussing its contents and your work. If you want, just role-play only the portfolio presentation portion of a meeting to help gain confidence with discussing the different projects, turning the pages, and quickly finding examples based on questions from the client. This article is part of our free Start a Desktop Publishing Business Email Course. Learn more about the course and sign up now.

Lesson 2: What Goes in Graphic Design Portfolios

You already know that portfolios should contain examples of your work, but which samples and in what format?

Put Your Best Foot Forward in a Portfolio

In general, you want to show that work which best shows off your skills and expertise. If you aren't comfortable with a piece (even if the client loved it) you're probably better off leaving it out of your portfolio. 1. Actual samples Whenever possible, use actual samples. That is, if you did a four-color brochure for a client, put one of the original brochures in your graphic design portfolio rather than an inkjet copy. Anytime you do a job for a client, request extra copies in the print run. Some clients might be willing to part with a few gratis but normally you'd pay for extras yourself. It may be wise to stipulate in your contract how many portfolio or sample pieces you'll receive. Use these in your portfolio and as non-returnable samples sent to potential clients. "When I work, I stipulate that I am permitted to use their project for portfolio use, then I ask for a few copies of the finished product to add to my collection." SueBee, in the forum

2. Tear sheets If your work involves items that appear in some other larger publication (such as ads in

newspapers or yellow pages or illustrations used in a magazine) get your hands on multiple copies of the original publication. Tear out the page where your work appears. 3. Copies If you can't get originals then use proofs printed from your digital files to your desktop printer. Or, make the best photocopies you can of the original printed pieces. 4. Photographs If your work involves designs that are too large or odd-shaped to fit in traditional graphic design portfolios (large boxes, billboards), get the best photographs you can of the finished pieces. You might also want to accompany these photographs with smaller printouts of the digital files you worked from. 5. Screen shots If your work involves Web design or other non-print designs you can still put together printed portfolios. Make screen shots of the work or print Web pages from your Web browser. Since screen resolution may not always print crisp and clear you may want to include high-resolution printouts of special logos or other graphics you created for screen display. TIP: Even if the logo or graphics you design are for Web display, start out with a high-resolution version and save it at various stages. You never know when a client will decide they want to use the design in print. And of course, that high-resolution version will look nicer in your printed portfolio. Assignment for Lesson 2 on Portfolios If you arrived at this page via search you've landed in the middle of a free class offered by email. This lesson is part of the Create a Portfolio in 6 Days email class offered by About Desktop Publishing. Sign up for the 6lesson class.
Sample Resume for College Senior

Resume Contributed by Austin Lavin

Amanda Student 123 College Street, State College, PA 12345 555-555-555 e: [email protected] ______________________________________ Education University of State, Philadelphia, PA

May 2009 Candidate for Bachelor of Arts in Biology GPA: 3.48/4, Dean's List, Senior Honor Awards Finalist City High School, New York, New York May 2009 Student Body President, Graduated with honors Administrative Experience University of State Annual Fund Fundraising Management, Philadelphia, PA Supervising Team Leader January 2007 - Present Assist the University of State Annual Fund in its fundraising goals; currently train, coordinate, and motivate over 60 student callers; conduct database management and statistical analysis; monitor success for a goal-oriented team. Student Fundraising Specialist October 2005 - January 2007 Fostered telephone outreach and relation-building skills in development, personally raised over $75,000 to date.

Treatment Research Center University of State Health System, Philadelphia, PA

Research Intern February 2007 - Present Provide assistance to addiction clinic Researchers and Technicians; duties include data processing and maintenance, organization of patient records, and the development and understanding of all Center initiatives. College Housing Resident Advisor March 2005 - Present Participated in diversity awareness and leadership training; currently organize and execute floor and house-wide events, provide academic and personal counseling for residents in a community-oriented 700-resident building.

Volunteerism and Leadership

Town Elementary School, Philadelphia, PA January 2006 - June 2006 Tutored and mentored 2nd and 3rd graders in accordance with a developing reading program for struggling urban students. New Students Orientation

August 2005, August 2006 Selected to participate in peer-leadership, team-building, and multiculturalconscientiousness workshops; mentored incoming new students; aided coordinators with new student orientation events and training of other leaders Additional Information
Biology Department Essay Contest, Runner-Up with Honorable Mention Computer proficiency including Apple and Windows, all MS Office applications, and Photoshop Spanish proficiency

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Resume Types: Chronological, Functional, Combination, Targeted

By Alison Doyle, About.com

See More About:

chronological resumes functional resumes combination resumes targeted resumes

Types of Resumes: There are several basic types of resumes used to apply for job openings. Depending on your personal circumstances, choose a chronological, a functional, combination, or a targeted resume. Chronological Resume: A chronological resume starts by listing your work history, with the most recent position listed first. Your jobs are listed in reverse chronological order with your current, or most recent job, first. Employers typically prefer this type of resume because it's easy to see what jobs you have held and when you have worked at them. This type of resume works well for job seekers with a strong, solid work history. Sample Chronological Resume Functional Resume: A functional resume focuses on your skills and experience, rather than on your chronological work history. It is used most often by people who are changing careers or who have gaps in their employment history. Sample Functional Resume Combination Resume: A combination resume lists your skills and experience first. Your employment history is listed next. With this type of resume you can highlight the skills you have that are relevant to the job you are applying for, and also provide the chronlogical work history that employers prefer. Sample Combination Resume Targeted Resume: A targeted resume is a resume that is customized so that it specifically highlights the experience and skills you have that are relevant to the job you are applying for. It definitely takes more work to write a targeted resume than to just click to apply with your existing resume. However, it's well worth the effort, especially when applying for jobs that are a perfect match for your qualifications and experience. Sample Targeted Resume Mini Resume: A mini resume contains a brief summary of your career highlights qualifications. It can be used for networking purposes or shared upon request from a prospective employer or reference writer who may want an overview of your accomplishments, rather than a full

length resume. Mini Resume

Targeted Resume

targeted resumes how to write a targeted resume resume samples

A targeted resume is customized so that it specifically highlights the experience you have that is relevant to the job you are applying for. It definitely takes more time to write a targeted resume, but, it's worth the effort, especially when applying for jobs that are a perfect match for your qualifications and experience. How to Target Your Resume The easiest way to target your resume (without rewriting the whole resume) is to include a Resume Summary of Qualifications or Career Highlights section at the top of your resume. Review the job description, then review your resume. Take the experience, credentials, and education that best match the job posting and include them in the Summary of Qualifications section at the top of your resume. Then list your experience in reverse chronological order, just like you would on a traditional resume. Sample Help Wanted Ad with Targeted Resume The following is an example of a job posting, along with a sample resume written specifically to apply for that position. You can see how the resume writer made sure that her highlighted skills are exactly what the employer is seeking.

Sample Help Wanted Ad for Human Resources Manager Recruit all exempt and non-exempt employees. Orient new employees to the organization. Design and implement staff training and development programs. Manage employee retention initiatives. Administer all compensation, benefit, and state mandated programs including processing of enrollments, terminations, unemployment, and workers compensation claims. Responsible for compliance with state and federal labor laws. Serve as COBRA administrator for the company. Member of union contract negotiating and management team. Human Resources Manager Targeted Resume Sample The following is a sample resume targeted to the above job posting. As you can see the Summary of Qualifications closely correlates with the job ad. Resume Summary of Qualifications

Experienced manager with expertise in human relations and project management Extensive background in staff recruitment and retention Staff training and development Superb written and oral communication skills Organizational and Strategic Planning Management Coaching Program Marketing Contract negotiation and compliance Knowledge of Federal and State Employment Law

Targeted Resume for Human Resources Manager Position Review the targeted resume. Targeted Cover Letters In addition to targeting your resume, you will need to target your cover letter in a similar fashion. Again, take the skills that match the job criteria and highlight them. You will need to show the hiring manager that you're a

qualified candidate. You will only have a few seconds to convince him that you should considered for an interview. Writing Targeted Cover Letters How to write a targeted cover letter that will get your application noticed.

How To Write a Resume (When You Have No Job Experience)

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A resume can make or break you in your search for a job and it can be particularly difficult to write one that shines when you have little or no work experience. Here we show you what to include on your starter resume. Difficulty: Average Time Required: A few hours.

Here's How:
1. Select a simple and standardized format, nothing too fancy. Try one of the examples given at jobsearch.about.com. 2. Use heavy weight plain white or off-white paper and avoid flashy fonts or scented sheets (Youre not Elle from Legally Blonde) 3. Make sure your contact information is accurate and up-to-date. Include a primary contact number, and a cell phone number and email address if you have them. Note: if your email address has a nickname or an overly cutesy name consider opening a free email account with some variation of your actual name, nothing ruins a resume faster than a name like [email protected] in the contact line.

4. Include an introductory paragraph of 2 or 3 sentences telling the employer about your strongest and most desirable personality traits. Tailor this to highlight those traits most applicable to the job for which you are applying. This is sometimes called an Objective Statement. 5. If you truly have no work experience dont try to flub, instead list your volunteer work or community activities. If youve done work experience through a course at school make note of it here. If youve had odd jobs, or done things like baby sit or yard work for neighbors list it here and if at all possible get letters of reference. 6. Next list course work at school that you feel is relevant to the job. Make note of any academic achievements or awards. Explain how you think your excellent performance in these areas would benefit the employer or enhance your ability to do the job. If you can, get a letter of reference from a teacher of one of the courses you mention. 7. List your extracurricular activities of a non-volunteer nature such as sports, church or youth groups, school committees, etc. If you have a position of authority in any of these groups make note of it and describe your duties as if they were a job. 8. Finally, sell yourself by making a list of your skills, special talents, or positive personality traits.

Tips:
1. When writing your first resume never pad it or make it longer than a page; employers arent expecting a long work history from a first time worker. 2. You may see a lot of things on this list that appear as donts on resume and job hunting websites but remember that this is your first resume and the rules change once you have some work experience or career oriented education. 3. Dont lie and always be true to who you are. Any deception will be very obvious to an experienced interviewer and will cost you the job. More Teen Advice How To's

Targeted Cover Letters

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targeted cover letters

What does it take for your resume and cover letter to make an impact when the employer has received hundreds of resumes for the position you have applied for? I've spoken to employers who receive 400-500 resumes for every position they list on a major job site like Monster or CareerBuilder. It seems like an almost impossible task to weed through them to find the best candidates to interview. Making the Cut Employers do manage to reduce the pool of cover letters and resumes to a manageable number. How they do it can give you some insight in to how to write cover letters that will make the cut. Because, if your cover letter doesn't pass muster, your resume won't even get a look. If your cover letter and resume aren't perfect they most likely will end up in the reject pile. And perfect means perfect - there should not be any typos or grammatical errors. Employers typically won't even consider a candidate that they cannot see is qualified at first glance. That first glance at your cover letter is your one opportunity to make a good impression and make it to the next round. Targeted Cover Letters It's certainly easier to write generic or blanket cover letters than it is to write a cover letter specifically targeted to each position you apply for. However, if you don't invest the time in writing cover letters you're probably not going to get the interview, regardless of your qualifications. Here are some suggestions on how to write cutting edge cover letters that work: Make a Match This one takes some time and effort and it's not always easy, but, it's important. Take the job posting and list the criteria the employer is looking for. Then list the skills and experience you have. Either address how your skills match the job in paragraph form or list the criteria and your qualifications. Sample Job Posting BOX OFFICE MANAGER. Conduct, oversee subscription and ticket sales for events. Generate and maintain reports, perform accounting activities related to box office revenue, oversee operations. Requires customer service skills and accounting experience.

Cover Letter Example 1: Paragraph As Box Office Assistant for the Light Opera Company I was responsible for customer service, ticketing patrons, and generating and maintaining box office reports. In addition, I maintained records and accounting reports for all box office transactions. Cover Letter Example 2: List Box Office Manager Requirements: Conduct, oversee subscription and ticket sales for events Generate and maintain reports, perform accounting activities Customer service skills and accounting experience My Skills and Experience: Box office management including ticketing, maintenance of records and ticket database management Maintain and generate reports Box office accounting transaction and reporting Customer service, seating, and ticketing patrons As you can see, in both cases, the candidate has written a detailed cover letter that should pass the first screening. In order to pass that screening, you must specifically address the job ad and state why you are qualified for the position. Given this competitive job market, it is critically important to target your cover letter and your resume. That way the employer knows exactly why you are qualified for the position and why they should consider you for an interview. The Right Stuff - Or Not? What to do if you don't have the right stuff? It's a certainty that the person with ten years of child care experience, and no computer experience, who applied for an Oracle programmer position at a colleague's company won't get an interview. I hate to sound pessimistic, but, if your qualifications don't come close to matching the criteria for the job, I would save your time and the company's time and not apply. In most cases, there are too many qualified candidates whose cover letter and resume will make the cut. Instead, focus on applying for jobs you do qualify for and spend some time gaining the additional skills or education (volunteer, take a class, etc.) you need to prepare to apply for positions that are a rung or two up the ladder. Resume Resources

Thank You Letters

thank you letters writing thank you letters thank you letter samples

Thank You Note

Writing a thank you letter, or thank you email, after an employment interview is a must. In fact, some employers think less of those interviewees who fail to follow-up promptly. Plan to send out your thank you letters or thank you notes as soon as possible (preferably within twenty-four hours) after your interview. Customize Your Thank You Letters Like any piece of writing, it is best to keep your audience in mind. Address their issues and concerns. In general, typed (paper or email) thank you letters are recommended. However, some surveys suggest than hiring managers like hand written thank notes, too. So, consider the "personality" of the organization and the rapport you felt during your interviews. If your interview was a fairly informal process and/or you achieved an immediate rapport with your interviewer, a handwritten note is fine. When you're not sure what to write, review thank you letter samples and follow up letter samples to get ideas. You can also use a thank you letter template as a guide when writing your letters. In addition to thanking the person you talked with, the thank you letter reinforces the fact that you want the job. Note: Even if you do not want the job, write a thank you letter respectfully withdrawing your application, because you never know what the future holds so why burn your bridges? View Your Thank You Letters as Sales Letters You may also view your thank you letters as follow-up "sales" letters. In other words, you can restate why you want the job, what your qualifications are, how you might make significant contributions, and so on. This thank you letter is also the perfect opportunity to discuss anything of importance that your interviewer neglected to ask or that you neglected to answer as thoroughly, or as well, as you would have liked.

Group Thank You Letters What if you spent an entire day being interviewed (and taken to lunch) with several people? Are individual thank you notes appropriate or should you write a "group" letter? Choose your approach based on what you think will be most in keeping with the "personality" of the organization. Also, consider whether the interviews had very much in common with one another. If there was a great deal of similarity (i.e., shared concerns mutually voiced by your interviewers), perhaps a "group" letter will suffice. My preference though, would be to take the extra time and send an individual thank you letter to everyone you met with. Lunch or Dinner Interviews When dining and interviewing be sure to thank everyone you spend time with, both for the meal and for taking the time to discuss the position and the company with you. When You're Not Sure What to Write Time takes precedence - get a simple, appreciative thank you note in the mail or send a thank you by email without delay; save your creative efforts for another time. If you're not sure what to write, review a few sample thank you letters or personalize our thank you letter template. Remember to Proofread Check spelling, grammar, typos, etc. If in doubt about the correct names, spellings or titles of your interviewers, call the office to double-check. Your efforts will be worth it! how to follow up following up after sending a resume sample follow up letters

You have sent a resume to a company you'd like to interview with and you haven't heard back right away. What do you do next? You can either wait patiently, presuming the employer will contact you if they are interested, or you can choose to follow-up with the employer. How to Follow Up If you don't hear back from within two weeks, it may be beneficial to follow-up. Employers and recruiters may prefer follow-up by email. If no email address is listed, try sending a note or calling. If neither email, address or a phone number are listed, or the posting says not to contact the employer, following the instructions and don't follow up. What to Ask

What are the next steps in the recruiting process? Will all candidates be contacted? Do you need any additional information about my candidacy? (Or briefly share new info that adds to your candidacy.) If you plan to visit the companys location, mention the timeframe and your eagerness to meet ask if its possible to arrange an interview during your visit.

Resume Follow-Up Letter

how to follow up sample follow up letter following up after sending a resume

Sample Follow-Up Letter After Submitting a Resume Review more follow up letter samples. Subject Line of Email Message: Programmer Position - Jane Doe Application Email Message: Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name: (if you have a name, otherwise omit this line) I submitted a resume earlier this month for the programmer position advertised in the Times Union. I am very interested in working at XYZ Company and I believe my skills, especially my C++ experience at ABD company, would be an ideal match for this position. If necessary, I would be glad to resend my resume or to provide any further information you might need regarding my candidacy. I can be reached at (555)555-5555 or [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Signature

Jane Doe ======= Please Note: This sample is provided for guidance only. The provided information, including samples and examples, is not guaranteed for accuracy or legality. Letters and other correspondence should be edited to fit your personal situation.

How to Write the Perfect Sympathy Letter

by Larry Barkdull, Award-Winning, Nationally Recognized Writer Do you know a friend or relative who has experienced a death, personal loss, or other misfortune? Perhaps this person was recently divorced or has been injured in an accident. Maybe you know an expectant mother who has recently suffered a miscarriage. These are times when you need just the right words to say just the right thing. A store-bought sympathy card is not as personal as a hand-written letter, but you may buy a card and put your letter inside it. Here are some tips to help you write a tactful Sympathy Letter that will be much appreciated:

Try to be empathetic. Imagine yourself in the other person's place. What would you like to hear? What would make you feel better? Be brief. Much is communicated with "I'm so sorry. Please know you're in my thoughts." In times of loss, no one wants to read a lengthy letter (it's hard to read when you're crying). Communicating that you care is enough.

Don't be dramatic. A Sympathy Letter needs to be written with beautiful prose, but dramatic language may seem insincere. Tell how you learned about the news in simple terms. It is perfectly acceptable to

relate your deep shock at hearing about the death or loss. Avoid using graphic terms to refer to a death that was tragic or gruesome.

Be personal. If your Sympathy Letter concerns a death, be sure to mention the deceased's name and the circumstances that caused the loss of life. Be honest; don't hesitate to use the word "death" or note the actual cause of death. Share your personal sadness. Remind the bereaved you support them at this difficult time and they are not completely alone in their suffering. Example:
o

Bill made me feel at home when I first moved here. I am so sorry that cancer took him at such an early age. I will miss him.

Mention positive memories. If your Sympathy Letter concerns a death, and if you knew the deceased, pay tribute to the person's life by mentioning something positive: a happy memory from your experiences together, a notable achievement, etc. You can even relate a story about how the deceased touched your life. Be sensitive, but it is not necessary to avoid humorous incidents that could help lighten the moment and would be gratefully received. Laughter is a great healer. You could also mention a special characteristic of the deceased-something you will always cherish. Examples:
o

a contagious sense of humor, a generous nature, love of the arts, courage, leadership, decisiveness.

Offer encouragement to the bereaved. Assume that the survivor feels overwhelmed by the loss and doesn't know whether or not they have the strength to get through it. State your confidence that they will get through it. Time is also a great healer. A comforting tactic that can have a powerful effect on the survivor is to quote a loving remark that was once made by the deceased about him or her. Remind the person in mourning of their own personal strengths in descriptive terms. Examples:

resilience, patience, competence, religious devotion, faith, optimism, a trusting nature.

Offer your condolences. How you will craft a condolence statement will depend on your personal relationship with the person to whom you are writing. For example, you may want to avoid being too religious if the person is only an acquaintance or if you do not know if they even have a religious affiliation. Most people would, however, appreciate being told that they are in your prayers and thoughts. You probably know what will bring them comfort. Write something that is congruent with your relationship. Offer practical help to the grieving person. Specific offers are better than, "Let me know if there is anything I can do." Then take the initiative-if you don't get immediate acceptance of an offer, then call back and repeat it. Many people will think your first offer was just to be polite; repeated offers demonstrate your sincerity. Examples:
o o o o

"Can I help you with the grocery shopping?" "Can I run any errands for you?" "Can I help with the children?" "Can I write any letters for you?"

Show sensitivity. Allow people to grieve in their own way and for as long as is needed. There is a time to mourn! Be careful not to offer advice when none is wanted or needed. Remember, at the moment the bereaved needs a loving friend, not a counselor. Examples (what not to say):
o o o

"You need to go on a long cruise." "Look on the bright side." "It's all for the best."

Close with an expression of comfort. End your Sympathy Letter with an expression of comfort, sympathy, or affection. Let your concluding words reflect the truth of your feelings. You may want to close your

letter simply with one word such as "Love," or "Sincerely," or you may want to use a phrase or a complete sentence followed by your name. Examples:
o o o o

"My love and concern are with you always," "You are continually in my thoughts and prayers," "My heart and my tears are with you," "I share in your grief and send my love,"

Final Note: Use descriptive words when you compose your Sympathy Letter. Examples:

burden, caring, comfort, comforting, compassion, concerned, consolation, difficult, endure, endurance, grief, grieve, heal, healing, heartbreaking, heartfelt, help, hope, hurt, hurtful, loss, love, misfortune, mourn, mourning, overcome, pain, painful, regret, regrettable, sad, shocking, sorrow, sorry, struggle, struggling.

How to Write the Perfect Request Letter

by Larry Barkdull, Award-Winning, Nationally Recognized Writer This article will give you basic guidelines for writing various types of Request Letters. Typically, you would write a Request Letter when you wanted to ask for one of the following:

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a job interview a raise or promotion a specific type of information a third party to compose a letter on your behalf

Request for an Interview (This is the most common type of Request Letter)

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Use a formal letter style such as block or semiblock format. These styles begin with the date, followed by the name and address of the person to whom you are writing, a reference line, the salutation, the body, and the complimentary close. See the Internet for format details. Compose and print your letter on a computer, using bright white inkjet paper. Introduce yourself. Explain that you are writing to arrange an interview so that you could have the opportunity to discuss positions that may become available in a specific department of the company. If someone referred you, be sure to include his/her name. Briefly describe your background and why you are interested in the employer's industry, career field, or organization. Indicate that you will follow up with a phone call to see if it will be possible to schedule an interview at a convenient time so that you may bring your rsum and discuss your qualifications. Close the letter professionally. For example: "Sincerely," followed by your name. Your letter

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should have clear contact information, including your complete address, telephone number, and e-mail address. Other things to keep in mind:

Do not enclose a rsum--you are just asking for an interview. If someone referred you, ask him/her beforehand about the best approach for asking for the interview.

Request a Raise or Promotion (You may be due for a step up the ladder)

Don't waste your employer's time. Immediately state the reason that you believe you are qualified to receive a promotion or raise. To establish credibility, give examples of your accomplishments, loyalty, years of service, etc. You are providing evidence to build your case. Confidently, but respectfully, make your request. Thank your employer for taking the time to consider your request.

Request a Specific Type of Information (You may need copies of public records)

Get to the point. Tell the reader exactly what type of information you need and politely ask him/her to send it to you. Assure the reader you will pay any customary fees that are

involved.

Provide a brief explanation as to why you need this information. For example: You are compiling your family history and would like a copy of your great grandmother's marriage license. Thank the reader. Be sure to provide your contact information (complete address, telephone number, and e-mail address).

Request a Third Party to Compose a Letter on Your Behalf (You may need a letter of recommendation)

If necessary, remind the reader how he/she knows you, and briefly review any high points of your relationship. Examples: this person was one of your professors in your M.A. program and gave you an "A" on a research project or he or she was your supervisor at one time and commended you for the quality of your work.

Clearly describe the type of letter you are requesting. Be specific. Give the reader any information, details, and/or explanations that will help in writing the letter. Busy professionals will appreciate it if you provide the framework for the letter. If you take as much work as possible out of the request, you are more likely to get it!

Tell the reader your projected timeline and say that you will check back at a certain date to see if any more information is needed. Invite the reader to contact you with any questions. Thank your reader for his/her time and

consideration of your request.

Compliment or praise a product or service supplier

Copyright 1996-2009 WriteExpress Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Use of this material is subject to the WriteExpress License Agreement. Tips: Keep your letter brief! Be sure to mention specifically what you like about the service or product and, if appropriate, mention the names of individuals who have provided extra help. Sample Letter #1: We want you to know that we are very pleased with the quality of service your company provides. We sincerely appreciate your responsiveness and the way you conduct business. We have recommended your company to others because of our satisfaction with your service. We look forward to doing business with you for years to come. Sample Letter #2: We want you to know how much we appreciate the way you have cared for our lawns and flowers this year. I can't remember a time when our lawns have looked so nicely groomed and weed-free, or when the flowers have been more beautiful. Several visitors to the corporate headquarters have commented on how nice things look. Thank you for your excellent service. Sample Letter #3:

Thank you for your prompt deliveries to our Doe Plant. In our business we must get our products to the stores on a regular schedule. We rely on dependable service from suppliers like you to help us keep our schedule and satisfy our customers. We want you to know that we appreciate your efforts and look forward to continuing our business relationship. Sample Letter #4: Thank you for the computer benchmarks produced by Springfield Computer Associates; they really are excellent! Computer benchmarks produced by an independent third party such as your company provide a professional and unbiased standard that the industry relies on for making critical purchasing decisions. In addition, the software is easy to use and is updated regularly. Thank you once again for your contribution to the industry.

You can also build your own letters with easy steps, sample phrases and sentences: 1. Tell the supplier that you are pleased with the service or product. Sentences:

We want you to know how pleased we are with the outstanding service you have given us. I couldn't let our contract end without telling you how much I have enjoyed your friendly service.

For five years you have faithfully delivered top quality products to our door. It's a pleasure to work with people who know the meaning of efficiency. I would like to compliment your foreman on finishing the work a week before the deadline. I appreciate the timely completion and the excellent workmanship. We have appreciated the friendly business relationship we have had with your company. The brochure you created for us was a huge success.

Phrases:

have appreciated have been impressed with have enjoyed your how satisfied we have been how pleased we are how very much it's a pleasure to never fail to be impressed our sincere appreciation so rare nowadays such excellent quality the outstanding service the quality of to let you know to thank you for top quality products want to express our want you to know

2. Elaborate on the compliment. Sentences:

Rarely has a supplier given us such complete cooperation. We have always been able to rely on your flexibility and courteous service. Your staff has consistently made extra efforts to assist us in completing our projects on time. Your supporting work on the Doe project did not go unnoticed. You always seem to make something positive out of negative events.

Phrases:

a commendable job at a very reasonable cost come through for us consistently excellent service creativity and initiative did a great job know that we can depend on knowledgeable and helpful made a special effort to most satisfactory relationship rendered invaluable assistance save me the trouble strong and durable such impressive efficiency the wonderful service you provide tireless efforts to meet our needs well before the deadline

3. Add a final word of thanks. Sentences:

Thank you for your support.

Thank you for your assistance. We look forward to many more years of cooperation. Thanks. Thank you for the timely deliveries. Thank you for your promptness.

Phrases:

a continuing relationship buy from you again convey our thanks dealing with you again for the excellent service for the fine job you did look forward to many more years of mutually profitable relationship our sincerest thanks our wholehearted appreciation please accept our please pass on my producing such a fine thank everyone involved thank you for the next time the quality of trying your other products will come back to you will be sure to working with you again

Impressed with the professional letters and content for this topic? This is just the beginning. With WriteExpress you get content for more than 500 letter-writing topics. Try WriteExpress letter-writing templates and never again be at a loss for words.

Home > Letters and Writing > All Categories > All Topics > Apology Letters

Writing an Apology Letter

What You Need to Know

By Alice Feathers, M.A. TESOL, Professional Editor and Writer

Each of us has, at one time or another, said or done something that we wish we hadn't said or done. Rather than dwell on the mistake, however, we should take quick action to remedy the problem and then get on with life. An effective letter of apology is an important part of that process and can help turn "lemons into lemonade" and actually improve a relationship. This short article will give you several reasons for writing an apology letter and offer a few important suggestions to help you write a good one. TIMING. Write the apology letter as soon as possible. ACTIONS. Rather than focusing on the damage you have caused, write about things you will do to rectify the situation. BRIEF. Keep your apology letter short and to the point. SINCERITY. No one wants to read overly dramatic language. Choose

your words carefully and express yourself clearly and simply. TONE. Your apology letter should be considerate and respectful. Remember, you are trying to rebuild a damaged relationship. BLAME. Take full responsibility for what you have done. FOLLOW UP. Try to set up a time when you can apologize in person, then back up your apology with considerate behavior in the future.

Apology Letter Tips: For a defective, damaged, or incomplete product Write this apology as soon as possible after the incident. Focus on actions to rectify the situation rather than any damage you may have caused. Accompany your apology with a promise of compensation or restitution. A sincere apology can go a long way toward winning back a disgruntled customer. Consider offering the customer a peace offering such as a discount on their next purchase. For a late payment Your apology should be brief and to the point. Your reputation as a trustworthy customer and credit risk may be in question, so your immediate and thorough attention to the matter is important. Focus on your actions to correct the problem and offer assurance it won't happen again. A sincere, well-worded apology can do much to defuse a potential problem. Rebuild your reputation by consistently making payments on time in the future. For a missed deadline Apologize for a missed deadline as soon as possible after the incident. The tone of your letter should be considerate and respectful because you have probably caused some inconvenience. The letter should focus on actions you will take to make up for the missed deadline. A sincere, well-worded apology followed by positive action can do much to undo any damage to your reputation. Rebuild your reputation by consistently making your

deadlines in the future. For a shipping delay or error Write this apology as soon as possible after the incident. Do not apologize unless you plan to take full responsibility, and do not blame your reader or anyone else in any way. A sincere, well-worded apology can be effective in winning back an unhappy customer's confidence and patronage. Consider offering the customer a peace offering such as a discount on their next purchase. For betrayed trust Write this apology as soon as possible after the incident. Don't apologize unless you plan to take full responsibility. Focus your comments on the actions you are taking to rectify the situation, not on the damage done. A sincere, well-worded apology, coupled with action, can go a long way toward repairing the damaged relationship. In this situation, it is usually best to apologize with a handwritten note or face to face. For hurt feelings Write this apology as soon as possible after the incident. Assume your reader has good reason for being offended. Express your regret with deep sincerity. In this situation, it is usually best to apologize with a handwritten note or face to face. For missing a meeting or an appointment Whether you have already missed an appointment or will miss an appointment in the future, an explanatory note is a courtesy that will be appreciated. It shows you do take the relationship seriously. Be concise and polite. For missing an event or for forgetting someone Write this apology as soon as possible after the incident. Focus your comments on what you are doing to rectify the situation rather than on any damage you may have caused. A sincere, well-worded apology can go a long way toward patching up a damaged relationship. Back up your apology with considerate behavior in the future.

For being late to a meeting or appointment Write this apology as soon as possible after the incident. Don't apologize unless you plan to take full responsibility and don't blame anyone. Rebuild your reputation by being consistently on time in the future. For offensive behavior Write this apology as soon as possible after the incident. This apology is best expressed with a handwritten note. Back up your apology with considerate behavior in the future. For poor or inadequate service Write this apology as soon as possible after the incident. Don't apologize unless you plan to take full responsibility. A sincere, well-worded apology can help win back disgruntled customers and business associates. Back up your apology with model behavior in the future. For someone else (business) Normally, you should only apologize for your own offenses. However, if you are in some way accountable for the offender's behavior--as a supervisor might be, for example--it may be appropriate to write an apology even if the offender also writes one. Write a sincere apology as soon as possible after the incident. For someone else (personal) Normally, you should only apologize for your own offenses. However, if you are in some way accountable for the offender's behavior--as a parent or youth leader might be, for example--it would be a good idea to write an apology, even if the offender also writes one (under your guidance). Write a sincere apology as soon as possible after the incident. To an employee or employees Write this apology as soon as possible after the incident. The apology should be unilateral. Do not attempt to apologize unless you plan to take full responsibility. A sincere, well-worded apology, coupled with action, can go a long way toward patching up damaged relationships with employees. Consider offering the employee(s) some sort of peace offering

such as a check bonus or a one-time, 2-hour lunch break. Business apology Write this apology as soon as possible after the incident. It should be clear, concise, and dignified. Focus on actions you are taking to rectify the situation, rather than on any resultant damage. A sincere, well-worded apology can go a long way toward winning back disgruntled customers and business associates. Personal apology Write this apology as soon as possible after the incident. Focus on actions you are taking to rectify the situation, rather than on any damage you may have caused. A sincere, well-worded apology can go a long way toward patching up a damaged relationship. Back up your apology with considerate behavior in the future.

Apology-Letter Summary In order to make a letter of apology effective, always write it as soon as possible after the offensive action takes place. Write a brief letter that is carefully worded and sincere. Whenever possible, make suitable restitution and assure the offended party that you will not repeat your regrettable behavior in the future. Back up your apology letter with appropriate behavior at the next available opportunity.

With WriteExpress, writing an apology letter is as easy as one, two, three! 1. Choose from a variety of prewritten apology letters --Easy Letters has ready-to-use apology letters that cover 33 common situations. Copy letters directly into Microsoft Word or your favorite word processor. 2. Or, let our software guide you step-by-step through the writing process, suggesting sample sentences and phrases during

each writing step. In minutes, you can write an effective apology letter. 3. Print your apology letter and send it!

How to Write an Essay

Essay Writing Descriptive Essay Narrative Essay Persuasive Essay The Essay Conclusion

Essay Writing
by Jesse Seldess, Professional Writer Learn how to write an essay with these easy-to-follow tips.

Essay Writing -- The Myth For many people, the prospect of writing an essay is unnecessarily daunting and unpleasant. This is largely a result of the misconception that one's ideas need to be fully formed before even beginning the essay writing process, before even putting pen to paper.

Essay Writing -- The Reality In reality, most of your ideas develop during the essay writing process. Through the stages of brainstorming, drafting, and revising, you can explore your thoughts, discover the ideas you want to communicate, and work out the best way to express them. If you relax and allow yourself the freedom to spend time exploring and articulating your ideas, you'll find that there are few activities more liberating and rewarding than the process of writing an essay.

The Basic Steps of the Writing Process

Whether you desire to write a narrative essay about a personal experience, a

literary analysis of a story, an argumentative essay supporting a particular idea or point of view, or any other possible type of essay, the steps of the essay writing process are basically the same.

Choose your topic. In some circumstances, especially when you are given a particular essay writing assignment, your topic may be provided for you. In other cases, you may have the flexibility to choose the topic you would most enjoy to explore and write about.

Think about your purpose of your essay. Understanding the purpose of your writing can help you develop the necessary content and structure for your essay. For example, if your purpose is to write a personal narrative, this purpose reveals that you should think about the order in which you describe the experience and, therefore, the order in which you present your

paragraphs. This purpose also suggests that you should use detailed and vivid language to guide your reader through the description of your experience.

Use free-writing and brainstorming to explore your topic. Before you worry too much about developing a clean and orderly essay, spend some time exploring your topic and ideas. Free-writing is a great way to get started. Take out a blank piece of paper and write whatever comes to your mind related to your topic. Don't worry if the ideas sound unclear or unconvincing. Also, don't worry about your grammar or sentence structure. This technique is simply to help stimulate your ideas. You'll probably be surprised at what you discover through this practice.

Plan an outline of the general structure and content of your essay. After you have spent a good deal of time brainstorming and free-

writing, consider the ideas you've discovered so far and start to develop a general outline for your essay. Keep your outline as clear and direct as possible. Try to start with the main idea you will present in your introduction. Then list the most important ideas you want to present in the body paragraphs of your essay. Under each point, provide any specific information you will use to develop the point.

Write your first draft. Using your outline as a guide, draft your essay. Although you could try to draft each part of the essay, the introduction, the body paragraphs, and the conclusion, you should also feel free to draft whichever part of the essay you feel most capable of handling first. You might want to write the body paragraphs first, for example, to help you get a better understanding of how to articulate your main idea in the introduction. At this

stage of your writing process, try to remain flexible and relaxed. Do not put too much pressure on yourself to write the perfect essay on the first try. Remember that even at this stage, you might discover new ideas that work better than the ideas you explored previously.

Take a break. It's often very helpful to spend some time away from your writing. The time away allows you regain a clear and objective perspective. It's also incredibly helpful to get another person's opinion about what you've written. Ask a friend, a family member, or even your teacher to read over your draft. When your reader offers you feedback, do not take his or her comments personally. In the end, any comments will help see your writing through another person's eyes and gain a better understanding of what you've actually written.

Reread and revise your essay. Try to allow quite a

bit of time for the revising phase of your writing process. In general, you should write at least two to four drafts of your essay before you arrive at your final version. When revising, read through your draft and think about whether your writing meets the requirements of your purpose and assignment. Think about which aspects of your essay are working well and which other aspects are in need of improvement. Don't hesitate to make large changes in your writing. The more open you remain to changes, the more likely it is that your essay will continue to develop and thrive.

Get an outside opinion. Before arriving at your final draft, consider asking a number of people to read and offer feedback about your essay. If you have specific questions or concerns, feel free to ask your readers to focus on those issues. However, it's often most helpful to let

your readers respond freely to what you've written.

Add the finishing touches. Take another honest look at your essay, and considering your own concerns and the feedback from readers, spend time identifying any weaknesses and then revising the material. At this stage of the process, you should also pay close attention to your spelling, grammar, sentence structure, and choice of words. To help you identify such problems, read the essay aloud to yourself, sentence by sentence.

How to Write a Descriptive Essay

by Jesse Seldess, Professional Writer More than many other types of essays, descriptive essays strive to create a deeply involved and vivid experience for the reader. Great descriptive essays achieve this affect not through

facts and statistics but by using detailed observations and descriptions. What do you want to describe? As you get started on your descriptive essay, it's important for you to identify exactly what you want to describe. Often, a descriptive essay will focus on portraying one of the following:

a person a place a memory an experience an object Ultimately, whatever you can perceive or experience can be the focus of your descriptive writing. Why are you writing your descriptive essay? It's a great creative exercise to sit down and simply describe what you observe. However, when writing a descriptive essay, you often have a particular reason for writing your description. Getting in touch with this reason can help you focus your description and imbue your language with a particular perspective or emotion. Example: Imagine that you want to write a descriptive

essay about your grandfather. You've chosen to write about your grandfather's physical appearance and the way that he interacts with people. However, rather than providing a general description of these aspects, you want to convey your admiration for his strength and kindness. This is your reason for writing the descriptive essay. To achieve this, you might focus one of your paragraphs on describing the roughness of his hands, roughness resulting from the labor of his work throughout his life, but you might also describe how he would hold your hands so gently with his rough hands when having a conversation with you or when taking a walk. How should you write your description? If there's one thing you should remember as you write your descriptive essay, it's the famous saying: show don't tell. But what's the difference between showing and telling? Consider these two simple examples:

I grew tired after dinner. As I leaned back and rested my head against the top of the chair, my eyelids began to feel heavy, and the edges of

the empty plate in front of me blurred with the white tablecloth. The first sentence tells readers that you grew tired after dinner. The second sentence shows readers that you grew tired. The most effective descriptive essays are loaded with such showing because they enable readers to imagine or experience something for themselves. As you write your descriptive essay, the best way to create a vivid experience for your readers is to focus on the five senses.

sight sound smell touch taste When you focus your descriptions on the senses, you provide vivid and specific details that show your readers rather than tell your readers what you are describing. Quick Tips for Writing Your Descriptive Essay Writing a descriptive essay can be a rich and rewarding experience, but it can also feel a bit complicated. It's helpful,

therefore, to keep a quick checklist of the essential questions to keep in mind as you plan, draft, and revise your essay.

Planning your descriptive essay:

What or who do you want to describe? What is your reason for writing your description? What are the particular qualities that you want to focus on? Drafting your descriptive essay:

What sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures are important for developing your description?

Which details can you include to ensure that your readers gain a vivid impression imbued with your emotion or perspective? Revising your descriptive essay:

Have you provided enough details and descriptions to enable your readers to gain a complete and vivid perception? Have you left out any minor

but important details?

Have you used words that convey your emotion or perspective? Are there any unnecessary details in your description? Does each paragraph of your essay focus on one aspect of your description? Are you paragraphs ordered in the most affective way?

How to Write a Narrative Essay

by Jesse Seldess, Professional Writer

Learn how to write a narrative essay with these easy-to-follow tips.

Writing a Narrative Essay There's nothing like reading a great narrative. Whether in novel or essay form, a narrative piece of writing transports readers into the time and space of the world portrayed by the writing. There's also nothing like writing a great narrative. Through reflecting upon an event, and through recreating the experience for other readers, writing a narrative essay can enable you to develop new, subtle, and rewarding perspectives. Basic qualities of a narrative essay:

A narrative essay is a piece of writing that recreates an experience through time. A narrative essay can be based on one of your own experiences, either past or present, or it can be based on the experiences of someone else. In addition to telling a story, a narrative essay also communicates a main idea or a lesson learned.

First steps for writing a narrative essay:

Identify the experience that you want to write about. Think about why the experience is significant. Spend a good deal of time drafting your recollections about the details of the experience. Create an outline of the basic parts of your narrative.

Writing about the experience:

Using your outline, describe each part of your narrative. Rather than telling your readers what happened, use vivid details and descriptions to actually recreate the experience for your readers. Think like your readers. Try to remember that the information you present is the only information your readers have about the experiences. Always keep in mind that all of the small and seemingly unimportant details known to you are not necessarily known to your readers.

Communicating the significance of the experience:

It's often effective to begin your narrative with a paragraph that introduces the experience and communicates the significance. This technique guarantees that your readers will understand the significance of the experience as they progess through the narrative. Another effective technique is to begin the essay by jumping directly into the narrative and then ending the essay with a paragraph communicating

the significance of the experience. This approach allows your readers to develop their own understanding of the experience through the body of the essay and then more deeply connect to your expression of the significance at the end.

You might also consider introducing the experience in the first paragraph but delaying your expression of the significance of the experience until the end of the essay. This approach heightens your readers' sensitivity to the significance of the narrative.

Revising your narrative essay:

After spending time away from the draft of your narrative essay, read through the essay and think about whether the writing effectively recreates the experience for your readers.

Ask other people to read through the essay and offer their impressions. Identify where more details and descriptions are needed. Identify and consider removing any information that seems to distract from the focus and main narrative of the essay. Think about whether you've presented information in the most affective order.

Potential prompts for your narrative essay: If you're having trouble choosing an experience to write about, take a quick glance through these prompts. They might help you remember or identify a particularly interesting or significant experience to focus on.

A childhood event. Think of an experience when you learned something for the first time, or when you realized how important someone was for you. Achieving a goal. Think about a particularly meaningful achievement in your life. This could be something as seemingly minor as achieving a good grade on a difficult assignment, or this could be something with more long-lasting effects, like getting the job you desired or getting into

the best school to which you applied.

A failure. Think about a time when you did not perform as well as you had wanted. Focusing on an experience like this can result in rewarding reflections about the positive emerging from the negative. A good or bad deed. Think about a time when you did or did not stand up for yourself or someone else in the face of adversity or challenge. A change in your life. Think about a time when something significant changed in your life. This could be anything from a move across town to a major change in a relationship to the birth or death of a loved one. A realization. Think about a time when you experienced a realization. This could be anything from understanding a complicated math equation to gaining a deeper understanding of a philosophical issue or life situation.
How to Write an Essay

Essay Writing Descriptive Essay Narrative Essay Persuasive Essay The Essay Conclusion

How to Write a Persuasive Essay

by Jesse Seldess, Professional Writer

When writing a persuasive essay, your purpose is to convince your audience to embrace your idea or point of view. Keeping this purpose in mind is the key to writing an effective persuasion. Essential steps for writing a persuasive essay:

1. Identify your main idea or point of view. Your purpose will be to persuade your audience to accept this idea or point of view. 2. Identify your audience. To write an effective persuasive essay, try to understand your audience. For example, are your readers undecided about your issue? Or are your readers hostile to your point of view? 3. Considering your audience, identify the strongest supporting points for your persuasion. 4. Identify the most significant opposing view. Explaining and then refuting the opposing view strengthens the credibility and scope of your essay. How to organize your persuasive essay: Introduction

Your introduction should hook your reader's attention and provide background information on your topic or controversy.

The paragraph should end with a clear statement of your main idea or point of view.

Body paragraphs

Your body paragraphs should present the points in support of your main idea. Each body paragraph should focus on one point. Be sure to provide evidence or examples for each point.

Opposing view

After presenting your supporting points, develop one paragraph to accurately explain and then refute the most significant opposing view.

Conclusion

Creatively restate your main idea and supporting points. Try to leave your audience even more connected to your topic and persuaded by your main idea or perspective. Write letters with the words of pros!

Writing a Conclusion for an Essay by Jesse Seldess, Professional Writer

Be inspired. Start creating. Get started and say the right things Use the #1 choice for ready-to-use letters

The conclusion is the last paragraph of an essay. Although often brief in comparison with the other paragraphs, the conclusion performs a number of very significant functions. When writing a conclusion for your essay, it's helpful to keep these basic considerations in mind:

Your conclusion is the last paragraph that your reader will encounter. Your conclusion should remind your reader about the most important aspects of your essay.

In most essays, therefore, your conclusion should creatively restate the main idea of the essay. Your conclusion should also leave your reader even more interested in your topic and idea.

For some essays, especially for persuasive or argumentative essays, it's particularly effective to end your conclusion by directly

addressing your reader with a question or call for action. Be sure to spend a good deal of time planning and writing your conclusion. A strong conclusion can resolve and fulfill your essay as a whole and make a real impact on your reader.

REFERRAL APPROACH LETTER - EXAMPLE

Your Street Address Your City, State ZIP

Date:

Mr. Robert Jones Vice President, Operations Widget Product Company 1221 Downtown Drive Cleveland, Ohio 44111

Dear Mr. Jones:

Recently, I had a very interesting discussion about Operations Management with a friend of mine, John Anderson, Operations Manager at XYZ, Inc. During this meeting, John mentioned you, Mr. Jones, as someone he felt could provide some excellent insight into this area due to your 15 years in the industry, your current position overview and your affiliation with the widget makers of America. He described you as a knowledgeable professional in the industry and felt the kind of information you might provide in this area would be very valuable to me.

The reason I am interested in gathering more information about this area is because I am currently seeking to determine how my Operations Management skills best fit into the automotive components industry. In recent weeks I have been meeting with persons widely-recognized for their expertise in the industry, and John Anderson regarded you as equally-qualified in the field.

Mr. Jones, I want to make it absolutely clear that I do not expect that you have or even know of a current opening. I am simply seeking insight and would very much appreciate your ideas, suggestions, comments and reactions on how I might achieve my objective.

I do appreciate that your time is valuable, so I will come prepared and promise to keep our meeting brief. I will call you next Tuesday, May 10, to arrange a convenient time to meet.

Sincerely,

(Signature)

John Adams

NOTE: Do not enclose a resume with this letter! Offer to send a copy of your resume to the contact in advance, AFTER you have set up the meeting appointment.

Sample Condolence Letter

Samples Index Sample Letters

Sample Condolence Letter

Writing a condolence letter is an extremely difficult but very important task. It is so difficult to cope with the death of a member of the family, close friend or associate that some people are unable to express their condolences. We hope that the following tips and example of a condolence letter will help: For a sincere and personal touch a hand written letter using this following layout, is preferable to a typed one. A sympathy card or note is also acceptable Put yourself in the shoes of the person to whom you are sending the condolence letter A short but meaningful letter is far less painful to read than a long letter Offer your condolences

Describe your relationship with the deceased and how you felt about them - respect, admiration and what you will miss about them Mention the unique strengths and achievements of the deceased Offer your help and support Extend your condolences to other members of the family

The Sample Condolence Letter provides details of a suggested layout and content for this difficult task.

Sample Condolence Letter Layout

For a sincere and personal touch a hand written letter using this layout, is preferable to a typed one. A sympathy card or note is also acceptable Address Details

Sample Condolence Letter Content

First Sample Paragraph I am writing to extend my deepest sympathies to you and your family. I was so very sad to hear about _____, he/she was such a wonderful woman/man. Main Body Sample Paragraphs I had the honor and the pleasure to know your husband/father/wife/sister and I was very sorry to hear about his/her passing away. I had the greatest respect for __________ and will miss working with him/ playing golf with him , his/her generous nature and sharing his/her remarkable sense of humor. Closing Sample Paragraph Please let me know whether there is anything I can do to help during this difficult time. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. I will light a candle for _____ tonight.

Date Dear xxxx, First Paragraph

Second and Subsequent Paragraphs

Closing Paragraph

With Deepest Sympathy or Sincerely yours,

Jean (Brown)

Sample Layout
Letter Writing

Paragraph Content

Sample Condolence Letter

Writing a letter of condolence A short but meaningful letter is far less painful to read than a long letter Offer your condolences Layout, Structure, Content, Ideas and Format Helpful tips on writing difficult condolence letters Describe your relationship with the deceased and how you felt about them Mention the unique strengths and achievements of the deceased Offer your help and support Extend your condolence to other members of the family A sympathy card or note is also acceptable as an alternative to a condolence letter

Sample Condolence Letter

Copyright samples-help.org.uk 2006

Writing a Condolence Letter

How to Write a Sympathy Letter or Condolence Note for a Loss

Kirsti A. Dyer Apr 25, 2008

Sending your condolences or sympathies in a letter following a death is a very old tradition that is still very beneficial for the person who has lost a loved one.

For many people sending offers of sympathy and condolence is almost reflexive after hearing about the death of a family member or friend. People instinctively want to reach out and help, to offer support and comfort to those suffering from the loss. One way of doing so is by honoring the old tradition of sending a condolence letter or sympathy card.

A well-written condolence letter speaks from the heart of the writer to the heart of the grieving person; the sympathy letter is written as though the writer is speaking directly to the grieving person. Knowing how to write a sympathy letter can make it more likely that a person will send a letter of condolence following a time of loss.

Sympathy Letter vs. Sympathy Card or Condolence Note

The Condolence Letter or Sympathy letter is the longer, more formal expression of sympathy. These two terms are often used interchangeably.

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The formal Condolence Letter should be sent within two weeks of the loss or death, neatly written on stationery; it and may be sent as a follow up after sending a Condolence Note. Formal condolence letters are sent by businesses, health care professionals, veterinary professionals and the military. A Condolence Note or Sympathy Card (Condolence Card or Sympathy Note) are the less formal forms used to express condolences or sympathies immediately following a death.

Why Write a Condolence Letter

Think of the sympathy letter as a written condolence call; it is a permanent reminder of your support for the grieving person. One of the main benefits of having condolences in written form is that the grieving person can pull out and reread the condolence letter at any time to remember. Condolence letters sent following the death of a loved one are saved as treasured mementos and tangible reminders of the comfort received from friends, colleagues and other loved ones following a death.

How to Write a Condolence Letter

Zunin and Zunin reviewed thousands of condolence letters when researching their book, The Art of Condolence. They discovered seven key elements go into writing the typical Condolence Letter. The key elements are 1.) Acknowledging the loss and the name of the deceased. 2.) Expressing sympathy. 3.) Note special qualities of the deceased. 4.) Including a memory of the deceased. 5.) Reminding the grieving person of their personal strengths or special qualities. 6.) Offering help, but making sure it is a specific offer and 7.) Ending the letter with a thoughtful word, a hope, a wish or expression of sympathy.

Writing a Condolence or Sympathy Letter can be very simple if one remembers the letter will be sending COMFORT to the grieving person (slightly adjusted to create a memory aid). 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Comment on the loss and the name of the deceased Offer sympathy Mention special qualities of the deceased Find a special memory to share Offer specific help Remind the person of his or her strengths and special qualities Thoughtful closure

Following the simple COMFORT mnemonic to write a Condolence Letter will help in remembering the seven elements to include in a Condolence Note: Comment on the loss, Offer sympathy, Mention special qualities, Find a special memory to share, Offer specific help, Remind the person of strengths and end with a Thoughtful Closure.

An Example of a Condolence Letter Using the COMFORT Reminder

This is an example of a sympathy letter that could be sent to a friend following the unexpected death of her husband.

1. Comment the loss and the name of the deceased.

Dear ______, I was so saddened to hear about _______s death. It was so unexpected.

2. Offer Sympathy
I am thinking about you and your family during this very difficult time.

3. Mention special qualities of the deceased.

I will always remember _______s calming presence during

4. Find a special memory to share.

I remember the time when _______ went

5. Offer specific help.

I will call you in a few days to see if you need help with the children or with shopping.

6. Remind the bereaved of their personal strengths or special qualities.

I know that your faith, family and friends will help you make it through this challenging time.

7. Thoughtful Closure
To quote a Josh Groban song, "I know youre there. A breath away's not far to where you are." You will be in my thoughts, (Your Signature) __________

Suggestions for Condolence Letter Closures

Zunin and Zunin recommend closing a condolence letter using thoughtful words, a prayer or a simple expression of sympathy as suggested by Zunin and Zunin. Typical letter closures such as "Sincerely," "Love," "Fondly," or "Warm Personal Regards" are not the best for Sympathy Letters. Some suggestions for closures:

With Sympathy With Deepest Sympathy My Sincerest Sympathies Sympathy from all of us My Condolences With Heartfelt Condolences Thinking of you You are in my thoughts I'm praying for you You are in my prayers The time you spend to write down your message of COMFORT in a Condolence Letter can yield invaluable, longterm healing benefits for the grieving person and their family. These letters may be saved for years after the death and taken out anytime the grieving person wants to remember the comfort received from others during a difficult time. The thoughtfulness of this gesture of support will be remembered long after the death.

Resources:
Dyer KA. 2008. How to Write a Condolence Letter. Squidoo.com Dyer KA. 2008. How to Write a Condolence Note or a Sympathy Note. Squidoo.com Zunin and Zunin. 1991. The Art of Condolence. New York, N.Y.: HarperCollins Publishers.

The copyright of the article Writing a Condolence Letter in Improving Relationships is owned by Kirsti A. Dyer. Permission to republish Writing a Condolence Letter in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Read more: http://improvingrelationships.suite101.com/article.cfm/writing_a_condolence_letter#ixzz0HFo8BQMY&B

Congratulation Letters
You have one chance to send a letter of congratulation they will remember!

Don't let special occasions go unnoticed. We can help you write a congratulation letter that adequetely expresses pleasure on the occasion of success or good fortune.

With WriteExpress software you get example congratulation letters to help you find the perfect words to say, plus choice phrases and sentences recommended by professionals.

How to write an effective congratulation letter

Write the congratulation letter as soon as possible after the fortunate event takes place. State in the beginning the specific occasion that has motivated you to write a congratulation letter. Express praise and approval of the reader's accomplishment in your congratulation letter.

Keep your congratulation letter simple and concise--under one page in length. Keep your letter positive and don't include any negative comments or unhappy news. Don't suggest that the fortunate event should benefit the letter-writer in any way. Don't exaggerate your congratulatory words or your letter may seem sarcastic or mocking.

With WriteExpress, writing a congratulations letter is as easy as one, two, three!

1. Choose from a variety of prewritten congratulations letters -- With WriteExpress software you get ready-to-use congratulations letters for 33 common situations. Copy letters directly into Microsoft Word or your favorite word processor. 2. Or, let our software guide you step-by-step through the writing process, suggesting example sentences and phrases during each writing step. In minutes, you can write an effective congratulations letter. 3. Print your congratulations letter and send it!

For each topic you get several congratulation letters already written for you:

Congratulate a friend or associate on getting a new job Congratulate a politician on an election or on the passage of legislation Congratulate an employee on the anniversary of his or her service Congratulate an employee, friend, or associate on an advancement or promotion Congratulate an official on an appointment or on winning an election Congratulate someone on a religious occasion Congratulate someone on a speech or presentation Congratulate someone on an achievement, an accomplishment, or on a job well done Congratulate someone on his or her birthday Congratulate someone on his or her engagement Congratulate someone on his or her graduation Congratulate someone on his or her retirement Congratulate someone on his or her wedding or marriage Congratulate someone on publishing a book or article Congratulate someone on the anniversary of their marriage Congratulate someone on the birth or adoption of a child Congratulate someone on the opening of a new business, store, or office Congratulate someone on winning a contract Congratulate someone on winning an award or receiving a scholarship or other honor

You will also get letters for these related topics and more:

Announce a contest winner Announce an employee's achievement Announce an employee's retirement Announce the appointment of an employee to a committee or position Compliment or praise an employee's work performance Compliment or praise someone for an achievement Compliment or praise the work of an employee from another firm Encourage/motivate your reader to increase sales Note the anniversary of a customer's company Note the anniversary of an employee's service Thank a retiree for his or her service Write a letter acknowledging achievements Write a letter on the anniversary of your company Write a letter to accompany a gift

Appreciation Letters
Say "thank you" with an appreciation letter and make someone feel special

People respond positively when treated kindly. Employees work harder when they feel appreciated. With a sincere, wellwritten appreciation letter you can improve relations with words of admiration, gratitute, and recognition.

How to write an appreciation letter

Write your appreciation letter within a few days of whatever happened to inspire your gratitude. Handwrite a personal appreciation letter on a sheet of stationery. Use customized letterhead for business correspondence. Address your appreciation letter to a specific person, if possible, not just to the company or to the organization in general.

Specifically state what you appreciate. Be sincere--most people can sense when you are not being honest. Write clearly and concisely; this is no time to be longwinded or flowery. Be brief. Avoid thanking the person beforehand--for example: Thanking you in advance for your help in this matter. To do so is presumptuous and suggests you do not feel the need to write a follow-up letter.

Close with warm regards or best wishes for continued success.

With WriteExpress, writing an appreciation letter is as easy as one, two, three!

1. Choose from a variety of prewritten appreciation letters that cover many common situations. Copy letters directly into Microsoft Word or your favorite word processor. 2. Or, let our software guide you step-by-step through the writing process, suggesting sample sentences and phrases during each writing step. In minutes, you can write an effective appreciation letter. 3. Print your appreciation letter and send it!

For each topic you get several appreciation letters already written for you:
Accept an Honor/Suggestion

Accept an honor Accept and express appreciation for a suggestion

Business/Work

Accept a job offer Accept an invitation to a business appointment Acknowledge the receipt of a report, letter, or other Acknowledge the receipt of a resume Congratulate someone on his or her retirement Encourage/motivate your reader to increase sales Relieve someone from delegated responsibilities because someone else will assume them Thank a business for good service, low prices, or professional courtesies Thank someone for an appointment, interview, or meeting Thank someone for an award, bonus, or raise Write a farewell letter to a person who is leaving employment Write a farewell letter to a person who is retiring Write a farewell letter to management, co-workers or clients

Civic Service

Thank a doctor or health care facility Thank a religious leader

Customers

Express appreciation to long-term customers and those who pay their bills promptly Follow up after a sale to thank the customer and offer service Note the anniversary of a customer's company Thank a customer for a payment Thank a customer for purchasing a product or service Thank a customer or client

Employee

Acknowledge the receipt of a suggestion from an employee Announce the appointment of an employee to a committee or position Congratulate an employee on the anniversary of his or her service Compliment or praise an employee's family for their contribution to the employee's success Compliment or praise an employee's work performance Express appreciation to an employee Note the anniversary of an employee's service Thank a retiree for his or her service

Government/Political

Congratulate a politician on an election or on the passage of legislation Express regret on the defeat of legislation or the loss of an election Praise government officials or employees

Media

Compliment or praise the media, an author, or an editor Thank someone for media exposure

Personal

Give personal compliments or praise

Positive Feedback

Reply positively to a suggestion Respond positively to negative feedback

Respond to a complaint and treat it as valuable feedback

Praise

Compliment or praise a product or service supplier Compliment or praise a program chairperson or planner Compliment or praise a salesperson or a sales staff Compliment or praise a speaker Compliment or praise someone for an achievement Compliment or praise the work of an employee from another firm Congratulate someone on a speech or presentation

Service

Accept a request to serve in an honorary position Thank someone for a favor Thank someone for a gift Thank someone for volunteer work Thank someone for help or support Thank someone for helping in your absence Thank someone for hospitality Thank someone for a philanthropic contribution Write a letter to accompany a contribution to a good cause

Social Event

Accept a formal invitation to a social event Accept an informal invitation to a social event Thank someone for a pleasant occasion Thank someone for visiting a place or attending an event

Sympathy

Send a gift with a sympathy letter Thank someone for expressions of sympathy

Thank You

Thank someone for a compliment or praise Thank someone for a job well done Thank someone for a referral or recommendation Thank someone for a reply or response Thank someone for a speech or presentation Thank someone for accepting your advice or recommendation Thank someone for advice or a suggestion Thank someone for an inquiry Thank someone for information

Goodwill Letters
Send kind feelings of approval, concern or support with the perfect goodwill letter

With WriteExpress software you get example goodwill letters to help you find the perfect words to say, plus choice phrases and sentences recommended by professionals.

How to write a goodwill letter

Goodwill letters often come as a surprise, are greatly appreciated, and are an effective way to build relationships.

Whether expressing gratitude, appreciation, recognition, or condolences, be sincere in your remarks. Most people can tell when you are not.

Keep your letter focused on the recipient, not on yourself or your company. Do not write this letter solely for the purpose of making a sales pitch. The purpose of this letter is to spread goodwill, without promoting any hidden agenda.

Keep your letter brief.

Be specific when writing this letter. For example, rather than writing vague generalities about a job well done, include details that demonstrate what the person did to deserve the recognition.

Try to stay away from clichs and canned expressions. Be creative.

With WriteExpress, writing a goodwill letter is as easy as one, two, three!

1. Choose from a variety of prewritten goodwill letters that cover many common situations. Copy letters directly into Microsoft Word or your favorite word processor. 2. Or, let our software guide you step-by-step through the writing process, suggesting sample sentences and phrases during each writing step. In minutes, you can write an effective goodwill letter. 3. Print your goodwill letter and send it!

With thoughtful, sincere goodwill letters you can:

Give congratulations for an award received, promotion, new job, etc. Express sympathy or condolences. Apologize. Show appreciation or convey gratitude for a contribution made, to loyal customers for their continued business, or to coworkers or peers for a job well done.

Give recognition for outstanding achievements or extraordinary effort. Establish or renew a relationship. Remind a customer or potential customer of your continued willingness to serve him or her.

Show that you are courteous and professional.

For each topic you get several goodwill letters already written for you:
Announcement

Announce a company savings plan Announce an employee's achievement Keep a customer up to date on progress Write a letter on the anniversary of your company

Apology

Apologize for a defective, damaged, or incomplete product Apologize for a late payment Apologize for a missed deadline Apologize for a shipping delay or error Apologize for an invoice or billing error Apologize for betrayed trust Apologize for hurt feelings Apologize for missing an appointment Apologize for missing an event or for overlooking or forgetting someone Apologize for missing or being late to a meeting or appointment Apologize for offensive behavior Apologize for poor or inadequate service Apologize for providing incorrect or incomplete information Apologize for someone else (business) Apologize for someone else (personal) Apologize to an employee or employees Write a business apology Write a personal apology

Appreciation

Express appreciation to an employee

Express appreciation to long-term customers and those who pay their bills promptly

Grant a promotion or raise Write a letter acknowledging achievements

Congratulations

Congratulate an employee on the anniversary of his or her service Congratulate an employee, friend, or associate on an advancement or promotion

Congratulate an official on an appointment or on winning an election Congratulate someone on a religious occasion Congratulate someone on a speech or presentation Congratulate someone on an achievement, an accomplishment, or on a job well done

Congratulate someone on his or her birthday Congratulate someone on his or her engagement Congratulate someone on his or her graduation Congratulate someone on his or her retirement Congratulate someone on his or her wedding or marriage Congratulate someone on publishing a book or article Congratulate someone on the anniversary of their marriage Congratulate someone on the birth or adoption of a child Congratulate someone on the opening of a new business, store, or office Congratulate someone on winning a contract Congratulate someone on winning an award or receiving a scholarship or other honor

Farewells

Write a farewell letter to a person who is leaving employment Write a farewell letter to a person who is retiring Write a farewell letter to management, co-workers or clients

Sympathy/Get Well

Offer sympathy for a marriage separation or divorce Offer sympathy for loss or damage caused by a theft, vandalism, or natural disaster

Offer sympathy for the death of a business associate Offer sympathy for the death of a business associate's family member Offer sympathy for the death of a child Offer sympathy for the death of a friend or relative Offer sympathy for the death of a person who has been ill Offer sympathy for the loss of a job Offer sympathy for the loss or death of a pet Offer sympathy in a case of serious or terminal illness Send a gift with a sympathy letter Write a get-well message regarding an employee's or business associate's family member who is suffering from illness or injury

Write a get-well message to a child suffering from illness or injury Write a get-well message to a friend or relative suffering from an illness or injury

Write a get-well message to a teacher suffering from illness or injury Write a get-well message to an employee or business associate suffering from illness or injury

Thank You

Thank a business for good service, low prices, or professional courtesies Thank a customer for purchasing a product or service Thank a doctor or health care facility Thank a religious leader Thank a retiree for his or her service Thank someone for a favor Thank someone for a pleasant occasion Thank someone for helping in your absence Thank someone for hospitality

Thank someone for visiting a place or attending an event Thank someone for volunteer work

Welcome

Welcome a new business to town Welcome a new customer or client Welcome a new employee Welcome a new resident to the neighborhood Welcome a new shareholder Welcome a new student to school, class, or a training seminar Welcome a potential customer or client to the area Welcome a son-in-law or daughter-in-law into the family Welcome someone into a group, association, religion, or club

Miscellaneous

Explain an error you have made Extend holiday or winter season's greetings to employees, customers, and business associates

Extend holiday or winter season's greetings to friends Extend Labor Day greetings to employees Extend Mother's Day or Father's Day greetings (personal) Extend Mother's Day or Father's Day greetings and/or announce sales or promotions for these days

Introduce gifts to customers and prospective customers Invite or request suggestions from employees and customers Note the anniversary of a customer's company Note the anniversary of an employee's service Offer voluntary services Respond positively to negative feedback Send a late payment after a mutual agreement to do so Strengthen relationships with customers Write a letter to accompany a contribution to a good cause

Write a letter to accompany a gift

Related Goodwill-Letter Topics

Announce a business anniversary Announce a change in your company's name Announce a change of address Announce a change of business address Announce a drug testing program Announce a new business, store, or branch office Announce a new partner Announce a new product or service Announce or introduce a new salesperson Announce the birth or adoption of a baby (personal letter) Announce the death of an employee or an employee's relative Approve a loan Approve a proposal Approve a vacation or leave of absence Approve attendance at a conference or seminar Authorize medical treatment Cancel a wedding Confirm an appointment, meeting, or interview Confirm an error correction or revision Confirm an oral agreement Confirm that you have given authorization to someone Correct a customer's error or assertion Correct an error in a payment made or received Correct your own error in a transaction Disagree with a subordinate, a superior, or a person in authority Dismiss an employee for reasons beyond the employee's control Extend invitations to seasonal parties: Halloween, St. Patrick's Day, Valentine's Day, etc. (business and personal)

Extend invitations to winter holiday parties (business and personal) Follow up during a job search after a lapse of time Follow up during a job search after a telephone contact Follow up during a job search after an interview Grant an appointment Grant approval for credit Grant permission to use or publish materials Inform employees of another's illness Network by discussing publications or speeches Offer a suggestion to a customer Offer a suggestion to a religious leader Offer a suggestion to a superior Offer a suggestion to a supplier or retailer Offer the use of a charge account Prepare a prospective customer to receive a sales telephone call Request a favor Request an individual to volunteer services Request assistance or cooperation from someone in another firm Request confirmation of an authorization to take action Request correction of a billing error Request correction of an error in a check Request correction of an error in a credit report Resell to long-time customers Respond to a complaint and treat it as valuable feedback Respond to a complaint of discrimination or sexual harassment Respond to a complaint while avoiding agreement or denying liability, and refusing to make an adjustment

Respond to a complaint while avoiding or denying liability, but making an adjustment

Respond to a complaint, but needing more information Respond to a sales rejection

Respond to rumors Write a recommendation or a reference about someone Write to former stockholders or investors

Inquiry Letters
Quickly and effortlessly create model inquiry letters

With WriteExpress software you get example inquiry letters to help you find the perfect words to say, plus choice phrases and sentences recommended by professionals.

How to write an inquiry letter:

Be courteous. Remember, by making this request you are imposing on the readers time and/or resources. Dont send an inquiry letter for information that you could easily find out by other means, such as with a quick search on the Internet.

Your letter can be fairly short, but it should be long enough to adequately explain what it is that you are inquiring about and what you want the reader to do in response to your letter.

Generally, give at least a couple of weeks for the person, company, or organization to respond to your inquiry before sending a follow-up letter or making a follow-up phone call.

If appropriate, you may want to mention that you will keep any information provided confidential. (This may increase the likelihood that the reader will respond to your inquiry.)

Make it as easy as possible for the person to respond to your request. This might mean offering to pay for any needed photocopies or mailing costs, or perhaps including a self-addressed, stamped envelope; necessary forms, questionnaires, or other documents; and so forth.

Make sure to include contact information so that the person can easily get in touch with you if necessary, such as your cell or home phone number or e-mail address.

When the person responds to your inquiry, it is a good idea to send a quick note of thanks expressing your appreciation and telling how the information helped (or can help) you. If appropriate, you may want to offer to return the favor in the future.

How to respond to an inquiry letter:

Specifically indicate the inquiry that was made, as you understand it. Express your appreciation for the persons interest. If possible, personally respond to the inquiry. You might want to include with your response letter any brochures, catalogs, reports, or other helpful information available.

If appropriate, clearly describe any action you feel the person should take and the reason(s) for such a recommendation. (However, you may want to use caution because of any possible liability you might incur for offering such advice.)

If you can not personally answer the persons question, let him/her know that you have contacted the person who can and that he/she will shortly be in touch with the reader. If this is not possible, express your regret for being unable to help the reader, and try to find out for him/her the contact information for someone who can help.

If appropriate, you might want to include additional information about your organization, the products or services you sell, or the subject matter of the inquiry, beyond the scope of the original inquiry.

Close by saying that you would be happy to help the reader in the future if he/she needs further assistance or by wishing him/her well in his/her endeavor or project, etc.

Inquiry Letter Tips:

Begin your letter by stating who you are and giving your status or position (such as student, researcher, interested consumer, etc.), and tell how you found out about the individual or entity that you are writing to.

Clearly state what it is that you are inquiring about and what you would like the recipient of your letter to do. Make your inquiry as specific as possible.

You might want to briefly explain the purpose of your letter or what you hope to accomplish. Such an explanation may prompt the recipient of your letter to act more quickly.

If appropriate, consider mentioning the letter recipients qualifications for responding to your inquiry (this may prompt him/her to act when he/she might otherwise be hesitant to do so). For example, you could explain that you are writing to the reader because she is a leader in her field and the accepted authority on the subject you are interested in.

Include the date by which you need the information, services, etc. that you are requesting, and indicate that you await the readers response.

Thank the person for his/her time.

With WriteExpress, writing an inquiry letter is as easy as one, two, three!

1. Choose from a variety of prewritten inquiry letters that cover many common situations. Copy letters directly into Microsoft Word or your favorite word processor. 2. Or, let our software guide you step-by-step through the writing process, suggesting sample sentences and phrases during each writing step. In minutes, you can write an effective inquiry letter. 3. Print your inquiry letter and send it!

For each topic you get several inquiry letters already written for you:

Ask for personal advice Answer a request for information on a product or service Give general advice Request a copy of an official document Request a response to a survey or questionnaire Request an explanation for a denial of credit Request application materials for admission to college Request confirmation of receipt of earlier mailings Request estimates or bids Request information Request information about an applicant Request information from a government agency Request samples or information about products or services Respond to an inquiry about products or services Thank someone for an inquiry Thank someone for information Use networking in a job search Write a letter in a job search

Transmittal Letters
Quickly and effortlessly create transmittal letters to clarify your desires and instructions.

With WriteExpress software you get example transmittal letters to help you find the perfect words to say, plus choice phrases and sentences recommended by professionals.

What is a transmittal letter?

Transmittal letters are often used to accompany drafts or contracts that are being sent for review or approval. They also accompany contracts with signatures.

Generally speaking, a transmittal letter accompanies a document and explains what the document is, why it should receive the reader's consideration, and what the reader should do with it.

Letters of transmittal provide the opportunity to remind a reader of a report title and to highlight points of interest. The letter may also contain sensitive or confidential information that is related to, but not a part of, the report.

If you are sending a transmittal letter to accompany supplies, equipment, etc. that are being sent to someone within the company, that person's concerns are the same as those of any other customer, and he or she should receive the same consideration.

How to write a transmittal letter:

Establish good will. Make your transmittal letter as clear and neat as possible. Keep your letters brief (usually no more than one page). Include important dates or deadlines that the reader should be made aware of. Identify the contents of the package you send when sending a bid, proposal, or quotation in response to a request. Your letter of transmittal should address your client, and it should briefly explain the title of the enclosed proposal or other document, delineate the research completed to produce the document, and outline the major sections of the document.

Answer questions not covered in your company literature when accompanying examples or information requested by a customer or potential client.

Promote further sales when sending a transmittal letter with a customer's order by reminding the reader of the product's good qualities.

With WriteExpress, writing a transmittal letter is as easy as one, two, three!

1. Choose from a variety of prewritten transmittal letters that cover many common situations. Copy letters directly into Microsoft Word or your favorite word processor. 2. Or, let our software guide you step-by-step through the writing process, suggesting sample sentences and phrases during each writing step. In minutes, you can write an effective transmittal letter. 3. Print your transmittal letter and send it!

For each topic you get several transmittal letters already written for you:

Transmit a bid, proposal, or quotation Transmit a contract Transmit a document for review, correction, or other action Transmit a fax Transmit a manuscript to be considered for publication Transmit a payment Transmit a progress report, an analytical study, a formal report, or a manuscript for use within an organization Transmit a shipment of merchandise that a customer has purchased Transmit an advertising copy to a magazine or other media Transmit equipment or supplies that a company employee has requested Transmit informational or sales literature

Here's what our customers are saying:

This product is absolutely better than I ever imagined!

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I am recommending 3,001 Business & Sales Letters to all of my friends and clients. What a simple, easy-to-use program!

Sample covering letter for a speculative / direct approach to a company

12 Fairfax Close Stableton Bristol BS12 5RT Kenneth Brown Molson plc 14-24 Cable Street Bristol BS2 4RT 25 July Dear Mr Brown Yesterday's Evening Post reported that you are expanding your sales and servicing activities. This highlighted your potential requirement for additional staff for your new branches. I am currently looking for opportunities to make use of my experience of working in a service centre and would therefore be extremely interested in any potential vacancies that might arise. Over the past ten years I have worked in customer services, initially in retail and most recently for a major plc. This work has included: taking bookings from customers and organising job schedules for service engineers in a service centre; training and supervising a team; setting up and running a customer complaints service; and handling customer account queries. Full details of my skills and experience are contained in my CV, which I have enclosed. I will phone next week to establish whether a meeting would be appropriate. I would very much like to discuss any potential opening with you. Yours sincerely; Sally Jones Sample covering letter - in response to an advertisement

Types of Resume Cover Letters 2. Speculative Cover Letters/The Direct Approach

When you use the direct approach, you are specifically addressing the employer as someone who has a need which you have the skills to meet. And sometimes you can even target the employer before he or she actually realizes a need exists, or at least before he or she has found time to draft an advert. You realize the need exists and have approached the employer with your ability to fill that need, effectively beating him or her to the punch. In your letter you need to show the employer you've done your homework and realize the need or needs exists. You can find this information in news articles, from personal contacts,

in publications, and so on. You can refer to this information at the beginning of your letter. Our cover letter examples will show you how. If you do this, your prospective employer is much more likely to be receptive to considering you for the job. He or she will know that you have done your homework and not simply picked out a company at random. Finally, remember that these are speculative enquiries. Its likely you will get more rejections or no replies than you will invitations for interview but this is normal. Keep going - chances are your letter will find the right person at the right time in some cases.