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Are job interviews challenging for you? Do you struggle to give concise answers to interview questions? Are you unsure how to share your accomplishments during an interview without sounding boastful? What's the best way to let the interviewer know that you're the right candidate for the job?

The STAR interview response method can help make the process easier. Using this method of answering interview questions allows you to share concrete examples of how you successfully handled situations at work to show that you possess the experience and skills required for the job you're interviewing for.

Read below for a detailed description of the STAR interview response technique and examples of how to best use it.

Key Takeaways

STAR: Situation, Task, Action, Result

STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result. Using this strategy is particularly helpful in response to competency-focused questions, which typically start with phrases such as, "Describe a time when..." or, "Share an example of a situation where...."

What Is the STAR Interview Response Method?

The STAR interview response method is a way of answering behavioral interview questions. Behavioral interview questions are questions about how you have behaved in the past. Specifically, they are about how you have handled certain work situations.

Employers using this technique analyze jobs and define the skills and qualities that high-level performers have exhibited in that job. Since past performance can be a good predictor of the future, interviewers ask these questions to determine whether candidates have the skills and experiences required to excel in the job.

For example, employers might be looking for proof of problem-solving skills, analytical ability, creativity, perseverance through failure, writing skills, presentation skills, teamwork orientation, persuasive skills, quantitative skills, or accuracy.

Examples of behavioral interview questions include the following:

Tell me about an occasion when you had to complete a task under a tight deadline.

Have you ever gone above and beyond the call of duty?

What do you do when a team member refuses to complete his or her quota of the work?

Some interviewers structure their questions using the STAR technique. However, job seekers can also use the STAR interview method to prepare for behavioral interview questions.

STAR Key Concepts

STAR is an acronym for four key concepts. Each concept is a step the job candidate can take when answering a behavioral interview question. By following all four steps, the job candidate will provide a comprehensive answer. The four steps referenced in the acronym are the following:

Situation: Describe the context within which you performed a job or faced a challenge at work. For example, perhaps you were working on a group project, or you had a conflict with a co-worker. This situation can be drawn from a work experience, a volunteer position, or any other relevant event. Be as specific as possible.

Task: Next, describe your responsibility in that situation. Perhaps you had to help your group complete a project within a tight deadline, resolve a conflict with a co-worker, or hit a sales target.

Action: You then describe how you completed the task or endeavored to meet the challenge. Focus on what you did rather than what your team, boss, or co-worker did.

Note

Result: Finally, explain the outcomes or results generated by the action taken. It may be helpful to emphasize what you accomplished or what you learned.

How To Prepare for an Interview Using STAR

Since you won't know in advance what interviewing techniques your interviewer will be using, you'll benefit from preparing several scenarios from the jobs you've held.

Make a list of the job qualifications. First, make a list of the skills and/or experiences that are required for the job you're applying for. It may help to look at the job listing and similar job listings for indications of the required or preferred skills/qualities. You can then match your qualifications to those listed in the posting.

Create a list of examples. Then, consider specific examples of occasions when you displayed those skills. For each example, name the situation, task, action, and result.

Match your skills to the job. Whatever examples you select, make sure they are as closely related to the job you're interviewing for as possible.

Prepare a response. For each example, prepare a brief response:

Describe the situation (2-3 sentences).

Explain your task (1-2 sentences).

Describe the action you took (2-3 sentences).

Share your result (2-3 sentences).

Examples of Interview Questions and Answers Using STAR

Tell me about a time you had to complete a task within a tight deadline. Describe the situation and explain how you handled it.

Example Answer

What do you do when a team member doesn't complete their share of the work?

Example Answer

Tell me about a time you showed initiative on the job.

Example Answer

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How can you share examples of your achievements during a job interview?

What can you do when you can't think of an answer to an interview question?

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How to Use the STAR Interview Response Method

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Are job interviews challenging for you? Do you struggle to give concise answers to interview questions? Are you unsure how to share your accomplishments during an interview without sounding boastful? What's the best way to let the interviewer know that you're the right candidate for the job?

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1. Tell me about yourself.
2. What are your strengths?
3. What are your weaknesses?
4. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
5. What do you know about our company?
6. How well do you handle change?
7. Do you work well under pressure?
8. How do you make important decisions?
9. what experience do you have that relates to this job?
10. Do you have any questions for us?

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Tell Me About Yourself - A Good Answer To This Interview Question

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You're about to prepare a recent college graduate resume.

Whether you're diving into data, hurrying into healthcare, or flying into finance, you are ready to embrace post-grad life-and you need a college grad resume that shows off your best skills.
This recent college graduate resume guide will show you:

Recent graduate resume examples better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.

How to write a resume for a recent college graduate that gets more interviews.

Tips on how to put skills and achievements on a college grad resume.

How to describe your experience to get any recent graduate jobs you want.

Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It's fast and easy to use. Plus, you'll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.
Create your resume now
Sample college graduate resume-See more resume templates here.

One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:

[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.

We have resume guides no matter which level of education you've accomplished:

1

What's the Best Format for a College Graduate Resume?

Remember cramming before a major exam?

Prospective employers skim through resumes just that fast.

But-

It's a measly 7-second glance per resume, as our HR statistics report shows. Those who don't make it past that first scan must continue their job hunt elsewhere.

Use the chronological format.

This structure keeps your resume in order like the campus police. HR managers and recruiters across all industries are familiar with this resume layout.
Here's how to format a resume for recent college graduates:

Start off with a compelling resume objective or resume summary.

Document your knowledge in the education resume section.

Talk up any experience you may have earned during your studies.

List skills and abilities you have which match the job advertisement.

Stand out from other applicants by adding extra resume sections.

Select good resume fonts to ensure it's legible. Use white space and section headings to guide the recruiter easily through your various resume sections.

Lastly-

As you're fresh out of university, your education is almost always more impressive than your work experience. Place your job history below unless you've had relevant experience during your college years.

Don't have any work experience yet?

No problem. Just lose that section and go hard on the others.

Pro Tip: Save recent college grad resumes in the PDF format. Like an accredited school, the PDF format ensures it is accepted no matter which device the HR staff view it on.

Don't think the reverse-chronological format is right for your new graduate resume? There are other options. See our guide: Best Resume Format: What Resume Model to Choose? [+ Resume Format Examples]

When you prepared an academic paper, causing the reader to snooze was a point in your favor.

Not so on a recent college grad resume.

Write a heading statement that focuses the recruiter's attention like a triple espresso.

You've got two options: the resume summary or resume objective.

Got experience in your prospective industry from some part-time work or an internship?

Use the resume summary.

The summary statement is a short paragraph summing up your experience and skills. Use an accomplishment with numbers to prove your value to them.

Here's an example college graduate summary for a data science job:

College Graduate Resume Examples: Resume Summary

Both look pretty impressive, huh?

At first.

However, in the right example, you give a key win or accomplishment with numbers to back it up. It proves your experience rather than giving a laundry list of duties.

But, what if you have no relevant work experience?

Use a resume objective.

The objective tells your prospective workplace how your career goals align with their plans. You'll still use relevant skills, experience, and quantifiable achievements.

Here are two recent college graduate resume objective statement examples:

Recent Graduate Resume Examples: Resume Objective

Here, the right example briefs them on your background, gives a key achievement, and it even mentions the company's name to let them know you tailored your resume to the job.

Now this is an objective that's Magna Cum Laude!

Pro Tip: Whether you choose a resume objective or summary, it goes at the top of your new college graduate resume. However, you don't need to write it first. Instead, save writing it for the end, so you have the rest of your resume to inform its creation.

Want more advice on writing a career summary or career objective on a college graduate resume template? Check out our guides: Professional Resume Summary Examples [20+ Resume Summary Statement Examples] and General Resume Objective Examples [20+Examples of Great Career Objectives]
3
Is Your Education Section Underperforming? It Might Be

Graduation is likely to be one of your biggest achievements to date, especially where job hunting is concerned.

That means-

Your education section is crucially important to get right.

Here's how to list education on resumes:

College Grad Resume Examples-Education Section
2019 BS in Computer Science Cornell University. Ithaca, NY
Minor: Data Science

Relevant Coursework: Python for Data Science, Research Design and Application for Data and Analysis, Statistics for Data Science, Fundamentals of Data Engineering, Applied Machine Learning, Experiments and Causal Inference, ML at Scale.

Honors & Awards: Dean's List (past 5 semesters)

As you may have noticed, you need not list the range of dates in your degree program; the year you earned your degree will suffice.

Also, skip the GPA on a resume. Unless it's super close to a 4.0, it'll just hurt your chances while taking up space.

Since you're a recent grad, go ham on your education section. Add any honors and awards, minors, publications, and especially any coursework relevant to your job field.

Finally, don't add your high school diploma since you've completed university.

Pro Tip: If you took part in an externship during your university studies, add that information here in your education section. If it's an internship, however, place that in your work experience section, which we'll talk about now.

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.

When you're done, Zety's resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.

Got another educational scenario? Check this guide out: Education Resume Section: How to List High School & College Education

According to the NCES, employment rates for those with bachelor's degrees and highers in 2017 were lower than they were in 2000. On top of that, there were almost 50% more bachelor's degrees awarded in 2017 vs 2000.

Needless to say, there's a LOT of competition.

How to beat other newly graduated candidates?

If you have relevant job experience from before you graduated, such as a college internship, write a work history section to put yourself ahead of other applicants.

Don't only list your job responsibilities. Include key accomplishments with numbers to prove your abilities.

Here are two college intern resume samples:

Entry-Level Experience for Graduate Resume-Internship Examples

Data Science Intern
January 2018-December 2018
Price Capital, New York, NY
Key Qualifications & Responsibilities

Performed alpha extraction of useful insights from large structured and unstructured data sets

Evaluated and analyzed existing and new data sets to generate quantitative fundamental insights or model relevant financial metrics

Applied statistical analysis, natural language processing, and machine learning methods to large data sets for data mining, feature engineering, bias correction, and prediction

Key Achievement
Pioneered new alpha extraction method which led to 135% increase in investment returns.

Data Scientist Intern
January 2018-December 2018
Price Capital, New York, NY
Key Responsibilities

Created AI models.

Assisted with statistical analysis.

Designed automated pipelines.

Like an assignment without your name on it, the second internship experience is not ready to hand in.

It's lacks the oomph of the first example: detailed responsibilities and a numbered achievement.

But-

What if you're writing a new college grad resume without relevant experience?

No worries.

Talk up your most significant duties and achievements to show them your work ethic matches their company values:

Recent College Grad Resume Example-No Related Experience

Bank Teller & Consultant
January 2016-December 2018
Price Capital, New York, NY
Key Qualifications & Responsibilities

Recorded transactions and prepared currency transaction reports.

Reconciled cash drawer by proving cash transactions.

Assisted clients with AI program to help identify perfect loan products.

Key Achievement
Adopted ML and AI to increase loan applications and approvals by 250%.

Experience as a bank teller seems to have hardly anything to do with our other example of becoming a data analyst. However, pick the responsibilities and achievements you have which are most relevant.

No fluff, just the good stuff.

If you've done some freelance work or online gigs, add only the most impressive one.

And, if you are writing a resume for your first job, just skip the work history section. However, be sure to double down in the other areas if you want to stay in the running!

Pro Tip: Use action verbs to begin each job duty and accomplishment. However, don't choose the same tired words that everyone else uses (e.g., responsible for). Use power words to give it some life.

Check what else to put in your experience section in our guide Work Experience on a Resume: Job Description Bullets that *Kill* [100+]

Up till now in your life, you've earned hella skills.

But-

They span the spectrum, from financial management to social etiquette. Which skills to add to a recent grad resume template?

Not to worry.

First, create a simple table or list of skills, like this one below.

Include hard and soft skills: hard skills are ones you study and learn (e.g., Microsoft Office), and soft skills are ones you develop during life (e.g., decision making skills).

Top 14 Skills for New Graduate Resumes

But-

Don't just add a list of random skills and call it a day.

Your resume will receive an immediate suspension.

Rather, go back to the job description to figure out the specific skills your company requires.

Here's a data analyst job description, for example:

You will build and maintain reporting dashboards and management tools to help stakeholders make decisions [1]

You will develop and manage systems and data models for new and rapidly-evolving business processes - including our sales funnel, global expansion, member value programming and more

You will systematically improve our operations by identifying opportunities, deriving business hypotheses on how we might leverage those opportunities, and validating those hypotheses through experimentation [2]

Institute data capture systems and processes to help us understand what's going on in our business and in our spaces around the world

Capture holistic data and use that insight to identify creative ways to improve financial and operational performance [3]

Reading the job ad thoroughly makes it a breeze to pick the right skills:

New College Grad Resume Samples-Skills Section

Skilled in making informed decisions from management tools [1]

Efficient at identifying unique business opportunities [2]

Effective at capturing and gaining insight from holistic data [3]

Adding skills like our second example is just like taking Underwater Basket Weaving 101-

Useless.

The right example, however, is tailored perfectly for this particular job.

Finally, keep the ATS in mind.

An applicant tracking system is software which helps larger companies and recruitment firms handle the numerous resumes they receive each day.

HR managers scan resumes into the software. Next, they give the program specific resume keywords to search for on those resumes. Then, they receive a score back for each resume based on how well they match the job description.

No match, no job!

Pro Tip: Soft skills are great, but lean towards "going hard" in your skills section. Save your cover letter and interview for showing them you have great social skills and problem-solving abilities.

Want more tips for writing the skills section for new grad resumes? See our guide: 99 Key Skills for a Resume (All Types of Professional Skills with Examples Included!).

Here's the thing: every recent uni grad will have these previous sections on their resume.

How will you stand out?

Include additional resume sections to show you're one of a kind.

Here are great extra sections to include on a resume for post-college jobs:

College Graduate Resume Samples: Extra Sections

Many employers weigh official certificates heavier than even your degree (don't tell your parents). Add relevant ones, such as CompTIA A+ for IT or the Red Cross BLS/CPR certification for medical professions.

Volunteer experience on recent graduate resumes is an awesome way to add work experience when you don't have any paid job history. If you have multiple volunteer positions in your past, choose the most job-appropriate ones.

In this globalized world, proficiency in a second language is more important than ever. Add the language and your skill level in it in a standardized proficiency scale.

Adding your interests, pastimes, passions, and hobbies to a resume is a great way to subtly talk up skill sets.
Professional Portfolio
Not a resume section, per se, but an impressive addition for certain industries, nonetheless! For example, if you've written on a personal blog, a portfolio of those articles would look great for marketing positions. Add the portfolio URL to your resume contact information section.

And speaking of your contact deets-

Your address on the resume is core, but here are a few pointers to set it up for success:

Your contact info goes at the very top, above your resume summary or objective on a single-column resume, but beside it on a two-column resume.

Give them a professional email address. You're all growed up now, no more "sexybae69xxx@yahoo.com."

Add relevant social links. LinkedIn is always a good idea, but rarely Facebook or Twitter. Designers can add Behance, while IT pros might add GitHub, for example.

Avoid unnecessary or potentially harmful information, such as date of birth, citizenship status, marriage status, or race.

Skip the address on the resume unless it is important for local jobs. Check the job ad.

Include a branding statement as a subtitle below your name to stand out.

Finally, optimize your LinkedIn profile!

We've got a great guide on the best things to include in a resume and a tutorial on resume sections and categories. Check them out!

Pro Tip: Your college career advisor may have suggested adding references to a resume. Don't do it. Employers know that " references are available upon request," and you can use that precious real estate to include more important items.

A resume without a cover letter is like failing a core class-

You'll just have to do it over.

Always attach a cover letter, as 53% of employers say the resume alone is insufficient.

Here's how to write recent college grad cover letters as refreshing as a gap year:

Start with a compelling introduction on your job or university intern cover letter.

Explain why you are the best candidate for the post-college job position.

Add numbered achievements like on your college resume template.

Show them you're excited to be a part of this company and their team.

Close it out with a powerful call-to-action for the best chance at the job.

Also, never write a generic cover letter (if you want the job, at least). Recruiters hate spam.

Your recent grad entry-level cover letter is the first impression you'll make on the hiring manager-

If they're not impressed, this college resume is irrelevant.

Pro Tip: Before sending everything off, proofread and get a friend to check it all for errors and inconsistencies. Then, check your online presence -you don't want to be derailed by one stupid frat party photo you forgot to take down!

Want to know more cover letter tricks that always work? See these articles: 35+ Best Cover Letter Tips, Advice & Guidelines and How to Write a Job-Winning Cover Letter in 8 Simple Steps (12+ Examples)

Also, don't forget to see a dedicated cover letter example for recent grads: Recent Graduate Cover Letter

Ready for the interview? Prepare yourself with these guides: 50+ Interview Tips that Work, Interview Questions & Answers, and Questions to Ask the Interviewer.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Key Takeaway

Making a uni grad resume was easy as a Netflixer, right?

Let's sum it all up.

Here's how to write a resume for recent college graduates:

Use the reverse-chronological format to make it familiar and easy for HR.

Begin with an intriguing college grad resume objective or summary.

List your educational achievements with relevant coursework and honors.

Talk up any experience and internships you have using relevant wins.

Document your skills in a list which uses the job ad to pick applicable ones.

Include extra college resume sections to stand out from the other new grads.

Attach a fascinating recent graduate cover letter to your university resume.

Now THIS is a college graduate resume that aces Career Ready 101!
Got any questions on how to write a recent grad resume? Not sure how to talk about fresh graduate resume skills or professional achievements? Get at us in the comments below, and thanks for reading!

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Recent College Graduate Resume Examples (New Grads)

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You're about to prepare a recent college graduate resume. Whether you're diving into data, hurrying into healthcare, or flying into finance, you are ready to embrace post-grad life-and you need a college grad resume that shows off your best skills.

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We're here to help.

Student and Graduates Resume Writing

Graduate Resume Sample
Like the look of this? Stand out from other graduates and students, by creating your resume in minutes with templates that make hiring managers and recruiters take notice.

Sections to Include in a Student or Graduate Resume

Here's a quick overview of the sections that you should include in every resume you write, regardless of how you customize it for each job advertisement or speculative cover letter.

Contact and Professional Social Media details. List your professional email address - (not that 'hilarious' one you signed up for when you were 13!) - your phone number, and your professional social network profile).

Professional Resume Summary: A summary for a resume needs to dash off your professional achievements and your skills that are relevant to the job ad.

A Relevant Professional Title: A professional title for a resume will need to match the position/title that is advertised in the job ad, such as 'media graduate, junior developer, or paralegal'.

Education and certificates: Include your thesis, if it's relevant, and add key courses related to the job. Include your grade point average, scholarships or university medals - if you have them.

Relevant Experience: Don't stress about this, we all started somewhere. Include any paid, unpaid or volunteer roles you held during your studies. No experience? No worries! Skip over to this dedicated guide with resume tips for students with no experience yet.

Skills and expertise: Wizard at Word? Proficient in Photoshop? Google Ad Words guru? Make sure to include your key hard and soft skills (more on this soon).

What about those 'nice-to-have' but not mandatory sections?

Here's a few you can put in or leave out, based on the role and your own judgement.

Conferences, courses and certificates

Student organizations, clubs, or networks

Publications and awards

Volunteer Experience

Personal Projects

Think you already have enough information to create your student or graduate resume?

Check out our intuitive resume builder, job-hunting tips and resume examples to help you choose the best resume template to reach recruiters and hiring managers.

How to Write a Resume Summary for a Student or Graduate Resume

Let's get moving on the content of your resume, starting with your resume summary.

Hold up! Wondering what a resume summary is?

It's quite straightforward.

Basically, a resume summary it's a short paragraph at the start of your resume which sums up your experience and suitability for the role.

It's a bit like that elevator pitch you might hear people talk about in movies, start-ups or sales-driven business areas.

Instead of pitching a company or idea, you pitch you - and the benefits and value you bring.

Time for us to look at Jane's resume to see this in action.

Her summary is clear and direct.

Being in business means knowing about a lot of interconnected areas and Jane shows that she is versatile by highlighting her 'proven and tested' skills in procurement, marketing and sales - just some of the key areas that every solid business professional needs.

Resume Summary Example for Students

"An independent and self-motivated business student with proven and tested business, procurement, sales, and marketing skills."

"An award-winning and confident communication graduate, able to establish rapport quickly and conduct training sessions with clarity and enthusiasm."

Top Skills to Include in a Student or Graduate Resume

Let's take a look at some of Jane's skills now.

She includes a nice mix of technical (hard) and soft skills on her resume.

She talks about her proficiency with Google advertising technology, Typeform, and SendGrid, while highlighting four in-demand soft skills.

Now you might be worried that you don't have any of the skills Jane lists in her resume.

Don't worry, we bet you have plenty that you can include once you give it some thought.

Your hard skills will differ drastically based on what you've studied too.

And here's a little secret that will lift your confidence and readiness to complete your resume.

There are some Soft Skills that almost every single employer will need.

Here they are:

Top Skills for a Student Resume

Communication

Teamwork

Adaptability

Punctuality

Organization

Flexibility

Problem Solving Abilities

Motivation

Patience

Persuasion

How many of them would you add to your college resume template?

How to Stand Out From the Crowd as a Student or Fresh Graduate

You clever clogs out there are probably asking: "What if you share these skills with many other applicants?"

How on earth do you stand out?

Simple: you highlight your individual achievements and how they relate to the job.

Jane does this by linking her past work and volunteer experience to results. She successfully overcame personal targets - suggesting she's driven - for three months in a row.

This kind of example is a really strong way to show a high-performance attitude, without bragging or claiming 'I'm a high performer'. It's showing, not telling.

A lack of experience is one of the big worries that students and graduates have when first applying for jobs and working on new resumes.

Look how Jane solves this problem by highlighting her leadership in event planning and social media while at University.

Feeling inspired? Ready to create a resume that helps you get that interview?

Suggested Reading:

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Graduate Resume Guide & Sample [Plus 10 Skills for Savvy Job-hunters]

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We're here to help. Like the look of this? Stand out from other graduates and students, by creating your resume in minutes with templates that make hiring managers and recruiters take notice. Here's a quick overview of the sections that you should include in every resume you write, regardless of how you customize it for each job advertisement or speculative cover letter.

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Review the question below. Identify the key points that are needed. Construct the cover letter and post your work here.

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No matter where you are in your career, or what job you're applying for, submitting a cover letter with your resume is a must.

Done right, a cover letter will effectively complement your resume and explain to the hiring manager in more detail why you're the right person for the job.

Writing a cover letter, however, is easier said than done.

You have to effectively demonstrate that you'll be able to perform the responsibilities listed in the job description and that you'd be a better fit for the company compared to other candidates.

And unless you're a professional writer, this can be a very hard task.

Fortunately, we created these cover letter examples to inspire you and help you get started with your own cover letter!

Let's dive in!

21 Cover Letter Examples

#1. Career Change Cover Letter Example

Here's what this cover letter does right:

#5. Ph.D. Cover Letter Example

Here's what this cover letter does right:

Attention-grabbing introduction. In the opening paragraph, this candidate explains why they're passionate about pursuing a Ph.D. in great detail.

Explains the candidate's qualifications in detail. The candidate builds on their passion by explaining how they're also qualified for the degree because of their education history and academic achievements.

What is a Cover Letter?

A cover letter is a one-page document that you submit as part of your job application, alongside your resume.

Its purpose is to introduce you and briefly summarize your professional background. On average, your cover letter should be from 250 to 400 words long.

A good cover letter can give the hiring manager more insight into what makes you a good candidate and help them make up their mind about whether they should invite you for an interview. A bad cover letter, though, will get ignored (at best) and lose you the job (at worst).

So, to make sure this doesn't happen, it's essential to know how to write a convincing cover letter.

The first thing to remember is that a cover letter is a supplement to your resume, not a replacement. Meaning, you shouldn't just repeat whatever is mentioned in your resume and call it a day.

Optimally, you should use your cover letter to shed more light on your skills and qualifications, as well as explain anything you didn't have space for in your resume (e.g. a career gap or why you're changing careers).

If you're writing a cover letter for the first time, though, putting all this together might seem pretty tough.

Fortunately, you can follow our tried-and-tested format to make the experience much easier:

Header - Input your contact information.

Greeting the hiring manager - Open the cover letter with a "Dear Sir or Madam," or use the hiring manager's name if you know what that is.

Opening paragraph - Grab the hiring manager's attention by getting straight to the point. Mention what your professional experiences are, and what role you're applying for.

The second paragraph - Explain why you're the perfect candidate for the job. Mention your top 2-3 achievements, your top skills, why you want to work in that specific industry, and whatever else is relevant.

The third paragraph - End your cover letter with a call to action. E.g. "I would love to meet personally and discuss how I can help Company X."

Formal closing - Something like this: "Thank you for your consideration. Best, John Doe."

Here's what this looks like in practice:

9 Tips to Write a Cover Letter (the Right Way)

Now that we've covered the basics, let's talk about cover letter tips. Below, we'll give you all the knowledge you need to take your cover letter from "OK" to "great."

#1. Pick the right template

A good cover letter is all about leaving the right first impression.

And what's a better way to leave a good impression than through a professional, well-formatted, and visual template?

You can simply pick one of our tried-and-tested cover letter templates and you'll be all set!

#3. Greet the hiring manager the right way

Once you've listed all your relevant contact information, it's time to address the hiring manager reading your cover letter.

A good practice here is to find the hiring manager's name and address them directly instead of using the traditional "dear sir or madam." This shows that you're really invested in the company and that you took your time to do some research about the job.

So, how can you find out the hiring manager's name?

One way to do this is by looking up the head of the company's relevant department on LinkedIn. Let's say you're applying for the position of Communication Specialist at Novoresume. The hiring manager is probably the Head of Communications or the Chief Communications Office.

Or let's say you're applying for the position of server at a restaurant. In that case, you'd be looking to find out who the restaurant manager is.

If this doesn't work, you can also check out the "Team" page on the company website; there's a good chance you'll at least find the right person there.

If you still can't find out the hiring manager's name, here are several other greetings you can use:

Dear [Department] Hiring Manager

Dear Hiring Manager

To whom it may concern

Dear [Department] Team

#4. Create an attention-grabbing introduction

Recruiters get hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of applications. Chances are, they're not going to be reading every single cover letter end-to-end.

So, it's essential to catch their attention from the very first paragraph.

The problem with most cover letter opening paragraphs, though, is that they're usually extremely generic, often looking something like this:

Hey, my name is Jonathan and I'd like to work as a Sales Manager at XYZ Inc. I've worked as a sales manager at MadeUpCompany Inc. for 5+ years, so I believe that I'd be a good fit for the position.

As you can probably tell, this opening paragraph doesn't tell the hiring manager anything other than that you've worked the job before - and that's not really helpful in setting you apart from other candidates.

What you want to do, instead, is start off with 2-3 of your top achievements to really grab the reader's attention. Preferably, the achievements should be as relevant as possible to the position.

For example:

Dear Josh, My name's Michael and I'd like to help XYZ Inc. hit and exceed its sales goals as a Sales Manager. I've worked with Company X, a fin-tech company, for 3+ years. As a Sales Representative, I generated an average of $30,000+ in sales per month (beating the KPIs by around 40%). I believe that my previous industry experience, as well as my excellence in sales, makes me the right candidate for the role of X at Company Y.

The second example shows how the candidate is a top performer. The first just shows that they've worked a sales job before.

Which one are YOU more likely to invite for an interview?

Exactly!

#5. Show you're the perfect person for the job

One great thing about cover letters is that they allow you to expand more on the top achievements from your resume and really show the hiring manager that you're the right person for the job.

A good way to do that is to first read the job ad and really understand what skills/experiences are required, and then to ensure that your cover letter touches upon the said skills or experiences.

In my previous role as a Facebook Marketing Expert at XYZ Inc. I handled customer acquisition through ads, managing a monthly Facebook ad budget of $20,000+. As the sole digital marketer at the company, I managed the ad creation and management process end-to-end. This means I created the ad copy and images, as well as picked the targeting, ran optimization trials, and so on. Other than Facebook advertising, I've also delved into other online PPC channels, including:

Google Search

Twitter

Reddit

Quora

#6. Explain why you're a great company fit

The HR manager doesn't only look at whether you'll be good at the job or not. They're looking for someone that's also a good fit for the company culture.

After all, employees that don't fit in are bound to quit, sooner or later. This ends up costing the company a ton of money, up to 50% of the employee's annual salary.

To convince the hiring manager that you're a great company fit, do some research on the company and find out what it is you like about them, or about working there. You want to know things like:

What's the company's business model?

What's the company's product or service? Have you used it?

What's the culture like? Will someone micro-manage your work, or will you have autonomy on how you get things done?

Then, turn your top reasons for liking to work there into text and add them to your cover letter!

#7. Wrap up with a call to action

To make the end of your cover letter as memorable as possible, you want to:

#8. Write a formal closing

Once you're done with the final paragraph, all you have to do is write down a formal "goodbye" and you're good to go.

Feel free to use one of the most popular conclusions in a cover letter:

Best Regards,

Kind Regards,

Sincerely,

Thank you,

#9. Proofread your cover letter

Last but not least, make sure to always proofread each and every document that you'll be including in your job application - cover letter included.

The last thing you want is to be claiming you're a great candidate for the job with a cover letter full of typos!

Cover Letter Writing Checklist

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you still have some questions about cover letters? Check out the answers below:

Conclusion

And that's a wrap! We hope our cover letter examples and writing tips will inspire you to write a cover letter that will land you your next job.

If you're looking for more invaluable career advice and articles, make sure to check out our career blog, or any of these related articles:

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21+ Cover Letter Examples in 2023 [For All Professions]

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Professional, job-winning cover letter examples for different fields. Learn why they stand out, and create your own with our killer cover letter templates.

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Words to use when writing your C.V/resume - POWER VERBS

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Words to use when writing your C.V/resume - POWER VERBS

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What are power verbs?

Power verbs are action words that have positive meanings in English. When you use a power verb, you can communicate your message more strongly and confidently than when using other verbs. This is especially useful when you are applying for a job and want to appear as a confident and competent candidate. Power verbs can also make your writing more interesting and help prevent you from using the same words too many times.

The following sentences are examples from the Work Experience section of a resume. Notice the differences between the sentences.

Made new software for ABC Company. → Made is a weaker verb.
Developed new software for ABC Company. → Developed is a power verb. You sound more confident and interesting using 'developed'.

Where can I use power verbs?

Power verbs are useful in many situations. They are especially great for resumes, job interviews, and academic writing like essays.

Before you use a power verb...

Make sure you understand the exact meaning of the power verb you are going to use. You don't want to make a mistake with the word, especially on a resume.

Look the word up in a dictionary, search the internet for examples of sentences where it has been used, and if possible, find someone to check your sentence to make sure that you've used it correctly.

Make sure you are comfortable with the word before you use it.

Weak verbs to avoid: ☹

Here is a list of verbs you should avoid on your resume where possible:

GENERAL POWER VERB LIST

Here are some better alternatives to common weak words.

Weak Word: DID

Weak Word: MAKE

Weak Word: FIX

Weak Word: SHOW

Weak Words: TALK, SPEAK, WRITE, COMMUNICATE

Weak Word: KEEP

Weak Word: USE

Weak Word: GET

Weak Word: CHANGE, MAKE SOMETHING BETTER, GET RESULTS

Weak Word: HELP

Weak Word: ADD

Weak Word: START

POWER VERBS FOR SPECIFIC INDUSTRIES

Here are some power verbs we often use when talking about our experience in certain jobs and industries. This is not a complete list of power verbs. I have covered some of the most common power verbs in the list below, but there are many more. Please note that the same power verbs can be used for many different jobs, so if you see a power verb in one job category such as medicine, it may also apply to a different job too.

Customer Service, Tourism, Hospitality, Retail Store

Law & Legal Professions

Leader & Management

Business, Finance, Accounting

Public Sector & Government

Administrative, Clerical, Receptionist, Secretary

Teaching & Advising

Researcher, Scientist, Academic

IT, Computers, Tech

Medicine

Engineer

Machine Operator

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Power verbs are action words that have positive meanings in English. When you use a power verb, you can communicate your message more strongly and confidently than when using other verbs. This is especially useful when you are applying for a job and want to appear as a confident and competent candidate.

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2. Sample of those who have working experience looking for a new position.

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1. This is a sample for fresh graduate.

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I am a hard-working individual who enjoys working. I am excellent at meeting deadlines. I have two years of experience in business, and I would like to contribute to a business with my excellent skills and past work experience.

Revised version
A motivated, adaptable and responsible Computing graduate seeking a position in an IT position which will utilise the professional and technical skills developed through past work experiences in this field. I have a methodical, customer-focused approach to work and a strong drive to see things through to completion.

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How to write a CV profile [or personal statement] and get noticed

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A personal profile, also known as a personal statement, career objective and professional profile, is one of the most important aspects of your CV. It’s a short paragraph that sits just underneath your name and contact details giving prospective employers an overview of who you are and what you’re all about.

Try to address the following in your profile:

Who are you?

What can you offer the company?

What are your career goals?

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How to write a CV [Get noticed by employers]

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In U.K. it is called C.V (Curriculum Vitae) which in Latin means ‘(the) course of (my) life’.
In US, it is called resume which is basically French for 'summary'

1. The main difference between a resume and CV is the length and amount of detail.

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Curriculum Vitae (CV) is Latin for "course of life." In contrast, resume is French for "summary." Both CVs & Resumes:

Are tailored for the specific job/company you are applying to

Should represent you as the best qualified candidate

Are used to get you an interview

Do not usually include personal interests

If you are applying for both academic as well as industry (private or public sector) positions, you will need to prepare both a resume and a CV.

Curriculum Vitae vs. Resume: Format and Content

The CV presents a full history of your academic credentials, so the length of the document is variable. In contrast, a resume presents a concise picture of your skills and qualifications for a specific position, so length tends to be shorter and dictated by years of experience (generally 1-2 pages).

CVs are used by individuals seeking fellowships, grants, postdoctoral positions, and teaching/research positions in postsecondary institutions or high-level research positions in industry. Graduate school applications typically request a CV, but in general are looking for a resume that includes any publications and descriptions of research projects.

In many European countries, CV is used to describe all job application documents, including a resume. In the United States and Canada, CV and resume are sometimes used interchangeably. If you are not sure which kind of document to submit, it is best to ask for clarification.

Emphasize skills

Used when applying for a position in industry, non-profit, and public sector

Is no longer than 2 pages, with an additional page for publications and/or poster presentations if highly relevant to the job

After 1 year of industry experience, lead with work experience and place education section at the or near the end, depending upon qualifications

Emphasizes academic accomplishments

used when applying for positions in academia, fellowships and grants

Length depends upon experience and includes a complete list of publications, posters, and presentations

Always begins with education and can include name of advisor and dissertation title or summary (see examples). Also used for merit/tenure review and sabbatical leave

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Resume vs. Curriculum Vitae: What's the Difference?

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Curriculum Vitae (CV) is Latin for "course of life." In contrast, resume is French for "summary." Both CVs & Resumes: Are tailored for the specific job/company you are applying to Should represent you as the best qualified candidate Are used to get you an interview Do not usually include personal interests If you are applying for both academic as well as industry (private or public sector) positions, you will need to prepare both a resume and a CV.

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EOP Final Project - Presentation Rubric July2022

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EOP Final Project - Report Rubric July2022

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EOP Final Project - Instruction July2022

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HOW TO WRITE A COVER LETTER
Purpose :  A cover letter is the first piece of information about yourself that your potential employer will read. The main function of a cover letter is to highlight the position you are applying and the skills you possess. The cover letter has to be tailored towards specific jobs you are applying to. A cover letter provides an opportunity to introduce yourself, highlight the key points from your resume, and be considered for a job interview.

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HOW TO WRITE A COVER LETTER for a JOB APPLICATION! (The BEST Example COVER LETTER to GET YOU HIRED!)

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Dear Sir / Madam,

I am writing in with the hotel accommodation at the Star Heights Hotel, Cebu City, Philippines, which I booked through your Queen's Road office on 3 January.

I regret to you that the information given by your sales assistant, Mr Terence Chan, was completely .

I was particularly concerned that the hotel should be in a quiet location and close to a beach, as we have small children who cannot walk long distances. When I this point with Mr Chan, he told me that the hotel was in private gardens and was very close to the beach. I was etremely disappointed, , to find that the hotel was in fact next to a busy motorway and the beach was nearly three miles away.

I also asked Mr Chan whether there was a swimming pool, and he me that there was. In fact, he was particularly certain about this point as he claimed to have stayed at the hotel himself the previous year. You might imagine my feelings to find that the swimming pool was in a state of disrepair and, according to the hotel staff, had been in this condition for the past three years.

, we were unable to swim at all during our stay at the hotel, while the constant noise from
the motorway made sleep at nights difficult. In fact, we were eventually forced to find accommodation elsewhere at considerable expense.

In the , I think that it would be appropriate for you to the
cost of the hotel accommodation in full.

I look forward to from you at your earliest .

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Dear Sir / Madam, I am writing in with the hotel accommodation at the Star Heights Hotel, Cebu City, Philippines, which I booked through your Queen's Road office on 3 January. I regret to you that the information given by your sales assistant, Mr Terence Chan, was completely .

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Before we learn about writing a complaint letter, some exercises would help you to build the right vocabulary.

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A complaint letter can be an effective way to resolve issues pertaining to bad products or services. Learning how to write a complaint letter that gets attention will get you the results you want.

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Real English - How to complain about a problem

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Written when we need to ask for more information concerning a product, services, publication or procedure that interests us.

Task
You own a small company which retails clothing and you are interested in garments exhibited by a Taiwanese company at the recent Kuala Lumpur Textiles Trade Fair. The clothing would probably sell well in cities around Malaysia. Write an enquiry according to the details requesting for:

·      Catalogues for The Womanly Yifu apparel.

·      Other clothing ranges manufactured.

·      Range of clothing for older women.

·      Wholesale prices.

Details
Your name and address
- Nurul Amyrah Saad
City Lady Apparel,
12/22, Jalan Equestrian Off Persiaran Sukan, Section 13 40100 Shah Alam, Selangor.

Supplier’s name and address   Miss Rainie Yang,
Marketing Manager,
The Womanly Yifu, Block 15/12, Eng Shang Road, 105, Songshan District., Taipei City, Taiwan

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Dear sales team,

On behalf of the company, we hope that everyone is doing great and to add, we would like to let you know that we appreciate all of your personal contributions which bring this company to greater heights.

As per previous meeting, it was clear that the company sales have decreased for two consecutive quarters and it is undeniable that the Covid-19 pandemic is one of the factors. Together with the executive team, we analyzed the company’s latest expenses and profit gained to find a solution to combat the sales drop issue. We have gone through the best possible cost reduction method to keep this company afloat yet the changes made were insufficient.

As a result, after a few discussions together with the higher-ups, we have decided to inform you that a 20% salary reduction will commence at the beginning of next month. Truth to be told, it was a hard decision for us because we understand that it will have a significant impact on the employees’ financial status given the latest inflation news taking place. Rest assured, the pay cut will not be permanent as the main priority is to ensure the company stays on the market and there are no decisions to terminate contracts despite issues of employees underperforming.

However, if the KPIs are not met for the upcoming months, wages will be revised accordingly. For those who are underperforming, do take this salary reduction as a means of working harder and we hope that everyone can take the company back to where it belongs on the market.

You’re more than welcome to approach us or to send any inquiries through [company email] or [company phone].

Sincerely,

[Name]

[Manager]

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FEEDBACK:
Clear explanation of the situation to the staff. Overall looks good.

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Group members:
1. Fu Her
2. Rachel Kok
3. Saravana
4. Yugavin

FEEDBACK:
Overall looks good. Quite diplomatic in relaying the news.

Indirect strategy: Negative News

Dear Sales Teams,

We appreciate your contributions and efforts that you have given to D&D Corparation.

For the past two consecutive quarters, there have been decrease in the sales of the new product line. Upon reviewing the the teams performance during the last two quarters, we have noticed the team was unable to meet the expectation set by the company in regards of achieving the predicted sales number. We have noticed a disparity in terms of individual performance of the team.

To curb the current situation, the executive team have decided to review all business goals to find ways to decrease expenses, increase revenue and to protect the future wellbeing of the company. With that, in an effort to manage the company assets conservatively, the executive team have come to a difficult but necessary conclusion. Effective [15 July 2022],  all exempt employees of the sales team will receive a 20 percent reduction in their salary.

However, please do know that this is a temporary decision based on the current sales number. We hope that the sales team will provide the best performance in the upcoming future, so that we could expect an increase in sales and revenue hence to return to the previous salary situation.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask and contact us at [ company email ] or [ company phone ].

Sincerely,

Saravana

[ Position ]

D&D Corporation

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FEEDBACK:
Overall it looks alright.

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FEEDBACK:
Overall it looks alright.

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FEEDBACK:
This letter can be simplified because it is quite long. When writing to address the staff, it is advisable to use "we" instead of "I".

An appraisal evaluation has just been conducted for our employees.  As has been discussed in the previous meeting, I appreciate your awareness towards our organization’s challenges in maintaining financial prosperity with the current economic times.

Seeing the drop in sales has been a regular pattern these past months, and you know that if things don’t change within this sales team, we can predict massive layoffs or closedown. We have revised all of the cost reductions methods before deciding to inform you that your basic pay will be reduced by 20%  commencing next month. We do not take these decisions to deduct salary lightly as underperformance is not tolerated in this organization.  Nevertheless, you can expect this salary reduction to be temporary if we are able to see an increase in your performance to boost the sales within another quarter of the year. We do not wish to terminate anyone from the team as we appreciate your loyalty towards our organization.

Henceforth, this salary reduction is hoped to serve as a motivation for you to double your dedication towards the team. You can always approach us if any assistance and support is needed on our side.

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Group sandbox: Adlina, Dawani, Nabila, Eisha

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Group sandbox: Adlina, Dawani, Nabila, Eisha

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FEEDBACK:
Overall looks good.

Dear sales team,

On behalf of our company, we appreciate all your contributions to this extent.  As you all are aware, the economy has affected many businesses including ours.

In this situation, our sales have been decreasing for the past two consecutive quarters. We have asked the executive team to review the company’s expenses and profits in order to solve this problem. After full consideration, we have decided to reduce all employees’ salaries by 20 percent. We understand this difficulty will have a big impact on many employees’ financial status.

In this unexpected situation, we look forward to facing this obstacle together and we hope this matter will be resolved as soon as possible. Feel free to send any inquiries through email (sandbox@gmail.com).

Best regards,

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1. Sales have decreased for two consecutive quarters at your business. You have been instructed to inform your sales team that their basic pay will be reduced by 20 percent. While you may have a few members of your sales team that are underperforming, you want to retain the entire team. *Write a negative news message in an indirect approach informing your sales team of the news.
*Post your message in Padlet.

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1. Fu Her
2. Rachel Kok
3. Sara and
4. Yugavin

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A bad news message (or negative news message) delivers news that the audience does not want to hear, read, or receive. Delivering negative news is never easy. Whether you are informing someone they are being laid off or providing constructive criticism on their job performance, how you choose to deliver the message can influence its response (Bovee & Thill, 2010).

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There are many types of business letters. Some impart good news and some give negative news. What are the examples of good news letters? What about examples of negative news letters? In writing business letters, you need to understand the type of letter you are writing, then decide on what kind of strategy you will be using. There are 2 strategies: Direct and indirect

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Communication plays such a big part in our lives today. It is hard to think of a single activity that we engage in that doesn’t involve communication in some way. In our busy world, we sometimes forget just how important communications are to our success, relationships, and, ultimately, happiness in life.

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1. EOP Assignment - Instruction July2022

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3. EOP Assignment - Presentation Rubric July2022

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2. EOP Assignment - Report Rubric July2022