Queen's students picked up over 2,000 copies of Queen’s Best Resumes  last year and the online accessible PDF version was viewed more than 1,300 times. But what is a resume without a cover letter? New this year, Career Services is launching the companion magazine Queen’s Best Cover Letters.

“Writing a great resume is hard work, and many students say they find writing a great cover letter is even harder” says Career Counsellor Jenny Lee Northey.

This new publication has 19 cover letter examples from Queen’s students. The magazine also includes advice from career counsellors including strategies that readers can apply to their own job searches.

As well as producing a new resource for all students, this project provided an experiential learning opportunity through the Summer Work Experience Program (SWEP). Ally Mastantuono (ArtSci’20) led the design and production of the magazine, applying her graphic design skills, and learning about working with printers and deadlines.

“I also learned a lot about the cover letter writing process in general, and in particular how important it is to take the experiences you have and to create a narrative that helps potential employers understand the skills and competencies you have developed," she says. "It is not about doing more and listing everything you have done, but about tailoring your cover letter to respond to the specific job opportunity.”

Students can pick up a free copy of Queen’s Best Cover Letters at the Career Fair on Wednesday, Oct. 2 at the Athletics and Recreation Centre (ARC). And for those who missed last year’s magazine, a new print run of Queen’s Best Resumes will also be available. If there are copies left at the end of the event, they will be available at Career Services and an accessible PDF version will be online. All students are welcome to the Career Fair.