As you learned in this project, you write a networking letter to develop a relationship with people who work in industries that interest you and who might be able to provide some assistance with your job search efforts. You write a prospecting letter to a company that interests you but that doesn’t have current job openings that match your qualifications. To help you develop a networking and a prospecting letter that you can use to help your job search efforts, you open two letters and adapt them for an individual, company, or industry of your choice.

Follow the steps below to adapt a networking letter and a prospecting letter.

1. Open the file Revise1_13.docx located in the Project.13 folder included with your Data Files and then, to avoid altering the original file, save the document as My Networking Letter in the same folder.

2. Think about the people you know and try to find an individual to whom you could write a networking letter. This person might be someone who works in an industry that interests you or who has contacts with an employer for whom you would like to work. Ask your friends and relatives for suggestions. If you are not able to find an individual to write a networking letter to, write a generic letter that you could adapt.

3. Read the networking letter provided and then adapt it for the individual to whom you wish to send the letter. Make sure you describe your own qualifications and experience.

4. Include your name and contact information in the letterhead and address the letter to the individual you have chosen to receive the networking letter. Leave the inside address blank if you do not yet have an individual.

5. Make sure the letter is formatted attractively and fits on one page, include your name in the closing, print a copy of the letter, and then save and close it.

6. Open the file Revise2_13.docx located in the Project.13 folder included with your Data Files and then, to avoid altering the original file, save the document as My Prospecting Letter in the same folder.

7. Think about a company that you would like to work for and then use the Internet to find the name of a suitable person to whom you can address a prospecting letter.

8. Read the prospecting letter provided and then adapt it for the company you wish to work for and to match your own qualifications and experience.

9. Include your name and contact information in the letterhead and address the letter to the individual you have chosen to receive the prospecting letter.

10. Make sure the letter is formatted attractively and fits on one page, include your name in the closing, print a copy of the letter, and then save and close it.