Before you apply for a job, you need to spend some time analyzing how your qualifications and experience match the requirements set out in the job advertisement. You then use this information in the cover letter you write to accompany your resume. The purpose of the cover letter is to show the employer how you can benefit the company.

Follow the steps below to analyze a job advertisement of your choice and then write a cover letter.

1. Find an advertisement for a job that interests you. You can check career Web sites such as www.monster.com and www.jobbankinfo.org or you can check in your local newspaper.

2. Open the file Practice_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 Job Posting Analysis in the same folder.

3. In the space provided in the table, enter the position advertised and then list the requirements of the position in the left column. Make sure you match each requirement with your own qualifications and experience. Include examples, where possible, of how you have proven your abilities. For example, if the job requirement is problem-solving skills, then describe a situation where you confronted a job-related problem and solved it.

Figure 13-19 provides a sample job analysis for a sales representative position.

4. Type your name where indicated in the footer, save the document, and then print a copy and close the document.
5. Start a new document in Word, and then save the document as My Cover Letter.
6. Write the cover letter you would send to apply for the job you analyzed. Focus on showing the employer what you can do for the company.
7. Format the letter attractively on one page. Include a letterhead that contains your name and contact information.
8. Type your name in the closing, print a copy of the letter, and then save and close it.

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Sample job analysis for a Sales Representative position Job Requirement Excellent communication and interper- sonal skills especially in the area of cus- tomer service Experience in Microsoft Office applica- tions including Word, Excel, and Outlook Strong organizational skills and the abil- ity to prioritize and manage high vol- umes of work Relevant Qualifications/Experience/Examples Awarded Salesperson of the Year in 2009 and 2010 for the highest sales of new children's titles while working as a sales representative for West Coast Publishing Used Word to develop a wide range of marketing materials for both locally and nationally published titles and used Excel to manage all sales in Seattle and Tacoma to local bookstores, libraries, and educational institutions; also used Photoshop to modify illustrations for flyers and brochures Trained the sales representatives and managed all custom orders (sales representative at Marigold Books) Ability to take initiative, prioritize, and Developed training plans for new sales representatives and initi- manage time effectively Some post-secondary education ated and coordinated new book launches with local, national, and international publishers (sales representative at Marigold Books) Received Post-Graduate Certificate in Writing and Publishing from Seattle University and Bachelor of Arts (Major: History, Minor: English) from University of Western Washington