Two short pieces of writing frame every interview: the cover letter that gets you invited, and the thank-you note that people remember afterward. Both follow a pattern students can learn in one lesson. In this activity, students plan both on a worksheet, one part per cell, then write them out in full.
The example is Jordan's cover letter and thank-you note to Ms. Grant at TagBack. The planner can be completed in Storyboard That or printed as a worksheet.
| PART | WHAT IT DOES | EXAMPLE: JORDAN |
|---|---|---|
| COVER LETTER | ||
| Greeting | Use the person's name when you can. | Dear Ms. Grant, |
| Opening | The job you want and how you heard about it. | I'm applying for the part-time order assistant job I saw on TagBack's website. |
| Why Me | Two skills from the posting, with proof. | I'm organized: I restock and count inventory at our school store every week. I also write the store's weekly email, so I'm comfortable answering customers in writing. |
| Closing | Your availability and a thank-you. | I'm available Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Thank you for considering me. |
| THANK-YOU NOTE | ||
| Thanks | Thank them for their time. | Thank you for meeting with me today about the order assistant job. |
| A Detail | Mention one thing from the interview. | I enjoyed hearing how TagBack packs every order by hand. |
| Still Interested | Say you still want the job. | I'm excited about the chance to help families get their things back. |
| Send Within 24 Hours | Send it the same day if you can. | Jordan sends the note that evening, well within 24 hours. |
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Plan a cover letter and a thank-you note for the same job.
Students use the posting from the Job Posting to Application activity or the TagBack example.
Students plan the greeting, opening, two skills with proof, and closing, one part per cell.
Students plan the thanks, one detail from the interview, continued interest, and when they will send it.
Students turn each planner into a finished letter and note.
A partner confirms each piece could only be sent to this employer.
Not always, since many entry-level applications are online forms. But a short cover letter helps whenever an application allows one, and the skill of connecting your experience to a specific job carries over to emails, internship applications, and college essays. Practicing it once in class makes the next real application much easier.
Three short paragraphs that fit well under one page: an opening that names the job and how the student heard about it, a middle that matches two skills from the posting with proof, and a closing with availability and thanks. Shorter is better for a first job, as long as every sentence is specific.
Either works. Email is fast and normal for most jobs; a handwritten card stands out, especially at a small business. What matters most is timing: the note should arrive within 24 hours of the interview, while the interviewer is still deciding. Students can send an email the same day and follow with a card if they like.
One specific detail from the interview. "I enjoyed hearing how TagBack packs every order by hand" shows the student was listening and remembers the conversation. A note that could be sent to any employer is easy to forget. Keep it to three or four sentences: thanks, the detail, and continued interest.
Give points for completing every part, for connecting two skills to the posting with proof in the cover letter, and for including one detail from the interview in the thank-you note. A peer check, where a partner confirms each piece could only be sent to this employer, is a quick way to grade specificity.