AWD 3302: Project Files

Project 3

Student id: p22

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  • Matt Parlon
  • 116 Hemenway St. Apt.3E
  • 617-319-5868
  • parlon.m@husky.neu.edu

Hello,[p.n.]

I am interested in the Analyst position within the Ameresco Project Management team. During my time at BlueWave Capital, I recieved some exposure to Ameresco submittals and was immediately impressed by the quality of work. [p.n.] After evaluating Ameresco's development history and continual production of quality projects, I became interested in persuing[i.n.] a role on their project management team. [p.n.] I have enjoyed my work with Solar Project Development in the past and I think I will fit well with Ameresco's challenging culture and contribute to your goal of expanding sustainable energy generation.[i.n.]

Throughout my three co-ops at Northeastern University, I was able to hone my AutoCAD and Excel skills in a manner that increased the efficiency of my work as well as that of my peers'. Excel proved to be increasingly useful as I recognized areas of inneficiency within my previous companies' workflow and was able to develop macros to automate previously manual processes. At Northeastern, I gained [p.n.]technical communication skills from my work within the Sustainable Energy Systems minor. Through various projects within the graduate classes associated with this program I was able to utilize the knowledge gained in my earlier classes as well as on my co-ops to work towards unique solutions to proposed issues. Advanced classes within this minor evaluated the leglislative, economic, and environmental issues assocated with solar energy.[p.n.] My capstone project[p.n.] at Northeastern will allow me to improve my ability to communicate effectively with various specialists working towards a common goal. Our project goal, to design a potable water distribution system as well as an energy generation facility in Haiti, will give me the opportunity to[p.n.] communicate with environmental and electric specialists as I fill the role of solar development specialist.

I believe my skills and passion for renewable energy will help me to fit in well with the[p.n.] Ameresco team and have a positive impact on the Project Management Team.

Please reach out to me at the contacts listed above to discuss the possibility of an interview. I look forward to hearing from you. [p.n.]
  • Sincerely,
  • Matt Parlon

Peer review

For writing project three Matt wrote a cover letter to Ameresco applying for an analyst position within their project management team. His letter very clearly addresses his privious experience with the company, his reasons for being interested in the position, and his qualifications for holding the position. Overall I think that this is a very solid cover letter that could most definitely warrent a follow up interview. It is very technical in nature and gives simple logical reasons for why he would be an appropriate candidate. One thing that I think he could improve on however is his choice of language. Some of his statements can be a bit too dry, as seen in his next steps sentence. It is important to remember that although a cover letter is an introduction for why you think you should get the position, your resume will highlight many of the academic and experience related reasons for why you are qualified. I have been told by employers in the past that these letters should also be able to highlight your character and your personal interests to show them that you would fit with their company culture. Consider speaking more specifically to what you know and like about the company, rather than keeping it broad, as well as including some level of personal connection to show why you like this thing that they do or service that they provide. Also, in your writers memo you mentioned wanting to show the benfits of having a technical engineering background as a member of the management team. I think that this could be a good thing to tie your personal interests to the position. Consider adding a short second background paragraph discussing how your experience with your capstone team allowed you to learn a lot about managing a team and how that is much easier to do if you understand the technical aspects of what all of your team members are working on. For this reason you would be able to bring those valuable communication and planning skills when working with engineers and technical professionals into the management team at Ameresco. This helps wrap up your background with a tie back to the company and leaves them thinking about how awesome of an addition you would be to their management team specifically!

Instructor Note

This is a solid cover letter; you do a nice job balancing general achievements wiht specifics that are relevant to the job at hand. See notes above for minor corrections.