Project 3
Student id: w28
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Title: Cover Letter - Writing Project 3
Author: Samantha Wagner
Date:
- Samantha Wagner
- 38 Hemenway Street; Boston, MA 02115
- 425-686-0452
- sammwag@gmail.com
Dear Mr. Sarkisian,
I am interested in applying for a summer internship position within the structural engineering group at Skidmore, Owings and Merrill during the summer of 2017. After speaking with you over the phone this past summer about the different opportunities at SOM, I became increasingly interested in pursuing a job within the engineering department.[p.n.] I have a strong interest in both architecture and structural engineering and I think I would be a great fit with the SOM culture. I have the necessary technical skills and passion for learning that would help me to succeed in a fast paced environment.
Growing up I was exceedingly interested in the study of architecture and the design of the built environment. However it was not until late in highschool that I realized that my interests were more technical in nature. [p.n.] Now in my fourth year at Northeastern University I am pursuing a master's degree in civil engineering with a focus in structural. I have taken courses in both the technical aspects of engineering and design as well as on the history of architecture in America. Entering into the industry I did not realize how isolated each of the different companies working on a project could be. In the past two years I have co-oped with two different companies within the building industry. With Skanska I developed a better understanding of the technical and coordination aspects involved with the construction of a project.[i.n.] While working at Simpson Gumpertz and Heger I was able to apply my technical knowledge from classes and improve my design skills with programs such as AutoCAD, Revit and RAM Steel. Ultimately I hope to one day use my technical background and project management skills to bring the separate groups together to work as a cohesive unit under each project.[p.n.]
For these reasons I think I will fit in well with the holistic design culture of SOM. I have attached my resume to this letter and I hope to hear from you in the future regarding possible opennings for interns in the Summer of 2017.- Sincerely,
- Samantha Wagner
Peer review
Your background sections shows how you came to the conclusion that SOM would be a good fit for you. Maybe touch on how your desires play well into what SOM wants. For example, your interest in architecture combined with your technical expertise will allow you to be a crucial player in late-term project meetings where these two, commonly incompatible, goups have to meet (architects and structural engineers). Your ability in one field and your interest in the other sets you up well for upper management down the line as well as allows you to save the company money by not persuing one path initially with complete ignorance of the priorities of the other departments. For a company, having someone that can act as a technical specialist and a communications asset is extremely valuable.
Instructor Note
This is a good cover letter. My main advice on revising is to try to find some aspects of the job that you can reference w/r/t your past experiences. You might also bring up certain classes that are relevant. I realize this cover letter is a bit different since there is no actual job call, but it seems you have a pretty good sense of the firm and position, leverage that knowledge to promote your previous skills as applicable to SOM's mission/projects.