Peer Review of Application Package

MEMORANDUM

To: Team BEAD, English 301 Writing Group

From: Brian Wang, ENGL 301 Student

Date: December 12, 2019

Subject: Peer Reviewed Diane’s Job Application Package

Dear Diane,

Thank you for sharing your application package with me and below are some of my thoughts. My overall impression is that you have clearly demonstrated your strengths. As the application stated “personality counts more than your grade point average!”, I definitely felt your personality coming through the pages. I do feel however the cover letter can be further developed to showcase your takeaways from your past experience. Overall great job Diane and I wish you best of luck! I have included below specific comments for each section of your job application package and also overall comments regarding your language and organization.

 

Specific Section Comments
Criteria Comments
Job Post

  • Sufficient background information of the role
  • State role requirements, title, location and employment type
  • Would be good to include organization information, potential projects, supplementary information (visa, benefits, compensation)
Thorough background information about the graduate program presented. Specific deadline and supplementary information is included. Citation is correct.

 

Cover Letter

  • Appropriate format with address information of the recipient of the letter. Includes subject lines and the position title
  • Clear and concise statement of intention in the introduction with reason why he/she should be considered for the position
  • In the body paragraphs, explanation of previous work experience and highlighting relevant technical or soft skills learned. Further elaborate by showing how it relates to the new organization
  • Proper signoff with restating declaration of intention for consideration of the position. Showing gratitude to the employer and state the method of communication where how they can reach out
  • Proper formatting of greetings and signature

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Clear statement of intention followed with a personal touch of consulting with current/previous graduate student of the professor.
  • Great explanation of your past work history as program designer, facilitator and showcasing your previous research while showing aspiration to further develop your skill through the program.
  • However, I would suggest being more specific with which medical clinic you worked with and also communicate specific and relevant achievements you found. I am personally more used to cover letters limited to one page so I would suggest take out a paragraph of past work experience. In my opinion I think the paragraph on medical assistant can be shortened.
  • I would also include phrases like “Thank you for your consideration, ” in the concluding sentence.
  • In the concluding paragraph I would also change the language from “Should my experience and academic aspirations align with the direction of your program, I can be reached” to a sentence that employs a YOU attitude, showing what you can bring to the research group. Such as “I look forward to continuously hone my skill and academic aspirations through constructively contribute and to be actively involved in your research group/masters program.”.

 

Resume

–       Includes name and contact information in a bold, visible manner

–       Includes all relevant information sections

  1. Objective
  2. Education
  3. Highlighted relevant skills
  4. Work experience
  5. References

–       Overall presentation of the resume, visually appealing?

  • Included all relevant information such as contact information, education, research specific accomplishments and experience.
  • Great job in displaying your relevant experience specifically in research.
  • Good use of numbers to showcase the scale of your facilitated programs.
  • Overall great structure, descriptive language while being concise and consistent. Great job!

 

Reference Letter Request

–       Writing with a YOU attitude?

–       Provided sufficient information and writing material for references to write?

–       Communicate which technical or character trait to be highlighted

 

  • Simple, concise and to the point while being polite and respective.
  • enclosed all relevant information for the position and your resume to provide content for the reference letter. Very considerate.
  • Highlighted accomplishment from each position to be communicated in the reference letter
Overall Comments
Criteria Comments
Organization

  • Clear sections containing each component of the assignment

 

Great organization throughout the package. I am very impressed with the content as it is conveyed clearly.

 

Grammar, style and tone

  • Grammar mistakes
  • Area of confusion
  • Being concise when possible
  • professional tone written with YOU attitude

 

 

 

 

Overall easy to understand, striked the balance between descriptive and being concise. Great job, I do have specific comments regarding the cover letter. Please see blow:

(Cover letter – Paragraph 1) clarity: “After consulting with ……”

(Cover letter – Paragraph 4) comma: “Working in teams has been the norm in my work, delivering”

 

Overall I am very impressed by your past achievements and academic aspiration. I hope the best for you and wishing you best of luck in any of your future endeavours. I hope you find my feedback helpful and if you have any questions please let me know by email (brian.wang@alumni.ubc.ca). Also please keep me updated, whenever you need a second opinion feel free to reach out!

URL to Diane’s Job application post: https://blogs.ubc.ca/engl301-99a-2019wa/2019/12/12/4-1-application-package-first-draft/

 

 

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