Cover Letter

Your title page basically says, "This is my portfolio,"  That begs the question, "So what?"  Your cover letter says, "This is who I am, and you should read my resume."  it is essentially the bridge between your title page and your resume.  Resumes can tell a potential employers why not to hire you, they are blunt instruments that unless very meticulously crafted, provide only the facts.  Cover letters tie those facts together in such a way that they represent a real person who is perfect for a particular job.

Personal Statement

A Personal Statement accomplishes many of these tasks, but for this portfolio is more of a statement of identity than a job-seeking tool.  Typical questions your Personal Statement might attempt to answer include 

• What's special, unique, distinctive, and/or impressive about you or your life story?
• What details of your life (personal or family problems, history, people or events that have shaped you or influenced your goals) might help someone better understand you or help set you apart from others?
• When did you become interested in your current field of study or job and what have you learned about it (and about yourself) that has further stimulated your interest and reinforced your conviction that you are well suited to this field? What insights have you gained?
• How have you learned about this field—through classes, readings, seminars, work or other experiences, or conversations with people already in the field?
• If you have worked a lot during your life, what have you learned (leadership or managerial skills, for example), and how has that work contributed to your growth?
• Are there any gaps or discrepancies in your academic or work record that you should explain (great grades but mediocre SAT, Compass, or GRE scores, for example, or a distinct upward pattern to your GPA if it was only average in the beginning)?
• Have you had to overcome any unusual obstacles or hardships (for example, economic, familial, or physical) in your life?
• What personal characteristics (for example. integrity. compassion. persistence) do you possess that would improve your prospects for success in the field or profession? Is there a way to demonstrate or document that you have these characteristics?
• What skills (for example, leadership, communicative, analytical) do you possess?
• Why might you be a stronger candidate or more successful and effective in the profession or field than other applicants?
• What are the most compelling reasons you can give for someone to be interested in you?

Source: The OWL at Purdue, Writing a Personal Statement

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