Correspondence

Optional Interest Statement on The Edge

When applying for on-campus and external job postings through The Edge, you have the option of writing a brief (800 character) "Interest Statement." While this is optional please note that employers that recruit at Carlson requested it. It serves as a brief cover letter for on-campus job postings (see next few pages for cover letter guidelines).

Suggestions for completing the interest statement:

State why you want the position
State why you are interested in the company
State why you are qualified for the position (based on academic strengths, previous work experience, leadership skills, etc.)

Avoid general language about your skills (i.e., "I have great leadership skills and enthusiasm that would be an asset to your company….I enjoy pushing the envelope and exceeding expectations…..I want to work for an innovative company with an energetic culture that fits my values"). Such statements do little to inform recruiters of your abilities, and may be a turn-off. Be more specific by giving a specific example of these skills.

Examples of interest statements:

You are looking for someone who has leadership and supervisory experience and I have both. Through my role as a Senior Customer Service Associate at the University of Minnesota Bookstores I have gained management experience, where my responsibilities include supervising fellow employees and completing time sensitive paperwork. My leadership experience has been plentiful, including my current position as New Student Weekend Leader and my newly elected position of President for the American Marketing Association. Furthermore, I am very interested n the internship because your company is on the list of Fortune’s best companies. Your reputation is that you support strong teamwork skills and that is something I excel at. Thank you for your time and consideration.

I believe that, as a leader in its market segment, General Mills provides a superior environment for professional growth for someone at any stage of his or her career. If I were to be provided with this internship opportunity, I would, in return, apply my broad skills and experiences acquired through my involvement with several community and school organizations. These experiences are coupled with my strong educational background form the Carlson School. I am very interested in learning more about Business Management Associate position and career opportunities with your company. I look forward to meeting you.