Interest Statement

FAQs

Company Interest Statements on CARS

Why did we create the Company Interest Statement feature on CARS?

The BCC has held focus groups with business recruiters to evaluate our The Edge system and discuss updates that would be beneficial to them in making their hiring decisions. We discovered that recruiters wanted a tool, in addition to the resume, that would tell them more specifically why students were interested in the position posted with their firm. They suggested a short, concise statement (a mini cover letter) that they could read in addition to the resume.

Is this required?

You can preference without including a Company Interest Statement if you choose. It is an optional feature. Some recruiters pay significant attention to the Company Interest Statement, while others only read through it briefly. Recruiters will continue to refer to your resume as their PRIMARY evaluation tool.

When do recruiters view the Company Interest Statement?

They can view it at any time during the posting process. They are MOST likely to view it after 3:00pm on the Thursday that the preference period ends. They may also view it when they are looking at the schedules (after the students sign up on the schedules, and before the interview). For this reason, we recommend submitting your interest statement at the same time you preference.

What should I include in my Company Interest Statement?

Your statement needs to be concise. You are limited to 800 characters (roughly 2 short paragraphs). The primary questions to answer are:

Why are you interested in this position?
Why are you interested in this company?

You may also consider reiterating your relevant experience and fit for the position. These are the same elements that you would include in a traditional cover letter to a company, in a more concise version! Effective statements include specific information about your skills and experiences.

Some examples:

I am interested in pursuing an IT Project Analyst position at Ford because I enjoy designing effective systems for manufacturing organizations. I am currently working with the Carlson Consulting Enterprise on an inventory systems project for a machine parts manufacturer. During my internship at 3M, I directed a project to develop a data warehouse for transportation data. The company has since expanded use of this tool across its North American operations.
My background includes consumer market research, pricing, and product launches. While I worked at Bristol-Myers Squibb, I successfully introduced a pharmaceutical product to the Chinese market. I am particularly interested in applying my marketing skills to help Boston Scientific grow its stent business in Asia.
In addition to my MBA training in finance, I have eight years of financial management and consulting experience for the aerospace industry. I spent two years working with Bombardier to improve its contracting process for regional jets, and I hold Project Management Institute (PMP) certification. I am particularly interested in applying my background and finance skills to a wider range of defense contracting work for Northrop Grumman.

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.

How should my statement be created?

You can create it in Word and paste it into the web field. But remember there is very little formatting that can be done. Only paragraph marks will be retained, and perhaps tabs. Special characters such as bullets or bulleted lists will not duplicate well.

After I enter my statement, can I update it?

After you create your interest statement, you can view it or update it from your home page. Select "Update Interest Statement" to view it exactly as recruiters will see it.

Where can I get help with creating my statements?

BCC counselors are ready and willing to help review sample statements. Stop in and set up an appointment or email one of us.