Chapter Two · Before You Fly Away

Find & Apply for a Job

Before You Fly Away
Mom & Dad's Guide to Help You Thrive
Little Scoop Co. · littlescoop.co

02The Job You Chose

Pick one listing and dig into every detail

Job Title
Company Name
Job Location
Salary or Pay Range (if listed)
Job Type
Link to the Job Posting

Save this now. You'll need it for your cover letter and follow-up.

03Breaking Down the Listing

Read it carefully — then translate it into plain language

What Would You Actually Do in This Job Every Day?
Required Qualifications (Must-Haves)
Preferred Qualifications (Nice-to-Haves)
Which Requirements Do You Already Have?
Which Requirements Are You Missing?
Anything in the Listing You Didn't Understand?

Look it up before moving on. Not knowing what's in your job description is never a good look.

04Researching the Company

Know more about them than the other candidates will

Go beyond the job listing. Search the company on Google, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn. Check their website and social media. Employers notice candidates who did their homework — and can tell when they didn't.

What Does This Company Do? (In Your Own Words)
How Long Have They Been in Business?
How Large Is the Company?
Glassdoor Rating & What Employees Say

Look for patterns — not just the star rating. What do people consistently praise or complain about?

What Genuinely Interests or Excites You About This Company?
Any Concerns? (optional)

05Your Cover Letter

Answer these well — Claude does the writing

You won't write this from scratch. Your job is to give Claude strong, honest answers to the questions below. The better your answers, the better your letter — AI can only work with what you give it.

Why Do You Want This Job at This Company Specifically?
What's Your Single Strongest Qualification for This Role?
Tell a Brief Story That Shows Responsibility, Initiative, or Problem-Solving
Tone for Your Cover Letter

06Application Tracker

Track every job you apply for — don't apply and forget

Most people apply to 10–20+ jobs before getting an offer. Track everything so you can follow up, prepare for interviews, and stay organized. The person who follows up is often the person who gets hired.

Application 01
Company
Job Title
Date Applied
Status
Notes
Application 02 (if applicable)
Company
Job Title
Date Applied
Status
Notes
Application 03 (if applicable)
Company
Job Title
Date Applied
Status
Notes

07Reflect On It

What did this teach you?

What Surprised You Most About the Job Search Process?
What Skills or Experiences Do You Want to Build Before You Graduate?
If You Could Start Your Job Search Over, What Would You Do Differently?

08Generate Your Claude Prompt

Turn your research into a cover letter and likely interview questions

Once you've filled out every section above, generate your personalized Claude prompt below. Copy it, paste it into claude.ai, and Claude will write a compelling cover letter for the job you researched — plus give you five likely interview questions with suggested answers based on your background.

← PreviousBuild Your Resume NextThe Interview →
Your Prompt is Ready

Copy → Open claude.ai → Paste → Done.

  1. Copy all the text in the box below
  2. Go to claude.ai — create a free account if you don't have one
  3. Paste into the chat and press Enter
  4. Claude writes your cover letter and gives you 5 interview questions with suggested answers
  5. Bonus: Ask Claude to adjust the tone, make it shorter, or strengthen a specific paragraph
Your Personalized Claude Prompt
Save the job listing URL you recorded above — you'll need it when you actually apply. Most applications require you to submit through the company's website or the job board directly.