Registered: Aug 2007
Location: somewhere drinking, whore-mongering, chain-smoking, and gambling - all with an in-your-face attitude
Writing a great cover letter
If anyone here is a manager that is responsible for recruiting or hiring people, or if anyone has great experience writing a great cover letter... or a great resume... what are some of your thoughts? I'm sitting here applying for some jobs on craigslist and hotjobs, and though I'm pretty confident my resume and cover letter are solid, what have you found works? What doesn't work?
Jan-22-2008 02:40
eRRaTiK
g0t milk?
Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Toronto, Canada
just google 'cover letter' and you'll find heaps of info.
i attended a seminar held by a HR consultant (one of the big guns) and this was the tip that I recorded that night:
quote:
cover letters should be abolished. Your CV should address everything that you attempt to address in the cover letter. HR consultants are time poor and cover letters are viewed as a waste of time. By essentially presenting relevant work/situational experience in the CV then the cover letter becomes redundant anyhow.
i have found this to be true, both as an a candidate going for a job as well as a hiring manager. I never even got the cover letter handed to me, only the CV before I selected candidates to interview.
___________________
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Jan-22-2008 02:44
_Nut_
North x NorthWest
Registered: Nov 2001
Location: 61.105423,-149.723555
quote:
Originally posted by eRRaTiK
just google 'cover letter' and you'll find heaps of info.
i attended a seminar held by a HR consultant (one of the big guns) and this was the tip that I recorded that night:
i have found this to be true, both as an a candidate going for a job as well as a hiring manager. I never even got the cover letter handed to me, only the CV before I selected candidates to interview.
I hope that comes to pass. Cover letters are just smoke that is being blown up the employers ass.
Jan-22-2008 03:12
Moral Hazard
Oppressing the 99%
Registered: Mar 2005
Location: with the 1%
When reading a cover letter I am primarally interested in the candidates ability to communicate. Written communication is key in my industry, if the candidate doesn't write properly in their cover letter then it is presumable their reports and communications to our clients will be sub-par. If informal language or poor structure is used then it goes in the garbage (I will not even bother reading the resume if the cover letter is poorly written). As far as substance goes, I want to see the candidate understands our companies needs and can point out how their skills and experience can help meet our needs.
___________________
quote:
Originally posted by RickyM
you're just a shit version of Moral Hazard. At least he knows what he's talking about.
quote:
Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN
lol, i love it when moral feels the need to lay the smack down
Jan-22-2008 12:50
shaw
RIP
Registered: Jan 2005
Location: Intergalactic Mimosa Station
quote:
Originally posted by Moral Hazard
When reading a cover letter I am primarally interested in the candidates ability to communicate. Written communication is key in my industry, so if the candidate doesn't write properly in their cover letter, then it is presumable their reports and communications to our clients will be sub-par. If informal language or poor structure is used, then it goes in the garbage (I will not even bother reading the resume if the cover letter is poorly written). As far as substance goes, I want to see that the candidate understands our company's needs and can point out how his skills and experience can help meet our needs.
*chucks in trash*
Jan-22-2008 12:53
TheVrk
Mediterranean Canadian
Registered: Nov 2003
Location: Windsor, Canada
quote:
Originally posted by eRRaTiK
just google 'cover letter' and you'll find heaps of info.
If you know how to bullshit, you'll be fine
Jan-22-2008 12:57
Moral Hazard
Oppressing the 99%
Registered: Mar 2005
Location: with the 1%
quote:
Originally posted by inconspicuous
*chucks in trash*
I'm not writing a cover letter now, am I?
___________________
quote:
Originally posted by RickyM
you're just a shit version of Moral Hazard. At least he knows what he's talking about.
quote:
Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN
lol, i love it when moral feels the need to lay the smack down
Jan-22-2008 12:58
Dj Skez
Suspended User
Registered: Jan 2008
Location: New York
quote:
Originally posted by TheVrk
If you know how to bullshit, you'll be fine
That's what got me through 4 years as a pharmaceutical delivery man, I was even offered a sales position but turned it down. I'm not the type who likes staring at a computer screen and being on the phone all day with whining costumers, it would drive me nuts. But be careful, you can't bullshit a bullshitter. If you're immediate supervisor/manager should fit under that description, well you're pretty much fucked.
Jan-22-2008 13:05
echosystm
super wow maker
Registered: Jul 2004
Location:
a cover letter is very important. i've seen many managers/bosses throw away an application purely due to presentation and a bad cover letter.
1 paragraph is all you need. don't bullshit. be upfront and sell yourself.
SELL.
HARD SELL!
"To whom it may concern,
Enclosed is my CV, in application for XYZ. I believe I am a worthy candidate for this position, because I pwn noobs. lulz."
___________________
quote:
Originally posted by DJ Robby Rox
I've never had a problem with FLs tech support till this day. (I've actually never used it till this day)
quote:
Originally posted by floyd741
i think echosystm is a pretty cool guy. eh pwns robby rox and doesn't afraid of anything.
Jan-22-2008 13:16
shaw
RIP
Registered: Jan 2005
Location: Intergalactic Mimosa Station
quote:
Originally posted by Moral Hazard
I'm not writing a cover letter now, am I?