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Writing a good cover letter

post #1 of 10
11/8/09 at 5:29pm
Thread Starter 
Can you guys please provide some websites, books, or personal advice on how to write a good cover letter? Thanks.
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post #2 of 10
11/8/09 at 8:40pm
Date Name Address Dear Person: Paragraph 1: it was great talking to you the other day, really like your firm, cite specifics Para 2: Work experience that makes me the best candidate for the job Para 3: how my academic experience will be useful in a business setting and how it wasn't just four years of me getting hammered Para 4: I hope you'll consider me for the position, if I can send along anything else (recommendations, sample projects, pieces of work) I'd be pleased to do so Sincerely, Conne Keep it one page in length. All that said, I'm fairly sure that no one actually reads cover letters. but you might consider beginning with this: http://www.bartleby.com/141/
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post #3 of 10
11/8/09 at 8:41pm
Ugh, I've been helping you all evening! Even in my semi-inebirated state. Geez-oh-pete you need more help? I'm a doggamn righting teacher.
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post #4 of 10
11/8/09 at 8:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by w.mj View Post
Dear Person:

Paragraph 1: it was great talking to you the other day, really like your firm, cite specifics
Para 2: Work experience that makes me the best candidate for the job
Para 3: how my academic experience will be useful in a business setting and how it wasn't just four years of me getting hammered
Para 4: I hope you'll consider me for the position, if I can send along anything else (recommendations, sample projects, pieces of work) I'd be pleased to do so

Sincerely,
Conne

It's a good thing you have to write all this and not say it in person. I don't think anyone would be able to keep a straight face when it comes to paragraph 3.
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post #5 of 10
11/8/09 at 8:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by w.mj View Post
Date

Name
Address

Dear Person:

Paragraph 1: it was great talking to you the other day, really like your firm, cite specifics
Para 2: Work experience that makes me the best candidate for the job
Para 3: how my academic experience will be useful in a business setting and how it wasn't just four years of me getting hammered
Para 4: I hope you'll consider me for the position, if I can send along anything else (recommendations, sample projects, pieces of work) I'd be pleased to do so

Sincerely,
Conne

Keep it one page in length. All that said, I'm fairly sure that no one actually reads cover letters.

but you might consider beginning with this:

http://www.bartleby.com/141/

This is pretty good, but I was taught that when it comes to paragraphs two and three they can be swapped based upon which is stronger. I.e. lead with your better attribute. If your education is stronger put it in paragraph two, if it's your work experience the order provided above is preferable.
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post #6 of 10
11/8/09 at 9:58pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by rach2jlc View Post
Ugh, I've been helping you all evening! Even in my semi-inebirated state. Geez-oh-pete you need more help? I'm a doggamn righting teacher.
The only "righting" you'll be doing is tomorrow's e-mail to your students explaining a sudden illness. They will be able to smell the beer through their Intertubez.
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post #7 of 10
11/8/09 at 9:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Connemara View Post
The only "righting" you'll be doing is tomorrow's e-mail to your students explaining a sudden illness. They will be able to smell the beer through their Intertubez.
goddamn this dogfisch head IPA is good stuff Anyway my drunken edits to your letter were still better than your sober ones, so fail to you asswipe
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post #8 of 10
11/9/09 at 12:24am
http://www.squawkfox.com/2009/09/20/...-cover-letter/
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post #9 of 10
11/9/09 at 12:30am
Dear Lady Gaga, My name is Mike. Like you, I am very confused about whether I was meant to be a boy or a girl. I would be a great errand boy for you because I am willing to do anything for cheap and you can pass me around your hermaphroditic circle. Also, I will keep you up on the latest from Huffington Post. Keep on turnin', Mike
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post #10 of 10
11/9/09 at 7:39am
I always finish letters like that with: Thanking you in anticipation. Yours sincerely My Name or Yours faithfully My Name If you start your letter with Dear Sir or Dear Madam etc as the salutation, then finish your letter with "Yours faithfully", but if the salutation is Dear Mr or Dear Mrs, then finish it with "Yours sincerely" Good luck with your application.
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