I have sent this cover letter out about a zillion times and only got one call back for an interview. She referred to my cover letter as ‘beautiful’ and my resume as excellent, but i did NOT get the job.
Here is mine, edited of course.
Dear Ms. PERSON;
I am interested in applying for the position of JOB NAME that is currently being advertised on the SOURCE.
I have recently completed an 18 month program in Office Technology at the New Brunswick Community College, which provided extensive training in Microsoft Office, including Manual and Computerized Accounting, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, and Outlook. While at the college, I attained an average of 53 words per minute typing speed, with a high degree of accuracy. I am also functionally bilingual. My comprehension of oral and written French is very good, and my spoken French is sometimes awkward but always effective.
Since completing Office Technology in January of this year, I have been employed full time at SHITHOLE College as Office Administrator. This position has given me the opportunity to put to use all that I have learned and tested my abilities thoroughly. From my experience there, I have no doubt at all that I am prepared for any office situation.
My previous position as National Advertising Coordinator provided me with an opportunity to work with very little supervision, as my supervisor was two hours away in Saint John. Working with other people, internally and externally, is important to me and I enjoy building those relationships. I was responsible for booking newspaper space for national advertisers, and coordinating the ad materials with the space, as well as handling outbound and inbound calls.
I believe that my education, combined with my work experience at SHITHOLECollege and as the National Advertising Coordinator for WISHIWASTHERE News, provides me with the skills needed to be a valuable contributor to your company.
Thank you very much for taking the time to consider me for the position of JOB NAME. If you would like to discuss my qualifications, or if you have any questions about my attached resume, please call me at (506) 555-555 anytime and leave a message.
Sincerely,
kellibelli
I would welcome the chance to see you guys’ letters
SHITHOLE College? I played right wing for the Browneyes from '86-'88. We were 52-9-5 during that span and won the Bathurst Invitational. Small world.
Good luck kellibelli, maybe I’ll rip off your cover letter if I ever decide to look for a job. My cover letters are always along the lines of: “Fire those idiots immediately and hire me, you clueless dorks!”. Not very effective.
…and maybe I’ll get a nibble this go 'round.
— ———————————
To whom it may concern,
I saw recently in the NOISE & DISTURBER that your organization is looking to fill a graphic designer position.
I am a professional graphic designer and have worked in a variety of creative design and print production positions over the past six years. I have a creative mind & eye, solid design skills, and a full working knowledge of the processes involved in taking a creative concept completely through production to finished piece. I also have experience working in and co-ordinating a production team, and my pre-flight skills are first-rate.
Attached is a copy of my resume. I appreciate your consideration and look forward to speaking with you. I will contact you in the within the next few days in order to set up a time when we can meet and discuss what I can bring to YOUR COMPANY.
I love your 2nd paragraph (since completeing…etc)… and I believe I will be stealing it…
It is strange though… my company has the same name as your college… that is just odd
I’d copy in my standard cover letter, but since I’m applying for a variety of different positions, I tend to tailor the letter for each position. But the basic format I use is:
Dear SANTY CLAUS;
I am writing to express my interest in the position of PERSON THAT DOES WORKISH JOB STUFF at EMPLYOMENT PLACE THING. I learned of this opportunity through the FAIRYLAND TREE OF ENDLESS JOB OPPORTUNITIES.
I completed my Bachelor’s degree in CAFFEINE CONSUMPTION at HAPPYFUN University in 2002…[INSERT PARAGRAPH OF SELF-SERVING NONSENSE ABOUT RELATED SKLLS AND EXPERIENCE]
I am a hard-working, detail-oriented, enthusiastic and flexible worker. I work well both as part of a team and independently. I believe that my experience and personal qualities make me an excellent candidate for the position of PERSON THAT DOES WORKISH JOB STUFF.
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss my application in person. I am available at your convenience, by phone at 1-900-HOT-LUVN, or by e-mail at please@hireme.com. Thank you for your time.
I am a graduating [BLEH] student applying for the [BLEH] Graduate Training Programme.
One of the reasons I chose engineering as a profession was to use my strong analytical skills and to mentally challenge myself. [BLAD, DE BLAH]
[BLEH, SUCKING UP PARAGRAPH, LOOK AT ME!!!, I AM FRESH FROM UNI WITH LITTLE JOB EXPERIENCE! PLEASE HIRE ME, I DESEPERATE!]
My [BLEH, 2nd Degree] also grounds me in the basics of operating in a business environment. I specifically chose the course to complement my technical degree and provide grounding in business practices, as opposed to a generalized [BLEH] . I see a career at [BLEH] as an exciting opportunity to contribute to and actively learn how an international company operates.
I appreciate a good challenge, and am looking for a career with a firm who is a leader in their field and can provide the best opportunity to enhance my training.[MORE BLEH ABOUT HOW I CAN HELP THEM SUCEED]
I have enclosed my CV for your perusal as specified and hope to hear a reply from you within [FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, GIMME THE JOB!!!].
Yours faithfully
I agree with Kn*ckers. If possible, tailor. I would also suggest brevity in the cover letter, since many employers skip almost immediately to the resume. (If you are combining the letter and resume, I’m not sure of the protocol.)
FWIW, here’s mine:
Dear Person:
I am writing to apply for the position of XXX, which I found at YYY. My attached resume shows more detail, but here are some highlights that match your requirements:
xx
xx
xx
.
.
.
xx (If you have a good match, DON’T be brief.)
You can contact me at … I look forward to discussing this opportunity with you.
Very truly yours,
Three L. Bob
kellibelli, you close with “if you would like to discuss…”. I’d try to sound a little more confident.
I like Kn*ckers closing better than mine, and i am taking it!
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss my application in person. I am available at your convenience, by phone at 1-900-HOT-LUVN, or by e-mail at please@hireme.com. Thank you for your time.
)