From “The Craft” movie soundtrack.
Archive for the ‘Letters’ category
Letters To Cleo – Dangerous Type
January 17th, 2010Cover Letter For Internship Strategies
January 17th, 2010When applying for an Internship it is important to stand out amongst the crowd. Remember Elle Woods in Legally Blonde and her pink paper resume? While that is just a movie, and colored paper is not recommended, the concept is still the same– Be unique and get their attention. A passionate, and focused cover letter is the key to getting that desired Internship. An internship cover letter should reflect the potential one had has. Most people who apply for an Internship do not have resumes filled with career related experience. It is the cover letter which is going to be the deciding factor.
It is tempting to simply use a standard cover letter, and then adapt it for the Intern position one is applying for. However, this is only going to cause the cover letter to be lost in the mass. One has to go the extra mile in order to secure the Internship they are seeking. One way to do this is by doing research. One should find out the name of the individual whom makes the decision. If a cover letter begins with “To Mr. Smith”, as oppose to “Dear Sir/Madam”, then it is going to be remembered from the start. Doing this on one’s cover letter is going to demonstrate to the employer that they are a candidate who truly wants the position, and will make a great addition to the team, instead of just a nameless, faceless individual whom is not going to invest themselves in the job.
Another great tip for an Intern cover letter is performing research on the company. If a cover letter includes information about the company, and the applicant uses that cover letter to share how the company information affects the individual, an employer is going to be impressed. For example, one may write in their cover letter that the company has produced product A, and B for Y amount of years. Then the Intern can relay their experience with the product, and why they want to support a company who makes it. A cover letter which demonstrates personality, and creativity, is more likely to be noticed than one who simply states “I would like this Intern. I am qualified because…” in so many words.
An Intern cover letter also has to show an applicant’s attitude, and communication skills. If a cover letter reflects a well thought out structure, and an innovative approach, then the proof of a potential Intern’s qualifications are in the pudding!
One of the aspects a cover letter usually lacks, especially for an Intern, is being straight forward. In the past, people have been encouraged not to come across as too forward. A cover letter was recommended to be as passive-aggressive as possible. However, in the current competitive field it is important to be aggressive. An Intern cover letter should come right out and ask for an interview. After all, that is the whole purpose of writing a cover letter right? Aggressive is not a dirty word anymore, and most companies see this in a positive light. If one’s cover letter is confident, and a clear declaration, then they are classified as a “go-getter”.
Writing an Intern cover letter is hard work. Exactly, it is hard word. Just like the position one is applying for. One is going to be expected to work hard in their desired position, and therefore, working hard to get that desired position is needed. While using a sample cover letter from the Internet, or writing one standard cover letter and adapting it for each individual job, is easier; the bottom line is that the cover letter is not going to get the job done. No employer wants an Intern whom is going through the motions. An employer wants an Intern whom is going to give 110% to the company. There is no reason for that percentage to not be applied before the job even begins.
With a little extra work, and letting one’s self be unleashed, the prospect of that Internship is not going to see so difficult. In fact, if one follows these tips for writing an Intern cover letter, the results are going to be more favorable and perhaps even generate more excitement. If one is excited, and passionate, then the cover letter is going to reflect that and the employer is going to sense it. Then they are going to be excited, and passionate, about hiring the cover letter writer!
Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more information on cover letter for internship checkout his recommended websites.
Making Resume Cover Letter Writing (Almost) Enjoyable!
January 17th, 2010Believe it or not you do not need to prick your fingertips with blood and use it as ink in order to write an impressive cover letter that will complement your resume quite nicely. In fact, if you are willing to look at the cover letter writing process in a rather unconventional light you just might find that the process can be almost fun in a challenging sort of way.
Most people fail from the start when it comes to writing a cover letter because they somehow miss the point of writing one all together. A good cover letter is not a summary of the resume at all. In fact, a good cover letter merely invites the hiring manger to read the resume rather than rehashing the bland details that are more often than not contained in the resume. Your cover letter should be anything but bland if you are hoping for results. Hiring managers sift through dozens if not hundreds of bland cover letters on a daily basis. If you want to create a resume that will stand out you need to create one that is fun to read. The best way to do that is to have some degree of fun while writing it. Yes, you did read that correctly, I said have fun with your cover letter.
Having fun while writing a cover letter shows hiring managers that you can have fun with some of the less pleasant tasks that will be required in the real working world as well and definitely sets you apart from those boring two-dimensional cover letters that are littering the wasteland known as the dead pile of cover letters. If you want a few extra brownie points you might try laughing while writing your cover letter chances are if you find it funny and entertaining so might the hiring manager that has been bored to tears for hours sifting through all the others.
The purpose of the cover letter is not to highlight your skills, education, or prowess in your field but rather to entice the hiring manger that yours is the resume he or she wants to pay attention to over the many others that have graced his or her desk. You are not likely to do this if your cover letter sounds like all the others that have come his or her way. Make it sound different, add your ‘voice’ to your cover letter and make sure it is your voice at its best. You want your cover letter to be an interesting and entertaining read that is actually true to who you are. Your personality should fill the page if you are really interested in landing the interview. Of course you will want to make sure you bring your personality along with you when the interview occurs so that they know you are one and the same person that wrote the cover letter.
If you are still too nervous about writing the cover letter to inject it with your personality you should change your mind set about your cover letter. The cover letter isn’t about getting the job. That should never be the purpose of writing a cover letter. The goal of your cover letter should be in getting the interview. This takes a little bit of the stress off and reminds you that the job search process is much more than one thing though a great cover letter can definitely open the door to an interview you will need to shine in the interview as well. Do not hinge all hopes of getting the job on the cover letter though or you will find that you come across far too bland and are held back from showing the hiring manager that true appeal of your personality through fear.
Cover letters can be stressful but if you make them fun you will find that you procrastinate less and, more importantly, land more interviews when all is said and done. Hiring managers hire people to work with their companies and not a set of skills. If you keep this in mind it is much easier to write a winning cover letter and enjoy (well almost) the process of doing so.
Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more information on resume cover letter checkout his recommended websites.
How to Use a Love Letter as a Birthday Gift?
January 17th, 2010All of us have friends, family and colleagues. There will be times where we are all at a loss as to what to give as presents. Sometimes, it’s because we are a little broke and can’t afford expensive gifts. Sometimes, it is for that someone special and anything ordinary would not do.
Did you know that a love letter makes a great birthday gifts, either as a stand-alone gift or as a gift card together with a simple present? The love letter will not just enhance the gift but will express intangible thoughts and feelings associated with the gift. In fact, with the love letter, the gift’s value is enhanced. The love letter has an inherent quality namely ‘effort’ and that ‘effort’ will transcend to the gift as well. The recipient will feel the amount of effort you have put into selecting the gift, and know that a lot more thought has been put into writing the love letter.
The love letter itself can be a gift and more often than not, if the love letter is well designed and constructed, it will easily become the best gift for the recipient. And if the love letter’s content has touched on something special between the two of you, the gift and the love letter will be remembered and treasured for a long time to come.
The love letter for this situation must be something personal. It is better if you can recollect an event which only the both of you shared and then say how much it meant to you. The love letter can be about friendship, spousal love, ‘missing you’ love and even ‘sorry type’ letters.
Let me tell you a true story of how I had used a love letter to ‘touch’ a friend I met 20 years ago in college. He was watching television and had his hands holding his head when I walked into the dormitory. It was 2am in the morning and there was no one around. I decided to ask if he was alright. He replied he was having a smashing headache and it was difficult to do anything else. I asked if he wanted some aspirin and said I willing to get him some. Initially, he refused but later agreed to wait for me to bring him some. I gave him the entire bottle and he took the aspirin and returned to his dorm room. As it turns out, he was taking the same class I was and he brought the aspirin bottle back to me in class. From that day onwards, he sat next to me for the entire semester. Over the next two years in college, we became good friends. He returned to his country, and today is happily married.
To remember him on his 45th birthday, which was not too long ago, I decided to write him a love letter detailing the interesting manner in which we had met. There was no present and I just wrote on a piece of colored, scented handmade paper. The paper had an ‘ancient look’ so I took special care to write using a quill pen in one of the calligraphy fonts. I also carefully chose an equally ‘old looking’ envelope and then mailed it using courier service.
I got a letter from him saying that the letter was the most precious gift he had had for his birthday. He said that the letter reminded him of how ‘fate’ brought us together so many years ago, and how our friendship developed, spanning across the oceans and time. He showed the letter to his wife and they decided to frame it up. They even sent me a picture of the framed love letter I wrote him. Not only did my love letter make his day, but his reply and picture of what he did with the love letter made my day as well!
Often, when one masters the art of writing a love letter, and shares wonderful moments in life with close ones, it often bring lots of joy.
Think of love letters as a means of capturing life’s moments onto paper. Try it and be amazed by its effects.
Catherine Preth is passionate about love, relationship building and believes that everything in life hinges on them. Catherine is the author of www.write-love-letters.com where she explains how to do the simplest thing to enhance relationships between people.
Eddie Izzard – St. Paul’s letters
January 17th, 2010
an extract from “Definite Article”
