What makes a good cover letter?
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- Huebert
I'm looking for a new job, so I'm writing cover letters. I want to approach recruiters and creative agencies directly. So I want to ask what type of structure should I focus on and basically what makes a good cover letter stand out?
cheers
- emecks0
I just this moment got a hilarious one:
"....I know the CV makes me sound like a dork but I'm actually quite a presentable person with a good line in chat and, as far as I'm aware, no disastrous personal odour problems....."
If it were up to me, that person would be hired by default.
- menos0
never quite understood the point of cover letters... never used one, just emailed the person directly with a little intro (guess could be considered c. ltr) and attached a cv...
- mg330
Haha, I found some resumes while cleaning my closet two nights ago, that were from right when I was out of college. Woah, what a load of hot air I was!
Things like that are agonizing.
- Nairn0
Confident-sounding (though not too - they need to have their back broken), articulate and intelligent, competent and self assured, tempered by humour and self-consciousness.
Bonus marks if it's scrawled in pencil and has been hastily daubed with faeces.
- version30
truth and stats
awards, freelance clients, how you don't sleep and would rather code than watch the world series etc.
use of your own blood as ink goes a long way too
- Concrete0
MX, thats brilliant.
- blaw0
a nice bullet-point list of your qualifications versus their requirements is an easy way to stay on the initial 'keeper' list.
- madirish0
i sincerely think they are worthless in the 'design' industry.
- visualplane_0
Write a cover letter that's "normal" Don't write how you use to carve wood and can apply it to web design. Don't write how you use to milk a cow, and learned the discipline of patience from it. Don't be cocky and start the letter with "I'm the right person for you" with a photo of yourself wearing a shirt and tie.
Just write something "normal" and have a link of your work.
- Mimio0
Write something that shows you understands the direction/aspirations of the company you're applying to. Find a subtle way to explain how you see things in the industry going as well and how your book and experience reflect that. It's a preface for your book.
- Mimio0
^understand
- Huebert0
Thanks for the response, its good to hear the different views, but I still think that you need to have *something* to say about what you want etc.. let it be in a separate letter or just in an email...
- BaskerviIle0
I also think that cover letters aren't as important as they are in other industries. When you only have a CV to represent yourself, a cover letter is a more human face to present to an employer. But when you have a portfolio, your folio becomes way more important than anything else, it's hard 'proof' of your worth.
However, let's assume that there are 3 levels of folio: outstanding, average, poor.
If your folio is either outstanding or poor then the cover letter is of no importance, you're a 'yes' or a 'no', if your folio is average then a good cover letter can push you into the 'I'll see him' pile, so they do have some importance.It may be your first point of contact with someone, if it's bad then they may not even look at your folio even if it's stunning.
- visualplane_0
Also, if you're getting tons of emails you don't have time to read all the cover letters. I just go straight to the links to see their work.
- Leigh0
cover letters are pointless... i never had one... let your work do the talking.
- menos0
Couldn't agree more with BaskerviIle, visualplane_ said... and some other posts in that direction...
- waynepixel0
Blood always gets a reaction
- Mimio0
It's definitely not useless if they don't see your book until the interview.
- Huebert0
bumpage
okay, I know its an old tread, and the responses are great. Thanks.
I've got the direct approach pinned down,
what about the recruiters? same approach?