Cover letters

Chucky the tree

when emailing, should it be part of the CV attachment or in the actual email? OR even seperate attachment?

nesf

RicardoSmith wrote:

I wonder do many people apply for jobs their not interested in?

I think he was trying to highlight the difference between coming across as someone who wants a job, any job, and a person who comes across as "I want this specific job and I want to work for you".

There is a big difference between the two.

RicardoSmith

nesf wrote:

I think he was trying to highlight the difference between coming across as someone who wants a job, any job, and a person who comes across as "I want this specific job and I want to work for you".

There is a big difference between the two.

I see where you are going with that and I take your point. But, I think when writing a cover letter (a sales pitch for all purposes ) the line between wanting any job ie being desperate and being very enthuastic is a very fine line, and most will confuse the two. If you are committed to a specific career path that will be most obvious from your CV. Indeed if you are just applying for any job, the mismatch between your CV and the position would also be most noticable in the CV rather than the cover letter.

If you have to explain why you, your CV and the job are a perfect match, then you're obviously not.

RicardoSmith

Chucky the tree wrote:

when emailing, should it be part of the CV attachment or in the actual email? OR even seperate attachment?

What did they ask for? Some ask for a seperate sheet, with a lot of of details others a simple cover sheet, with minimum details just as a "cover". Depends on what they asked for really.

Eoin

Static M.e. wrote:

Just a likkle note as ive been sending out my cvs for the past month with cover letters and all typed up nice to every recruitment agency and joe soap who posts an job ( which is surprisingly little ) i just learned that your cv you send to the
recruitment company just gets editeded down and your cover letter canned
Wahts up with that?

Because I would imagine that the company that is doing the hiring expects the recruitment agency to select what it feels are the suitable applications, and send in the relevant details.

The company therefore does not need a covering letter, as it can assume that the candidate is suitable for interview if the agency has sent in the details.

Chucky the tree

RicardoSmith wrote:

What did they ask for? Some ask for a seperate sheet, with a lot of of details others a simple cover sheet, with minimum details just as a "cover". Depends on what they asked for really.

didnt ask, i saw it on one of the job sites and was just going to email it off. Should i ring first? Do all jobs need a cover letter? Or is for more professional jobs?

Eoin

Chucky the tree wrote:

didnt ask, i saw it on one of the job sites and was just going to email it off. Should i ring first? Do all jobs need a cover letter? Or is for more professional jobs?

I don't think you would hurt your chances by including a cover letter for any type of job - what did you have in mind? I am asking because I would imagine that a cover letter would be even more useful if the job itself didn't require a lot of experience, but a good attitude - this would be the perfect opportunity for a cover letter, as you are not as restricted to factual descriptions of your experience as you would be in your C.V.

Chucky the tree

eoin_s wrote:

I don't think you would hurt your chances by including a cover letter for any type of job - what did you have in mind? I am asking because I would imagine that a cover letter would be even more useful if the job itself didn't require a lot of experience, but a good attitude - this would be the perfect opportunity for a cover letter, as you are not as restricted to factual descriptions of your experience as you would be in your C.V.

bagguage handler at airport. No experience in it, or desired salary or the usual that seems to be mentioned in a cover letter.

i can let them know i am a great at lifting things though!

Eoin

Chucky the tree wrote:

bagguage handler at airport. No experience in it, or desired salary or the usual that seems to be mentioned in a cover letter.

i can let them know i am a great at lifting things though!

Perfect time for a cover letter then. If experience is not an issue, then this makes the CV less important. In your cover letter you can say how keen you are , how you can lift buildings with one hand etc - like I said earlier, I think a cover letter lets you expand on how interested you are in the job etc, than a CV which has to be much more factual

Chucky the tree

cheers. One more thing for people. On job sites that ask for a comment would that be a suitable place to use a for writing a cover letter? or should i leave it blank?

Eoin

Chucky the tree wrote:

cheers. One more thing for people. On job sites that ask for a comment would that be a suitable place to use a for writing a cover letter? or should i leave it blank?

I think this is usually used as the equivalent of a cover letter online - I think it was specifically mentioned in this thread - check the first page.

CV Specialist

This article on cover letter writing contains some useful advice on how to make a positive impression on potential employers...

kennyb3

dont see it answered above so just wondering if a cover letter should be signed personally (i.e. in pen) if going the post route (with name underneath in bold caps)

Eoin

Yes, I would think so.

Richard Cranium

I'm looking for part- time work for the summer (I'm in college now). I'm thinking of attaching a one size fits all cover letter to all my CVs and handing them in to a load of shops and pubs around my town in the hope of getting a reply off somebody. Is there any particularly impressive or formal way of saying that I'll take whatever is going without it sounding lazy? I haven't really got an awful lot to say, just

• I'd like a job, any job
• I'll work really really hard for you
• Please read my CV

That will only come to about three lines though, so I think it might detract from my chances rather than adding to them

Eoin

Cover letters should be unique to the job and the firm you are applying to. At least have one cover letter for shop jobs and one for pub jobs.

PrettyBoy

Hi all,

I'm looking for a job at the moment. I just finished my first year in college and got let go from my last job (bartender) after Christmas. I heard something on the radio last week about applying for work experience (ie. an unpaid internship) with a job you have an interest in, just to gain experience if nothing else.

Has anyone else done this? I'm thinking of applying to a car dealership as I have a huge interest in cars and I think I would really enjoy it. I would be willing to do any jobs they might have; washing cars, cleaning garage, goafer, etc.

I'm not sure how familiar they are with applications for unpaid work experience so I want to write a cover letter to go with my C.V. I'm not great with writing cover letters, I just want to say that;

• I'm a student, off for the summer.
• I have a huge interest in cars and I would like to work there because I feel that they're the best at what they do.
• I would like to work with them for a week or two just to gain some experience of the work that they do there.
• I would be willing to do any jobs that they have.
• I would not expect any payment.

Can anyone help me with a formal cover letter? Any advice is appreciated.

seafood dunleavy

Are cover letters necessary for sending in to places like pubs and small shops?I'm a student and just looking for part or full time work during the summer.