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Another Cover Letter: A Jobseeker Adapts
By Eric Gross | November 27, 2007
The last thing I want is for this multifaceted blog to become a repository for non-generic job intro letters that follow a “top this if you can” theme while getting away from the spirit of this talent dance; from the eye of this recruiter, the purpose of a cover email is to quickly bring us closer. Yet nearly all I’ve ever received simply add layers of distance.
Don’t get me wrong - a great personality and a snazzy cover email just can’t make up for spelling errors in a QA resume or turn a CGI/perl developer into a grid computing guru or magically make someone a Unix sysadmin expert or turn a 90% of quota enterprise software sales executive into a leadership club superstar. But that cover email might just get you that extra look.
I’ll hand off this next section to Amy since it’s clear she reads our blog…
“Just because I’m a programmer doesn’t mean I’m just a programmer. In addition to coding Perl, C++, and shell scripting in my own time, I also find time to read material like Cosmo, Glamour, and Solar Energy Projects for the Evil Genius. In my copious free time, I have managed to pick up an addiction to the Nintendo Wii, which I promise to bring and share with my co-workers to help unwind after a long stressful company provided lunch. I enjoy long walks on the beach, romantic candlelit dinners, and spending hours gazing at my web based RSS feeds. Reading your web site, I know I would be an excellent fit with this company and for this position. I look forward to hearing from you soon.”
Yes, I did notice she wrote, “In my copious free time…”; in your copious free time you should be adding to CPAN, right? But it “worked”; I called her just soon after I received her email - at 10:30 PM. There are positives with her experience; we’ll see how it goes.
To all jobseekers I say, down with boring, generic letters! Off with the heads of those who “teach” people to write these things! And don’t get me started on resumes that spend 90% of each page describing the company, the products or services offered, and an overview of the project, and less than 3 lines describing what the person actually accomplished.
If only developers would be honest about what skills they really possess and send me a relevant code sample. If only SQA engineers would send me resumes that are spell and grammar checked and include current Linux/Unix experience - if we’re asking for Linux, Unix and Windows experience don’t you think you might want to highlight all three? If only Sales Rainmakers would offer their actual performance statistics rather than qualitative assessments without numbers.
In the end, you have but one chance to make a first impression…shouldn’t it be your best one?
Topics: Recruiting
December 5th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
The comment below (originally received 29 November 2007) actually caused me to lol to the point of snorting. After taking to task people who send in resumes with spelling errors what do I do? As Joe pointed out, I post a job opportunity with a spelling error…for SQA no less.
There are no excuses. It’ll take me a few weeks to wipe the egg off my face.
As for Joe, I called him and we had a great laugh over it. You know what? If I were an SQA type, I’d want to work with Joe.
Hey Joe, are you hiring up there in Billerica?
December 5th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
You want SQA engineers to spell check their resume, and you post “XML programmin ” as one of the technical skills and tools that are plusses if you have them?
I don’ know much about that there programmin thing, Steve. But I does know a thing or two bout readin and writin (and QA).
Good luck,
-joe