Break the Mold: Don’t Be a Cookie Cutter
“But I’m doing everything right. I’m networking. I’m applying for jobs online. I recently updated my resume. Why am I not getting any calls?” Perhaps because what you just described is exactly what everyone else is doing.
Instead of thinking about what you’re doing “right,” take a step outside the cookie cutter mold and think about what you haven’t done. There are endless paths that lead to employment. There are countless different turns you can make along the way, and still end up with a positive result. In other words, there isn’t one “right” way to land a job!
For example, I have always been one to say cover letters should be kept short and fairly formal. Well, I’m going to be an extreme hypocrite right now and share the cover letter of a freelancer I just hired for CR|PR.
Dear Heather,
My name is [Name] and I am a recent graduate of Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. I have been following you on Twitter since graduation and have found the advice and links to PR positions to be most helpful and uplifting for me as I began my search for work. Once I learned of the public relations and social media assistant openings for Come Recommended, I knew that this may be the best opportunity for me to “give back” for all the help you have given me this summer!
As my graduation date approached, I had a decision to make: take a position for a small firm in a city where I had no connections, or an internship for an agency in a city I had friends and family. Though the entry-level opportunity was one that I should have taken advantage of, I truly believed that the internship would be more beneficial to my career path. Unfortunately, my internship session expired and the current climate did not allow the agency to take on any new freelancers.
As a result, I found myself in a situation that thousands of graduates are in: educated and unemployed.
I am confident in my work experience through my three internships, as they are in different PR arenas and have provided me a wide-ranging knowledge of strategies, tactics and industry standards. However, this experience, along with my personal drive and passion for PR, are going unnoticed by nearly ever agency I apply to because of the flood of several “highly-qualified” applicants that are settling for entry-level positions. The most frustrating part of this environment is that several of my peers are now belittling their education, and have no hope for even a “foot in the door” at a secure institution.
Due to my experiences this summer, I have become a true believer in organizations like Come Recommended that are providing a service to this new wave of graduates in an effort to begin the next generation of the work force. Even after my first internship before my senior year in college, I knew that there were several aspects of the “real world” that my coursework was not going to provide me with, but I settled for the idea that I would learn them in time. Come Recommended has the answers to the questions that people like me have on what to do next, how to separate myself from the competition and just how to get through the week.
This position is an excellent opportunity for me to use my talents for something I actually believe in: a service that benefits my peers that are in my situation. All of the pieces come together for me in this position, and I would love the chance to express just how dedicated I am to it.
Even if this cover letter and application get “filed into the cylinder,” I am thankful for the opportunity to express my appreciation for your service and your work. Even as a mere Tweep, I was able to benefit from your content, and I would be committed to using my skills to help you deliver that same benefit to the thousands of people that are in my same situation.
I appreciate your consideration for this position and I am truly thankful for the opportunity.
Best,
[Name]
Believe me, this individual can quote back to me my own Examiner.com column (which he did several times during our interview). But his cover letter is one of the best I’ve read in a really long time, even though it didn’t follow any of the “instructions” I normally give.
So, while what you’re doing may be “right,” it also may be ubiquitous. Break the mold in your job search. Don’t be a cookie cutter.
Dawn Bugni
Wow. Great post Heather. Great letter too. You’re right completely it’s against anything I would have recommended, but boy did s/he demonstrate his/her passion for Come Recommended and his/her chosen profession.
What a great reminder that standing out in a job search is essential. This individual is truly a standout. I would have hired them too.
Excellent.
Posted 10-8-2009
Gayle Howard
This is an excellent post and so true Heather. Essentially, doing what everyone else is doing is just marching in time. Without that proactive component of breaking out of the mold, how can anyone truly stand out in such a tough, competitive job market? Great work!
Posted 10-8-2009
Megan Fitzgerald
Great teaching through example Heather!
I look forward to exploring future career collective topics with you!
My best,
Megan
Posted 10-9-2009
Chandlee Bryan
Heather,
Thanks for sharing this great cover letter. It’s a terrific example of how to create a “conversation” with your potential employer.
I agree with you, cover letters don’t need to be long; they just need to answer the basic questions the employer wants to know:
How did you learn of this position?
How do your skills and experience align with my needs?
Why are you interested and how does this fit your goals?
A letter that answers all these questions–and shows a strong understanding of the type of work involved with the position–goes a long way in answering these questions! (And frequently rises to the top of the pile.)
All the Best,
Chandlee
Posted 10-9-2009
Priscilla Hernandez
Thanks for sharing this! I completely understand this person being that I am going through the same situation. This post has definitely sparked a few ideas to improve my own cover letter. Again, thanks for the insight!
Posted 10-9-2009
Miriam Salpeter, Keppie Careers
Heather – What a perfect reminder that there is “no one RIGHT way” to apply for a job. Thanks for sharing a story that demonstrates that every document is as good as the connection it makes with the reader.
I would not recommend a long cover letter to my clients, either, but the message this letter shares hits just the right note!
I’m so glad you are part of the Career Collective and look forward to future posts!
Posted 10-9-2009
Barbara Safani
Heather,
Wow! I love the authenticity of this letter. This freelancer sounds like a keeper!
Posted 10-10-2009
Shari
Wow. That is a good cover letter. Probably the best, yet unconventional one I’ve seen yet.
Posted 10-14-2009