Need help writing a cover letter...

BaggedLancer
BaggedLancer Posts: 6,371
edited September 2008 in The Clubhouse
So my writing skills for writing technical documentation are really good, but when it comes to writing about myself and selling myself some of you know I = fail. I can express it in words, but never coherently on paper.

I need to write a cover letter for IT/IS job and really need to sell myself on this one since I'm young and just starting my career.

Anyone wanna lend a hand or advice? I don't want to use a sample or anything off the web, those are a dead giveaway, especially with where this one is going.


Thanks,

BL
Post edited by BaggedLancer on
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Comments

  • BaggedLancer
    BaggedLancer Posts: 6,371
    edited September 2008
    Thanks for the help everyone, I wrote one, let's see what happens. :D
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  • John30_30
    John30_30 Posts: 1,024
    edited September 2008
    Good luck! Cover letters were always hard for me too.
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,066
    edited September 2008
    If you're good at putting it in words...try talking into a recorder, then type it out. Should work.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • SKsolutions
    SKsolutions Posts: 1,820
    edited September 2008
    I had a similar thing and problem. It's was just a few years ago, and a change of focus within the broader field. I used someone that I knew who had a MS in Advertising/ Marketing. She was not a pro for resume or cover letters, but was able to sell me so to speak. It was much better than sounding like me talking about myself in the third person. I only do that in private. Good luck Mark, you'll be fine.
    -Ignorance is strength -
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited September 2008
    Write and Rewrite it. When you think you're done, rewrite it again. EDIT EDIT EDIT. It amazes me the kind of crap I've seen looking at people's resumes and cover letters.
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  • BaggedLancer
    BaggedLancer Posts: 6,371
    edited September 2008
    SolidSqual wrote: »
    Write and Rewrite it. When you think you're done, rewrite it again. EDIT EDIT EDIT. It amazes me the kind of crap I've seen looking at people's resumes and cover letters.

    I just make it significantly worse than it already is when I do that. I write once, a quick edit for spelling/grammar and leave the rest alone. If it's a big paper/document, I'll have someone else edit it for me. When I do it myself i over analyze it and ruin it.
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited September 2008
    Having someone else look at it is a good idea. Make sure it's someone with experience reading this crap and knows what to look for.
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  • obieone
    obieone Posts: 5,077
    edited September 2008
    "dear sir,
    i'm ritin to ya about da job you advertized in da boston herad on sun. 9/21
    enclosed pleaz find my resum. you can tell i gots lots of esperience.

    thanx
    mark":p



    Seriously though, I dont miss those days.:eek:
    Luckily in my trade, covers aren't really a requirement:rolleyes:

    Best of luck BL. I'm sure you'll have plenty of offers.
    I refuse to argue with idiots, because people can't tell the DIFFERENCE!
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  • BaggedLancer
    BaggedLancer Posts: 6,371
    edited September 2008
    I turned down my first offer yesterday, I would have been working to live in poverty. :) My unemployment current pays nearly as much as they were offering and they were non negotiable on it....I laughed and walked.
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