if you’re not getting interviews, read this by Alison Green on December 26, 2012 I have talked to a lot of people lately who aren’t getting interviews and who can’t figure out what the problem is. They tell me that they know their resume and cover letter are fine (and often people have looked those over for them and verified that), and they can’t figure out what they’re doing […] Read the full article →
how can I write shorter cover letters? by Alison Green on August 24, 2012 A reader writes: I am struggling with cover letters. I think I write thoughtful, well-organized letters. I have revised my layout so that my letters are more concise; however, I often still struggle to keep them within one page. I think it’s part conditioning from having to write 10-15 page papers in college and part […] Read the full article →
are you making these 8 mistakes on your cover letter? by Alison Green on July 18, 2012 If hiring were just about who had the best experience to do the job, employers wouldn’t need to conduct interviews — they could just look at resumes and make a hire. But obviously it doesn’t work that way, because other factors matter too, things like what kind of person you are, your communication skills, how […] Read the full article →
I don’t want to share my cover letter with coworkers! by Alison Green on June 19, 2012 A reader writes: I don’t want to sound like a conceited jerk here. But I put a lot of work into my cover letter and resume, and while I have shared it with a few close friends, I don’t believe it is something I want to make public (at least not to people in my […] Read the full article →
do you have an awesome cover letter? by Alison Green on June 18, 2012 Do you have the cover letter to rule all other cover letters? Rachel Kaufman, who has been nice enough to feature many of my articles at MediaBistro, wants your help. She writes: I’m putting together an ebook of cover letters written by people in media/other creative industries. I realized that very much of the content […] Read the full article →
what’s wrong with my cover letter? by Alison Green on April 10, 2012 A reader writes: I’m actively job-hunting, and I’ve had no luck getting interviews. People tell me that I’m great in person, so I have to assume that I’m doing something terribly wrong when I represent myself on paper. I recently received feedback that I’m giving “too much” information to the HR rep/hiring manager, so I […] Read the full article →
more things not to say in your cover letter by Alison Green on April 5, 2012 In our continuing Things Not to Say series, here are more things not to say in your cover letter: • “I strongly believe your search can end today.” Um, wow. You haven’t even talked to anyone yet to learn about the position. This kind of hyperbole doesn’t just make you look arrogant; it also makes […] Read the full article →
cover letter swindles by Alison Green on January 10, 2012 If you’re a job seeker one year out of college and you write this in your cover letter, I’m going to be very, very skeptical: My work experience has honed my natural ability to lead, teach, and manage personnel to produce positive results and I have become an expert in streamlining organizations. I can learn and […] Read the full article →
is this a good opening for a cover letter? by Alison Green on December 6, 2011 A reader writes: After reading through your blog, I realized I had been writing the type of cover letter that will get a resume/application sent directly to the circular file. I have since revised it, meaning I now write specific letters for each specific job for which I apply, as opposed to a less personal form letter. However, I use […] Read the full article →
stop telling me you’re the best candidate for the job by Alison Green on November 28, 2011 Please stop opening your cover letters with this sentence and all variations of it: “I’m applying for this position because I’m the best candidate for the job.” No, you’re not. The best candidate has the sense to know that she has no idea what the rest of the candidate pool looks like. Somewhere along the […] Read the full article →