Current Events > WTF do I even put on a cover letter?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I've never made one, but I have to for a finance internship I'm applying for.

So far, I have:

"'Sup? I'm deupd_u. Becky lemme work. pls. lemme work"
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Just find one on google and change the details to you.
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Pics of Becky

Please respond.
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weapon_d00d816 posted...

Please respond.

Made me laugh, because it might actually work. I mean, you want them to call you.

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I use the T-format and have actually got responses using that, compared to every time I've written the 3 paragraph format that gets ignored

From what I understand about America: maybe six lines telling them what specifically you can bring to the company/exlpain the skills you have that they ask for in the job spec

cover letters are pointless. the HR person going through hundreds of resumes a day doesn't have time to read your sob story. Your education and experience levels will be what catches someone's eye.
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tape a four-leafed clover to the paper and write "clover letter" in green crayon
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The point of a cover letter is A) to demonstrate basic proficiency in written communication; and B) to make the potential employer feel special, i.e. prove that the job means enough to you that you'll take the time to edit a paragraph here, a few words over there, etc.
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I've never understood the point of cover letters. Aren't you basically just covering the same shit in your CV/Resume?
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When I was looking for my first job aftet college, I sent out so many damn resumes that I had a template I would just change the company on.

At least twice I caught myself after submitting having not changed the company name, lol.
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NihilistTurian posted...

I've never understood the point of cover letters. Aren't you basically just covering the same shit in your CV/Resume?

There's little point for them in Ireland since what the top part of the CV is used for is basically the cover letter. America seems to expect them for pretty much everything. Here's "give job, am hard working energectic and out going, please employ and want career in tesco thanks"

NihilistTurian posted...

I've never understood the point of cover letters. Aren't you basically just covering the same shit in your CV/Resume?

You shouldn't be. Honestly, I think they're a waste of time too, for everyone involved. But you should treat it like the essay section of a college application, just in case anyone reads it.
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Nothing. They are a waste of time and no one is going to bother reading them. Every place that I have sent one to never responded to me so I feel that they are worthless.
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NihilistTurian posted...

I've never understood the point of cover letters. Aren't you basically just covering the same shit in your CV/Resume?

It's an archaic practice that nobody does anymore unless the company is ass. Seriously, I wouldn't want to work at a place that asked for one.

Marklar posted...

America seems to expect them for pretty much everything.

Nope, very rarely do companies ask for one anymore.
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voldothegr8 posted...

Nope, very rarely do companies ask for one anymore.

Really? I've heard the exact opposite from a few people who do oversea recruitments for tech companies starting here. could be just a case of this dump trying to stay relevant by doing outdated practices

I also believe that being somewhat vague on a resume is beneficial because the company might want to seek more clarification about you via giving you an interview which is what you want as a resume's purpose is to land you an interview.
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They emailed me.

"Hi!

Thank you for submitting your application to the Blahblah Summer Leadership Internship Fair! Could you please let me know if you plan to get your Master's degree after graduation? Either way, could you let me know the date when you plan to completely finish school?

Thanks!"

Oh, shit. I almost want to tell them I am, just to get in, and worry about the consequences afterward.
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deupd_u posted...

They emailed me.

"Hi!

Thank you for submitting your application to the Blahblah Summer Leadership Internship Fair! Could you please let me know if you plan to get your Master's degree after graduation? Either way, could you let me know the date when you plan to completely finish school?

Thanks!"

Oh, shit. I almost want to tell them I am, just to get in, and worry about the consequences afterward.

You'll be an intern and get replaced swiftly with another intern and start your career with a black eye. Do it for science!
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Cover letters are dumb, unless you are working under a specific individual. Then you can use them to show you actually care about what that person does.

Otherwise it's just a stock response:

Introduction

I want to work here because...

here are some qualifications I have

Thank you!

and nobody ever reads them anyways, because every interview I've done the person asks me questions which are answered in my cover letter.
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the cover letter is mainly to express your reason for picking the job specifically along with a tl;dr versin of your main skills

Cover letters are useful in some occasions. It's a requirement in the business world. You don't need to attach a cover letter unless they make it a requirement. You just need to write a nice email and that serves as your cover letter.

The cover letter is for you to demonstrate your writing skills, communication skills, professionalism and work ethic. I've looked over 1000 job applicants in my career. I usually skip over lazy job applicants who just attach a resume and wrote nothing in the email.

If you want to stand out from the lazy applicants, write a 2-3 small paragraph (about 100-150 words) cover letter/email and attach your resume.
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Turns out it's for next year, and I graduate in fall,
so they can't have me. Why the fuck do they need to interview people a YEAR in advance?

But they said

however, we would love to consider you for a full-time opportunity this fall.

Please stay in touch and come by and see us at the career fair in the fall!

So, it's a whiff 6 months out, I guess.
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