https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-non-boring-cover-letters Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 08 May 2026 16:42:21 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-non-boring-cover-letters#post-107534 Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:02:22 +0000 marianne 107534@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Maya, I don't have any advice, either, (and I am the worst writer ever) but I just wanted to wish you luck! You are also pretty fortunate to have a mentor like shiny in these difficult times. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-non-boring-cover-letters#post-107509 Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:45:00 +0000 Inge 107509@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't have any specific advice here Maya, the lasses have given some great tips. I hope you were able to figure out how to go about this and that you managed to get a letter/mail out the door today.</p> <p>I'm holding thumbs here for you!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-non-boring-cover-letters#post-107424 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:32:20 +0000 Maya 107424@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>OK, at first glance--as I suspected might be the case--there are somewhere in the vicinity of 9834769346 marketing VPs for one of the company I'm most interested in. I suspected it because it is group of record labels (much like Universal) that has different VPs for each label and division. And like UMG, it's really not clear who I'd be working for. I happened to work mostly with Island Def Jam and Geffen, but there were reps for other labels (some of which were really obscure) that occasionally came to me for help. So I have no idea who my target would be in this case. This specific company is also based in the UK, so I'm sure the head honcho of VP's would be based there as well. Kind of makes it harder to get a hook. </p> <p>This is a great job and matches my background perfectly, though it was dated November 12 so I don't even know if they are still looking...but it's worth a try. Anyway, for that reason I don't want to wait. I want to send something so it will be there Monday morning! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-non-boring-cover-letters#post-107394 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:50:20 +0000 Alecia 107394@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've had the "pleasure" of sorting through over 200 applications for one job. It was tedious. I found that a lot of people didn't take the time to personalize their letter to the particular job. Those didn't get a second look. I did appreciate good writing (which you have in spades) and some kind of indication that they had thought about the particular job and their fit. </p> <p>Shiny's suggestion is very clever. Making a personal connection is always your best bet. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-non-boring-cover-letters#post-107378 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:13:10 +0000 shiny 107378@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'll tell you the best tip I ever learned, one that has landed me many an interview, back during the 2001 recession - though I can't say it led me to any job offers, it worked every time for interviews. </p> <p>Go research the company. Look on the About Us section for a list of the Team bios. If there is a VP of Marketing listing, read his/her bio. Do some more research on google. Find something - anything - that you might be able to use as an opening. Hint: VPs of marketing get quoted in the press all the time. They also speak often at industry events. </p> <p>Then guess at the VP's email address (they are usually obvious - try first initial, last name, dot company dot com). And send an email directly to the VP. Bypass HR completely. Keep the email SHORT (VP's don't have a lot of time), informal, and have a hook.</p> <p>For hooks, in the past I have:</p> <p>- asked a VP if he is related to so-and-so that I went to college with, who has the same (highly unique) last name</p> <p>- remarked about how I live on the marathon course and never miss it (to the VP who ran it and was interviewed in the press) </p> <p>- referred to the VP's recent quote in an article that I found inspiring... this would work if the VP blogs too. Or has a powerpoint preso set up on that slideware site.</p> <p>- appealed to our alma mater (if we went to the same school)</p> <p>This hook catches their attention, and should be in the form of a question, so that they respond to you (and you then know they read your email). </p> <p>Then show in your email that you have done your research and know something about the company, such as a recent product launch or other market success. What is in the news? (Check out their News page for recent press releases). You don't have to be an expert in their field - just show you did some research, and it intrigued you enough to want to know more. Throw in that you saw their job listing, and you are attaching your resume for consideration. </p> <p>Total - about 3-5 lines, that's it. Don't go on and on about you. This is not your usual cover letter. Make it about the individual, and his company. </p> <p>Attach your resume.</p> <p>Every time I've done this, the VP has responded - usually to answer my hook question. I'll get a simple, pleasant one-line reply back. And they copy HR. HR immediately takes notice, and calls me. (I have had only one HR person get a bit pissed at me for doing this... the rest all thought it was creative). </p> <p>I also know an admin assistant who did this exact same technique - she had the balls to email a high-profile CEO of a very large, multinational corporation. I didn't even know such CEOs actually read their own email. But, it landed her a job. Personally, I suspect this works particularly well with smaller companies, and targeting the VP of the department you want to work for. And, I'm guessing it probably works best for marketing and sales positions - because these fields really like ballsy people. :-)</p> <p>I would also add that you should search the company on LinkedIn first. If you have any sort of connection through your network to anyone at the company, get an intro. But even if you don't, you can intro yourself to someone within marketing. </p> <p>And if you never get a reply, send in through standard channels as well. Likely, your email just got lost in a sea of other stuff. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-non-boring-cover-letters#post-107300 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:27:30 +0000 marianna 107300@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>How about doing what Elle did in Legally Blonde? </p> <p>Just kidding.</p> <p>I struggle with this too so I'm looking forward to reading all the responses. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-non-boring-cover-letters#post-107296 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:01:50 +0000 Debbie 107296@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Maya-I look at cover letters and resumes quite a bit. If the cover letter is generic it's not going to get looked at first. Have an opening that will grab the person's attention. Be as concise as you can. Play up your strengths and mention the areas that you think the job can help you grow in.</p> <p>If I can help in any way let me know. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-non-boring-cover-letters#post-107292 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:47:45 +0000 Michelle 107292@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You're not unreasonable at all!! I used to hate wading through piles of cover letters, mostly because they were boring by design (I was recruiting for a bank where out-and-out creativity was frowned upon). But in the field you're working in, I think it's crucial to show a little personality in your cover letters. </p> <p>When I was applying for journalism positions, I decided my cover letters should showcase my writing skills, since that's the main asset I was proposing to bring to the table. The cover letter that landed me my current job started with an anecdote that highlighted my perseverance and dedication to the journalism industry. It led into descriptions of the skills I'd acquired through other jobs. It was on topic, but not the usual litanny of reasons why I would like to work for a chosen company. My focus was on selling myself rather than talking up my potential employer. Obviously I had to tie it back to them in the end by saying that I would be a good fit for their organization, but I hoped that I had proved my point by then. I know the cover letter was a success because my interviewer (and ultimate boss) specifically praised it, saying it stood out from the hundreds of other ones she read. If you want to see it, I can try to hunt it up and send it to you. </p> <p>I can't speakk specifically to what approach would be most effective for graphic design or marketing positions (though I'm thinking you could maybe make your cover letter look interesting some how for a GD job), but I think you need to be asking yourself what you would want to see if you were the one in charge of the hiring process. You isolated something crucial already; you'd be bored to tears by most cover letters/resumes you receive. What would you want to see instead? </p> <p>That said, keep your resume simple and to the point; no embellishments there. Recruiters want to be able to size it up quickly and you'll lose their interest if you're being overly detailed or excessively flowery. </p> <p>I hope that helps!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-non-boring-cover-letters#post-107291 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:29:41 +0000 Maya 107291@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Any advice on how to write one of these? I have tried all sorts of cover letter tips, from using a canned one (bad idea) to <a href="http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/sfo/101949754.html">this</a>. I think what I really need is something in between, but most cover letter advice I have been finding really stinks. If I found a stack of 200 applications to sort through in my inbox, and all of them followed the kind of inhuman format I have been seeing, I would want to throw up. Am I being unreasonable here? I realize it's just a part of the overall process, but it is my first real introduction and I don't want it to be stuffy and vague.</p> <p>With graphic design, and especially when applying to funky/hip/young studios, the second approach seemed more appropriate. Not sure about the marketing jobs I have been applying to though. I feel like I have to relearn everything I knew about the job search. I think I have to go more formal but still not boring and...boring. </p> <p>Maybe I'm overthinking this, but I have come to depend on the wisdom of YLF. My parents, quite frankly, seem to have very outdated views on this sort of thing ("YOU MUST ALWAYS MAIL YOUR APPLICATION"). So I hope all my unrelated-to-fashion questions aren't getting annoying... </p>