Cover letter essentials.

I try to make each cover letter different; I'm not into the form-letter school of cover letters.

There are the basics you toss in each cover letter: your experience, why you should get the job, etc.

What else do you feel should go in there?

 

I put in how my activites outside my job helps me. For example, how experience on a school board taught you to interact, how coaching helped you delegate responsibility, how working in a homeless shelter taught you to talk with people you normally wouldn't meet. I would hope that employers aren't looking for a robot--they want someone with experience outside (newspapers, sports/news, whatever) your expertise.

 

A snappy lead.

 

It has to capture a sense of the writer. Since resumes are pretty similar, the cover letter is a chance to connect. Tailor it toward the opening. The editor knows what job he/she is seeking to fill. It's up to you to make a credible case to fill it.

 

Be yourself.
Research the paper.
Always have it proofed.
Don't forget your e-mail address.

References. don't forget them.
Enjoy yourself while writing it. have fun with it.
Never forget to use spellcheck.
Familiarize yourself with new cover-letter writing techniques.
Roll with the punches. you may not get a call back.
Only write as many as you can keep track of.

 

Holy fuck, dude. The entire time I'm reading that, I'm thinking, "Why the hell is Tom Petty using caps." And then ... I got it.

Very well done.

 

I assume he was just trying to brown-nose, but even still, why the hell would you write about Sodoku -- or any hobbies, really -- in a cover letter?

 

Moddy, I usually limit mine to four graphs, like your above example, but I always feel there's something lacking.

I never, ever have had a cover letter go onto a second page. Good way of getting your stuff tossed in the circular file ASAP.

Reason I started this thread is because I feel like mine are like an assembly line, and I like something different in each beyond boilerplate about how I'd fit into that particular sports staff.

 

Thanks, Mod, Tom and everyone else who has offered up advice, even though TP's advice was massively tongue-in-cheek.