CGThinkingCap7

***Note:  This blog entry is a sample “Funding Query Email.”  It was written as a class assignment and is a practice run of the type of query letter I would write if I was creating a website on the career searching topic I most often blog about and needed financial help to start the business.***

To Whom It May Concern:

With the unemployment rate hovering around the 10 percent mark, it is so important for people to be getting timely and helpful career advice.  As someone who has been seeking a job in a certain field for a few consecutive years now, I know the time and effort it takes to seek and apply.  I am equally as familiar with the frustration felt when you don’t land that position.  Sometimes it takes months to hear from companies so it is important to apply to several at once.  It is wise to make sure your resumes and cover letters are in the best shape they’ve ever been, so as to secure a positive job seeking experience, and hopefully that job, too!

My website is going to be a one stop career advice website, full of compiled information from professionals of various types – human resource executives, career center personnel, hiring managers, etc…  The information on my website will be relevant to job seekers and full of career shaping techniques.  It will always be timely and useful.

In order to be able to offer visitors and possible clients the best resources, some money has to be involved.  I am asking for a startup grant in order to secure the time of the best and most informed professionals out there.  Also, this money will allow for the creation and presentation of webinars, and possibly other benefits for registering.

To create this website, with the proposed resources and my perspective, would be a service to the job seeking community.  I would appreciate any financial assistance that your group can offer.  I really think this website will lead to positive career moves!  I look forward to hearing from you!

Thank you for your time,

2 ONE SENTENCE PITCHES

1.)  If you want to forget the disappointment and get positive about the job seeking process, join my first semi-annual career webinar!

2.)  When you’re sick and tired of the current job seeking situation, read my blog and get timely advice, suggestions, and resources for your search!

2 ELEVATOR PITCHES

1.)  Let’s have a conversation.  Who better to talk about job searching with than someone else who is in the same boat?  After writing somewhere around one hundred cover letters, tweaking my resume about as many times, and receiving “that letter” in mail (you know, the one that says they’ll keep your resume on file for future job openings) the same number of times, I have some insight into the difficulties of landing a position in your chosen field.   You might be asking if I haven’t gotten any of those positions I have applied for, how is my advice going to help?  Well, I have decided to seek out and gather the advice of professionals.  I will use this information to not only help my own job seeking process, but also to help others save some time and frustration.  Come learn with me!  Connect now and join my first semi-annual webinar!

2.)  I’m glad you’re considering reading my blog!  Perhaps you are wondering what my blog can offer you that other career-focused blogs cannot.  Pause no further.  First, I have had my share of job seeking frustrations and therefore have a perspective that is very realistic.  Second, I am gathering great advice, tips, and resources from professionals into one place!  One stop shopping for information that can help keep you thinking positive throughout your job seeking process!  Let’s get on the same page!

When I scour through the job postings for something interesting/relevant/better, I know that I am not the only one.  The thousands of people who are my competition in the job market cross my mind constantly.  In this current job market, though, as much as I would like to land one of the positions I apply for, I also want to see others succeed and find their new job as well.  I know just how frustrating the whole process really is and the writing assignments for this class have really encouraged me to compile helpful research into the topic of job searching – both for my benefit and the benefit of others.

Currently, my blog is titled: “Commentary from a Creative Mind.”  But, I might decide to go with one of the more career focused title ideas I ran through Twitter, such as “Making ConneCTions – Creating Successful Media Career Opportunities in Connecticut” or “CGThinkingCap7 – Trying to Find Positive Job Opportunities in a Negative Job Market.”  Also, I think my blog can be categorized with a meta description like: “From college to career – applying education to life,” “Leading by example, tales from a frustrated job hunter,” or “Communications and cover letters – sharpening skills now that will help secure that job later.”  I’m still working on the focus of my niche before I change any names or descriptions.

So far, I have introduced myself to my readers (“Hello”, “Hello, Again.  Biosketch Version 2”, “Biosketches 3 & 4”, “Biosketches in Review”, “Semester Topic”, and “Semester Topic Add-On”), told some personal anecdotes (“Motivation”, “On ‘Good Writing’”, “My Niche”, “Lecture – Week of June 7, 2010”, “Communication, Confidence, and “My Niche”), and found worthwhile information for fellow job seekers (“Algorithm – How to Create an E-Mail Merge”, “An Example of Logic”, “Some Job Interview Lessons”, “Research on the Web”, “About that Attitude…”, and “Why Write a Cover Letter?”).  What I find to be most interesting though, is that I am both trying to take in the information that I am sharing with others for my own job search and learning how to be a better writer, as I write.

Our “Devil’s Advocate” assignment has ended up being one of my favorite blog posts so far because I ended up believing the argument that I was trying to sell.  In “Is Today Opposite Day?” I tried to convince others to aim lower in their professional goals and that to better their chances of landing their dream position, they might have to settle and take what they can get for now.  After writing this post, I wrote “Revisiting ‘Opposite Day’” to admit that I ended up convincing myself that some of my previous post was actually correct.  In “Revisiting…” I wrote, “I ended up convincing myself that in such a tough job market, maybe this is the opportune time to refocus your goals.  If something isn’t working out, maybe it’s because it’s not right for you.  Ultimately, I still believe less in quitting and more in trying to make something work, but I sort of softened my opinions about this topic by the end of my essay.”  I was pretty shocked to realize how changing your perspective on a topic; especially one that you are sure of your opinions on, can really add so much more depth to your original argument.  Among many more throughout class, I will take this particular lesson with me as I continue to write.

One of the main questions so far from class has been whether or not I will use my actual name in my online presence or use a pseudonym.  Before this program, I had created a pseudonym, CGThinkingCap7, and started using it during one of my earlier classes.  Although I decided to change my LinkedIn account to my actual name, I would prefer to continue using my pseudonym for my blog and Twitter account.  In the blog I wrote from the week regarding credibility, “Lecture – Week of June 7, 2010,” I said:

What I found more interesting was that LinkedIn seems to follow much of Stanford University’s ‘guidelines for designing for credibility.’  It’s not overly commercial or glitchy, it recognizes previous visitors and offers feedback, such as “recommendations.”  It has a great design and is easy to use, and it “includes markers of expertise” and links to outside sources among other things.  So right away, when you initially sign into LinkedIn, the site lends itself to a more professional audience and purpose.  I may not have an online voice as together as the LinkedIn Page, but I am learning more and more about who I am and who people think I am based on what I post online.

For right now, I am just more comfortable using a pseudonym for those accounts.  I separate LinkedIn from my blog because I think of it as more of an online resume, not a springboard of my own thoughts and references to other topics.  I am glad that we were advised to go and spruce up our LinkedIn pages because I see how beneficial it could be in the job seeking process.  It is so relevant to my topic.

Within the next seven weeks of class, there will be many more blogs posts to come.  I think that there are so many elements in the career and job searching topics that I can explore.  I am hoping that through researching all of this information, sifting through it, and putting it all together, I will be able to improve my own job searching skills. By the end of this class, I hope to be able to handle the job searching experience better – from writing cover letters to getting through the interview process successfully.  Along the way, if I help others with their job seeking skills, that would be wonderful, too; since I know how frustrating it is when you feel like you keep getting it wrong.

Equally as important, I hope that my writing skills are getting better, as well.  I mentioned in an earlier post titled “On Good Writing,” a response to the lesson about Mark Twin and William Zinsser, how:

As much as I love to write, I know that on more than one occasion, I have gotten feedback on my writing stating that it was something along the lines of ‘disconnected.’  Unfortunately, I just tend to write what I’m thinking and sometimes I end up going off on random tangents, not quite ever coming back to my original point.  Despite my efforts at editing my own work, it always has taken someone else’s eyes to connect the dots that are my words.

I admit that it’s been most difficult to trim the fat in my writing, as discussed in the Module 7 lesson.  But, I’m hoping that I’ve improved somewhat up to this point and will continue to do so.  I am also surprised at how much more comfortable with Twitter I am becoming.  There are still many aspects of it that I don’t understand, such as all the different groups there are, but I find myself thinking of things to specifically sign into Twitter to write.  I like the challenge of trying to fit everything I want to say into 140 characters.  For someone like me who tends to go on and on when writing and talking to people, it’s good practice!  I don’t think I’m going to be the type of Twitter user that writes all of my daily tasks and locations, but I definitely see the benefits to “tweeting.”

In terms of what I am thinking for the rest of class regarding my niche and my online “voice,” what I wrote in my blog post titled “Semester Topic” still applies to my goals for this class.  I wrote:

I am in the Interactive Communications program for a few reasons.  Ultimately, I am hoping the skills I will learn and sharpen in this program will help me land a great job.  Aside from that, but no less important, I know that I need to work on my communication skills.  Every failed interview has only made me realize that over and over.  To get past the interview is not only to “win” against your competition, but it is also opening a window to a new, great opportunity and some greater challenges, including those in terms of communication.

I’d really like to write about job searching for this assignment because I have learned so much in the past couple of years of interviewing, but could stand to learn a lot more.  I’d like to personally reach a point where, if I successfully get past the interviews and get a great new job, I know it’s partly because I am a great communicator.  Job searching is a job in itself; it is time consuming, tiring, and most often, unsuccessful and frustrating.  I know that a lot of people are in similar boats, as far as job searching, and if I could shed some light on things that people, including myself, may be doing wrong when out trying to land a great job, I could be doing a great service.

Improving my writing and communication skills is very valuable.  I definitely think that my success in this class can also relate to improving my job seeking skills.  I intend to keep researching this topic and finding timely advice to interpret, use, and share.  But, most importantly I am looking forward to coming away from this class a better writer and clearer communicator.

Once considered the expected first impression on paper, the cover letter has come under scrutiny recently and deemed unnecessary.  However, the dust hasn’t settled yet and people are still torn as they get mixed messages about whether or not to include cover letters in their job searching efforts.  I will attempt to clear the air a bit and make a final argument.  In fact, I do think cover letters are beneficial and should be used.

I found many arguments backing me up and I also found many resources claiming cover letters were more of a hindrance to ones job searching efforts.  For example, according to ResumeLogic, “Ninety percent of all cover letters are never read, or scanned.”  Whether or not that percentage is completely accurate, I get their point.  ResumeLogic continues on to explain that they think it’s a waste of time since most cover letters are poorly written.  However, they also remind readers that “a well-written cover letter will persuade the reader to pay special attention to your resume.”

An article on the CareerPerfect website called When a Cover Letter is Needed even goes so far as to recommend when it is more appropriate to not include cover letters.  For example, “a cover letter is not needed if you are hand carrying a resume to a prearranged interview since you will be present to introduce yourself” and there is also no need for one “if you are delivering the resume to a recruiter or during a networking event such as a career fair.”  That may be true, but why throw away opportunities to highlight your strengths and talents?  In Cover Your Bases with a Savvy Cover Letter in the Phi Kappa Phi Forum, Kimberly Thompson says “the best cover letters not only serve as an introduction but also show detective work, sales pitch and personal appeal, establishing vital context, tone and perspective.”

One letter can really say so much about a person that skipping it seems to be such a waste.  In fact, cover letters can “help separate you from the pack,” according to Max Messmer in his article Cover Letter Needs a Strong Opening from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.  He goes on to say, “It’s a particularly beneficial tool for recent graduates and people changing careers or re-entering the work force after a long break.”  Also, in the article You Have Your Foot in the Door.  How to Keep it There:  Wrong Way to Interview in the Boston Globe by Scott Kirsner, Mariana Bugallo-Muros, a Human Resources Director, is quoted as recommending that cover letters be written in order to “fill in the gaps on your resume and tell your story better.  What is it that has connected all the jobs you’ve had?”  These are such important details in ones job history that the hiring manager can know about ahead of time, possibly putting you on the fast track to an interview.

Kat Neville from Smashing Magazine went ahead and interviewed many media company professionals and got their opinions on cover letters for her article What Makes a Great Cover Letter, According to Companies? Those who are against cover letters include many different reasons why.  Neville states that more than half of those that she interviewed said, “Traditional cover letters don’t have any impact on them.  We’re in an age in which Googling reveals a lot about someone.  Others say that they only work with people they know.”  The latter reason is something that many job seekers do not want to hear.  But, for those who may not have a connection in the industry, there is good news coming from people who are against cover letters.  In the Smashing Magazine article, Daimon Caulk of Modal Inc. was quoted as saying, “As more and more people meet, are recruited, use social media and apply for jobs in different ways, the best jobs will be taken by those who can network and go the extra mile.  Start networking, set up a Twitter account, do something new and impressive, and when you approach a big company, they’re more likely to notice you.”

Many creative professionals in Neville’s article agreed that the cover letter is downright archaic.  Richard Banfield from Fresh Tilled Soil said, “In general, I think the era of the cover letter is gone.  That puts it in the same dead category as the resume and traditional interview.”  Chris Teso of The Good said that “we couldn’t care less about resumes, let alone whether a cover letter is attached” and Allan Branch of Less Everything mentioned that “in a creative industry anyone who sends us a cover letter isn’t being creative, and I’d delete it.”  Those were pretty straightforward reasons why people going for jobs in creative industries may want to rethink the cover letter.  That being said, those were only a handful of companies that were quoted, and in creative industries, at that.  There are many more creative companies that still welcome cover letters and even more companies in other industries that require them.

After reading many reasons against cover letters and many for them, I think that the arguments for them are very strong and the reasons against are fewer and farther between and are simply a matter of taste, usually in a more creative company.  Obviously, though, the only cover letters that should be written are ones that are written well.  And, if the statistic above from ResumeLogic is accurate, then there is a very small window of time for one to make an impact, but an impact is an impact.  As  Brian D. Aitken from Halo Media LLC said in Smashing Magazine, “The whole gig is about first impressions, isn’t it?”

Cited:

Kirsner, Scott. “You have your foot in the door. How to keep it there: Wrong way to interview.” Boston Globe 10 Jan. 2010, ProQuest National Newspapers Premier, ProQuest. Web. 10 Jul. 2010.

Thompson, K. “Cover Your Bases with a Savvy Cover Letter.” Phi Kappa Phi Forum 89.3 (2009): 25-25. Research Library Core. ProQuest. Web. 10 Jul. 2010.

Messmer, Max. “Cover Letter Needs A Strong Opening.” Pittsburgh Post – Gazette 18 Apr. 2010, ProQuest National Newspapers Premier. ProQuest. Web. 10 Jul. 2010.

Neville, Kat. “What Makes A Great Cover Letter, According to Companies?”  Smashing Magazine 25 Mar.  2010. http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/03/25/what-makes-a-great-cover-letter-according-to-companies/

“When a Cover Letter is Needed.”  CareerPerfect. 1996-2010. http://www.careerperfect.com/content/resume-writing-help-resume-cover-letter-when-to-use/

“Engineer Resume Cover Letter Truths.”  ResumeLogic. Think Resources, Inc. 2005. http://www.resumelogic.com/cover-letter.htm

An article popped up on the CareerBuilder website while I was researching another topic; it was called “On the Job, Nice Guys May Finish Last,” by Christine M. Riordan, Ph.D.  I wasn’t planning on writing about such a subject, but it’s actually something I think about a lot.  I thought perhaps others do, too.

Really, the title alone got me thinking.  I have known and worked with people that would be classified as the “nice guys” at work.  I would probably be placed in that category by coworkers, as well.  Sometimes, being nice can be mistaken for being a doormat or having no backbone.  On the other hand, I have also worked with people who would fit in a category on the complete opposite side of the spectrum, where a general lack of compassion signaled that some lessons in people skills and common courtesy were in order.  What’s the better way to be?  Which personality trumps at the office or in any job?  Is there even a difference?

Riordan said that nice employees “may be less likely to face confrontation or other difficulties at work.”  Yet, stronger, “mean” personalities are “equally damaging to your career, as well as to others in the organization.”  I think it’s easy when it comes to this discussion to decide that being somewhere in the middle is the way to go.  Frankly, though I think that abrasive and even “bitchy” personalities are tolerated more and are excused as being more professional than nice, courteous personalities are accepted.  I’m a little tired of that.

I think many times, peoples’ attitudes at work tend to subconsciously reflect their motives.  Though, these are my opinions, I think that you can easily tell who at work are the social climbers (those whose allies seem to change by the day and position), the future micro managers (the people who are the most critical of everyone else), and the people that genuinely love what they do (the people who are the least concerned with office gossip).

Fairly, Riordan concluded “the keys are balance and versatility – to apply the most appropriate behaviors as necessary for organizational goals.”  While I agree with this statement, I think many people find this difficult and instead look for how the other personalities in the workplace should change.  In this case, if one cannot get past the personalities around them at work, perhaps they’re in the wrong job.  I feel that if you are absolutely doing the right job and doing something you are passionate about, you will naturally assume the right attitude, because you love what you do and your professional goals are aligned with the success of the company.  The social aspects to the job become less important because it’s not about that anymore.  I think making friends at work is great and eventually, most people do.  But, it is work.  A company wants you there to help them succeed and reach goals.  Little do people realize though, that it’s okay to have your own opinion and not “yes” everyone all the time, and at the same time, people will realize if you are stepping on them to climb the corporate ladder; neither social faux pas is necessary for professional success.  Common courtesy, however, is never out of place.

Cited:

Riordan, Dr. Christine M.  “On the Job, Nice Guys May Finish Last.”  Career Builder 24 Feb. 2010.  http://www.careerbuilder.com/Article/CB-1499-Getting-Ahead-On-the-Job-Nice-Guys-May-Finish-Last/

Since the topic of Module 6 was research, I thought I would share some of my favorite online sources of information for my niche – that is finding a media related job.

I actually found one that I’ve never used before while working on this module.  It’s become an instant favorite!  As I’m learning more about web design and using web applications in the workplace, the Smashing Magazine website has some great, informative blogs that I can use as part of my introduction into the professional use of the web, in conjunction with this ICM program.  For one of my other blog posts, I actually found a great resource here, a blog titled “What Makes a Great Cover Letter, According to Companies?” by Kat Neville.  This article had so many great ideas and opinions and quotes from people at design companies.  I find cover letter writing to be a tricky task sometimes, especially to get the desired results that I had to write about it.  This posting was truly a great resource for my blog post and also for my future cover letter writing efforts.  This website also offers user submitted wallpapers, icons, fonts, and apps, among so many other things!

One of my long-time go-to websites for career research has been Media Bistro.  Their website is really full of so much great media career advice and networking tools.  I often scan their job listings and apply to jobs from there.  Also, there are many links to blogs related to all different media industries, so it’s easy to stay on top of the latest media news.  In addition, the creators of Media Bistro have created classes taught by knowledgeable staff members that anyone can sign up to take.  There are also networking parties available to help people either get their careers off the ground or take their careers in a different direction.  I really love that Media Bistro exists and I highly recommend it.

While I’m in school, I actually realized how great it is to have access to the school library.  Normally, I don’t visit the library much.  The web has made research both very convenient and challenging, due to concerns of legitimacy.  But, having to find sources of research that are offline based, I decided to check out what our library had available.  I was both surprised and pleased to find thousands upon thousands of articles and journals at my fingertips.  The best part was that knowing the chances of any of these resources being unreliable is slim to none.  When researching my blog post about cover letters, I just typed in “cover letters” and so many articles popped up from popular newspapers and magazines.  I found all of the non web-based material I needed to finish making my argument.  This material will also help me in the long run as I still write cover letters and search for a better job opportunity.  I was very happy to get reacquainted with the library.  Even in such a digital age, it is so important to have legit sources and libraries, local or online, are full of them.

All in all, there are so many great resources online, but it takes some research to find them!

A job interview is sort of like a wild card situation.  No matter how many you have experienced, no matter how much preparation you have done the night before, you still can’t know how it will go.  I have certainly been on my share of interviews and despite the feelings of excitement and hope going into one, there are usually mixed emotions during and after.

There are so many different questions that can be asked during an interview: “where do you see yourself in ten years?”, “why do you want to work here?”, “what is your greatest weakness?”, “what are three words your current boss would use to describe you?”  Each and every one of these questions can be answered in so many different ways.  What is the best answer?  What are the answers that separate the “hired” from the “we’ll keep your resume on file” people?  I’ve come to think that, each hiring manager has a good idea of the person they are looking for to begin with.  You could answer each question with the “perfect” answer and if you don’t fit an all around ideal for that position, you’re out.  Don’t get me wrong, I do see the importance of companies being somewhat picky – they have a job that needs doing and they need to find someone who is competent, but who also fits into their company in many other ways.

Since I haven’t untangled that messy web of the interview process yet (I have been hired a few times, but there have been numerous occasions when I was not chosen), I am going to discuss some of things that I find helpful in preparation for an interview and some helpful things you can do afterward.  I do not guarantee your chances will be any better, but maybe you’ll feel better about putting in extra effort even if you don’t land that job.

Let’s start with before the interview.  The night before I print 3 or 4 copies of my resume to bring with me.  On most occasions, I’ve been asked if I have a copy readily available.  On at least one occasion, I was asked for more than one copy.  By having this ready in a nice folder, it shows that you took the initiative and came prepared – two qualities that are very important in the workplace.  This also gives a great first impression, and that is something that important in many instances.  It also helps to pick out your outfit at least a week in advance, if you have that notice.  It may be a casual place, but wearing a simple suit, or suit elements can’t hurt.  If you know for sure, however, that it is not a suit type place, then go with your gut instinct on dress code.

After the interview, there is not much you can do.  Once it’s over, it’s pretty much out of your hands.  The one thing that you can do, that is a plus, is to type up some brief thank you notes to every person that interviewed you.  I think it’s partly because they know you A.) remember their names, and B.) took the time to write that out to them.  I don’t suggest email though;  I also used to buy pretty blank cards and hand write them.  I have heard, though, that typed thank you notes go over better than hand written ones.  So, I switched to writing notes in Word, printing them, and sending them via regular mail.  If all goes as planned, your letter won’t cross one of theirs in the mail and you’ll get a phone call instead!

After reading this week’s lecture about logic, I ended up finding a great example of logic.  I read this Yahoo! article about a man who went to the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park at Universal Studios, Orlando, FL, and was turned away from a ride because he was too large to fit in the seat.  Apparently, the seat belt needs to click three times if you technically “fit” and are allowed to ride.  When his clicked only twice, he was not allowed to ride for safety purposes.

Here is where the example of logic comes in.  After this potentially humiliating experience, this man did not go talking badly about the theme park, the ride, or the employees.  Instead, he decided to start his own blog, which would document his newfound journey to lose weight so that he could finally hear those three clicks and ride that roller coaster.  Check out his blog here.

It might be confusing why I chose this as an example of logic – so I’ll explain.  Anyone could have been in the same situation as that man and walked away with a different perspective.  Many would come away with a feeling of bitterness, blaming the theme park for their humiliation; many would be angry, feeling discriminated against; most would end up with a negative view of what happened; this man, Banks Lee, walked away from the situation with a very responsible, logical mindset.  He didn’t blame the ride because he couldn’t fit in it, instead he figured that this would be a very opportune time to try to shed his excess weight.  In his blog, “Banks Lee & the Three Clicks,” Lee says

But don’t worry. This blog is not to criticize Universal Orlando for not making the ride vehicles roomier. No, this blog is to chronicle my journey to get into shape and lose enough weight to be able to get on Forbidden Journey. Even when I achieve this goal, it doesn’t mean that I’m going to stop exercising or eating right.

From the lecture, Professor Kalm noted, “In a relative world, where there are always more arguments to be made, logic gives us the ability to make them.  In a world of chaos, logic gives us the structure with which we can find simplicity.”

In the story of Banks Lee & The Three Clicks, I really felt that he exemplified logic by taking a situation that most people would have not taken well and turned into a blame game, and found his argument – his simplicity.  To Lee, it was simple – you can’t ride the ride without hearing three clicks, he was too large to hear the three clicks, so he needs to lose weight to hear those three clicks.

From what I understand about logic though, the people who would have acted in a more negative way would still have been acting logically, because to them, their thoughts and actions would be logical.  Who is to say that if someone is turned away from a ride for being too large, that they are not being discriminated against?  Who is to say it’s not the theme park being irrational?  In this case, Lee says, and his perspective is pretty logical to me.

Sometimes communication just can’t happen via social networking sites or Skype, it has to happen through email or the original postal service.  In any job in the media industry, communication will most likely have a heavy presence in the day-to-day tasks.  However written communications need to be handled, the Mail Merge feature in Word can be a great help.  You can set up a set of letters, personalized to each recipient; you can set up address labels; and, you can even send out emails, again, personalized for each person.  Here, I will explain how to run a Mail Merge.  It can be such a time saver!

Since you can create so many different things with the Mail Merge feature, this particular tutorial will describe how to create an email merge – perfect for sending out personalized letters to all of your most important contacts, without having the entire list of recipients show up in everyone’s email.

Preparations:

1.)  Create a database of your contacts in Microsoft Excel – be sure to include one column with all of the email addresses; save for use later

2.)  Create a letter template in Microsoft Word – be sure to clearly mark what will be your merge fields (the data being personalized)

Mail Merge:

1.)  In Word, while your letter template is open, go to the “Tools” menu and then “Letters and Mailings”.  Click ”Mail Merge” (Keep this mail merge “wizard” open)

2.)  Select Document Type – click Email

3.)  Select Recipient List (browse for the Excel file you created earlier with your contacts’ information)

4.)  Write your letter – at this point, you need to fill in your merge fields to personalize your contacts’ information

5.)  Preview your letter – this is where you can double check your letter and make sure you included all information needed in your letter

6.) Complete the Merge – this is where you can officially email the letter to your contacts.  Make sure the column including all the email addresses is selected, write a clever subject line, choose your format, and send!

Considering the fact that I have been searching for a better career opportunity for quite some time now, I think about the job market a lot.  Tying my last post in, I think that learning to write a proper thesis and make an argument are very beneficial to the application and interviewing processes.  There are numerous occasions in the work environment where you have to state your opinion and make an argument for yourself.  However, one of the most challenging times to make an argument, but also one of the most crucial, is during the process of getting hired.

I had previously mentioned that communication is something that I am personally working on, both written and verbally, especially while trying to land a new job opportunity.  Often, I have realized, my cover letters are much longer than necessary and my interview skills are on the weak side.  By having cover letters that are too long, I am probably boring the hiring manager nearly as quickly as I had hoped to gain their full attention.  I should be making my arguments for my skills and experience in the most efficient way possible.  When it comes to the interview process, not only do I need to work on my presence, but also answering the usual (but no less tricky) interview questions.  I will cover the topic of interview questions at a later time in another post.

Usually when faced with interview questions, even ones I’ve faced before, I freeze.  I can go on and on about my qualifications in a cover letter, which is the wrong format for a cover letter; but I get tongue tied during interviews, even if I’ve practiced answering the questions.  One could say that I’m just not that good at interviews, perhaps like some people are just not good at taking tests.  But, I think that just need to learn how to communicate better.

Considering this week’s lesson in making valid arguments, it’s a great time to analyze the difference between what I’ve been doing and what I could be doing differently when I’m going for a particular job.  After choosing whether or not you are going to go after a job, it’s time for the cover letter.  Generally starting out as a blank screen, I’ll sometimes use an old cover letter as a template.  I now think that perhaps this is not the way to go, especially considering my cover letters haven’t exactly been working for me.  The problem with this was discussed in the lecture.  Professor Kalm wrote, “If you know your argument too well you can forget to present important parts of your case to the reader.”  So many times I have read and re-read my cover letters only to find less and less mistakes and sentences to rewrite.  I had a feeling my cover letters might be too long, and I know that I don’t hear back from every job I’ve applied for.   By beginning with a blank canvas, I can really concentrate on what I can do for this one particular position at this one particular company instead of what skills I have to offer the general workplace.  I think that really trying to adopt this method of writing cover letters will make a positive difference in my job search.

Please check back for my updated thoughts on the interview process.