Taking The Creative Approach To Your Cover Letter

Is getting a new job one of your New Years' resolutions? If so, now is the time to spice up your job application materials! I believe the most important part of the job application process is your cover letter.

Your cover letter is supposed to catch a prospective employer's eye, but that's easier said than done when it's buried under a pile of applications. As a result, nearly every professional has his or her own advice when it comes to writing one of these formal introductions and bids for employment.

Instead of following the typical formula, why not try a more inventive technique to get your application noticed. Mashable highlighted these five innovative approaches yesterday:

1. The Direct Approach
Lindsay Blackwell wanted to be social media director of the University of Michigan. Instead of typing up a typical cover letter, the tried and (sometimes) true method, she created a website with a video directed at Lisa Rudgers, the university's vice president for global communications and strategic Initiatives.

While Blackwell didn't ultimately get the job, she did land an interview for the position — an impressive feat on its own.

2. Using the Changing Communication Landscape

Video: YouTube, Graeme Anthony

Graeme Anthony, a PR practitioner looking for a job, uploaded his professional information to YouTube rather than creating a traditional cover letter and resume. Anthony's interactive video application included a breakdown of his skills and timeline for potential employers. It showed his video-producing and editing knowledge as well as his ability to use online resources.

In the end, it helped him land a job at Manc Frank. If a simple series of videos is enough to get you noticed, the sky's the limit.

3. The Power of Being Honest
Sometimes employers appreciate sheer honesty above well-written prose and assertions of dedication and passion. An unnamed applicant applied for a summer internship on Wall Street with a short but honest letter.

Whether the lack of embellishment helped secure the position for the student is unknown, but it made quite a splash online and proved that honesty really can be the best policy.

4. A Little Design Goes a Long Way

Image: Alice Lee

With a company as geared to the visual as Instagram, it can take more than a well-worded letter to catch the team's attention.

Twenty-year-old Alice Lee used her design skills to create an interactive website, complete with an Instagram stream with the social network's API. Instagram didn't end up hiring Lee, but she did get to speak to CEO Kevin Systrom, and Lee's site eventually led to an internship with another company.

5. Using Ads to Your Advantage

Video: YouTube, Alec Brownstein

Most of us have Googled ourselves at least once or twice, if only to make sure that nothing strange turns up with our names. With that in mind, Alec Brownstein decided to buy ads that would appear when specific people searched for creative directors' names, or more importantly, when said directors Googled themselves.

The ads led to Brownstein's site with a message that simply read, "Googling yourself is a lot of fun. Hiring me is fun, too." Brownstein now works at Y&R New York, and the ads only cost him $6. It isn't exactly a cover letter, but it isn't a bad strategy.

Which creative approach will you take?

Be Bold, Be Bright, Be You.

It's that time of year again!

No, not the holiday season (although we are all excited for that too).

It's officially the point in the semester where everyone starts to think about spring internships and even jobs for all you December graduates. So while you're updating your resume and crafting the perfect cover letter, there are a few things you should be keeping in mind.

1. Pretty much everyone is proficient in Microsoft Office.  You can skip including that on your resume.  What jobs really like to see is something that not everyone can master, like Adobe Creative Suite or expertise with a blogging platform.

2. The majority of people are also saying that they're 'organized' and that they 'have great people skills'.  Your future employer is looking for things that you can bring to the table that other candidates can't.

3. Highlight what makes you unique.  Having skills and experience is all well and good, but from my experience potential employers are looking for candidates that have that 'little something extra' or that 'spark'.

You know yourself better than anyone, and even though interviews can be intimidating they are the limited time that you have to get across how much of an asset you can be to a company.  So instead of listing a set of skills that most people your age probably have, set your sights higher and aim to communicate what makes you different, and better, than everyone else who is applying for the same position.

What are some other tips to make yourself stand out in an interview? We want to hear from you!

3 Crucial Things You Need In Your Cover Letter

I recently followed USA Today College Edition on Twitter and stumbled upon this great article. Writing your first cover letter can seem like a daunting task. If you are applying for your first internship it is vital that you have a stellar cover letter to accompany your resume. Presenting an internship coordinator with a cover letter, even if it was not required, will make you a stand out among the other applicants vying for the same opportunity.

Here are three crucial things you need in your cover letter:

1. Professional Format - Make sure you are using a simple and generic font (think Times New Roman). Keep the font size to 11 or 12 and make sure you are using black ink! The cover letter is a letter, so make sure it is formatted like a letter. Tip: Use Google to find the standard format of a business letter if you are confused.

2. Business Tone - Like I mentioned above, the cover letter is synonymous with a business letter. Keep it business professional. If you are applying for a more creative position within the PR industry, I suggest you create a portfolio of your creative work rather than trying to get creative in your cover letter.

3. "Dear Mr./Mrs. X" - Never address a letter "To Whom It May Concern" or "Dear Sir." It is impersonal and unprofessional. Make the extra effort to find a specific individual's name and title.

Skipping Cancun for Cover Letters

For Temple students, Spring Break officially starts tomorrow. While a few of my friends may be skipping the colder Philadelphia weather for bikinis and sandy beaches, I know several others who are using this next week to catch up on their job search. With many of us so bogged down by classes, internships, jobs and student organizations, Spring Break is the perfect chance to get in gear for the job hunt. Here are a few ways home-bound seniors can spend their Spring Break productively:


1. Perfect Your Resume. Putting together a great resume takes a lot of time. Use this as a chance to read up on a few blogs about ways to spice up your resume and really make it pop. Make sure you're including links to your social profiles such as Twitter (only if you're active and professional), LinkedIn and your personal website if you have one. Also make sure you are quantifying your previous experiences. Here's an article from Come Recommended on ways to get your resume noticed.

2. Learn the Art of the Cover Letter. Often times, the cover letter is the most important document you submit for an application. It's the employer's first impression of you and you need to wow them. Cover letters also take a lot of time to put together because you should tailor each letter to each different job. Here is a great article on how to write a "knock 'em dead" cover letter from US News.

3. Link in with your LinkedIn. I know I created a LinkedIn account for myself a few years ago, and until about a week ago, it still said my profile was only 90% complete because there were missing fields I wasn't taking advantage of such as writing a summary about myself or including searchable keywords about my skills. I now have a complete profile, but there are so many components to the site all job seekers should be taking more advantage of such as joining groups and participating in forums. Corn on the Job has a great post about 5 Ways to Boost Your LinkedIn Profile.

4. Phone a Friend. I'm told by everyone I know that when it comes to the job search, its all about who you know. Take advantage of your professional network. Call up a mentor and see if you can treat them to coffee or lunch during the week so you can get advice and see if they have any insight about potential opportunities. Mentors are incredibly important during the job search process because they've experienced everything you're going through and can offer valuable advice on how to be successful.

So yes, while a pina colada and the beaches of Cancun may sound more appealing than looking for a job, just remember sometimes you need to work hard before you can play hard.

Cover Letter Cues from RKPR

We constantly hear professionals complaining about the horrid cover letters they receive during hiring time and it’s not something us young professionals should be proud of. Many very qualified students don’t get opportunities they may be fit for solely because of easily corrected errors in the application process. San Diego PR Professional, Rachel Kay CEO of Rachel Kay Public Relations, vents about the careless mistakes she sees on internship cover letters and how to fix them. Here are a few of her tips to take with you:

1. Know The Contact—Yes, sometimes companies do not list direct contacts for who specifically hires the interns, but stating, “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Hiring Staff” is not acceptable. If you don’t know a specific name, write to the company itself. “Dear RachelKPR team” would be a great way to personalize the greeting. Take advantage of the information that is already known.

2. I’m Applying Because I Need A Position, Any Position—We all have times when we are desperate for any job that may come our way, but it isn’t appealing to let a company know that. It is important to prove that you are fit for the position and you are interested in what the company does. The average Joe would write, “I saw your ad for interns and I’m very interested in the position. I haven’t worked in PR previously, but I have experience in other departments.” The more appropriate answer would be, “I’d be a great fit for the company. While I haven’t worked directly in an PR function, as hostess at Malone’s I was responsible for serving as each customer’s first impression of the company, which enabled me to cultivate my communication skills.”

3. Don’t Regurgitate Your Resume—A cover letter is a chance to show your knowledge of the company and why you would be a great addition. As Rachel says, it’s your chance to show you know their business, not the business. Instead of restating your experience in your resume, talk about the company, their clients, and what they’ve been up to lately. Let the professionals know that you keep up with the company and your common interests would be a great addition to the team.

4. Be Relevant—It is always impressive when prospective interns are in the know about what the company has been up to lately. It’s even more impressive when interns offer ideas that they can bring to the team if asked to come on board.

5. Enough About You Already—It’s easy for students to want to talk about all they’ve experienced, but cover letters that discuss the employer show that solid interest and knowledge of the company which can be more impressive than someone with tons of previous internship experience.

6. Edit, Edit, Edit—We hear this time and time again, editing is the most important step. It’s easy to miss tiny mistakes when you’ve been reading the same letter over and over again. Send your cover letter to a friend or a professor to look over before sending it out. That extra step could make the world of a difference in the end.

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Andrea Jordan.

To Follow Up or To Not Follow Up

As a last semester senior it is job search time! As I mail, email and submit resumes and cover letters left and right, I have been wondering if it is appropriate to follow up after sending a resume. So I took to the Internet to conduct some research on whether or not I should follow up with employers after I submit a resume.

The answer? It depends. For example, if a job posting or a contact says do not follow up, well then you can guess what not to do. If a company is receiving hundreds of cover letters, it may be a good way to stand out from other candidates showing your desire for the job.

Once you determine whether or not it is appropriate, how do you follow up? My research found employers or hiring managers thought an email or handwritten note was the best option. Calling was thought to be too pushy or intrusive.

What do you write in a follow up note?

• If you have a specific contact you submitted a resume to, then write your note to this person. If not, do not address your letter to anyone.
• Tell the person you submitted the resume and remind your contact when you submitted it and what position you are applying for.
• Express your interest in working at the company or organization. Briefly explain why you are interested and what skills would make you an ideal candidate.
• Ask if he or she needs any additional materials for your consideration and remind him or her how you can be contacted.
• Thank the contact for his or her consideration and remind the person how you can be contacted.

There are other things you can write in a follow up letter. So start researching some options before you send a letter! A great site to use is: http://jobsearch.about.com/.