Job Discussion Forums

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 6:24 pm Post subject:

I haven't really been applying too much lately, and in any case, most of my cover letters are pretty job specific. If you'd post a draft here, though, I'm happy to review it. (I hire teachers, so have some idea what a cover letter should do- though this varies from place to place so it will be good to get multiple opinions.

Best,
Justin

PS- cute bunny.

Teacher in Rome · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 1286

Agree with Justin - personalise the covering letter to the job. Don't just repeat stuff from your CV, but find something that speaks to the person reading it. You could mention something about your work / teaching style; passion for teaching, for example, as these details aren't what you'd normally put on your CV.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

I agree about not simply repeating your CV. I generally do the following:

first paragraph: brief introduction, list degrees and years of experience, say where I saw the job ad

second paragraph: as Teacher in Rome mentioned--teaching style & passion for teaching, highlighting areas that are a match for that particular school (which requires a bit of research on the school itself--part of tailoring the CV)

third paragraph: something that interests me about the school--maybe I like its focus on task-based learning, CALL, or whatever. Again, based on a bit of research on the school--easy to do if they have a website.

fourth paragraph: reaffirming why I think we'd be a good match/contact info

They should be job-specific, which of course takes more time and effort than simply sending out the same CV to each school, but once you get a framework set up, it's really not that hard--just make sure you put the right school & name on it each time!

d

Teacher in Rome · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 1286

Nice response Denise!

SueH · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Posts: 1022 Location: Northern Italy

..the last paragraph being particularly important:-)

basiltherat · Joined: 04 Oct 2003 Posts: 952

my tuppeceworth.
refer to most, if not all, of the specifications and requirements they mention in their ad.

for example, if they ask for experience in the middle east, say something about that; if they ask for a degree, mention that; if they don't mention an age limit, there is no need for you to mention your age; if they state that you must be a US citizen, mention that etc.

i believe you can refer to most points in a company's advertisement in a brief covering letter. if they want details, they can refer to your cv.

this is an approach i and our daughter have used for some time. while i have been rejected on several ocassions, our daughter has been offered an interview on every ocassion she has applied for a job using the covering letter approach above. She has so far applied for at least 6 or 7 jobs in her short career so it appears to work well.
best
basil Smile

ps doing this also gives the company the impression that you have given some thought to your letter and not just copied from a template.

ESL Hobo · Joined: 23 Oct 2008 Posts: 262

1) Google:"How to write a cover letter" check out the top 2 or 3.
2) Read everything you can about the company you are applying to and make a new cover letter for each company you apply to. NEVER send a "general" cover letter.
3) Be concise, don't ramble, never more than a page unless they ask for a specific amount of words.

4) Probably the most important, make your cover letter stand out above the overs they will be receiving by saying something that really catches their attention. Something that exudes confidence without being cocky.

There is a lot more to it but you can google that, see number 1.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

If you're applying outside the US, I'd leave out the bit about being a passport holder. It's too basic a piece of info - of COURSE you have a passport!

SueH · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Posts: 1022 Location: Northern Italy

Similarly, if they are asking you for a CV you don't need to entitle it CV/Resume or whatever as it will be patently obvious!

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 1:18 pm Post subject:

Please put your name in the titles of any/all attached documents.

as in:

JustinTrullingerCV.doc is a better name for a resume document than:

resume.doc .

Cause the thing is, we receive a LOT of resumes. If it seems to you that you want me to be able to find yours... make sure it says it's yours in the title.

Best,
Jsutin

Samwise · Joined: 21 Dec 2008 Posts: 13

johnslat · Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 12:30 am Post subject:

Dear Samwise,
Better change this:

"I find your school's commitment to reaching out to pupils."

It's not a sentence as is - you'd better find the commitment "something" (i.g. encouraging, inspiring, etc.)

I think I'd use "addressed" rather than "redressed" next to last line, paragraph 2.

I'd omit the comma after " . . . Gadner's theory of multiple intelligences, . . ."

I'd change either "each student" to "students" or change "their" to "his/her",
next to last line, paragraph 2.

That's all for now; got to run.
Regards,
John

Samwise · Joined: 21 Dec 2008 Posts: 13

johnslat · Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 2:22 am Post subject:

Dera Samwise,

Amateurs make mistakes for the love of it; professionals do it for money.

Hey, don't beat yourself up about them; kibitzers always see the bad chess moves before the player does. If you'd had a chance to proofread your draft, you'd have caught all those (and more, probably.)

By the way, in addition to Gardner, it sounds to me like you favor Dewey and his predecessors:
"Dewey took advantage of the teachings of early European educators such as Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi, who emphasized that children learn by doing, and Fredrich Froebel, who recognized the value of play in children's development."

Learning by doing - the best way.

Regards,
John