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yospeck
Joined: 29 Aug 2006
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 Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 4:43 am Post subject: What is a 'Cover Letter'? |
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Just a quick question, not exactly sure what one is having that I've never really applied for a job using a resume.
Thanks. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 4:47 am Post subject: Re: What is a 'Cover Letter'? |
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| yospeck wrote: |
Just a quick question, not exactly sure what one is having that I've never really applied for a job using a resume.
Thanks. |
A cover letter or covering letter is a letter of introduction attached to, or accompanying another document such as a r�sum� or curriculum vitae. A successful cover letter results in the r�sum� being considered, rather than discarded.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cover_letter
A r�sum� (often spelled resum� or resume) is a document containing a summary or listing of relevant job experience and education, usually for the purpose of obtaining an interview when seeking employment.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curriculum_vitae
Long and short of it, the cover letter is opinion and the resume is fact (or should be). |
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crazylemongirl
Joined: 23 Mar 2003
Location: almost there...
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| Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 4:49 am Post subject: |
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| A cover letter is basically an advertisement for people to read your resume. It highlights your skill sets and also gives you a chance to say why you want the particular job and why you want to work in the particular company. |
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yospeck
Joined: 29 Aug 2006
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| Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 4:56 am Post subject: |
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So the email I send bigging myself up (how I love kids, how I'm a hardworking and attentive person, etc.) is pretty much the same as a cover letter?
(thanks for the links, cant believe I never thought to check wiki) |
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Qinella
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Location: the crib
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| Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 5:23 am Post subject: |
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I can't believe you didn't check Google.. try typing in "cover letter" and you may be surprised at the results.
As for typing a cover letter for getting a standard ESL job in Korea, it's just like the rest of the application process: doesn't matter. Just type whatever you want. Chances are that no one will read it, except maybe to skim for keywords like "female" and "blonde".
Just biggie size yourself any old whichway. |
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robot
Joined: 07 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 5:54 am Post subject: |
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qinella, i know you're being at least slightly facetious, but i gotta say that even here in korea, a cover letter is of the utmost import.
it's something that you should spend many hours crafting, and then editing for each job you apply for. first impressions are key.
ROBT. |
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djsmnc
Joined: 20 Jan 2003
Location: Dave's ESL Cafe
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| Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 6:10 am Post subject: |
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| I would be ashamed to know that my esteemed position could also be held by an individual who has not yet learned what a cover letter is. Shame shame. I suggest you stick with your "application" jobs and work your way up to assistant sandwich maker. |
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Qinella
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Location: the crib
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| Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 8:45 am Post subject: |
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| robot wrote: |
qinella, i know you're being at least slightly facetious, but i gotta say that even here in korea, a cover letter is of the utmost import.
it's something that you should spend many hours crafting, and then editing for each job you apply for. first impressions are key.
ROBT. |
I don't think so. My first job I had here, I spent a lot of time crafting the perfect cover email. I was soon called for my interview, wherein the guy asked me the following pertinent questions, which I feel best determine the quality of a potential teacher:
- Why do you want to live in Korea? (already mentioned in my cover email)
- Do you have any teaching experience? (already mentioned in my cover email)
- How soon can you get here? (already mentioned in my cover email)
Given that, and the fact that you could post a resume typed up by a drunken monkey on any job board and get swamped with job offers that night, I personally don't believe a cover letters holds much value for the standard blind job search, such as the OP is conducting. As for attaining a real position after you've established yourself here, that's a different story. |
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I_Am_Wrong
Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Location: whatever
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| Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 1:10 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm sorry but....this thread, the apparent fact that you managed to go through not only high school but also univeristy without having any idea what a cover letter is....makes me want to stomp you. |
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crimsonchin
Joined: 27 Sep 2006
Location: england
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| Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 2:11 pm Post subject: |
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| i'm in pretty much the same position, i'm just getting ready to start the application process and figure to just create a basic template cover and then maybe add subtract a little for whatever job. it seems pretty pointless though because in my experience any covers we received were basically thrown away without being read |
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robot
Joined: 07 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 8:00 pm Post subject: |
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I'd say we're pretty much in agreement: anyone English speaker with a pulse could have 2.0 and 120 hours thrown at them.
I just don't think it's ever necessary to have a job that only pays this low, not even on a first contract, unless you look like you don't know what you're doing.
Now to be fair, most people coming here on a first contract actually don't have any idea about teaching. I'm just talking about impressions. A solid cover letter -- along with a well-crafted resume and impressive interview -- could mask this shortcoming, very possibly resulting in a much higher salary. Even for people who previously didn't know what a cover letter was. 
It may require a few extra hours, or even some professional assistance, but will the extra dough be worth it? Hell yeah.
ROBT. |
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ajuma
Joined: 18 Feb 2003
Location: Anywere but Seoul!!
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 4:22 am Post subject: |
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| Believe me, we read cover letters and resumes!!! Be sure that your spelling and grammar are perfect. In the cover letter, tell us what you've been doing and something about the reason you're applying for the job. Make it short and to the point. Limit your resume to 1 page. If YOU were the one who had to read through 50-100 resumes, you'd understand! We USUALLY take people with at least one year of teaching in Korea, but if you're already here and your cover letter and resume/CV look good, you might have a chance! |
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yospeck
Joined: 29 Aug 2006
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| Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 3:30 am Post subject: |
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I love forum hostility.
| Quote: |
| I'm sorry but....this thread, the apparent fact that you managed to go through not only high school but also univeristy without having any idea what a cover letter is....makes me want to stomp you. |
1) I've never had to send in a resume/CV for a job because I've been in full time education for the last 19 years and the only work I've done is part time bar work... which doesn't really need a cover letter.
2) I must have bailed on my 'Resume's 101' class.
| Quote: |
| I would be ashamed to know that my esteemed position could also be held by an individual who has not yet learned what a cover letter is. Shame shame. I suggest you stick with your "application" jobs and work your way up to assistant sandwich maker. |
So I presume you were born with the inate knowledge of what a Cover Letter was? Doubtful. Some things you know, some things you dont, basically the way knowledge works is that you ask a question about things you dont know and then when you are given the answer you learn something new! Where before I was blind, now I can see.
And as for esteemed position... you probably think WAY too highly of yourself  You're nothing special, you're an ESL teacher.... remember that |
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Ody
Joined: 27 Jan 2003
Location: over here
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| Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 6:30 am Post subject: |
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| yospeck wrote: |
| And as for esteemed position... you probably think WAY too highly of yourself You're nothing special, you're an ESL teacher.... remember that |
unless you values are in the shltter, this makes no sense whatsoever. |
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yospeck
Joined: 29 Aug 2006
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| Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 8:03 am Post subject: |
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Esteemed position would be indicating that becoming an ESL teacher takes years of work... and is something to be really proud of. It really aint. Most people spend years training to be something else and decide to be an ESL teacher to earn some money and see a new country (and very few I'm sure do it for the love of teaching, I'm not one of these people as I actually trained to be a teacher).
ESL teachers are ten a penny. Doctors you aint. Curing cancer you aint.
You're doing a job that they would let monkeys do if they had some cognitive grasp of the English language. So dont think too highly of yourselves just because you are teaching in another country. |
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