Your Potential Employer Speaks
Like most writers, I’ve been on the job search side of things. I’ve sent out the queries, copied clips and stuffed them in envelopes, included my SASE, etc. Since things have gone electronic, it’s much easier to give a potential employer exactly what he or she is looking for. Clips are now electronic or can be made into very portable PDFs. Resumes are attachable. Emails are delivered instantly. So we should have more time to really sell ourselves, right? Not judging from my email. So far, my search for a viable worker bee has left me a tad disenchanted.
Recently, I found the need to solicit help from fellow writers on a project. I placed an ad, spelled out exactly what I need to see, what the job entails and what it pays. So far, I’m less than impressed with the responses.
First of all, if you want to make a good impression, don’t start out by saying “Here are my clips and my resume. Call me.” If you can’t be bothered to “sell” it a little, I’m less than convinced you’re going to bother with other little details, such as facts or deadlines. Next.
If the ad asks for clips, send them or explain that your clips are unpublished samples; but please, send something. All the employer wants is proof that you can string words together coherently. If you can’t show that much, there’s no way you’re making it past the Delete key.
Convince your employer he or she needs to hire you. Don’t just say, “I can do this.” Show how. Tell the employer where your experience coincides with his or her needs. Enthusiasm and confidence are great, but if you’re not showing what you’ve done or in what areas you’ve read or studied that might help out the employer, why should he or she trust you?
One good note from my recent experience – I was not inundated with resumes or notes from unqualified people. Amen. That renews faith in my counterparts that we don’t just snap up any available job out of desperation. The choices I have are few, but there are a couple of shining stars that will most likely get the nod because they took the time to pull together a presentation instead of short, dull or otherwise incomplete emails that just beg to be deleted.
It never ceases to amaze me when I’m hiring how unprofessional those applying often are.
If you can’t read properly, why would I think you could write properly?
Exactly. What continues to amaze me are those who write their “cover letters” thusly: “Attached is my resume.” First off, DUH. Second, is this how much effort you plan to put into my project? I didn’t realize just how important a cover letter is until this project. I confess there were a few times I didn’t send one, but maybe that’s better than sending a one-liner that states the obvious?
Great post – very useful for lazy writers who can’t be bothered to write a decent cover letter or query.
And one would think the easiest thing for a writer to do would be to write a few lines about how great they are.
Perhaps there is a reason why some of us writers have editors asking them to write for them, and some others are forever mailing their resumes and can’t figure out why their strategy isn’t working.
farrukh
copywriter, journalist, ad blogger
http://farrukh.wordpress.com
Oh my goodness, I agree completely. I don’t know what people are thinking sometimes when they respond to ads. Hi, I’m a writer and editor, I KNOW when your grammar sucks. I KNOW when you didn’t give this message a second thought. I KNOW when you’re sending me a form letter. Have a little pride, people!
Thanks for setting them straight as usual, Lori!
Oh, and as an afterthought, if you get called out on being a slacker, as Lori has mentioned, don’t make a personal attack on the person declining to hire you. One guy, dubbed “Ivan A. Write” in my discussion about him, told me “you sound desparate and you are not getting enough.” Yes, good move. Nice demonstration of professionalism. This is me rolling my eyes.
Kristen, that guy’s comments STILL crack me up! He proved himself to be a real putz, not a real pro. Funny how the true nature comes out, eh?
And I for one am confident that you get plenty. 😉