MY TYPICAL COVER LETTER:
The listing for a x on your company website immediately caught my attention as my education and skills closely match your needs.
According to the listing, prerequisites for this position include strong written and oral communication skills and public relations experience. I graduated with a Master’s degree in English last December and have a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations. Intensive course work in Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing and English, as well as public relations and editorial internships have allowed me to develop the excellent communication and public relation skills you require.
An important lesson I’ve learned throughout the course of my internships is that hard work is the key to success, not just a college degree (or two). Therefore, I am committed to working hard and learning as much as possible about x and the x industry. This attitude, along with my excellent communication skills and public relations experience, is what sets me above the other candidates competing for positions at your company.
Attached is my resume for your review. I would appreciate meeting with you at a suitable time to discuss the opportunity available at x Don’t hesitate to call if you need any additional information or wish to schedule an interview. Thank you.
MY TYPICAL RESUME:
My Name
Address
Phone Number
Email Address
EDUCATION
1/2005 – 12/2006
College of Charleston, The Citadel
Master of Arts, English
9/1998-7/2002
University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK
Bachelor of Arts, Public Relations
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2/2007-11/2007
Nova, Tokyo, Japan
English Instructor
Taught conversational English to hundreds of students of all skill levels and age ranges
Lead preparation seminars for language efficiency tests
5/2005-1/2007
Tour Company Name, Charleston, SC
Customer Service Representative/Copywriter
Composed tour descriptions for company brochures and website
Booked and coordinated historic Charleston ghost tours for thousands of customers
8/2006 – 12/2006
Independent Newspaper Name, Charleston, SC
Editorial Intern
Researched and wrote short pieces for online and print publication
Assisted editors in researching and planning content for upcoming feature stories
Entered and organized local events in the online community calendar
4/2006 – 6/2006
City Department Name, Charleston, SC
Intern – Piccolo Spoleto Arts Festival
Completed various Public Relations tasks such as composing and editing copy for event fliers, assembling media kits and working in the Piccolo Spoleto press room
Served as house manager for various festival performances which entailed the management of volunteers, box office staff and theatre coordinators
4/2005 – 6/2005
Company Name, Mt. Pleasant, SC
Marketing/Public Relations Intern
Wrote press releases, author bios and other materials for newly published company name books
Developed professional media kits featuring company name books and authors
Assembled media lists for targeted regions throughout the country
POSITIONS TO WHICH I'VE APPLIED:
Public Relations Agency, Tampa, FL (3 agencies total)
Responded to General Invitation for Resumes
Advertising Agency, Charleston, SC - Copywriter
Business Publishing Company, FL - Copywriter
Large Corporation, FL - Consulting Copy Editor
Financial Institution, FL - Financial Writer
Financial Institution, FL -Proofreader
PR/Ad Agency, SC - Copywriter
PR Agency, FL - Junior Account Executive
Temp Agency, FL - Knowledge Base Editor
Mid-America Festivals, FL - Marketing Assistant (Bay Area Renaissance Festival)
Home Shopping Network, FL - Marketing Manager
Theme Park, FL - Brand Ambassador
Temp Job, SC - Technical Proofreader
PR/Ad Agency, FL - Research Associate
Ad Agency, Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Account Executive (11/29)
Local Spa Business, FL - Marketing Coordinator (11/29)
Local Publishing Company, Charleston, SC - Marketing/Publishing Positions (12/2)
Unknown Publishing Company, Charleston, SC - Book Acquistion Manger/Marketing Assistant (12/3)
Public Relations Agency, Tampa, FL - Writer (12/3)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
PR Agency, SC
Responded to General Invitation for Resumes **REJECTED**
Television Station, FL - Communications Assistant (Applied Late) **POSITION FILLED**
Virtual Marketing/PR Firm - Junior Account Executive **NO OPEN POSITION, PASSED MY RESUME ON TO CONTACTS**
Regional Publishing Company, SC - Graduate Management Trainee (Applied Late) **POSITIONS FILLED**
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Why I've Created This Blog
I hate the job hunting process. The resumes, the cover letters, the anticipation of a phone call or email, the formulaic interview questions and answers, the rejection letters, the resume black holes. I can think of very little things I hate more in life, and most people I know feel the same way.
Recently, I've had to start looking for a job and I thought it would be interesting to document my job search from start to finish. How many jobs will I apply to before I get an interview invitation? How many of my resumes will be sucked into an HR black hole, never to be seen or heard from again? And the most frightening question of all, how long will it take for me to get a job? Only time, and this blog, will tell.
As of November 28, 2007, my husband and I do not have jobs. After nine months of teaching English in Japan, our employer went bust and we returned to the States to find "real" jobs and settle down. That was exactly two weeks ago. I know it hasn't been long at all, but I'm already getting anxious. It doesn't help that my husband and I need jobs NOW. In my experience, people usually find good jobs when they are not desperate for them.
I'm trying to find an entry-level public relations and/or editorial/writing/publishing position in either Charleston, SC or Tampa, FL. I have a Master's in English, a B.A. in Public Relations and three relevant internships, so it's not like I don't have anything to offer. My job history is stable, I haven't commited any crimes, I don't have any emotional or mental issues so one would think I have a decent shot at getting a good job. We'll soon find out.
One good thing has come of my job hunt so far. I recently sent a resume to a small PR/advertising agency in Charleston, and while there aren't any positions available, the owner did say I had an impressive resume and sent it on to contacts she has in the area. Unfortunately, unless I hear something soon from a potential Charleston employer in the next week or two, my husband and I are going to move back to Tampa as the job market is much more promising there. Currently we're temporarily staying at his parents' beach house in South Carolina, and while the house is nice, living with the in-laws just ain't cool.
Current Job Hunting Stats:
Positions Applied to: 20
Interview Invitations: 0
Rejections: 3
Resumes Currently Floating in the HR Void: 17
Time Spent Hunting: Twelve days
I welcome any and all comments. Please feel free to pass on any advice, criticism and job hunting gripes you might have!
Recently, I've had to start looking for a job and I thought it would be interesting to document my job search from start to finish. How many jobs will I apply to before I get an interview invitation? How many of my resumes will be sucked into an HR black hole, never to be seen or heard from again? And the most frightening question of all, how long will it take for me to get a job? Only time, and this blog, will tell.
As of November 28, 2007, my husband and I do not have jobs. After nine months of teaching English in Japan, our employer went bust and we returned to the States to find "real" jobs and settle down. That was exactly two weeks ago. I know it hasn't been long at all, but I'm already getting anxious. It doesn't help that my husband and I need jobs NOW. In my experience, people usually find good jobs when they are not desperate for them.
I'm trying to find an entry-level public relations and/or editorial/writing/publishing position in either Charleston, SC or Tampa, FL. I have a Master's in English, a B.A. in Public Relations and three relevant internships, so it's not like I don't have anything to offer. My job history is stable, I haven't commited any crimes, I don't have any emotional or mental issues so one would think I have a decent shot at getting a good job. We'll soon find out.
One good thing has come of my job hunt so far. I recently sent a resume to a small PR/advertising agency in Charleston, and while there aren't any positions available, the owner did say I had an impressive resume and sent it on to contacts she has in the area. Unfortunately, unless I hear something soon from a potential Charleston employer in the next week or two, my husband and I are going to move back to Tampa as the job market is much more promising there. Currently we're temporarily staying at his parents' beach house in South Carolina, and while the house is nice, living with the in-laws just ain't cool.
Current Job Hunting Stats:
Positions Applied to: 20
Interview Invitations: 0
Rejections: 3
Resumes Currently Floating in the HR Void: 17
Time Spent Hunting: Twelve days
I welcome any and all comments. Please feel free to pass on any advice, criticism and job hunting gripes you might have!
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