How NOT to apply for a job
The publisher of this website tells how one freshly minted, just-out-of-school candidate did everything dead wrong.
Think before you fire off those job applications for the first time.
It seems like an obvious tip, right? Well, apparently it’s not. Let me explain.
I recently posted an ad on an online jobs site for reporters and editors.
I give a detailed summary of the job and specific instructions for applying. On the top of my list I asked for a cover letter that goes beyond the words, “Attached please find.” Show me some voice, personality, style.
Within an hour I received an application with NO cover letter. The resume came from a young man with a graduate degree from a prestigious journalism school.
I replied to the young man, reminding him of my request for a cover letter. A few minutes later I get this reply, “which company are you again?”
Going against my instinct to move on, I informed him that he had applied for a position at PR Daily.
Moments later I received a two-paragraph reply about his passion for PR and his eagerness to land the job. Ok, this is worth pursuing, I thought. Let’s give him a shot.
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