When I read “Why ‘optional’ cover letters aren’t really optional,” it brought up a lot of things my parents have told me in the past. Especially to go above and beyond what is required of you. You always want to seem like you are the one to hire. Between selling yourself and your abilities to connecting with the job, the company is less likely to skim your application over. You already did more than what most people have done. You’ve sent in something labeled “optional.” You’re already a “go-getter” in their eyes. They’re going to pretty much stop and look everything over. That’s more of a chance you have than if you didn’t send the cover letter.
The second reading, “Query that got me 18 full requests and 5 offers of rep” was very interesting. It sounded like something you’d read on the back of a novel, which I think was the point. It connected to different audiences (since she mentioned three authors’ names) and at the end she sold herself after she sold the book synopsis. However, it didn’t pertain to me as a writer now because I haven’t written anything yet. I am not looking to get published because I don’t have a manuscript yet. It was definitely worth the read for the future if I ever get to that point in my career.
At first I dreaded reading “How to Write a Great Statement of Purpose” because it looked so long. It was long, but it was very eye opening. He’s right, who wants to sit there and read the same thing over and over again to decide who gets into the grad school? Why not be different and take liberties to show yourself off? I laughed a little at the “Cut through the bull you tell your parents and relatives and friends” because I don’t tell them bull. I don’t sugar coat the reason I decided to get a degree in Writing Arts. I have said before and will always say it “I want to get paid for reading someone’s book and be able to tell them they suck at writing.” Harsh? Yes, but I was reading a terribly written and edited book at the time I decided I was switching my major. This was definitely helpful because I wouldn’t have had any idea what to write if I was applying for grad school. I may not be able to get by with my true feelings, but I think I could alter it some and make a hook that will catch their interest.
I definitely didn’t find “Cover Letter Samples” very interesting. I’m sure that if I were someone looking to hire someone, then sure, this would be entertaining. But for me, it seemed that they achieved much more than I have at a younger age. They were very boastful (which was the point) and it seemed to me like they enjoyed stroking their own ego to the point of seeming like a douchebag. If someone were to come up to us on the street and say something like this to me I wouldn’t care for it. But this is the game we play when we’re looking for jobs. We know we’re the best and this is why.
I like “My MFA Personal Statement (a.k.a. Statement of Purpose).” It was just as boastful as the last article, but in a different way. They way he wrote it was very interesting and seemed like it could be a type of novel (a novel about getting into grad school). It was strung together nicely and it had a hint of ass kissing. For example “I long for sophisticated criticism from professionals and fellow aspirants…” seemed like he was stroking the ego of the college’s employees. They were the ones able to give him sophisticated criticism and that’s why he needed to get in. Something like that. Definitely a balance of selling himself to them and them to themselves.
The “How to Write a Query Letter: 10 Dos and Don’ts” was also very interesting. I especially appreciated the bit about not telling them you value their time. I believe I am a very respectful person and to me that would be something I would do. As much as I want to take up their time, I want to apologize because they’re busy and let them know it means something to me that they did. It’s a good thing I saw that when I did because if not for this I would have definitely put something like that in there.
The second reading, “Query that got me 18 full requests and 5 offers of rep” was very interesting. It sounded like something you’d read on the back of a novel, which I think was the point. It connected to different audiences (since she mentioned three authors’ names) and at the end she sold herself after she sold the book synopsis. However, it didn’t pertain to me as a writer now because I haven’t written anything yet. I am not looking to get published because I don’t have a manuscript yet. It was definitely worth the read for the future if I ever get to that point in my career.
At first I dreaded reading “How to Write a Great Statement of Purpose” because it looked so long. It was long, but it was very eye opening. He’s right, who wants to sit there and read the same thing over and over again to decide who gets into the grad school? Why not be different and take liberties to show yourself off? I laughed a little at the “Cut through the bull you tell your parents and relatives and friends” because I don’t tell them bull. I don’t sugar coat the reason I decided to get a degree in Writing Arts. I have said before and will always say it “I want to get paid for reading someone’s book and be able to tell them they suck at writing.” Harsh? Yes, but I was reading a terribly written and edited book at the time I decided I was switching my major. This was definitely helpful because I wouldn’t have had any idea what to write if I was applying for grad school. I may not be able to get by with my true feelings, but I think I could alter it some and make a hook that will catch their interest.
I definitely didn’t find “Cover Letter Samples” very interesting. I’m sure that if I were someone looking to hire someone, then sure, this would be entertaining. But for me, it seemed that they achieved much more than I have at a younger age. They were very boastful (which was the point) and it seemed to me like they enjoyed stroking their own ego to the point of seeming like a douchebag. If someone were to come up to us on the street and say something like this to me I wouldn’t care for it. But this is the game we play when we’re looking for jobs. We know we’re the best and this is why.
I like “My MFA Personal Statement (a.k.a. Statement of Purpose).” It was just as boastful as the last article, but in a different way. They way he wrote it was very interesting and seemed like it could be a type of novel (a novel about getting into grad school). It was strung together nicely and it had a hint of ass kissing. For example “I long for sophisticated criticism from professionals and fellow aspirants…” seemed like he was stroking the ego of the college’s employees. They were the ones able to give him sophisticated criticism and that’s why he needed to get in. Something like that. Definitely a balance of selling himself to them and them to themselves.
The “How to Write a Query Letter: 10 Dos and Don’ts” was also very interesting. I especially appreciated the bit about not telling them you value their time. I believe I am a very respectful person and to me that would be something I would do. As much as I want to take up their time, I want to apologize because they’re busy and let them know it means something to me that they did. It’s a good thing I saw that when I did because if not for this I would have definitely put something like that in there.
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