Comments on: Cover Letter Clinic http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/10/cover-letter-clinic/ Mutual Respect Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:05:32 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Steven Mitchell http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/10/cover-letter-clinic/comment-page-1/#comment-5429 Steven Mitchell Wed, 07 Nov 2007 19:22:56 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/cover-letter-clinic/#comment-5429 Hello, I am new to freelance writing. I have been sending queries and cover letters for about two months now and have only gotten two (local)jobs, one of which has not panned out. I was wondering if it was my lack of experience or if my cover letter was not up to par. I am not sure if you are still doing the cover letter clinic, but if you are I would like to offer mine up for critique. I have a thick skin, so I want completely honest criticism. Here it is. It is mostly a form letter that I edit based upon the job. Thank You! Dear Sir or Madam: My name is ___________. I am responding to your advertisement on Craigslist.org concerning your need for content writers for your website. I have a B.S. in Marketing Management from Virginia Tech, as well as minors in English and Communications. I have been writing fiction for the last five years and have recently begun freelance writing. I currently write for ________.com as a sports writer/reporter. I can begin work immediately and bring a wide range of interests and knowledge to the table. I would be interested in learning more about this opportunity. I have attached my resume and a writing sample. If attachments are not satisfactory, I can send the information in the form you desire. If you need any further information from me, I can be reached by email at _______ or by phone at (***) ***-****. Thank you for your consideration ______________________ Hello,

I am new to freelance writing. I have been sending queries and cover letters for about two months now and have only gotten two (local)jobs, one of which has not panned out.

I was wondering if it was my lack of experience or if my cover letter was not up to par. I am not sure if you are still doing the cover letter clinic, but if you are I would like to offer mine up for critique.

I have a thick skin, so I want completely honest criticism.

Here it is. It is mostly a form letter that I edit based upon the job.

Thank You!

Dear Sir or Madam:

My name is ___________. I am responding to your advertisement on Craigslist.org concerning your need for content writers for your website.

I have a B.S. in Marketing Management from Virginia Tech, as well as minors in English and Communications. I have been writing fiction for the last five years and have recently begun freelance writing. I currently write for ________.com as a sports writer/reporter. I can begin work immediately and bring a wide range of interests and knowledge to the table.

I would be interested in learning more about this opportunity. I have attached my resume and a writing sample. If attachments are not satisfactory, I can send the information in the form you desire.

If you need any further information from me, I can be reached by email at _______ or by phone at (***) ***-****.

Thank you for your consideration

______________________

]]> By: FWJ Finds a New Home and Launches the Cover Letter Clinic | Inkthinker http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/10/cover-letter-clinic/comment-page-1/#comment-4639 FWJ Finds a New Home and Launches the Cover Letter Clinic | Inkthinker Wed, 17 Oct 2007 18:39:05 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/cover-letter-clinic/#comment-4639 [...] Deb et al have started a great Cover Letter Clinic, and the first two entries with comments are up here and [...] [...] Deb et al have started a great Cover Letter Clinic, and the first two entries with comments are up here and [...]

]]> By: Holly Martin http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/10/cover-letter-clinic/comment-page-1/#comment-4520 Holly Martin Mon, 15 Oct 2007 14:25:11 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/cover-letter-clinic/#comment-4520 Deb, I second the post by Kevin, asking about using e-mails as cover letters. Do you set them up just as if they were a real letter, e.g., with your name, address, etc. at top center, followed by the date and their info, left justified, followed by Dear Mr.X:...? I've been doing my e-mail letter, about 3 graphs long, then COPYING my resume below that, and attaching samples. That's because I heard it was bad to attach files, so I figured, if they won't open attachments, at least they can read my resume. Is this OK, or what's a better way? Deb, I second the post by Kevin, asking about using e-mails as cover letters. Do you set them up just as if they were a real letter, e.g., with your name, address, etc. at top center, followed by the date and their info, left justified, followed by Dear Mr.X:…?

I’ve been doing my e-mail letter, about 3 graphs long, then COPYING my resume below that, and attaching samples. That’s because I heard it was bad to attach files, so I figured, if they won’t open attachments, at least they can read my resume.

Is this OK, or what’s a better way?

]]> By: Jenn http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/10/cover-letter-clinic/comment-page-1/#comment-4503 Jenn Sun, 14 Oct 2007 19:07:27 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/cover-letter-clinic/#comment-4503 I also posted about posting a link to my blog, as well, but it didn't show up either - so, you're not alone Amy! The Internet must've had the hiccups that day. I also posted about posting a link to my blog, as well, but it didn’t show up either – so, you’re not alone Amy! The Internet must’ve had the hiccups that day.

]]> By: Amy Derby http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/10/cover-letter-clinic/comment-page-1/#comment-4495 Amy Derby Sun, 14 Oct 2007 15:16:39 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/cover-letter-clinic/#comment-4495 Deb, I just noticed the comment I left yesterday hasn't shown up. I just wanted to let you know I linked to this post on my blog, because I get a good number of cover letter questions. I'd have left a trackback, but I'm too tech challenged to figure out how to do one of those. :-| Deb,

I just noticed the comment I left yesterday hasn’t shown up. I just wanted to let you know I linked to this post on my blog, because I get a good number of cover letter questions. I’d have left a trackback, but I’m too tech challenged to figure out how to do one of those. :-|

]]> By: Dorit Sasson http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/10/cover-letter-clinic/comment-page-1/#comment-4491 Dorit Sasson Sat, 13 Oct 2007 23:13:26 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/cover-letter-clinic/#comment-4491 This is great, just great. I just sent you one as well. I figured there are plenty of reasons to improve a cover letter, not enough motivation lately to do so. But in fact, tit is the only marketing too we have, so I'm willing to do anything, to make it be the best. Thanks, Deb. You're the greatest! Looking forward to reading more about this important subject. This is great, just great.
I just sent you one as well. I figured there are plenty of reasons to improve a cover letter, not enough motivation lately to do so. But in fact, tit is the only marketing too we have, so I’m willing to do anything, to make it be the best.
Thanks, Deb. You’re the greatest! Looking forward to reading more about this important subject.

]]> By: Misses E. http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/10/cover-letter-clinic/comment-page-1/#comment-4490 Misses E. Sat, 13 Oct 2007 22:12:02 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/cover-letter-clinic/#comment-4490 Oh, I loved this idea when Editorial Anonymous did it, and I love it here. I'm not submitting because I tend to write a new one for each job posting I apply to using the same basic formula. However, I learned tons from reading the letters and responses sent in by others. Thanks, Misses E. Oh, I loved this idea when Editorial Anonymous did it, and I love it here. I’m not submitting because I tend to write a new one for each job posting I apply to using the same basic formula. However, I learned tons from reading the letters and responses sent in by others.

Thanks,
Misses E.

]]> By: Christine Castillo http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/10/cover-letter-clinic/comment-page-1/#comment-4488 Christine Castillo Sat, 13 Oct 2007 20:42:38 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/cover-letter-clinic/#comment-4488 I sent you one as well. I have been using my cover letter for online, and print magazines. I would love to make it more appealing to other types of jobs. Thanks Christine I sent you one as well. I have been using my cover letter for online, and print magazines. I would love to make it more appealing to other types of jobs.

Thanks
Christine

]]> By: Kevin http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/10/cover-letter-clinic/comment-page-1/#comment-4487 Kevin Sat, 13 Oct 2007 20:26:47 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/cover-letter-clinic/#comment-4487 Hi Deborah, I love your site, and the cover letter clinic is a great idea. In fact, I came to your site today specifically looking for the answer to a cover letter question. This may seem pretty basic, but in this day and age, when I'm sending virtually all of my job applications via email, do you think an email written as a cover letter is sufficient? Or do you think employers and editors are looking for a succinct email with a longer cover letter (and resume) attached? I've mostly been applying for jobs with an email written as a cover letter, and a resume and writing samples attached. I'm wondering if there is a better approach out there. Thanks, Kevin Hi Deborah,

I love your site, and the cover letter clinic is a great idea. In fact, I came to your site today specifically looking for the answer to a cover letter question.

This may seem pretty basic, but in this day and age, when I’m sending virtually all of my job applications via email, do you think an email written as a cover letter is sufficient? Or do you think employers and editors are looking for a succinct email with a longer cover letter (and resume) attached? I’ve mostly been applying for jobs with an email written as a cover letter, and a resume and writing samples attached. I’m wondering if there is a better approach out there.

Thanks,

Kevin

]]> By: sirenavs http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/10/cover-letter-clinic/comment-page-1/#comment-4486 sirenavs Sat, 13 Oct 2007 19:28:25 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/cover-letter-clinic/#comment-4486 This is great! I know that I need help with my cover letter since cover letters are my weak point, or one of my weak points. I can do the work, consistently meet deadlines but for the life of me I can't write a really professional cover letter. I will wait before I send mine. I'm a little chicken. vbg. This is great! I know that I need help with my cover letter since cover letters are my weak point, or one of my weak points. I can do the work, consistently meet deadlines but for the life of me I can’t write a really professional cover letter.

I will wait before I send mine. I’m a little chicken. vbg.

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