Tag: cover letter

Talent Tip #161: Advice for Creating a Buzz-worthy Resume (Part 2)

April 23, 2024

Welcome back to the grand finale of our two-part series on crafting a buzz-worthy resume.

By now, you likely know that Oppenheimer was the big winner at this year’s Oscars, taking home 7 statues, including the coveted award for Best Picture.

So what does it take to create not just an Oscar-worthy, but a Best Picture-worthy resume? As the orchestra cues up for the thrilling conclusion, let’s dive into our remaining tips.

Talent Tip #160: Advice for Creating a Buzz-worthy Resume (Part I)

February 20, 2024

If you pay attention to entertainment news, you’re well aware that Hollywood is gearing up for another thrilling television and film awards season. But if you’re anything like us, you’ve only seen a fraction of nominated films up for the big, buzz-worthy, awards and also much prefer the good-natured fun of the Golden Raspberry (aka Razzie) awards, which are given out to the worst movies/actors of the year.

So while we’re not qualified to comment on who should…

Talent Tip #89: Becoming Billy Shakespeare: Crafting a Powerful Cover Letter

March 26, 2017

I read a lot of cover letters.

With most of them, I feel as though I’m reading standard newspaper AP fare.  Nothing earth-shattering, but it gets the job done.  Others are harder to digest — it’s more like reading furniture assembly instructions…in a language I don’t speak.

But every once in a while I come across a cover letter that captivates me like a great piece of literature. It accomplishes exactly what it should: it makes me want to keep…

Talent Tip #69: It Was a Dark and Stormy Night: How to Make Your Cover Letter Stand Out

June 17, 2015

Talent Tip #69: It Was a Dark and Stormy Night: How to Make Your Cover Letter Stand Out  

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit…

Call me Ishmael…

Who doesn’t love a good story?

Everyone loves a good story! And hiring managers are no exception.

That’s why they cringe when they read the same generic, banal cover letters…

Talent Tip #57: The Cover Letter: Common Pitfalls and Secret Ingredients

June 15, 2014

Like Mickey Rourke and Twinkies, some things just deserve a comeback. That’s why our Talent Tip is going to tackle the topic of cover letters once again!

As you might imagine, I have the great fortune of reading many cover letters each day. Some are fabulous; some make me question humanity.

The good news is that it doesn’t take Billy Shakespeare to craft a good cover letter. By avoiding a few common pitfalls and including some key ingredients, anyone can…

Talent Tip #37: Mom Knows Best: Proofreed Proofread

September 17, 2012

My mother was an English teacher. Growing up in our house involved lots of mini-grammar lessons, Oxford commas, and endless streams of red ink on papers. It might sound torturous for a kid, but even then I realized how valuable the guidance was.

This is probably why I cringe when I receive a cover letter or résumé with an error. Or two. Or three.

The errors that could have been avoided by using Spell-Check are the ones that drive me to drink.…

Talent Tip #26: Show me the Money! (Or I’ll Keep Quoting Overused Movie Lines)

October 18, 2011

Job hunters, huddle up.

I care about you guys. So, it pains me when I see you do things to shoot yourself in the foot. Namely, when you don’t provide salary information when requested in job postings.

Let’s first think about the main reason nonprofits want your salary requirements up front: they need to know whether you’re in the range they have budgeted for the role. It’s just that simple. There’s no evil conspiracy to tell your ex-wife how much you…

Talent Tip #18: We Need More Lloyd Doblers

February 15, 2011

Do you remember Say Anything? (Note to Millennials: it’s a classic. If you haven’t seen it, do so immediately if not sooner.) The main character – Lloyd Dobler – has passion. And he makes his passion known to those who matter. Ultimately, it is his passion that lands him the girl.

As I review dozens of cover letters and introductory emails each day, I long for more Lloyds. Candidates’ banal letters leave me wondering if they are truly passionate about…