Skip to main content
gamedev.net
🔒 Locked

Cover Letters

Started by xanin Oct 24, 2005 at 4:58 PM 12 replies 1.9k views
Original Post
xanin
xanin
Uh, so yeah. I have an interview coming up, it wasn't an interview that I actively solicited for - I got it from a resume that I handed over at a Career Expo. Unfortunately the recruiter was somewhat distracted BS'ing with a professor and did not provide for me any coverage of the positions available or even their business card. I was somewhat surprised to recieve a call from my campus Career Services dept, requesting that I schedule an interview with this company. Apparently, I have to have a cover letter with me. I don't know who I should address it to though, and I don't really have a solid idea of what I should put in it - I don't actually even know what position I'm interviewing for - I tried asking the person at the Career Services dept, but she was incredibly devoid of anything resembling assistance. Obviously you guys can't tell me what position I'm interviewing for, or the specific name of the person I'll be talking to, but if any of you could provide any insight into what you think I should do in this situation, it'd be apreciated. Thanks!
furby100
furby100
Surely you have to ask someone so that you can schedule the interview? Why not ask them?
Servant of the Lord
Servant of the Lord
Make the name be: To whom it may concerm...

That gives the ilusion of inteligence and sophistication.

Also, have all your skills in it.
xanin
xanin
Quote:
Original post by furby100
Surely you have to ask someone so that you can schedule the interview? Why not ask them?


The interview was scheduled with my campus Career Services as the intermediary - I don't have any sort of contact info for anyone actually at the company I'm interviewing with. And I tried to ask the Career Svcs person, but as I noted above, they were a complete lack of help.

furby100
furby100
Then don't address it to anyone and ask the person at the interview, and address it appropriately then.
xanin
xanin
Quote:
Original post by Servant of the Lord
Make the name be: To whom it may concerm...

That gives the ilusion of inteligence and sophistication.

Also, have all your skills in it.


Everything I've heard/learnt about writing Cover Letters (which is admittingly very little) screams the exact opposite.

Salsa
Salsa
Quote:
Original post by furby100
Surely you have to ask someone so that you can schedule the interview? Why not ask them?


Agreed. What is the name of this place? If you know what you're interviewing for, then you can find out where, and then with a phone call or two, who. If your intermediary is no help, I'm fairly certain you can find a phone number for the company itself with some basic searching. Don't be afraid to ask, just call the company up and say "I'm scheduled for an interview, but I'm unsure of who I should be addressing in the cover letter". It's a genuine and polite question.

Quote:
Original post by Servant of the Lord
Make the name be: To whom it may concerm...

That gives the ilusion of inteligence and sophistication.


Wow. I disagree completely.
Kult House - Fresh Production Media
xanin
xanin
Quote:
Original post by furby100
Then don't address it to anyone and ask the person at the interview, and address it appropriately then.


...

Then the Scenario would go as follows:

I walk into interview.
Them: "Do you have a cover letter and resume and references with you?"
Me: "Yes, let me just get your name and ask what position I'm interviewing for so that I can fill in the blanks here on my cover letter..."
Them: ...
Them: "We are so not calling you back."
Me: "Argh"
xanin
xanin
Quote:
Original post by Salsa
Quote:
Original post by furby100
Surely you have to ask someone so that you can schedule the interview? Why not ask them?


Agreed. What is the name of this place? If you know what you're interviewing for, then you can find out where, and then with a phone call or two, who. If your intermediary is no help, I'm fairly certain you can find a phone number for the company itself with some basic searching. Don't be afraid to ask, just call the company up and say "I'm scheduled for an interview, but I'm unsure of who I should be addressing in the cover letter". It's a genuine and polite question.


The company is Safeco (big insurance company). The interview was arranged on friday for tomorrow morning. It should have been arranged a few days earlier, but thanks to the bungling of CareerServices I wasn't notified till late.

To make matters more complex, the interview isnt at the company, but with whoever it is that they've sent out to my school to conduct the interviews.

So at this point I assume my ability to acquire the name of the interviewer is more or less nonexistent.
xanin
xanin
Another thing: for some reason I was under the impression that a cover letter's general purpose is to provide a further introduction to what you want and why you should get an interview - ie: its to help you get an interview. I've already got an interview - so wahts the exact purpose of my cover letter at this point?
furby100
furby100
Quote:
Original post by xanin
Another thing: for some reason I was under the impression that a cover letter's general purpose is to provide a further introduction to what you want and why you should get an interview - ie: its to help you get an interview. I've already got an interview - so wahts the exact purpose of my cover letter at this point?


To add any pertinent information that isn't included in a resumé.
capn_midnight
capn_midnight
generally speaking, one writes a cover letter to GET the interview. If the interview is scheduled, what is the point of the cover letter?
xanin
xanin
Quote:
Original post by capn_midnight
generally speaking, one writes a cover letter to GET the interview. If the interview is scheduled, what is the point of the cover letter?


Thats what I wanna know...
Big B
Big B
Quote:
Original post by xanin
Quote:
Original post by capn_midnight
generally speaking, one writes a cover letter to GET the interview. If the interview is scheduled, what is the point of the cover letter?


Thats what I wanna know...


Its for the interviewer to hand to the person actually making the hiring decison. It will also help them remember who you are.

If you really want to know, call Safeco, tell them the situation, and ask who you are going to be interviewing with or who to address it to.

Topic Locked

This topic has been locked by a moderator. New replies are not allowed.

Sign in to reply to this topic.