Jobs right now are harder to find than a cab in the middle of a Manhattan downpour. That's why it's so critical to set yourself apart from the pack. We, for example, have already received more than 150 resumes for three, count 'em, three Summer internships.
Most job inquiries contain the requisite cover letter and resume. A few, though, are incredibly creative. And, since we purport to be in the business of image and creativity, these entreaties get my attention.
Check out the one below from Matt Rakow. Matt may not land one of our three Summer intern positions but his out-of-box inquiry earned him a shot. And, nowadays, that's half the battle.
So, before you hit the send button and forward 300 copies of a bland cover note, think about ways in which you, like Matt Rakow, can set yourself apart...
1. I am a standup comedy junkie and performed a 5 minute set at Caroline’s and was the Comedy Chair for the Student Activities Board at Ithaca College
2. I am a huge fan of the Upright Citizen’s Brigade and as the Comedy Chair I was able to hire John Mulaney from UCB to perform at the college
3. Although I do not yet climb actual mountains, I walk up and down the hills of Ithaca every day which is getting me in shape for a future climb
4. You could expand your “Pain-based selling” concept into “Pain-based hiring” since finding a good internship is keeping lots of students up at night, me included
5. I think naming your company after your dog was clever
6. I am organized
7. I am creative
8. I am motivated
9. I have strong communication and writing skills
10. I will be a great addition to your next intern podcast
tell us more about the comedy set, matt. this top 10 list was a bit lame, if you ask me.
points 6, 7 and 8 should have been combined into one and that would have made the argument in point 9 a bit stronger. then, you could have had some more room to take your pitch letter from good to great.
also, let us know if you like dominios' pies and present advertising campaign.
Posted by: Lunch Boy | March 25, 2009 at 04:55 PM
Easy on him, Lunch. What sort of Top 10 list would you have been able to create as a WVU senior?
Posted by: Steve Cody | March 25, 2009 at 05:08 PM
rep, i did say it was good, just not great. constructive criticism is all i am offering and if matt can handle the stage, surely he can take a does of that.
my top 10 list would have been much more graphical and wouldn’t be appropriate to post (and have live on) in cyberspace.
Posted by: Lunch Boy | March 25, 2009 at 05:28 PM
I heard of a guy who mailed every copy of his resume in a box with a shoe, and a note that said "Just trying to get my foot in the door..."
I though that was pretty clever, although I'm not sure how effective it really was.
Posted by: Jessica | March 26, 2009 at 11:42 AM
I would think it would depend upon the condition of the shoe.
Posted by: Steve Cody | March 26, 2009 at 11:49 AM
So, Steve, would a sufficiently expensive shoe in your size be ideal, with the mate to follow?
Posted by: Brian McGee | March 26, 2009 at 09:32 PM
Great question, Brian. Here's the bottom line: if the company in question manufactured shoes, then yes, the shoe strategy would be borderline genius. Since we have to assume the prospective employer wasn't in the shoe business, I'd classify this as a career misstep at best.
Posted by: Steve Cody | March 27, 2009 at 09:12 AM
Right...he literally should have sent his foot vs. one of his shoes. But, there isn’t an internship out there that is worth having to amputate.
Posted by: Lunch Boy | March 27, 2009 at 11:50 AM
I don't know about that, Lunch Boy, with this economy it might be worth losing a limb if the internship was paid... :)
Posted by: Jessica | March 27, 2009 at 01:20 PM