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So I'm recruiting.
Didn't get many responses (we're out in the sticks) but I was surprised how few even included a cover letter!
Personally I always do one, and usually it's informal, chatty and I try to stick a couple of jokes in there (like "I would love to work in a VB6 environment")
how about you guys, though? Cover letter / No Cover letter ?
If you do a cover letter, what do you put in it (I tend to chat about any selection criteria ("Good communicator? Of course I'm a good communicator! I'm communicating with you right now, aren't I? Is it good for you, too?")
(I don't always get the job)
I once put in a cover letter my imagined answers from a 'perfect' candidate, then followed it with:
"Well, that's what you'd like to hear. In fact, almost none of the above! But I have loads of development experience, loads of writing experience (i've been doing it since I was 5) and would really love this job, as it sounds so cool!"
It got me a phone interview with the MD, during which I discovered how much little Computer Game Companies actually pay their staff!
PooperPig - Coming Soon
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I suspect the lack of cover letters coincides with the rise of agencies, who are only interested in CV's.
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for me, it really depends oh how I'm applying for the position - If I'm going 'direct', I'm more likely to include one - it gives me a chance to showcase more personality than may be on the cv/resume
Recruiters are not generally interested, they cant harvest them for keywords to match the brief they've been given, so I guess they find them little value
ps/ot .. raining here in Sydney, how about up there ?
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Garth J Lancaster wrote: . raining here in Sydney, how about up there ?
It's not called the "Sunshine Coast" for nothing, you know!
PooperPig - Coming Soon
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Maxxx wrote: It's not called the "Sunshine Coast" for nothing, you know!
Because it has a lot of Elephanting Sunshines living there?
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I always used a cover letter to introduce myself, which gave the recipient enough information to decide whether my CV was worth looking at. When recruiting I never considered any candidate who could not make the effort to do the same.
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I haven't 'cold called' on a job in ages, so my usual equivalent of a cover letter is based on the initial communications that eventually result in me submitting my CV. That is, I can't remember when last submitted a CV, except to freelance auctioning sites, without first being asked.
No object is so beautiful that, under certain conditions, it will not look ugly. - Oscar Wilde
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Many companies have web forms for this stuff, some of these have upload links for letter + CV but some only have one for CV. I find the latter case highly annoying.
When applying I really like to present myself in a letter, when applying via email I normally write the letter in the mail and attach the CV.
Life is too shor
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We have a webform for all applications, about 7 or 8 pages IIRC.
There is one completely free form section to sell yourself.
You cannot upload anything.
Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.
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I couldn't be arsed to apply if you have your own web form
PooperPig - Coming Soon
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Maxxx wrote: "Good communicator? Of course I'm a good communicator! I'm communicating with you right now, aren't I? Is it good for you, too?")
If I saw that it'd go in the trash immediately. 
There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
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If you want a cover letter I'm thinking that I'd be mad to work for a company that can't even design an application form properly! 
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I find hiring to be intensely depressing. I get resumes with no cover letter. Emails with no resume. Emails with no clue. Applications that have nothing to do with the advertised jobs. Entire emails written using txtspeke and resumes with bad typos.
cheers
Chris Maunder
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How about one in Klingon?[^]
What do you get when you cross a joke with a rhetorical question?
The metaphorical solid rear-end expulsions have impacted the metaphorical motorized bladed rotating air movement mechanism.
Do questions with multiple question marks annoy you???
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What's the best group for me to ask questions about modems and routers ?
I'm setting up a home office.
No clue on the logistics.
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The Hardware & Devices[^]-forum.
If the brain were so simple we could understand it, we would be so simple we couldn't. — Lyall Watson
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One of the final projects that needs to be done before we move out and turn over to renters is remodeling the kitchen; new cabinets, new counter tops (made from scratch, with primitive tools - that alone will be a challenge) and tile the floors. My son has 4 days off and no construction skills and he things we can do it all in the one weekend with his help.
Last kitchen I did was approximately same size with pre-made countertops took 1 week and I charged $1600 just labor.
Looks like an interesting weekend ahead!
New version: WinHeist Version 2.1.1 new web site.
I know the voices in my head are not real but damn they come up with some good ideas!
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Mike Hankey wrote: new counter tops (made from scratch, with primitive tools
Wow, sounds like more trouble than it's worth, a glutton for punishment are we?
Happy B-Day by the way.
"the debugger doesn't tell me anything because this code compiles just fine" - random QA comment
"Facebook is where you tell lies to your friends. Twitter is where you tell the truth to strangers." - chriselst
"I don't drink any more... then again, I don't drink any less." - Mike Mullikins uncle
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No choice, I used to work in a cabinet shop where oddly enough my son was my boss. Long story but basically was helping the owner. Anyway learned a lot about laminates and woodworking associated with counter tops.
Plus I put my foot square in my mouth and said I could do it, soooooooo...
New version: WinHeist Version 2.1.1 new web site.
I know the voices in my head are not real but damn they come up with some good ideas!
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Mike Hankey wrote: said I could do it
Famous last words. 
"the debugger doesn't tell me anything because this code compiles just fine" - random QA comment
"Facebook is where you tell lies to your friends. Twitter is where you tell the truth to strangers." - chriselst
"I don't drink any more... then again, I don't drink any less." - Mike Mullikins uncle
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jeron1 wrote: Famous last words.
Yeah tell me about it! 
New version: WinHeist Version 2.1.1 new web site.
I know the voices in my head are not real but damn they come up with some good ideas!
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Mike, I'm awed by your construction and handyman skills. It's been 7 years and I still haven't concealed 12' of ugly TV cable wiring that currently snakes all over my living room floor. 
/ravi
PS: Any plans to visit Toronto? 
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Thanks Ravi, I have many skills but as the old adage goes I am a master of none.
Ravi Bhavnani wrote: PS: Any plans to visit Toronto?
Not that I know of but with me you never know, I may just get in a mood hop in the car and go!
New version: WinHeist Version 2.1.1 new web site.
I know the voices in my head are not real but damn they come up with some good ideas!
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I'm impressed - my DIY tends to be more PSETDIFM. 
Oh, and "hippo burp day" as well. ![Beer | [beer]](https://codeproject.global.ssl.fastly.net/script/Forums/Images/beer.gif)
"These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined."
- Homer
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Thanks, just another work day for me. I'm old birthdays aren't anything special!
New version: WinHeist Version 2.1.1 new web site.
I know the voices in my head are not real but damn they come up with some good ideas!
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