Corporate greed seems to have become a global phenomenon. In too many corporations here and abroad, the people who call the shots seem to live in a different universe. They really don’t care much about the average family person who is trying to make a living. They may say they do, but they really don’t. Otherwise, jobs in this country would not be moved to other countries. Sure, if we kept the jobs here it would “cost more to do business,” which mostly seems to mean that the Really Big Shots wouldn’t get their millions. Well maybe they don’t need millions. Does anybody really need more than a million dollars?? Not me… so they can just give me a million and I’ll quit complaining about corporate greed.
Or not…
Anyway, since I know people whose jobs are in jeopardy, I thought maybe I’d try to be a helpful with this week’s Happy Friday thing. I have been the victim of corporate downsizing in the past; so I’ve been there and done that. It wasn’t the end of the world. Actually it was the beginning of a pretty cool journey. I explored some alternative career ideas and got to know myself and my family better. And finally after many moons of being out of work, I got a job.
One thing I’ve learned is: probably the most important ingredient of a good job hunt is a resume. Keep it to a single page. Emphasize your strengths and achievements, and especially focus on the skills you have that an employer needs. What I ended up doing was keeping a general resume “on file” and modified it to suit the particular job I was targeting.
Another good tool is an introductory cover letter. For a guide, I dug an old one out of my archives and thought I would share it with you. You have my permission to steal it and alter it in any way you see fit. This one may (or may not) be the exact same letter I sent to Ludmilla Sunkenchin, who was HR director of Blammo Manufacturing. So without any further ado, here it be:
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To Whom It May Concern,
This is in response to the advertisement for a Working Type Person. I understand that you were accepting money up front, to get people jobs and stuff like that. I intended to respond sooner, but my cat threw up inside my shoes, and then even my slippers!! So I’m sure you can empathize that I’ve been distracted.
Please consider this as a letter of application because I need a stinking job.
The jerks I have been working for at XYZ Industries these past 27 days have laid me off ; and I’m sure I don’t need to tell a person like you how that makes me squirm inside. However, I believe that I the skills I acquired there were probably useless, but that doesn’t really matter now does it??. I’m really good at taking breaks, and I know how to impress the best of them. I figure that if you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull manookey. I worked on various types of equipment during my career at XYZ, but most of it was pretty old and always screwing up, so I don’t really know how to run anything without a large hammer in the immediate vicinity.
I have computer experience… after all, I do own a Sony Playstation. Them video games have really increased my ability to react quickly under stress. There goes a fly! HA! Got it!! See what I mean? As for my ability to interact with others, I enjoy meeting new people, especially when they give me money. Those are the nice ones, ya know?
Please let me know the exact date upon which I can expect to apply my skills at your place of employment. I am available for an interview, and would enjoy the opportunity to give you $20 up front and more if I get the job. I will be “checking in” frequently with you to keep tabs on your progress in hiring me. Get back to me soon, or else you may soon find some “souvenirs” from my kitty’s litter box in your mail slot.
Ha ha, just kidding I think maybe.
Thank You,
ME
P.S.: I did not choose to share my name at this time, as you will learn more about me during the hiring process, and especially when I have learned of my start date. Some upfront information: I can’t work where women are present, because I usually have pretty offensive gas. Also, if there are men around, they should stay away from me, because they normally have even worse gas than me. Other than that, I can do work real good unless I don’t feel like doing what you ask me to do. In cases like that, just ask me what I feel like doing that day and I’ll probably get right to it.
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Well my friends there you have it. As I said, feel free to use this cover letter in its entirety if you wish. Or maybe tweak it a little… but I think it stands on its own merit. If you find it useful, please let me know very soon; as I also have some bridge property for sale at reduced rates for special people like you.
Hopefully, your next interview won’t go like this…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4iFzweRf3E