like, if you're going to make me write about your company, please give me something to work off of. "This opportunity will let you develop and hone your skills" means absolutely fuck all to me.
Build a template and tweak it slightly depending on the job you're applying to. Really removes the part where you completely alienate your sense of self-worth. Plus it makes it easier to apply for several jobs in a day.
That said cover letters, frankly the entire job searching process, is horrible and soulless and I fucking hate everything about it.
I'm lucky to be relatively well off and hirable, and my depression is basically nonexistent compared to where it was when I was in college.
But fuck man... job applications take me right back. Like micro suicidal moments where dying feels easier than completing a fucking cover letter. The sad thing is I've been applying to jobs that actually seem pretty cool, but being forced to reflect like that brings my self confidence to -10000
I'm right there with you man. Like literally today I applied for several jobs after getting rejected for one I had to put a fucking presentation together for. I'm really tired of being asked to do free work for people then being passed up for work I know I can do. It's got me all fucked up and I want to change careers but I think I'm too old and locked into the system at this point. It's really messing with my confidence.
Dude I had that exact thing happen to me! It really sucks getting rejected in the final rounds of an interview--especially after investing so much time into it.
It sucks fucking ass, comrade. Sorry you're dealing with the same shit. It especially sucks coming from a leftist perspective where joining certain corporate structures seems so counterintuitive. I feel like I'm hurting myself repeatedly over something I don't even want for myself but I know I need it to survive in hellworld. Like, I'm at the stage where I'm staring out the window listening to Tom Waits sing Somewhere. But I really do believe there's a place for us, I just don't know how to find it.
Thanks for the kind words. It was a few months ago, and I've gotten a job since then luckily. What really sucks is that it was a position working on scientific computing stuff for the government. So no profit motive, but also wasn't related to military / security state crap.
Love that The Smiths song: "I was looking for a job and then I found a job. And heaven knows that I'm miserable now."
Yeah I know what you mean. I went to school for writing and the only work I usually get in my field is marketing, which I'm not on board with morally. Just have to compartmentalize it until I can find a way out.
I know it's probably much more hellatious in the US, but here in Australia I had this happen - I got ghosted after my third interview, where the third one was literally me meeting the team i would work with and talking to them directly, and it was infuriating.
Worst bit was that i thought my ability to talk shit with teammates and get to know people was my best quality :bruh:
I'm sorry to hear that <3
It's a grind, but I think it's good to try to kinda alienate yourself from the morality of it all, take a step back, think about how this is just how it is and you gotta do it. I'm sure you can do it!!
EDIT I was gonna suggest we could all share cover letters with each other for an objective view but that's a terrible idea lol
Thanks. Lame as it sounds I kind of needed a slight pep talk today. I appreciate it.
Just lie
You're going to have to do it constantly at whatever job you're applying for, so why not start now?
this is good general advice for depression. yeah you might suck, but whatever, you can lie. it works and it's good. lying owns.
I have a theory that, at least for white collar jobs, one of the most important functions of cover letters is to prove that you are fluent in bullshit and will be able to function in a bullshit-based environment.
Yes, this gives some peace of mind. Too bad I'm very non-fluent in bullshit. :agony-soviet:
I've aided in some hiring in my workplace, and by aiding i mean doing everything for management before they sign. I mostly hire students. I've never read a single cover letter, and never will.
I cannot stand cover letters. Like holy fuck are they awful. And the worst part is is that they're fucking useless. Everybody knows about them, everybody knows that there's algorithms that exist to pick out key words, so everyone fakes the letters anyway. So what's the fucking point of it? To know that I know how to read an advice website and slap key words from the posting into it?
Funnily enough, of all the jobs I've interviewed for, I've had the most success without cover letters and very little effort. Just a generic resume and a "Hello, I am interested in this job, I can do X Y Z, call me or email me, thanks" email.
"I am willing to exchange my labour for currency" should be all you need to write on those
I wrote a lot of cover letters in my job hunt, they're very frustrating. Without having one in front of me to review, I think one core component is giving examples of your previous work experience and explaining how it will help you perform this new job.
And another core component is explaining why you want THIS job and not just A job; the employer wants to feel like you'll invest yourself into it
The reason why I want THIS job is practically identical to the other jobs though, they're all the same position.
Cuz you care about contributing to _ community or promoting _ to people, cuz you get a chance to use your creativity for _ idk something along those lines
The hiring department wants to see how hard you can grovel and beg for an entry level position that pays a non-living wage when you divide your salary by actual hours worked.
There are so many things about work culture that can only be explained by assuming sadism
I fucking love this. This more than anything is evidence as to how much people care about cover letters
I hate to say this, because its cliche, and me basically being an introvert shut-in who has extreme difficulty around new people hate that it is true...but really, once you get that first career type job, you'll get 9/10 jobs after through contacts/networking that you make at your first career type job.
I've asked every recruiter I've ever talked to if cover letters matter and they have all told me no more or less. I don't bother with them.
