I hate writing cover letters ...

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry. Thank you for listening.

 

Here's some inspiration.

If I'm hiring for a position, if the cover letter doesn't grab my attention, I probably won't even bother to look at the clips.

Not saying you have to do something outlandish, but it should intrigue me enough to find out more about you.

 

That's what I try to do. I think I have a pretty good intro to mine, it's just the rest of it that I hate doing. I hate trying to sell myself.

 

Just use that.

 

I do, too. But you know what? You'll probably get some assignments as a reporter that you aren't too fond of also. Gotta slug through those as well.

 

Indeed, but those crap assignments aren't the difference between getting your clips read or tossed in the circular file.

 

Good rule of thumb, I think: If you're a top contender for a position and you know it, you keep it straight. If you're a longshot and you know it, you go for it a little bit -- try to get yourself noticed and become that outsider that forces his way into the hunt. It won't work often, but it will work once in a while.

 

Approach it like a column and treat it like another clip.

 

Serve and scalp - great advice!

 

Here's some advice that's worked for other prominent folks in our biz.

Make shit up. (Kidding, kidding)