So? You include a professional-ass cover letter on everything, it's just that if it's retail or whatever it's the email you're sending with your resume attached rather than all formal.
Yep. It is bullshit, but it matters - the bike place I still contract at completely ignores applications where the initial email/cover letter has typos or is otherwise inappropriate. A major component of bullshit retail jobs is pretending that they aren't complete bullshit.
What do you even put in a cover letter if you're applying for a bullshit retail job and don't have skills or a history to elaborate on?
Make your life skills sound like job skills. Volunteering work is great for this, or school extracurriculars. If you're super short on stuff though, you can just say "i'm really good at this" and then you cross your fingers and pray for an interview. but yeah, cover letter = "hey i'm a professional notice me".
I do mention my volunteer work. And various skills I have. How am I supposed to write a cover letter, though?
Well, I mean, you have skills. Everyone has skills. If it's an independent store, mention social media experience (which you have, as you're on here and presumably also tumblr) because all businesses want social media presence now. Skills that don't require prior training or special knowledge: Punctual eagerness to learn (not a skill, but worth a mention) rapid skill acquisition communication skills (written and verbal) organizational skills teamwork self-starter good at working independently follows directions well attention to detail multitasking And, like Kaylotta said, the volunteer stuff. For cover letters, the template I posted on the last page is serviceable. Here is another template, where you can ignore everything but the body paragraphs. And, like, they don't need to be perfect, they just need to make you sound like an enthusiastic hardworking person they want to work with.
The thing is, I already list the skills I have--many of which you listed there. I can try the cover letter but I highly doubt it'll do a goddamn thing at this point. I mean, for fuck's sake, I only lasted a MONTH at the only paying job I've had. Employers think I'm utterly worthless.
Have you ever gotten someone who's good at the Getting Employed thing to look at your resume? My understanding is that you also list skills in the resume but also talk about them in more of an essay form for the cover letter. Plus you can elaborate more about how you learned them or what volunteer work you did Have you seen the responses to this thread?
I'm working with a job coach, so yes. Repeatedly. And the thing is, I have looked at that thread, and none of it is helping. I can't be helped at this point, I don't think.
filling out a job application: "What drives you to get up in the morning?" .....the need to not starve and die? the desperate want for something to distract from my constant existential depression? WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR HERE??
"What is your theme song in life?" ummmmm...something that makes me sound neurotypical and healthy and isn't Get Well by Icon for Hire?
