A lot of the papers I edit require use of APA (American Psychological Association) style. There are a number of useful style guides out there online, but the one at Purdue’s Online Writing Lab (OWL) is the one I use, because I find it comprehensive in the basics and easy to navigate. It includes formatting basics (especially useful for citations and footnotes) and a basic style guide, as well as a workshop to help you learn.
Check out the Purdue OWL APA style guide.
It’s a tough job market, the worst in decades. With so many people competing for the attention of so few, it’s difficult to stand out. A great cover letter is key.
Here’s a few tips on writing great cover letters – and good luck!
Tip #1: Be active, not passive.
Passive voice is a common pitfall for the average writer. It’s important to use the active voice when you’re writing, which conveys decisiveness, and is more engaging for the reader.
Passive voice: This project was performed by myself and several others.
Active voice: I completed this project with the help of my team.
Not only did we change from passive to active voice, but the entire flavor of the sentence changed. When you’re writing a cover letter, you want to emphasize your best qualities – in this case, it’s not just about the technical skills involved in performing the task, but it’s about completing a project while working with a team. These are both intangible skills (follow-through and teamwork) that can be conveyed powerfully through simple changes in language.
For a more complete discussion of the evils of passive voice, how to recognize them, and what to do about it, read this great post over at DailyWritingTips.com.
Tip #2: Turn your negatives into positives
I’m a bit of an introvert, and I get bored easily. But while I’m honest about this, I have learned to see the positive sides of my personality quirks. So I’d say that I’m contemplative and creative – I think through problems and solve them creatively. I enjoy new challenges, and am always looking to learn new things and apply that knowledge effectively.
Think of your personality quirks, of things you might think of negatively. There are hidden strengths there that are uniquely yours. It’s important to be honest, but in a world where employers are looking for the super employee, you also have to be honest with yourself about your own hidden strengths. Aside from demonstrating self-awareness and maturity, those are often the details that can give you the edge.
Tip #3: Get personal
Okay, I don’t mean that you should tell your life story. But you should reveal a little about yourself and who you are. What stokes the fire of your inner passion – at least, you know, in relation to the job in question.
In the mid-90s, I won a highly competitive job interview with a top internet company because I wrote an outrageous cover letter. I wrote that I’d not yet scaled the Himalayas, nor trekked across the Arctic, that I hadn’t yet danced a jig in a pub in Ireland, nor eaten strange foods in Shanghai. I wanted to do all of these things, but even more than that, my burning desire was to work for this company, blah blah blah.
It worked. I was one of a handful of applicants plucked out of hundreds. And in the end, I got the job.
What it comes down to is this: don’t be afraid to be yourself. Job hunting is like dating. You want to put your best foot forward, for sure, but if you can’t be yourself, then how can you expect to find any sort of long term potential? Better to find the right fit from the start.
And the person reading the resumes will appreciate it, too.