Am I being cynical in this instance
The ad : Qualified candidate must be a college graduate, computer literate, and possess good analytical skills with ability to organize and analyze data. We seek a goal oriented professional who can organize and manage multiple projects, communicate and interact effectively on all levels, and work in a small, fast paced environment. My response e-mail message : I came across your advertisement and would like to apply, although I am not a college graduate, as you ad states, I am computer literate, having assembled and repaired laptop computers which by it'self requires good analytical skill and an ability to ogranize and analyze data. I'm also well familiar and experienced with Windows Operating System issues having installed and maintained. If interested, please contact me. Thank You xttwo ______________________________________________________________________________ Now I figure, once they read that I've not only assembled but repaired laptop computers, that above anything else should get special attention. I also recycle the same words used in the ad they print, computer literate, yeah I'd say a guy like me who can not only put them together, fix them, is computer literate can analyze and organize data. Unless you're an employer who's completely ignorant and stupid and figure yet another reason to pass someone like me over, since they always do. I haven't gotten a response, but I'm hopeful, never-the-less. Eternal Optimism, that's what Bush says isn't it?
You're just asking employers not to hire you, aren't you? i.e. although I am not a college graduate... The smart job seeker does not put anything remotely negative in their cover letters, e-mails, or any type of correspondence to a potential employer. And you're just rehashing words that are in the ad and nothing more. Do you actually believe that is going to get an employer excited about you? The correct response would be to give examples of projects you organized and managed, tasks you successfully completed using analytical skills, tasks you accomplished that show effective communication skills, etc. Give them examples of tasks you accomplished that reflect those skills -- don't just rehash what they already told you. Anyone can just come in and say they have all the characteristics and skills the employer is looking for. By restating what is needed in the ad is not going to cut it. Show the employer you can actually do the job by giving examples of past successes. Actually, that might have been a good start but you fell flat on the execution. You did not address this part of the ad: ...computer literate...ability to organize and analyze data. We seek a goal oriented professional who can organize and manage multiple projects, communicate and interact effectively on all levels, and work in a small, fast paced environment.Computer literate does not mean you know how to build one. It means you know how to USE one with the most commonly available software. Ability to organize and analyze data is not encompassed by repairing a laptop. Organizing and analyzing data is creating spread sheets and data bases to determine something or other from some data that you had to go out and collect or compile. You have nothing regarding how you're goal oriented and from what you've said on these boards, there's nothing on your resume to show that either. You haven't done project management, much less multiple simultaneous projects, and Lord knows, just from what we see here (where we've got thousands and thousands of your written words to go by), you don't communicate or interact effectively on (apparently) ANY levels, much less all. You also don't have anything that says you can work well in a small fast paced environment. BUT, if you had gone one to address all those other areas and made some sort of coherent, polite, respectfully toned case for yourself (minus your typos), you might have won yourself at least an interview, in spite of the lack of degree.
Tess As an employer I would have laughed at this. Here is why - College Graduate? No Computer literate? Didn't understand the requirement and respond effectively. The correct response would have been: My experience includes developing database solutions as well as, complex spreadsheets in serveral programs including Access and Excel. Additionally I am well versed in the use of MS Word, Outlook, and other productivity programs. Good Analytical Skills with the ability to organize and analyze data? Didn't anwer this at all. The ability to "fix / repair" hardware has nothing to do with DATA. Data is information not hardware so you failed to adequetly respond to this showing your either illiterate (incapable of reading requirements) or you are ignorant of the difference between Data and Hardware. Manage multiple projects: you didn't even respond to this one. Since you have no experience in project management or even in positions where you must work independently managing multiple priorties, well lack of response is the same as a bad response. You really don't have a single clue, do you? I wish I had money to loan you, so you could go BUY a clue. This is just SO pathetic. First of all, WOULD YOU PLEASE ~ FOR GOD'S SAKE ~ LEARN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE? Until you do, you will NEVER be hired by ANYONE looking for an employee who can communicate effectively. "I'm also well familiar and experienced with..." Who taught you English?? "...Windows Operating System issues having installed and maintained." -- Having installed and maintained WHAT?? Having installed and maintained WHAT, you idiot? FINISH THE SENTENCE! Having installed and maintained Windows Systems for 5-years now. Finish the sentence with SOMETHING, don't just leave them dangling! Since when does the word "ITSELF" require an apostrophe? It's not a shortened version of any word; it's not a combination of two words. It is a single word unto itself. WHY DO YOU HAVE IT WRITTEN WITH AN APOSTROPHE? You look illiterate. Now, do you even understand sentences and proper sentence structure? If so, why is your first sentence really TWO SENTENCES THAT RUN INTO ONE ANOTHER WITHOUT END? "I came across your advertisement and would like to apply - PERIOD." "Although I am not a college graduate, as YOUR ad states, I am computer literate, having assembled and repaired laptop computers which, by itself, requires good analytical skill and an ability to organize and analyze data - PERIOD." AT A MINIMUM - TWO SEPARATE SENTENCES. It should probably be three sentences, to tell the truth. And the ad doesn't STATE you MUST be a college graduate -- for the record, THE AD REQUESTS you be a college graduate or ASKS THE IDEAL CANDIDATE BE a college graduate. Never give the employer more credit than they deserve -- don't make it mandatory unless they say it is. Just so you understand the jargon used in advertising today (which you obviously do not and cannot) COMPUTER LITERATE means the ability to USE the computer, not build or repair it. It means the ability to USE SOFTWARE PACKAGES purchased to run on the computer, NOT the ability to INSTALL them. Frankly, whether or not you can install a hard drive, whether or not you can install a plug-and-play modem or monitor, or whether or not you can map a network drive is of NO INTEREST to these people. They couldn't give a damn. I know NUMEROUS computer geeks ~ top level, highly certified geeks ~ we're talking Microsoft certified, my friend. These guys can do anything with MS Operating Systems and Network Systems. Sit them down in front of MS Office Suite? HELPLESS. Ask them to make a spreadsheet and produce a graph? You'll be there a while. Try to get them to set up a functioning Access Database? Do you ever want to go home? Techies are great for some things. But, all the technical knowledge in the world won't prepare you one bit for the kind of Computer Literacy you need to function in an office environment -- especially if you can't spell "environment". You can swap out hard drives? So what? If you can't navigate around inside a database without corrupting it, you're useless in an office. Can you get along with people on the shop floor as well as in the Board Room -- without alienating either of the parties with your attitude? Simply put, no you cannot. Can you work with people in Administration as well as Finance, without making either feel ineffective or subordinate to you? Again, no you cannot. Can you work on multiple projects simultaneously, track the status of each in competing software programs, detail each and every conversation you have with clients and coworkers regarding the job status, and never miss a delivery or due date on any project? You can't even get yourself organized enough to stay on track and write a cover letter with a direct purpose. No, you cannot. No offense, but this isn't the IT Department where you can take your sweet time. Here you work at the pace dictated by the customer. If you get it wrong, you lose their business. If you lose their business, you shut down production and people don't get paid. If it happens enough, people lose their jobs -- starting with you. You only get one chance to get it right with your customers -- the first one. I'd be AMAZED if you heard from this company; you have NOTHING they've asked for in their ad -- NOTHING. Unless there's something HIDDEN on your resume I don't know about, you've got nothing to offer them that will stand out from the other candidates. If I were screening the cover letters/resumes for this advertisement, your's would go straight into the reject pile -- again, unless there's something amazing HIDDEN on your resume that isn't reflected in your cover letter. But, I think you've already put your best foot forward -- and you tripped over it. YES, xttwo, I used to recruit, hire and fire employees; the Owner of the Company used to bring me in on the hiring decisions for his other companies, as well. You really think your cover letter is "rock solid"? I've recruited all kinds of people for all kinds of positions, for years. IF you get calls off your cover letter, it's only because the applicant turn out was VERY LOW, and you were simply the lesser of the evils. It was either bring you in, or pay to run the ad another week ~ some companies just hate spending money on ads. MinPin Excellent points, MP! Martin taught himself over the years how to build and repair computers. He has even done this for FREE at the home of a few friends and business associates. I believe that with some training, he could have become an outstanding computer person regarding the building, repairing, and installation of programs and software. In other words, he can take a brand new computer out of the box and make it completely functional in a few hours. He can buy all the equipment he needs and create a new computer. He built the computer he has now and is planning to build one for me. He hates Dell and does not want one damn part of theirs in any of our computers! But - he is a lousy typist. Whenever he wants to type a business document, I have to do it for him. He dictates and I sit at his computer typing away. He is good at virtually all the tasks that xttwo claims to be good at, but he struggles like most of us with software packages until he figures out how to use him. He would never succeed as an office support person who is expected to use the common software packages efficiently and expediently. The ability to know how to manage the hardware does not automatically mean that you have the capability to manager the software. They're two entirely different things. For example, it's entirely possible to be an outstanding aircraft mechanic and yet not be particularly good at car mechanics, believe it or not. Your messages will help others who need clarification regarding this issue. Just because one person is not getting it or not interested, this does not automatically mean that other participants on this Forum, particular the newbies, will not benefit from your expertise and knowledge.
Bunzo
What idiot, employer or otherwise can't surmise that if a person knows how to build a laptop computer, they must be pretty familiar with using them as well? Can you take a moment and figure out that is just about the dumbest thing anyone can think? If a guy came along and told me he was pretty good at assembling and repairing automobiles, why would I have any reason to wonder wether or not he can drive it? I see logic escapes you like a mercury ball out a thermometer.
The reason I always use the phrase although I'm not a college graduate, or although I'm neither degreed or certified is because it wouldn't make any sense. You mentioned before about employers/hiring managers being weary about phonys walking in and applying for jobs when they really don't have what's being asked for. I should think HONESTY is the best policy. But in your case it's much more fashionable to be a hypocrite. I'm going to give you a lesson in prospective application 101 : Think Logically. I send in an application (#1), they like what's on my cover letter and resume' (#2) ask me in for an interview which if you haven't guessed by now is #3. Use that coconut brain of yours girlie. What's the most likely question they're going to ask? May we see your degree or certification? Ever see that commercial for Now What.com? You're such a dope. Yeah, that's right, don't mention anything negative, that's about as productive as running into a brick wall on that MTV show Jackass. Smart Girlie, very smart, now I know why those idiot employers at whatever screwball establishment you work for - hired you. Had to be the brains. You're such a dope.
You are not thinking logically, my dear x. You are again thinking emotionally hence all the name calling again. If you put any sort of negative statement in your cover letter, you probably will not get a response or an interview. Honesty has nothing to do with it. You save anything negative for the interview, if it comes up, and then use your communication skills to put a positive spin on it that you can't put on paper. You don't just volunteer negative information from the get go. Sure it's good to be honest, but you're doing it at the wrong time and in the wrong way. I would never use your technique. My job searching skills have worked for me time and time again. Why do you think you're not getting hired? People here are offering you techniques that work. Your techniques are not working.
Last time I checked, being honest, was something positive which in-turn overcomes a negative such as using a key phrase in order to let them know up front that I am not a certain something educationally. But then again why should I convey something that I should think is universally understood? One of the cardinal rules when doing anything is to be honest. But as I said, if you're a hypocrite, anything goes, barriers and parameters have no application right? I suspect it's probably the reason you have yet to take an agreeing stance on even this which I think is automatic. But hey, you want to be you? That's completely fine with me.
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