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shutterspeed 
Southern Miss Fan
So. Miss. by way of Baton Rouge
Member since May 2007
27215 posts
 Online
| re: Do You Always Submit a Cover Letter with a Resume? (Posted on 2/18/13 at 4:54 pm to Dooshay)
Some fields are bigger on them more than others.
To answer the question, if your skill set will appear similar to other applicants, then I think a cover letter is your best shot at standing out. Especially if you have some interesting life accomplishments that don't lend themselves to the traditional resume.
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GaryMyMan 
USA Fan
Lower Garden District
Member since May 2007
9197 posts
| re: Do You Always Submit a Cover Letter with a Resume? (Posted on 2/18/13 at 4:54 pm to Seven Costanza)
If you're applying for a job that pays over $40k/year, the answer is yes.
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LSUzealot 
New Orleans Saints Fan
New Orleans
Member since Sep 2003
45966 posts
| re: Do You Always Submit a Cover Letter with a Resume? (Posted on 2/18/13 at 4:56 pm to Seven Costanza)
Bunch of bad advice in here. ALWAYS write a cover letter.
You want to be MORE prepared than any other candidate. If they don't write one, their loss, your gain.
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OMLandshark 
Ole Miss Fan
Member since Apr 2009
26955 posts
| re: Do You Always Submit a Cover Letter with a Resume? (Posted on 2/18/13 at 4:57 pm to GeorgeTheGreek)
quote:
You guys always go half arse when going after jobs?
Seriously. Even if I don't read the cover letter, it at least shows they put some effort into it, especially if they go into specifics about the job and company they're applying to. Submitting a resume takes 5 seconds, while writing a good personalized cover letter can take up to an hour of your time. Thus this shows you give somewhat of a shite about the specific job, and didn't just send out your resume to 500 people with no clue what you're applying to. In most cases in the professional world, it helps to have a cover letter.
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VetteGuy 
LSU Fan
Mandeville
Member since Feb 2008
5508 posts
| re: Do You Always Submit a Cover Letter with a Resume? (Posted on 2/18/13 at 4:57 pm to Seven Costanza)
quote:
I know it says resume, but I have been told before to always submit a cover letter with a resume unless explicitly stated not to.
Yes, absolutely.
It is proper protocol and it gets your name in front of them twice.
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GeorgeTheGreek 
Michigan State Fan
Sparta, Greece
Member since Mar 2008
34158 posts
| re: Do You Always Submit a Cover Letter with a Resume? (Posted on 2/18/13 at 5:00 pm to Archie Bengal Bunker)
quote:
Archie Bengal Bunker
I didn't talk about anything but resume and cover letter .... And almost everyone else has agreed.
Funny you've done it wrong your entire life. 
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Seven Costanza
LSU Fan
Durham, North Carolina
Member since Aug 2012
868 posts
| re: Do You Always Submit a Cover Letter with a Resume? (Posted on 2/18/13 at 5:01 pm to SabiDojo)
Thanks for all the advice.
quote:
just ask if they would like a cover letter attached.
I emailed them and asked if it would be ok if I submitted one, but they haven't responded.
quote:
How did your last interview go?
Thanks for asking. I think it went pretty well. However, I don't know how much you read in the other thread but that interview was with Stryker. A couple of people were talking about the company not caring too much about their employees. I kind of witnessed this in the interview. The first half were normal interview questions, but the second half were Gallup personality questions. They just wanted yea or no answers or quick answers with no explanation. The questions were random such as would you rather have deep knowledge of one area or general knowledge of many, how organized or you on a scale of 1-10, would you rather be part of a group or lead a group.
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OMLandshark
Ole Miss Fan
Member since Apr 2009
26955 posts
| re: Do You Always Submit a Cover Letter with a Resume? (Posted on 2/18/13 at 5:01 pm to Archie Bengal Bunker)
quote:
Or, maybe, they will hire the guy that followed directions. It says upload resume/ cv... not upload resume/ cv, cover letter, references, copy of transcripts, third grade art picture, whatever else you think is going to help.
Yeah, because they're going to skip the sharp guy who wrote out a 4 paragraph letter about how his previous experience relates to this potential job opportunity, as well as find out some personal information about the guy's habits and personality. Instead they're going to go with Jeb, who just randomly emails his resume to him, and when he comes in, he can't interview worth a shite. A cover letter never hurts and usually helps.
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OMLandshark
Ole Miss Fan
Member since Apr 2009
26955 posts
| re: Do You Always Submit a Cover Letter with a Resume? (Posted on 2/18/13 at 5:04 pm to Seven Costanza)
quote:
I emailed them and asked if it would be ok if I submitted one, but they haven't responded.
Just do it anyway. It's not going to hurt and may make them more eager to talk to you.
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MBclass83
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Oct 2010
843 posts
| re: Do You Always Submit a Cover Letter with a Resume? (Posted on 2/18/13 at 5:21 pm to Seven Costanza)
I updated my resume today and did not include a cover letter. But, there is a shortage of what I do, so they are begging me for a resume. I see no need of a cover letter.
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shutterspeed
Southern Miss Fan
So. Miss. by way of Baton Rouge
Member since May 2007
27215 posts
Online
| re: Do You Always Submit a Cover Letter with a Resume? (Posted on 2/18/13 at 5:34 pm to Seven Costanza)
quote:
I emailed them and asked if it would be ok if I submitted one, but they haven't responded.
Don't ask, man. You aren't going to be disqualified for sending a cover letter. When you email your attached resume, just write 2-3 paragraphs about how your skills match the job and any interesting information about yourself not included in the resume in the email itself. That way it won't look like a formal cover letter document, yet you've still accomplished the same goal.
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OMLandshark
Ole Miss Fan
Member since Apr 2009
26955 posts
| re: Do You Always Submit a Cover Letter with a Resume? (Posted on 2/18/13 at 5:39 pm to MBclass83)
quote:
I updated my resume today and did not include a cover letter. But, there is a shortage of what I do, so they are begging me for a resume. I see no need of a cover letter.
And that's what separates people like you and people who actually give a shite. You do more than what is so-called necessary.
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Archie Bengal Bunker 
Florida State Fan
UWF Fan
Member since Jun 2008
14056 posts
| re: Do You Always Submit a Cover Letter with a Resume? (Posted on 2/18/13 at 5:44 pm to OMLandshark)
quote:
Instead they're going to go with Jeb, who just randomly emails his resume to him,
I think you and every other cover letter guy missed a key piece of info in the OP:
quote:
I have an interview tomorrow,
Further, as stated in the OP:
quote:
and the company wants us to complete a profile on their website in preparation.
OP isn't randomly submitting his resume. He already has the interview.
quote:
when he comes in, he can't interview worth a shite.
This will be the determining factor, not some canned, four paragraph cover letter.
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islandtiger
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Sep 2012
508 posts
| re: Do You Always Submit a Cover Letter with a Resume? (Posted on 2/18/13 at 5:47 pm to Dooshay)
Bad advice. I will not even consider an applicant if a resume is submitted without a cover letter and it had better be addressed to the person responsible for the hire (do the homework).
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Hammertime
LSU Fan
Hiding in your back seat
Member since Jan 2012
8875 posts
| re: Do You Always Submit a Cover Letter with a Resume? (Posted on 2/18/13 at 5:48 pm to Archie Bengal Bunker)
True story
I used to include my cover letter when people asked for them. I thought it meant a cover letter like on a paper and just wrote the job title and my name on the page. I now know that is why I didn't get the job
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Gondor
LSU Fan
Member since Nov 2004
237 posts
| re: Do You Always Submit a Cover Letter with a Resume? (Posted on 2/18/13 at 5:54 pm to Seven Costanza)
Always do a cover letter that gives a little insight to the personality. It goes a long way to distance yourself from the competition.
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Too Frat To Care
LSU Fan
Deaf Dome
Member since Mar 2011
5704 posts
| re: Do You Always Submit a Cover Letter with a Resume? (Posted on 2/18/13 at 5:54 pm to Seven Costanza)
I've never done a cover letter.
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shutterspeed
Southern Miss Fan
So. Miss. by way of Baton Rouge
Member since May 2007
27215 posts
Online
| re: Do You Always Submit a Cover Letter with a Resume? (Posted on 2/18/13 at 6:26 pm to Hammertime)
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NoSaint
Member since Jun 2011
1081 posts
| re: Do You Always Submit a Cover Letter with a Resume? (Posted on 2/18/13 at 6:46 pm to Too Frat To Care)
When you met at a career fair got offered the interview and you are just doubling back around to satisfy their HR policy of an online submission, I wouldn't worry about it.
If you were surfing their website saw your dream job and are sending a blind résumé, I'd make sure it's a damn good one.
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BACONisMEATcandy
LSU Fan
My opinions are my own
Member since Dec 2007
37927 posts
| re: Do You Always Submit a Cover Letter with a Resume? (Posted on 2/18/13 at 6:54 pm to Seven Costanza)
I would. Having a cover letter will never hurt you. However, not having one can.
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