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    <title><![CDATA[Discussion on Seven things not to do in a cover letter ]]></title>
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    <lastBuildDate>2013-05-25T02:01:46-07:00</lastBuildDate>
             

    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Firefox not Internet Explorer]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2484012]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Mozilla Firefox has a dictionary add-on that checks spelling in a text box much like Microsoft Office, but I am not aware of a similar function in Internet Explorer]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2484012]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[guy.omalley@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Fri, 25 Apr 2008 04:36:37 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Dear Sir]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2482920]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Experienced people make these mistakes. Especially the part about saying something good about the company and telling them how you would be good for them. The job title gets forgotten, too. I've read some that are too colorless and generic, and some that say too much. Probably I've done both, myself. It doesn't hurt to be reminded of these things.]]></description>
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        <dc:creator><![CDATA[coyotech@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:02:34 -0700</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Surprised...]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2397255]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Surprised at the the overall tone of these posts.  Some folks got pretty testy about this topic.  Guess it's understandable: after all, changing jobs (or trying to),  getting fired or being unemployed are pretty stressful life events.Yet, I found somewhere in all those posts some good advice, from both sides of the 'hiring table.'  Now I have to go back and re-read all these to pick out and think about the best advice.  Thanks (I think), everyone!]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2397255]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[Project_20]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Mon, 07 Jan 2008 10:52:03 -0800</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Misspelling r?sum??]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2394360]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Besides the obvious &quot; its' &quot; error, how could a person writing about avoiding grammatical and spelling errors blatantly misspell &quot;r?sum?&quot;? It is not spelled &quot;resume&quot;, nor &quot;resum?&quot;, nor &quot;r?sume&quot;.More care and attention is expected from professional writes then general bloggers and such.Sad.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2394360]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[dhickman@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 02 Jan 2008 20:32:03 -0800</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Yep? (sp) and another thing]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2387253]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Your three day walk for your gender specific cancer doesn't give you any more credibility. Soon, maybe now, no one will care where you went to school or how far you walked for any disease. Trust me, somebody else will walk one more mile than you, and you will be a memory. If this sounds negative or harsh, grow a thick skin. Life isn't fair. Take off the rose colored glasses and realize human beings without access to a spell checker or a good email client have alot to offer.&quot;Old guys know stuff&quot;. (Listen, really listen like you woke up in the middle of the night because you heard something...dead quiet...only your heart beating and rain on the roof. But listen, then you will understand...there is still hope that in your life you will learn to look past the surface and see the true intrinsic value of experience.) You can only learn from that. There is nowhere to go, and nothing to do except to be of service.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2387253]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[ElectraGlideInBlue]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 19 Dec 2007 19:13:01 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[The &quot;Lazy Susan&quot; factor of the hiring desk]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2387250]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[It's (sp?) interesting to see the perspectives from the Hiring side of the desk today. After 30 years in this business, the majority on that Hiring side, I can tell you the desk will turn on you. Then see how perfect, smart and &quot;godlike&quot; you and your &quot;opinions&quot; are. That which you use to qualify and determine WHO &quot;goes in the trash&quot; will cause you many sleepless nights someday, as you look back on your career and realize you passed by many qualified applicants in your brash, young arrogance. Some of my best hires couldn't spell or write a cover letter (or Resume for that matter) but had qualities that made them valuable members of the team. Go write a book while you still seem smart Dear (insert today's salutation) for someday, some young smart MBA with all the answers will throw your Resume in the trash and you will wonder why. Good Day (my ass).]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2387250]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[ElectraGlideInBlue]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 19 Dec 2007 19:00:56 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Typos DO get my attention - in articles, too!]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2383511]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Your article is a good reminder of what to watch out for in a cover letter. I have assumed that I am part of a dying breed that notices - and winces - at typos, but it's good to hear that others care, too!Um... &quot;With all the how-to books and articles devoted to building a resume that gets noticed, its&amp;#8217; fairly easy to build a good resume if you&amp;#8217;ve got the credentials to back it up.&quot; ...does have a problem: &quot;its'&quot;You do write great articles! - Jim]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2383511]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[JimTheEngineer]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Thu, 13 Dec 2007 16:18:57 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Out of line]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2383337]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[You have not read and understood what I said. If someone's resume and cover are full of typos, I will can it.  I am not alone in this thinking.  ONE typo will not get it there.  A bunch will.That isn't a power trip.  That is someone looking for a level of professionalism.If you don't get that, I don't care to hire you.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2383337]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[Tig2]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Thu, 13 Dec 2007 11:20:29 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Really?]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2383311]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Doesn't work for me, and I am sure it doesn't work for Oz....Are you sure this isn't browser specific?\James]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2383311]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[JamesRL]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Thu, 13 Dec 2007 10:51:30 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Exactly]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2383161]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[If you don't care enough to proof your work when a job/career is at stake, then what would motivate you to care about your work once we hire you.I make spelling mistakes(usually typos) in posts here all the time. But it isn't a cover letter/resume. Besides in my defense my internet browser doesn't have a spell checker, and what do you know, my word processor does. I have one job (usually) to offer and I have dozens of qualified people to offer it to. I might overlook a typo for a candidate who is outstanding in other ways, but if I have two equally qualified applicants, one who didn't write a targeted cover letter and the generic letter they have has typos, and another where I have a good specific cover letter tailored to my job opening that shows they have good communications and writing skills, which one do you think I should interview?James]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2383161]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[JamesRL]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Thu, 13 Dec 2007 08:14:33 -0800</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[I heard something approaching...]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2383109]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[I heard the stampeding hooves and I knew the HERD was approaching.HR's mission is to interpret the requirements of the hiring department, then go and find a suitable candidate. Not an easy feat. Give them good information and get a good candidate. They have to disqualify candidates somehow. If typos don't matter, tell them so and they'll consider a wider raft of candidates many of whom who will then be disqualified using some other criteria, perhaps a 'better' criteria. Personally, I'd like my IT staff to have basic literacy skills, including spelling. They do have college degrees, yes? Did they not bother to learn to spell during their 16 years of schooling since kinder?]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2383109]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[andrew@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Thu, 13 Dec 2007 07:31:20 -0800</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Typo from a hirer]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2383091]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[I know everyone hates a nit-picker, but here's a response with a typo - from the person whose job it is to read covering letters and resumes. It tickled my fancy. (By the way, it's common sense - with an 's', not a 'c,'in the word sense)P.S. TR's 'Body of reply' dialog box would have flagged sence as a typo - using a red underline.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2383091]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[andrew@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Thu, 13 Dec 2007 07:19:24 -0800</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Exhale]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2382944]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Seems common sence, but you should see some of the resumes and cover letters I review.  Jeez, some folks need the instructions on the back of the card that says:Inhale (over)...]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2382944]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[LouCed]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Thu, 13 Dec 2007 05:29:44 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Not Really.]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2382837]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[If you're going to hire someone to do a good job, then why spend time on someone that hasn't even bothered to spell-check a covering letter?  It's a two minute job to proof read a letter and get rid of spelling mistakes, grammar mistakes and typos.If they send a letter out like that then it shows that they didn't check their own work, which to me implies that they probably wouldn't do the same in their job.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2382837]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[Bizzo]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Thu, 13 Dec 2007 03:25:59 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Power trip ?]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2382860]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[People are just people, one may be the best in his/her job and just not be able to sell him/herself.It would be time that this whole old school resume/cover letter thing is replaced by something more to the point like exams and on the job evaluation, and, if you please, a truly transparent process.But I suppose there's nothing like the thrill of deciding someone's fate on a typo.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2382860]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[philippe@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Thu, 13 Dec 2007 03:16:58 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Not in HR either]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2381944]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[I'm not in HR either and I don't hire people. I'm a freelance consultant -- first impressions really do matter. I'm reading the letter from the hiree point of view, not the hirer. Anything that gives you an edge over the stack of resumes on the hirer's desk is a good thing. A rant against unfair hiring practices might make feel good, but won't get you the job you want.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2381944]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[ssharkins@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 12 Dec 2007 06:10:00 -0800</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Stop yelling and calm down.]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2381454]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[For the record, I am not, have never been, and never want to be in HR.But I am a manager and I hire people. And I work with my HR department to do that.If you call me out of the blue and I am hiring, I will talk to you, briefly at least. But then I will refer you to HR. Thats the process, for better or worse.I spend more time on the resumes than HR does. I also look at cover letters. A good cover letter tells me they have read the job description and they know what I want, and they can match up their skills to my needs. Would I hire based on a cover letter? Of course not. Would I interview based on a cover letter? Well honestly its part of the package that I review before I decide who to interview so it can influence me.I have had a circumstance where someone's excellent targeted cover letter got my attention, and I interviewed the candidate even though his resume was borderline.If you run a job seach and you get half a dozen applicants, the cover letter probably doesn't mean much (unless you screw it up so much that it disqualifies you). But when you get a hundred resumes and letters, it might just be the difference between getting a rejection and getting an interview.I do remember when I was job hunting sitting down with a friend who was a manager at a government department. She helped me craft a cover letter which fit the type the other government departments wanted. I did get an interview (6 people interviewed out of 500 applications) and I almost got the job.There are some times when you can go around HR and others when you can't. Obliterate? Don't make me laugh.James]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2381454]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[JamesRL]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 11 Dec 2007 12:38:20 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[stones in my passway]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2381373]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Looks like a heard of self-important human resouces types are posting here. They'll all end up hiring the best cover letter writer regardless of the actual job requirements.Don't these folks read DILBERT? Here the HR department ego is stripped bare for all to see. And its not a pretty sight. But what else do you expect? These folks have only one mission in life: NOT HIRING ANYONE WHO APPLIES FOR THE JOB!Go around, go under, go over, or obliterate. BUT DO NOT DEAL WITH HR! Your sanity depends on it!]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2381373]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[dmennie]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 11 Dec 2007 10:49:58 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[RE: Seven things not to do in a cover letter]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2380825]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[My old boss used to show me the resumes he would receive.  Few were well done and some were beyond belief.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2380825]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[endlr@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Mon, 10 Dec 2007 19:49:44 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[RE: Seven things not to do in a cover letter]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2380816]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Proofreading is good advice. It avoids things like:Here???s a good list of what the women say are the seven things you don???t want to do in a cover letters.instead of:Here???s a good list of what the women say are the seven things you don???t want to do in a cover letter.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-247351-2380816]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[rfulbrig@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Mon, 10 Dec 2007 18:20:52 -0800</pubDate>
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