jobs Archives - eyeliner wings & pretty things

7 ways to make your cover letter stand out

how to write a good cover letter, 7 ways to make your cover letter stand out //ew & pt

I’ve been reading a lot of cover letters lately.

Now, I’ve never liked writing cover letters and I can promise you I’ve written some pretty rough ones for internships in the past. Yes, I’ve forgotten to change the company name to the correct one. I’ve missed typos only to realize after I hit “submit.” I’ve put in a bunch of puns and sometimes a few jokes.

But now that I’m on the receiving end and I’ve helped a few friends give their cover letters a facelift, I’ve noticed there are a few surefire ways to make your cover letter stand out in a good way.

Here’s how to get your cover letter read and leave a lasting impression.

10 mistakes you’re making in your cover letters

I have read probably 100 cover letters — and I’ve probably written that many, too. They aren’t the most fun to write and, I promise you, they aren’t the most fun to read either.

But something I’ve learned from reading so many is that it really isn’t tough to set your cover letter apart from the rest. A lot of people follow a pretty bland formula (or go totally off the rails or make silly mistakes), and by creating something that’s polished but still has personality, you’re bound to get your job or internship application placed on the top of the stack.

Here are mistakes you’re making in your cover letters, plus how to fix them.

10 ways to stop a bad commute from getting worse

How to make a commute better - and stop a bad one from getting worse / ew & pt

My usual commute to and from work usually involves about an hour and a half of walking, riding a train, riding a ferry, and taking the subway (or more walking). And even though that sounds like such a nightmare for some … I don’t mind it? I know, I know.

Most days I view my commute as a time to get some reading done and to sort of relax (as much as one can when surrounded by people) … but some days are nightmarish, like when kids on bikes block train doors, when people blast their music sans headphones, or even when forms of transit get incredibly delayed or stuck.

And after months and months of going to and from work, I’ve compiled a list of some ways you can help stop a bad commute from getting worse or even just make a commute better from day to day.

5 things that won’t actually help you get an editorial job + what to do instead

How to get an editorial job in the magazine and media industries - what to do and what not to do / ew & pt

I’m quite a career-driven person. Since high school, I’ve been trying to figure out ways to get my work published, to work my way into the editorial world, and to push myself closer to the job of my dreams. Sometimes this “research” included watching classic journalism-y rom-coms like “The Devil Wears Prada” or “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” or my favorite, “13 Going on 30.”

OK that wasn’t research so much as me just aspirationally finding good reasons to watch early 2000s rom-coms … but there were a lot of things (especially in college) that I feel like I believed (or others told me) would be super useful in my future editorial career endeavors. Now, as an associate editor in my dream field, I have a new perspective! As you might imagine, as much as I’ve appreciated a lot of advice over the years, there are some things that weren’t nearly as helpful as I thought they’d be in terms of my career ambitions and there are a few things I wish I’d done differently.

Here are some things that aren’t as helpful in terms of your future editorial/media career as you might think. Of course, I am but one individual with a lot of thoughts who works in the editorial world but is hardly qualified to share advice. Again, these are based on my experience!

Tag Archives: Jobs

7 ways to make your cover letter stand out

10 mistakes you’re making in your cover letters

10 ways to stop a bad commute from getting worse

5 things that won’t actually help you get an editorial job + what to do instead

Post Navigation

Recent Posts

Archives