Stand out. Stand proud.

Because my start date is still a few weeks away, I thought I would take a moment to share with you exactly what got me the job (I think).


My cover letter.

After six months of submitting my resume into the void of interwebs across this great country I knew it was time to shake things up. If I wanted this job, I had to do something different. I began reading a book:

245 00 $a Use your head to get your foot in the door $h [text] : $b Job search secrets no one else will tell you / $c Harvey Mackay.

This book presented some interesting ideas for generating excitement about yourself from the get go. For example, send a picture of yourself standing next to a sign that reads "I'm the one". I know it seems cheesy, but it displays a level of creativity that (no doubt) other cover letters won't, and most potential employers are more interested in who you are than what you have done. I stewed on this for a while and this is what I came up with:

Dear ______:

Please allow me to introduce myself:

Now that you have a copy of my record, how about adding me to your catalog? I look forward to meeting you and discussing ways in which my education and experience match the needs of the library now, and into the future.

Sincerely,

Brenna Normann

This is a catalog record of myself. It demonstrates that I am capable of doing the job, and also able to "get creative and think outside the box." For any of you out there who are trudging through the swamps of job lists and losing hope of ever finding the job for you, pep up! Take your skills and make them work for you. I hope this post inspires you to approach your own job hunt the same way, with a new perspective and a willingness to take chances on being different and standing out.

In closing:

• this is the only job I had fun applying for
• the only interview where I was myself
• the only job I got