Cover letter advice, please

[Handsome Robb]

OK, but why did you (or whoever) remove BrianK's fairly obvious link bait but leave my (IMHO reasonable) response standing? It would have made more sense to axe them both.

Did you miss the instruction to stop posting off topic posts? How does your post further this thread at all? It doesn't. How about we jut drop the subject, stop questioning the moderators and their actions and go back to answering the OP's original question? Sound good? Awesome, thanks.

OP I think you're cover letter sounds good. I agree with Chase about adding something to personalize it towards the company and why you chose them outside of "I applied to any and every open EMT position I could find". Hey you may even get lucky and get this company to pay for medic school when you decide to take that leap!

Also, I'm a firm believer that cover letters are an important part of your application packet. It's not going to hurt you, it can only help, unless you make yourself sound like a fool in said cover letter. Like Poetic said, if the person reading the packet doesn't want to read it they can just flip past it. With that said, I'd definitely keep it under a page. Half to a full page is more than enough to relay your intentions.

Lots of companies are moving towards electronic applications. If they have a spot for a cover letter I'd personally say that the fact there is a spot to attach it implies that they'd like to see one. Plus it really isn't difficult to write one then edit it to taylor it towards individual companies.

 

[FUNKYBASS]

I realize this is an incredibly old thread, but nonetheless, i would like to continue on with it as some of the tidbits helped me as i am sure are helping others even still.

this is my overly wordy cover letter to DFD. i chose to be more frank and less professional because id like to grab their attention with my cover letter since my resume is very... shall we say... "entry level." Im still working on trimming the fat and straightening out some of the run on sentences, but overall i think its pretty decent. let loose the trolls!


"I was recently delighted to be informed by a DFD-EMS employee that Detroit Fire Department’s EMS Division may have an opening for some new talent, thus I would like to take this opportunity to humbly request that you consider my application to join your illustrious ranks. I am currently a Nationally Registered Paramedic, Licensed EMT-B, and volunteer Fire Fighter where I reside in Avoca, MI.
I believe that I am an ideal candidate for an entry position with the City of Detroit. From a young age I have had an undying fascination with the field of medicine and a seemingly unquenchable thirst for knowledge. I am an exceptionally fast learner, with a strong background in science. I am the type of person who is constantly striving to better myself, doesn’t shy away from adversity, and approaches obstacles with an open mind so as to find the best solution. These traits are paramount to EMS, where commonly accepted practices are ever changing as new and better science reaches the street.
I was fortunate enough to have received an exceptional education through my local community college. My instructors were some of the strongest advocates for student education I have ever seen or heard of. My fire academy was run by seasoned veterans of the Detroit FD. My EMT-B and Paramedic academy instructors knew the importance of exposing us to real world experience to compliment and cement the inundation of new information and make it real to us. I certainly reaped the benefit of my experiences with St. Johns Main, Mt. Clemens Regional, Medstar Ambulance, and Madison Heights Fire Dept.
Working in EMS is a highly demanding field regardless of where one practices, but Detroit is a city that presents its own unique set of challenges. You don’t need merely capable people on staff, you need dynamic and creative people who are able to adapt and grow to meet the ever changing demands of city in which even routine calls can be anything but routine. I am far more than merely capable. I cannot think of a more important job than helping those in their hour of need, I only ask for the opportunity to prove it to you."