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Ever written a cover letter that basically insults the employer?

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HEyHEY Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-27-05 12:19 AM
Original message
Ever written a cover letter that basically insults the employer?
I'm gonna do that. You see, I saw and ad for a gig in my field.... the qualificaitons were such a joke to me because the person they described as their ideal candidate had nothing more than a uniform formal education in broadcast journalism.
My "formal" education is in Print, but I have studied broadcast and work in it now, and am doing quite well.
So this job description came off as rather snotty, and I've heard their staiton and am better than most of their reporters.
SO I was thinking of applying, but basically telling them what I think of their ad and superior attitude in the letter, just to see what happens. What do you think?
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enigmatic Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-27-05 12:21 AM
Response to Original message
1. Go for it
But kill them w/ back-handed kindness, the kind that they realize was a slap after 3 or 4 readings..
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JVS Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-27-05 12:22 AM
Response to Original message
2. Don't burn bridges.
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Floogeldy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-27-05 12:23 AM
Response to Original message
3. Good idea.
An intelligent plan to spread your name around in a positive fashion.

:)
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HEyHEY Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-27-05 12:27 AM
Response to Reply #3
5. If you had balls you'd understand
I've always done things in a similar fashion.. and quite frankly have rocketed past what the average person with my experience has achieved.
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JVS Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-27-05 12:31 AM
Response to Reply #5
9. Hey Icarus, The kicks will be harder on the way down if you're a jerk!
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HEyHEY Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-27-05 12:35 AM
Response to Reply #9
12. It will be written in such a way that they won't know if I'm being a jerk
On purpose
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JVS Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-27-05 12:38 AM
Response to Reply #12
16. Have you been making sure to get your proper dosage of vitamin BEER?
This whole scheme sounds a bit sophomoric (High School, not College)
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HEyHEY Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-27-05 12:40 AM
Response to Reply #16
19. Dude, I'm telling you - I don't fit their criteria
AS it's laid out... so if I write some kinda typical "I don't fit your description, but promise to work real hard" letter... my resume hits the garbage.

At least this way I'll have flare.

Besides, I applied for a gig at their competitor (who is kicking their ass up and down the dial) and havea good chance at getting it.
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JVS Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-27-05 12:42 AM
Response to Reply #19
23. Play it straight. Talk about your real world experience, say it...
shouldn't be a problem.
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HEyHEY Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-27-05 12:43 AM
Response to Reply #23
25. I'll send you a copy of it before I send it out... it won't be as bad as
You are thinking
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Floogeldy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-27-05 12:32 AM
Response to Reply #5
10. I can tell.
That would explain the letter you want to write.

;)
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HEyHEY Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-27-05 12:34 AM
Response to Reply #10
11. I need to prove nothing to you
Ego cases with nothing more than smartass commments to put down people unprovoked are usually the biggest losers.
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Floogeldy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-27-05 12:35 AM
Response to Reply #11
13. I can tell.
That would explain the letter you want to write.

;)
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HEyHEY Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-27-05 12:36 AM
Response to Reply #13
14. I need to prove nothing to you
Ego cases with nothing more than smartass commments to put down people unprovoked are usually the biggest losers.
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Floogeldy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-27-05 12:38 AM
Response to Reply #14
15. Prove it to the employer.
With the letter that you want to write.

:)
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HEyHEY Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-27-05 12:38 AM
Response to Reply #15
17. I need to prove nothing to you
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Floogeldy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-27-05 12:39 AM
Response to Reply #17
18. You do have something to prove to the employer.
With the letter you want to write.

:)
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HEyHEY Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-27-05 12:41 AM
Response to Reply #18
21. I need to prove nothing to you
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Floogeldy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-27-05 12:42 AM
Response to Reply #21
24. But you do have something to prove to the employer.
With the letter you want to write.

:)
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tuvor Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-27-05 12:40 AM
Response to Reply #17
20. Oh, just put 'em on ignore, HH. I did ages ago, whoever they are.
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Floogeldy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-27-05 12:41 AM
Response to Reply #20
22. Ha ha!
:)
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tuvor Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-27-05 12:26 AM
Response to Original message
4. How small is the industry?
When I took desktop publishing classes in Vancouver a million years ago, we were basically told to be mindful that it was a small industry in the city, and that if you pissed someone off, the news would travel quickly to everyone else in that community.

Maybe a bit of fearmongering, but it's worth remembering that once you do it, you won't be able to undo it.

Good luck...I think. :)
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HEyHEY Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-27-05 12:28 AM
Response to Reply #4
6. It'll be passive aggressive
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enigmatic Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-27-05 12:29 AM
Response to Reply #4
7. OT
Got your E; it's brilliant, and will be added to the show:)
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Crazy Guggenheim Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-27-05 12:29 AM
Response to Original message
8. Do it!! I'll bet you get the job!!
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asthmaticeog Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-27-05 08:49 AM
Response to Original message
26. Do it.
I've always availed myself of wildly unconventional resumé designs and cover letters that differ in tone from the norm as befits MY taste. My whole thing is, they'll *know* who they're hiring or rejecting. And if they reject me on that basis, they're probably dullards for whom I wouldn't be at all happy working. Using that method to weed out undesirable employers, I'm currently in a badass gig with unholy amounts of creative freedom.

The naysayers on this thread can go suck a fuck - let 'em be content with cookie-cutter thinking. I'm sure their lower management gigs suit them just fine.
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anarch Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-27-05 08:51 AM
Response to Original message
27. Yes. In my experience, people don't like it when you do that.
But who knows?
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jane_pippin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-27-05 09:28 AM
Response to Original message
28. If you don't mind not getting the job, do it. I have...
There was an ad for a job in my field that I was pretty much qualified for. The ad itself was, in my opinion, trying to be funny but instead came off as really insulting to job hunters. It said "are you the one we're willing to settle for?"
Ok, funny. But then it goes on and lists a bunch of nonsense qualifications--still kind of funny. It also used the phrase, "blah blah blah" several times.

Now, I saw the humor in this ad. However, I also found it to be just a touch insulting because it just seemed so cocky and fake on some level. "Oooh, we're funny and a cool place to work--now get me those TPS reports!"

So I wrote my cover letter in the same style as their ad. "I know photoshop, blah blah blah, team player, whatever..." I ended by saying I hope we could settle for each other.

Haven't heard back, but it felt good to do.

Also, who knows. Maybe they'll give you the job.
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Beware the Beast Man Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-27-05 09:32 AM
Response to Original message
29. You should write it on a flaming dog turd-filled paper bag.
:P
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HEyHEY Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-27-05 12:16 PM
Response to Reply #29
30. Now THAT'S a killer idea!
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