Maybe I'm old fashioned but I would never hire Ms. Weiss. She may or may not have made valid points but the last place it belongs is in a cover letter. I also want to save the world. But I'm busy. I work long hours and never have enough help. If I'm looking to fill a position the candidate has about a minute to catch my attention about why he or she is the best person to fill the job. While we each want to do fulfilling work, a candidate for a position had better make it about how they can help the organziation reach its goals and not the other way around.
On a related note, two weeks ago I was interviewing candidates for a junior level position. It could have been a reality show. I wasn't asking hard questions but it seemed as if no answer was longer than 140 characters. The art of face to face communication appears to be dying. Luckily I found a young man who fit the bill...and he starts on Monday.
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Valerie J. Cammiso, CAE
International Council of Shopping Centers Foundation
Executive Director
New York NY
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-07-2014 14:14
From: Bryan Harrison
Subject: Would You Hire This Millennial Nonprofit Job-Seeker?
A cover letter to a potential employer reveals frustration with the nonprofit job landscape clashing with a desire to make a positive difference.
One topic she cited, compensation, reminds me of an earlier discussion I started regarding a recently released study by Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. The study revealed that MBA graduates pursuing careers in nonprofits made the lowest out of all the career choices witnessing a reduction in pay from 25K to north of 75K a year (as compared to their peers).
As a Millennial, can you relate? As a manager does this cover letter resonate with you?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lauraweiss/cover-letter-from-a-frust_b_4784775.html
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Bryan Harrison
Speciality Equipment Market Association (SEMA)
Sr. Manager of Networks
Diamond Bar CA
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