gathering documents: writing a cover email

I did a ton of research on the proper writing of a cover email. There are debates swirling about and I wanted to provide my thoughts.

First, here are a couple of good links to check out:

https://www.hampshire.edu/corc/emailing-your-cover-letter-and-resume
http://susanireland.com/job-lounge/send-cover-letter-as-email-attachment/
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/lawcso/vocare/2007/01/emailing_a_cover_letter_attach.html

These were some of the most helpful for me on my journey through the internet. I am applying for TEFL positions through Gold Star. It is a COMPLETELY FREE recruitment service that was started by a man who has extensive TEFL experience and provides two key services. First, he matches teachers to schools and second, he matches schools to teachers. Now, this might sound like the same thing but it isn't. There is vetting on both sides, making sure only the best get through. I read great reviews about this company and that is why I decided to go through them on my first TEFL adventure. Another reason I picked them is because you can apply to teach in a specific area (China, in my case). I really want to teach in Shenzhen and this website was a perfect way to do that.

To apply, you need to send the following by email: cover letter, resume, recent photograph, degree certificate, start date availability, and preference to as to teaching young learners or adults. Okay, easy enough. I can check off every item on that list. But, the next question: well, if I am attaching my cover letter, how do I write a cover email?

Some sources say to copy and paste, others say to merely write "I attached everything you wanted" (in a formal manner, obviously). I found a great formula that I recommend:

Dear________,

I am writing to apply for the ______ position as found on ____________. I have attached the following documents for your review: _____________________________. My start date is _____________ and my preference is ________________. Please contact me at ___________ if you have any questions. I look forward to speaking with you about an interview.

Best regards,
________________________ 


Okay, how easy is that, my friends? Obviously you would need to spruce it up a bit, but it is a simple formula to follow. No use getting fancy out there, stick with the traditional format. It saves time and frustration. Trust me. 

Good luck getting those emails together to send out! I send mine out tomorrow, so hopefully I will have a good idea of a job in the next couple of weeks. 

look left for the horse.

The Cairo Museum. The pyramids of Giza. The majestic Nile. These are images that one thinks of when reflecting on the ancient land of Egypt. Egypt truly is an amazing and breathtaking county (and not just because of the beauty). There is eons of history there, centuries upon centuries of stories buried in the sand. The people number as one of the oldest races and civilizations in the world that are still in existence. Living there for my study abroad was a great experience for my 19 year-old self.

Over the past week as I have been preparing my last bits of documents for my TEFL journey, I've been thinking about Cairo and how desperately I want to go there again. At the end of that extremely hot summer (NOTE: No joke! The Middle East is a hot place, but that summer broke the records for the hottest summers in Egypt, Israel, and Jordan.), I was ready to come home. It was long and sometimes harrowing experience for someone who had never left the country before. If you gave me a plane ticket today though, I would be right there again. A part of my heart will always be there. It is poetic that the country that I dreamed of going to my whole life was Egypt, and I was blessed to have that be the first country I went to. And not only went but lived. I wouldn't trade a second of that summer. I lived among the people and got off of the beaten path. Sure, I saw the pyramids, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, and other other touristy places. But that will never compare to living among and with the Egyptians in Ma'adi. You know what would be a fun dream job? Have me travel and write guidebooks and whatnot. I would LOVE IT!

I thought I would give you a taste of my Cairo residency in some pictures. A little walk down a literal memory lane.

This is a common sight in Cairo. Piles upon piles of stinky rubbish. Garbage. Trash! I saw men get up in the morning an go outside and burn the piles. Woo, that was a smell to behold. Add that to the dust and the pollution smell, it was ripe. And see that rooster hanging out, too? Very common to see cats, dogs, horses, donkeys, chickens, etc. Everywhere. Alive and dead. Hence:

Do you see it? Keep looking, it might take a minute. Under the horse's back right hoof. It is standing on a paper and a dead cat. Yep, that was parts of Cairo for you.

This alleyway was a daily jaunt for us on our way from our flat to the institute. We did the same things with our laundry--hung it outside. It never was quite clean that whole summer.

It was always interesting to see the difference between the skyline and then the actual street view. The graffiti was always an interesting sight.

Or seeing a guy chilling in the middle of the day. I don't blame them. It was SOOOOOOO hot that even our professor told us to schedule a nap. 

This was also another favourite of mine: that man sleeping in the previous picture, these are his goats that he herded in the middle of Ma'adi by the metro tracks. 

We lived up the road from the Ugandan Embassy. Trust me, it sounds a lot posher that it actually was. The guards would be hanging out in front of the gates with their AK-47s, just chilling in the sun. They were nice. Not talkative, but nice.

But despite all of the rubbish, dust, pollution, and smells, there are places to see like this:

If you ever have the chance, go to the Middle. Be with the people. Learn their stories. They will take you places that you would never imagine existed. 

[NOTE: All pictures are exclusively owned by innovative marbles. Do not use, publish, copy, or distribute without express consent of the owner.]

gathering documents: writing a cover(ing) letter

Okay, the cover letter (also known as a covering letter) has been the bane of my existence. I had to write one before and I never had to use it, so I actually never have had one. I've asked people about what they think of cover letters. Why even have them if you're going to look at the resume anyway? The top answers were:

1. I don't even bother with the cover letter. I skim it to see if there are any blaring mistakes or ridiculousness, but the resume is what is most important. 
2. I will read the cover letter because it is a brief summary of the best qualities of the resume. 
3. I read it carefully because it gives me an idea of the personality of the writer. It allows me to see if they are just the "copy and paste" type or put some actual effort into the letter. 
4. I will read it because it gives me an idea of the person's writing style and grammatical prowess.

For me a cover letter is just a basic summary of your best qualities that you want to highlight from your resume that is specifically tailored to the job. You want to make sure that you are putting the effort into your cover letter, even though a part of you is screaming that it is a waste of time. Once you have a good cover letter under your belt, you can make adjustments and make it better and better.

(Even if you think no one will ever really read it.)

I used Teaching House's example cover letters as a base for mine. (Click here.) It was extremely helpful and I used the basic formula for any cover letter:

• Paragraph 1: State what job you are applying for and how you heard about it.
• Paragraph 2: State why you think you are perfect for the job.
• Paragraph 3: Give a short history of your experiences. Highlight specific examples without being too wordy.
• Closing: Strong and succinct. My favorite formula is:
• "I appreciate your consideration. My phone number is.... My email is.... Please contact me with any further questions. I look forward to discussing my candidacy with you soon."

If you know the person, feel free to use "Yours sincerely".  If not, it is always good to go with "Yours faithfully" or "Best regards". (I prefer the former.)

Now, in terms of TEFL positions, there is a slight change that can be made. If you are going through a recruiter and applying generally rather than to a specific company, then you can create a general opening paragraph. My current cover letter is about Shenzhen. I give a couple sentences on why I want to teach there, that's it. Bam. Done.

Just a to keep in mind:

1. Always have someone else review your letter. It is important to edit out fluff and useless junk and another set of eyes can really help with that.
2. "Banish the phrases 'be able to' and 'have the opportunity to.' Those phrases should be left in the sixth circle of Dante's hell, only called upon when necessary." (This is a direct quote from my sister, who is an attorney and has significant editing experience. She reviewed my letter for me.) 
3. Avoid cliches and too-casual language. 
4. Focus on the specific job you are applying for. Highlight those skills, even if you have more to offer. That will be on your resume. 

Good luck with you letters!