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Last week, I received an email from my high school friend, Steph. She had recently been laid off from her job as a graphic designer for a small company (I actually interviewed her last year about the pros and cons of working for a small company—I suppose greater risk of layoffs in a down market could go down as a potential con.)
So after being laid off, as many have been lately, Steph was able to find another job in just three weeks. This is the email she sent me after she got the job. I love the story so much that I asked if I could post it.
I want to thank you for inspiring me to blog. This is why: it landed me a job. After losing my job three weeks ago I struggled with finding another one. I sent out resumes and cover letters to all sorts of places and never heard anything back. I thought it was hopeless. But I was wrong. When I got an email from a company in Arkansas I was just a bit baffled. I vaguely remember applying for a position there but had quickly forgotten about it because I didn’t think anything would come of it. But here they were. I had a phone interview with them and this is what they said: They loved my work and my experience, but the thing they loved most was reading my blog and discovering my personality.
They said the blog was the reason they called, the reason they brought me in to their office, and the reason they knew they were going to offer me the job even before I made the 11 hour trip to meet them face-to-face.
How amazing is that? I know my blogging style is different and I still have a lot of things to work out, but this company saw my personality in it and they loved it. So indeed, I have you to thank for that. You really inspired me to get my own webspace and communicate my ideas to the world. At first I was discouraged because I didn’t receive any comments. But it didn’t matter in the end. People out there were still reading.
You can read Steph’s blog at stephanierussell.net.
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Comments
03.06.09
What great feedback! I find this story very motivating as this is part of what I'm hoping getting my website will do.
I'm going to be moving in a few months and am working on a website and blog so that I can start my networking ahead of time.
Congrats to Stephanie, and way to give some good advice, Allie.
03.08.09
It is pretty incredible where blogging has gotten some people - it seems to be accounting for more and more jobs these days. Good luck with the move.
03.10.09
Hi! I just recently stumbled across your blog, LOVE it, SO incredibly helpful, you have no idea. Thank you so much for posting, you have no idea how transcendent your topics are.
Quick question - which may seem irrelevant but I have often wondered this, and as I am on Spring Break now, and am doing cover letters/resume updating, etc.
When signing a cover letter, is there any formality preference to the "Sincerely" or "Regards"?
Also, I literally read through the entirety of your blog - revamped my header for my resume, and added a personal brand to my resume. Any way I could get some feedback/input that is unbias? Also, should I include this on my cover letter?
I wanted to ask this in comments just if anyone else had gone through your blog and found it as helpful as I did. I did not have a LinkedIn page before reading this, and now have completely established myself and my experience. Thank you!!!!
03.10.09
Hi Allison - Sincerely, Regards or Best all work (I tend to use "Best" in a lot of email communications since it's not too casual or overly formal). As for feedback, go ahead and shoot me an email and I can look over your resume, etc.
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