Here is the cover letter I used for the job I got after college. My job search took two weeks from start to finish, but I didn't start until I was forced to - either move back with the parents or support myself. A screenshot of my resume is below.
To whom it may concern:
I learned on MonsterTRAK that your company is seeking an entry-level programmer to fill a position as an IT consultant. This position seems like an excellent fit considering my background in programming, albeit a background that is somewhat non-traditional.
During my student career at Northwestern University, I stumbled across a brand new degree program called Animate Arts, which is the intersection of computer programming and multimedia art. I loved it so much that I ended up completing the program as my second major. Prior to this I had some experience with programming, but after completing my coursework I had a thorough grounding in both the practical and theoretical aspects of programming. Simply coming into contact with my programming professor, Ian Horswill, started me on the path to truly appreciating elegant code and software design. The emphasis was always on using the technology to produce pragmatic solutions for artistic problems. Along the way I acquired practical experience in advanced subjects such as object-oriented programming, client-server architecture, and garbage-collected languages. Furthermore, I learned how to utilize and interface with large code bases such as those existing in modern 3D and 2D game engines.
Despite the wealth of programming knowledge that I received, the most important skill I developed was the ability to effectively manage highly complex multimedia projects in a team environment. Ensuring that each and every team member is on the same page can be a daunting task in itself. Communication breakdowns can only lead to rising costs, and not simply monetary ones.
I'm sure that my qualifications pique your interest and I hope to hear from you soon. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Max Marco Maidak
I did some things right in that cover letter. It's not bad, but it's not perfect.
Note the 'efficiency percentages' BS in my resume, very classic. Having an 'objective' is cute.
