The Adventures of an International School Librarian

Ah Cover Letters. They suck. You're supposed to tailor each cover letter for every single job you apply for, a little bit differently. You read the job spec, see how you can apply it from your previous experience, and then write the blasted thing. It is time consuming, but if you get it right, your efforts will pay off. I made the mistake for years, just attaching the same old cover letter to my CV, and clearly not understanding why I wasn't getting any job interviews. So I've attached my cover letter that secured me a job interview for my current position. Dear Sir/Madam, I would like to apply for the position of Part Time Library Assistant, as was advertised through the X website. I have enclosed my CV for your attention. I received my Masters in Library and Information Studies from University College Dublin. I am still awaiting my final grade but hope to achieve a X honours grade or higher. During this course I have undertaken modules as diverse as Web ...

So today, after a weekend of tearing my hair out and convincing myself that I hadn't been successful in the interviews the previous Friday, I finally heard back from them. To recap, on Friday I had two job interviews for 4 positions in Trinity College Libraries. Firstly it was an incredible honor to be selected for these interviews, and secondly, to me, this seemed like the make or break it opportunity. A kind of a one shot chance. My feelings were, if I wasn't successful in the interviews, then Canada would definitely become a reality. The interviews went well. Actually they went bloody fantastic. Each interview consisted of a panel of 3 people. All 6 interviewers were ridiculously nice. I had been quite daunted by the fact that I had never been interviewed by that many people before. The maximum number had been 2. But 3, I mean where do you look? You kind of always, ultimately phase out one person, so that was quite tricky. Anyway, they went ridiculously well. But doubt...

Some potential {and extremely exciting} job opportunities over at Trinity College Dublin . There are FOUR jobs going there. All are library assistant roles, of which 3 are part time. The other role is a 6 month full time library assistant role. The deadline is tomorrow. {Sept. 27th 2011 12pm} So get applying.  I am however extremely skeptical about these roles as, from past experiences, these could be an 'inside job'. They legally have to advertise positions, etc, thus giving us all false hope. I'm hoping and praying that this is not the case for these 4 potentially interesting jobs.  Which brings me nicely onto the subject of Cover Letters. Ugh. This is an area of my life, I truly detest. For the life of me I cannot write a decent cover letter, they have ranged in the past from 3 sentences, 'My name is x, I would like a job. Thanks' - to thesis like cover letters. The one that I have been using at the moment has secured me 3 job interviews, i'm currently re...