Christian Clifton writes his pitch to change the minds of employers.
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To Whom It May Concern;
I want to work for you. We both live in a world run by the almighty dollar, a fact that cannot be escaped or evaded no matter how much we occupy. I would love to have my debts disappear and be given the freedom to live my life without the burdens of fiscal responsibility, however this is only a dream that I will not allow to keep me unawares of my reality. I need to work to live, and I want to work for you.
I know I am young and fresh out of college and to many this makes me a toddler in the professional world. Barely able to walk and talk with the adults of industry, at best I would be another body in the way and at worst a large wrench in the machinery. In your eyes my lack of knowledge and experience would hamper progress at every turn.
I am tired of my youth being looked down upon as a weakness and something that must be cured if I am to have worth. I want to be seen as a valuable addition to the workforce who has much to offer in the way of unconventionality and a different way of thinking. Your ideas may have worked in the past but there is nothing to say they are beyond benefiting from a fresh set of eyes reviewing them.
I humbly ask that you throw the presuppositions you have about me out the window and take a chance on all the great possibilities that youth and inexperience has to offer. Instead of looking at my short resume casting it aside because it isn’t a curriculum vitae of spectacular length on special paper and take a moment to consider what and who I really am. It can be hard to deduce from a few pieces of paper but I am more than what I lack.
I am fully aware of my own inexperience; you do not have to remind me of this by denying my application on its basis. I hunger for knowledge and promise to take in every bit that you would pass on to me. My brain is still wired to gain new information at astonishing rates, college was only a sip of the vast possibilities that exist in the world and it left me only wanting more. I give my word to be teachable and trainable, I want to be shown that which I don’t know so that I may remedy that ignorance.
However I promise something else, something even more important than my desire to learn; I promise to never become a clone of you or anyone in the organization. I will be my own person and bring my own abilities to the table. I don’t want to have my identity squashed under your desire for uniformity. I can become something great if you will allow it.
You list positions that require experience in the very same position, a circular reasoning fallacy if there ever was one. It would appear you want as little change as possible. While I would agree that change for changes sake is not always the best option, stagnation for any reason is a worse option.
My youth may be a burden at times but brings with it benefits that would more than make up the difference. I have new ideas, perspectives, and abilities; all things that I would jump at the opportunity to use for you. I now it is a tired cliché but perhaps the very reasons you would deny me a position are the very “outside of the box” things that could benefit the company.
I cannot promise I will not fail or make mistakes, but I can say that I will admit failure when it is time. I can also say that I will pursue success with vigor in hopes of never reaching that time. Besides, there is a good chance I will fail in new and exciting ways that may bring with them surprising silver linings.
I graciously submit myself to your judgment based on a resume, cover letter, and maybe some application form which only give an insubstantial picture of my potential. I would ask you to put down your existing ideas of negativity towards fresh faces entering the work force and look upon us as a resource to be benefited from. My desires for employment are above that of entry level, minimum wage jobs, working a few of those was enough to learn that. I want to go out and make a difference in the world and you are the one who can grant that wish or drop it in the dirt. I want to work, I want to be something, I want to use my abilities and gifts, and I want to do this all for you.
Sincerely,
Christian Clifton
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photo: Victor1558 / flickr