No, it wasn’t because your resume disappeared into an abyss. Ed asked a few of his friends who recently posted jobs and internships, and, even though they got dozens and sometimes hundreds of applicants, they read every single e-mail. Here’s why you never heard back:
You relied on a gimmick
Ed’s friend got a cover letter that started like this: “A rash? On your vagina? That doesn’t sound comfortable.” Yes, really, and no, it wasn’t for a job at a health magazine. Sure, it caught the editor’s attention, but it was for the wrong reason. Capture your audience with your cover letter the way you would in an article—with good writing.
You didn’t write in the magazine’s voice
We’ve established that you need to write well, but you also need to show you can write the way the magazine speaks to its readers. Stiff, academic writing won’t work for jobs at most magazines because most magazines aren’t written for a stiff, academic audience.
Your resume was a mess
Ed’s not talking about gaps in your employment or even a lack of relevant experience. Ed’s saying he hates it when your resume is literally a mess: illegible fonts, no rhyme or reason to the way you’ve ordered things, uneven borders, and words that get cut off by margins. Your resume should be neat and logical, otherwise an editor won’t trust that you’ll submit work neatly or logically.
You didn’t follow the rules
With so many applicants, you have to do everything right to stand out. It may seem silly to you that the editor specified that she only wants links to three clips, but Ed assures you: If you clog her inbox with five PDFs, the editor will have a hard time believing that you take direction well, something that’s key for entry-level jobs (and all other levels, really).
You sent a template instead of a cover letter
One of Ed’s buddies said she laughs out loud when her magazine’s title is in a different font than the rest of the cover letter. Why, you ask? Because it’s so obvious that you’re cutting and pasting the pub name into the same cover letter you use for every other job.
And speaking of…
You didn’t talk about the magazine
Another one of Ed’s friends recently turned down a lot of applicants because they didn’t mention why they were interested in her particular magazine or even the genre in their cover letters. Forget what your college career center said: Your cover letter shouldn’t just list your experience. Connect your experience to what the magazine requires. Make the editor feel that you want that job and not just a job.
You annoyed the editor
Whether you marked your e-mail as high priority or you mentioned your ivy league school in your subject line—when the editor isn’t an alum—you may unwittingly tap into an editor’s biggest pet peeve. Unfortunately, editors’ irritations are as different as their magazines. Avoid anything that can insinuate elitism or that your time is more valuable than the editor’s.
Your clips weren’t even slightly relevant
Of course, if you only have a few clips, you don’t have much choice, but if you’re applying for a women’s magazine, and you’ve written for women’s magazines, don’t send your clip from Field and Stream. One of Ed’s friends said, “It makes me think that her clips from the women’s mag sucked, and she wouldn’t do a good job here.”
You made careless errors
Ed has a friend who’s had cover letters addressed to Mr., when her name is clearly a woman’s, who’s had her name spelled completely wrong when it’s appallingly easy to spell (think: Smith), and who’s had cover letters where the name of the magazine is wrong. Don’t be that person! Quadruple-check your cover letter and resume for misspelled words and names.
You aren’t right for the job
As much as it stinks for the jobless, overqualified among us (and Ed feels your pain!), you’re not going to hear back about an editorial assistant job when you’ve been an associate editor for three years—even if you swear you’re as enthusiastic as any whippersnapper. Or if there’s a requirement like html or French proficiency: If you don’t exhibit it, you’re not going to get a call. It’s all about making yourself the most appealing candidate possible, and sometimes, the job isn’t a fit. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try; just don’t expect to land an interview.
