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Covering letter advice
http://www.x404.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=17014		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  l3v1ck [ Tue Aug 14, 2012 4:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Covering letter advice
Hi guys.

I'm looking for a bit of advice on writing a covering letter for a job I'm going for. It's been twelve years since I last had to write one.
Here's the scenareo:
I've been working in the oil industry for twelve years. The first six years of that was geology based, the last six, engineering based.
I'm looking to move back to the geology side but at a higher level than when I left.

How would I go about explaining my sudden desire to move back to geology? I can't think of a good way of putting it.
Author:  AlunD [ Tue Aug 14, 2012 5:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Covering letter advice
Quote:
dealing with animals that died a couple of hundred million years ago is much more enjoyable the trying to converse with some of the living creatures that you are forced to deal with in your current role


How about something like that :D
Author:  pcernie [ Tue Aug 14, 2012 7:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Covering letter advice
Any new, interesting developments in the geology side you could mention?
Author:  jonlumb [ Tue Aug 14, 2012 9:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Covering letter advice
I know for me, one of the primary reasons for not staying in the current line is that job progression is into call-centre management rather than something technical. Is there something like that you can use?
Author:  l3v1ck [ Tue Aug 14, 2012 9:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Covering letter advice
Not really. I could progress from night to day engineer and earn quite a good living that way.
I guess I could go for the engineering side becoming less about engineering and science and becoming more about logistics, and wanting to return to something that intrests and excites me.
Telling the truth, ie my company is pissing me off and geology pays more and has less pointless paperwork than mud engineering probably wouldn't go down too well.
Author:  timark_uk [ Tue Aug 14, 2012 9:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Covering letter advice
l3v1ck wrote:
How would I go about explaining my sudden desire to move back to geology? I can't think of a good way of putting it.
Well, you could start by working out what your sudden desire to go back in to the geology side actually is.
Think about why you want to go back, what has changed now that was different when you left it?

Mark
Author:  timark_uk [ Tue Aug 14, 2012 9:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Covering letter advice
l3v1ck wrote:
and wanting to return to something that intrests and excites me.
Why does it interest you? What about it excites you?

These are the crappy questions they'll probably want to know. Sadly.

Mark
Author:  leeds_manc [ Tue Aug 14, 2012 11:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Covering letter advice
l3v1ck wrote:
How would I go about explaining my sudden desire to move back to geology? I can't think of a good way of putting it.


Just explain all the positive thing you like about the prospective job and why you're the ideal candidate, talk positively about your geology experience, I don't think they care why you're leaving a different job.
Author:  oceanicitl [ Wed Aug 15, 2012 8:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Covering letter advice
l3v1ck wrote:
How would I go about explaining my sudden desire to move back to geology? I can't think of a good way of putting it.


If you're moving back to something you haven't done for a while just say you've been in the same role for a while and want a change and new challenges. It shows you want to do a job that excites you. And as the others say think about why you want to move.

A covering letter doesn't have to be a long one as it's just an accompaniment to a CV / application form - it can just be a paragraph.
Author:  TheFrenchun [ Wed Aug 15, 2012 8:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Covering letter advice
my advice: make it company specific. If it sounds like you can't even be bothered to read up about the company you apply to, you will be chucked out.
If it takes less time for you to write a letter than someone to read it, you will be chucked out too.
Author:  leeds_manc [ Wed Aug 15, 2012 8:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Covering letter advice
Yeah I'd include at least a full page of A4.
Author:  l3v1ck [ Wed Aug 15, 2012 8:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Covering letter advice
TheFrenchun wrote:
my advice: make it company specific.

Can't. It's to got to agencies who will get me work as a self employed geologist with any number of oil companies in the North Sea.
Author:  HeatherKay [ Wed Aug 15, 2012 8:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Covering letter advice
I keep trying to work out a phrase that includes "making the earth move".

I guess, as a geologist in the oil and gas industry, your aim is to avoid making the earth move.

I have no idea if that will help, but good luck anyway. :)
Author:  Spreadie [ Wed Aug 15, 2012 10:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Covering letter advice
Can't you put some blurb in there about returning to the area of expertise that first captured your interest and brought you into the industry?

Best of luck though.
Author:  l3v1ck [ Wed Aug 15, 2012 11:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Covering letter advice
Spreadie wrote:
Can't you put some blurb in there about returning to the area of expertise that first captured your interest and brought you into the industry?

Oh, I like that.
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