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December 7, 2023
As annoying as they can be to write, cover letters are a common part of many application processes. Whether it’s for a job, college, or academic program, knowing how to write a clean, quick, professional cover letter can make a big difference in the application process.
1. Perform research
No matter the reason for the cover letter, researching who will actually read it is an important first step. Knowing what the company, college, or program is about and their beliefs will help add more detailed touches to a cover letter. These will help the letter stand out from more generic entries.
That doesn’t necessarily mean a person will be directly addressed in a cover letter. However, finding actual people to reference or mention in the letter demonstrates not only research but accurately performed research. Such a vital asset in an academic will not go unnoticed by the reader of the letter.
2. Remember Keywords
That said, as annoying as it is, a lot of cover letters are reviewed by algorithm-based AI. This is less likely when applying to an academic program, but the people reviewing such letters receive thousands upon thousands of them. They likely lack the time to review every single one carefully.
That’s why keywords can help make a difference. Whether these words are reviewed by a computer or a person skimming the letter, they can make a big difference. Sites like Reddit are especially helpful for finding the best keywords to optimize a cover letter.
At the simplest, making use of important words and wordings in the application can make for a great start. Jobs that point out what an “ideal candidate” can provide or has experience in or an academic candidate that has proven “extensive knowledge in the following” and the like are just the most common examples seen in applications.
3. Be direct and confident
Now that it’s time to actually write the cover letter, make sure to be direct and to the point. Fancy words and long-winded sentences may look impressive, but they are not ideal for someone trying sell themselves on the merits of their abilities, a lot of meaningless words are just that; cheap talk to hype up the candidate regardless of their actual abilities and talent.
4. Stay professional
Unless the requirements for the cover letter say otherwise, a concise, professional tone and wording will go a long way to showcasing that this is the cover letter that leads the reader to the ideal candidate. A cover letter is basically a hype man, even if the wording and styling are written in a more formal manner.
At the Nerdify Reviews blog, you can find useful information on how to write in a more formal style, but the general gist is to avoid contractions and keep a respectful distance from the reader.
5. Seek advice
No matter how often someone reviews something, they are going to miss content fresh eyes will easily see. Ideally, having someone to review the cover letter will help a lot to fine-tune the wording and content.
In an academic setting, that means consulting a department counselor or even a student who previously attended or is attending. For jobs, someone in the field can provide vital insight. Going to sites like Reddit can help connect with such experienced individuals.
6. Use firm information
Algorithms and academics love numbers. Making use of them in the cover letter to showcase results and experience demonstrate concrete support of the claims made within the cover letter.
That said, throwing numbers around without purpose and just for the sake of including them reveals lack of actual evidence and more bravado and empty words. Numbers need to be backed up with results and, as with any cover letter, must be direct and to the point.
7. Make use of action words
Passive voice can be hard to avoid, as the previous sentence indicated. A strong cover letter, though, will try to avoid passive voice and make use of action and assertive wording to show not just confidence, but proven confidence.
Again, adding such words just to include them in the letter will make the candidate look weak and attempting to talk a big game with nothing to back up their claims, keep the action direct and relevant. Sources like Reddit reviews can help with finding the right words for just about any situation.
In Conclusion
Cover letters are not, generally, fun to write. They are often ignored or overlooked, and yet, they are still an important part of the application process. That means they need to be dealt with professionally and properly. Simply throwing some words together to appease an application requirement will not draw the reader to their ideal candidate.
Nerdify Reviews experts say that a strong cover letter is written with proven confidence, direct language, and content relevant to the application in question. Researching what to write about and who will be involved in the process can help a cover letter stand out, as can keywords to improve readability.
Cover letters do take time and effort to write, but, when completed, can make the difference between an ignored application and an accepted candidate.
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March 22, 2022
Our experts at Nerdify reviews explored the current state of affairs in the field of education and we have decided to come up with seven helpful tips for students. Since there are pandemic restrictions and remote learning still present, many students still find it emotionally difficult to continue with their studies and strive for changes.
Still, if you change something minor, it will help you to feel much better as your outlook on life will change right away. Without further ado, let’s explore the possibilities:
1. Start Learning a Foreign Language
It is much easier and less nerve-wracking these days as you do not have to flip through the countless textbook pages. The best language learning apps you can find are those that will implement gamification like Memrise or those that make it possible to talk to foreigners (native speakers) right away. A good option recommended by Nerdify reviews is HelloTalk, which is a free app that lets you get in touch with native speakers in over 130 languages. You just teach each other and have fun as you make new friends via audio, text, or video streams.2. Change The Design of Your Room
When you feel like you have seen and heard it all, think about adding some changes to your room. It can be a new LED lamp or a better chair to help your tired back. Alternatively, you can decorate your room based on some movie or your favorite theme. Our tireless team at Nerdify reviews always does so when we come back from vacation by sharing our office or home ideas with each other. Talk to the other students and have fun together as you discuss all the fun room decoration tips!3. Join Student’s Clubs & Group Projects
Even if you may have never considered this aspect before, our experts at Nerdify reviews suggest checking available online clubs for college students. If it does not sound like a good option, think about becoming an active participant in various group projects. It will also help you increase your final grade and will show your college professors that you are willing to learn. Finally, it is a great way to overcome anxiety and push yourself forward as you learn how to avoid procrastination.4. Consider Volunteering to Boost Your Resume
Another great change that you can add to your life and the lives of people all over the world is volunteering. There are many options for college students these days. Starting with the youth clubs locally with their online activities to tutoring and fighting for environmental causes, you can make a positive impact and be the change you want to see. Moreover, it will add valuable lines to your resume that will mention soft skills and leadership qualities that are so necessary for future employment.5. Start a College Blog
Before you start saying that you are not a blogger and that you are not one of those fashion icons, you should reconsider your thoughts as it is always possible to start with an educational blog or discuss something that you like doing as a hobby. If you are a college athlete, consider writing about your life during Covid-19 times and share learning tips. It will always help other students find great tips and cooperate together. It will also let you relieve the stress and become more inspired as you learn.6. Improve Your Remote Video Sessions
One thing that many students have had to change lately included hardware that they use for video conferences. Starting with the webcam and headphones to various panels for laptops to get a better view, many learners have turned to the local and online shops to find the latest solutions. Check your current hardware and look at the discounts to see what changes you may have to make to boost your laptop’s performance.7. Work At Your Social Skills
You should work harder on your social skills by contacting your professors by asking them how have they coped with the college break, and wishing them good luck. Just leave a nice message and participate in college life as much as you can. It will always pay off as care and compassion are what we all need these days when the world is slowly recovering from the challenges of the pandemic times.Most importantly, always look into the future and remember that any change starts from you, hard work, dedication, persistence, and your attitude. Pay respect to others, analyze what you see, learn to listen, be there for others and the good changes will come!
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July 6, 2022
When students start college, they are often surrounded by their buddies whenever not in class, leading to a very close bond. As such, it can be challenging to say goodbye to one another once the spring semester ends, knowing they might not see one another for the next three months. To help those that miss their friends, our Nerdify experts have listed tips for staying in touch with one another during summer break.
1. Take a Road Trip
With summer being three months, there is ample time for big adventures. If you have chums who live relatively close to you, you can take a road trip to each other’s hometowns, say our Nerdify reviews experts. This is lovely because you can each see where you grew up, and meet one another’s families. Or, if you live farther away from each other, you can take a road trip and meet each other halfway across the distance. That way, you won’t have to travel as far to see one another, and you can explore a new town together. For a longer excursion, many Reddit users say they take cross-country road trips with their pals, picking them up and dropping them off as they loop around the US.
2. Have Group Brunch Over Video Chats
Whether you use Facetime, Zoom, or maybe even Skype, a great way to feel connected with your group of college friends is to have a video call with all of them simultaneously. You can video chat together while you cook your respective meals, and catch up with one another over brunch. For those that miss their trivia games at restaurants, you can even play party games. People on Reddit highly recommend Jackbox games—specifically “Quiplash” and “Drawful”—which only require one computer and your phones as controllers.
3. Get a walkie-talkie app
A bit chaotic but fun, with walkie-talkie apps like Zello, everyone online will automatically hear soundbite voice messages from senders in real-time, mimicking the radio device. You can feel like you’re a spy on a top-secret mission even while grocery shopping, sharing amusing thoughts that pop into your head walking through the dairy aisle. Reddit users say you won’t hear the messages if you don’t have the app open, so you wouldn’t need to worry about intrusive audio messages throughout the day. Messages are also recorded so you can catch up when you’re free.
4. Have Virtual Watch Parties
Our Nerdify reviews team knows nothing brings chums together like gushing about the latest television show or movie. Many streaming apps—like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and even Facebook—allow for synched viewing across devices, so you can watch a movie or show with your friends across the country. Although you can’t share popcorn with one another virtually, you can still have a good time laughing at comedies or cowering in fear at horror movies together.
5. Send a Care Package with Gifts from Your Hometown
Have you been telling your college companions about a snack from back home that you can’t get on your college campus? Or, do you live in a touristy spot with some kitschy tourist shops? Nerdify reviews team recommends sending friends gift boxes that represent a slice of your home. Even if they can’t visit you, your mates can learn what makes your home special through a care package.
6. Start Arts and Crafts Hobbies Together
With so much time to pass during the summer, taking up a new hobby can be a great way to spend your day. You can learn a new skill together by working on an artsy piece by yourself or video chatting with a buddy while they also work. It’s nice to have someone else to craft with through the fumbles that come with starting any new hobby, giving each other helpful tips, say our Nerdify reviews experts. If you want to collaborate on a project, you can send each other half-finished projects for the other to complete, resulting in a fantastic physical representation of your friendship.
7. Make a Meme Group Chat
While college often involves having adventures around campus late into the night, sometimes you just sit around with mates sharing funny videos. To help fill the content void, you can make a group chat with your buddies just for sending TikToks or memes. In sending things that remind you of one another, it’s a sweet way to say that you’re thinking about them.
8. Go Back to Campus for a Trip
If you and your friends don’t live too far from campus, it might be delightful to take a trip together to see what your school is like during the summer. While your normally-bustling college town is probably much quieter, it might be a nice change of pace to explore without dealing with the chaos other students bring. This would be your chance to do the things you don’t have time to do during the semester, like sightseeing or going to touristy attractions.