Kairos and the Cover Letter"A key element of the situational context is referred to by the Greek concept of kairos, which has a range of meanings but is generally used to describe "the right or opportune time to speak or write" (Covino and Jolliffe, p. 62). Kairos also refers to "the right measure, the appropriate move in a rhetorical situation" (Covino and Jolliffe, p. 62). Kairos also means "timeliness" and "suiting the word to the occasion." The concept is central to our understanding of rhetoric (and of communication generally) as a method of discerning the available means of persuasion or identification in any context. As we have discussed, contexts for seeing, reading, and writing may vary dramatically, so one task of the author or artist is to assess the context of time, place, and subject, as well as the occasion for the work itself, both of which in turn involve analysis and understanding of the expectations of readers or spectators. The questions you ask and the rhetorical decisions you make with regard to the context and your subject matter for a given occasion should be governed by a sense of kairos, or timeliness." (From a draft of Illuminating Rhetoric: A Guide to Seeing, Reading, and Writing by David Blakesley for Mayfield/McGraw-Hill Publishers, 2002). Most successful job candidates know how important it is to write a cover letter that is tailored to the specific position described in the ad, but also to the circumstances of the company or organization. Two SamplesHere's a sample from a cover letter written for an opening at a brand new college (Florida Atlantic Univ., Honors College. The ad asked for someone with experience directing a writing program, among other things:
At the campus visit, the writer learned that the "clincher" was this opening paragraph, but it should be noted that the supporting materials (vita) and the rest of the cover letter were okay, too. Now, here's the same writer applying for a position at an established university, with a reputable program:
Notice here that the opening is more generic and mentions both administrative and publishing experience in a fairly formal (but not overly formal) tone. More SamplesHere's a sample job ad, with a few strategies for addressing it in a cover letter (none of which works). Some of these have been highly exaggerated to highlight strategies that are frequently misused or turn out to be highly inappropriate when judged in the context of the situation. PRODUCTION ASSISTANT MODERN LANGUAGE ASSOCIATION 1. The Me-Approach To Whom It May Concern: The position you advertised for at JobBank.Com suits me perfectly, so I'm sending you my resume for your consideration. On it, you'll see that I have extensive experience as a production assistant, and I certainly enjoyed reading literature throughout my undergraduate career in my English classes. I should also mention that I'm willing to move to New York. I think I have the skills that you're looking for and that you'd find me a great colleague in your company. 2. The Rhetorical Question Approach Dear Sir, Have you been looking for a highly motivated, hardworking production assistant? Are you wondering whether you'll ever find one among the stack of possibilites that sits before you? Are you growing weary of reading the resumes of applicants who lack the requisite skills to do the job? What would you say if I told you I can put you out of your misery? My background as a production assistant at NCTE has given me the opportunity to learn to manage a periodical list nearly as extensive as MLA's, to develop electronic resources and promotional material for NCTE's large membership, blah, blah, blah. 3. The "I-Know-What-You-Need" Approach Dear Sir or Madam: Based on your job ad, I know that you're looking for someone like me who can assist MLA's production and managing editors in their various tasks, including managing periodicals, scheduling work, working with vendors. You're probably also looking for someone you can get along with, someone who knows what it takes to make a large publishing operation work. I'll bet you're thinking that you need someone who can make your life easier and more rewarding, the way you always dreamed it would be in your youth. I'm the person you need. And you know why, already, but let me elaborate . . . 4. The "In-Your-Face" Approach Dear Sir, Let's cut to the chase. You need someone like me who can help you turn a shoddy operation into a well-oiled machine, not one spurting along on watered-down diesel fuel, but one running on high-octane jet fuel. Well, you know what? You're reading the right cover letter (with a sigh of relief, I'll bet). I'm the answer to your prayers, finally. If after reading my resume you don't think so, then perhaps it's best we don't meet for an interview. Either way, though, I'll be calling you next week to arrange a time when we can meet. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Here's how I can . . . The Lesson? Don't spend too much time refining a hackneyed approach that you use invariably. Adjust your tone and style to the tone and style of the job ad, the nature of the organization, and to suit your own goals for a position. Each of the four openings shows someone more bent on emulating a style than on speaking to a real person hiring for this position. For 505M: Professional Writing @Purdue |