Resumes/Cover letters/I want to crawl into a hole/etc.

Career Opportunities & Internships
1

<p>I did well in high school, am looking forward to going to college in the fall, and am generally a well-adjusted young lady BUT... I felt like a complete idiot when I started searching for a job for this summer. </p>

<p>I will list a couple of somewhat rhetorical questions about basic things that I don't get. Feel free to clue me in and welcome me to the real world. </p>

<p>How do I overcome feeling of not being true to myself in my resume/cover letter? Does everyone else just, kind of, roll with it or what?
How in the world do employers want "2-3 years of experience" for someone who will file their papers and make their copies? Do they really think it takes that long to learn to do that?
How can I write "2-3 paragraphs" to someone to tell them I want to file their papers, in which I "highlight my attributes and state my goals?" This is a joke, right?
Does everyone want "to work on a team" and "in a fast-paced environment?" I must be the only one who wants to make some money! </p>

<p>I did get the type of job I wanted for the summer (not on my own, eh) and am one of the most hard-working, diligent, and responsible people there.</p>

<p>Someone please explain the system to me and tell me to embrace it. I will be at NYU for the fall, but I honestly fear for my future.</p>

2

<p>I know where your coming from with feeling that your letter/resume is disingenuinous. I think, though, that it's normal, and that the image created by your resume isn't really supposed to be 'who you are.' The stuff that sounds good on resumes is never as impressive in real life. </p>

<p>Most employers barely read the cover letter and don't usually take anything you say in it too seriously. I think the letter is really more of a test to see if you can write and have good manners, so don't stress out about it too much. You only need 3 paragraphs: the first one explains who you are and why you are writing, the second one is just a few sentences of 'highlights' from the resume and how they apply to the job, and the third one is contact info, availability, and a close. </p>

<p>The whole system of resumes and cover letters is just a big game. Play by the rules and put your best foot forward and eventually you'll get hired.</p>