Good advice– on anything these days– is hard to find. But in no area is it so woefully inadequate as cover letters for creative professionals looking to thrive in creative careers.

When you’re locked into a serious job search it’s incredibly important to stand out from the multitude of other applicants, as things can get pretty competitive and hiring managers won’t waste their time on dull and repetitive applications. One way to help yourself stand out is with a great cover letter, which just so happens to be today’s topic.

Applying for a job when you have no, or limited, experience is daunting. Here we look at a crucial part of your application—the cover letter.

Including a cover letter is a great way to express your interest in a company and stand out against other candidates. Many candidates choose not to include cover letters, so putting in a little extra work can really go the extra mile for you in the long run.

Your cover letter has two important roles: (1) it's a marketing document designed to sell a product (you), and (2): it's a business document that, while giving a glimpse of your personality, needs to remain professional. It therefore stands to reason that lessons from those who sell, and those who write for business, can teach us a little something about composing an effective letter.

Ever wonder what a social media manager does all day? If so, check out the below: one social media manager tells Vault what she does during each minute of her day at work.

8:30 AM: Come in to open up the office. Since you are the first person a visitor sees upon entering the office, it is your responsibility to ensure that the reception area is neatly kept and that there are plenty of brochures about things to do in Washington, DC.

8:00 AM: Arrive at the office before the rest of the staff, brew coffee and ensure the office is in order. Wash dishes left over from yesterday's client meeting.

8:15 PM: I come in and check my e-mail then plan the day. I usually have to communicate with the Operations Group (they run the high-throughput screens) to check on the status of ongoing experiments so I can go from primary to secondary characterizations.

8:00 AM: After waking up in the Holiday Inn in a remote part of Iowa, you get in your rented SUV and drive into town to have a breakfast meeting at the local diner with the mayor. Your development team has optioned a hilltop in the area for developing a windpower facility, and you are now in the process of negotiating a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT agreement) with the town.

8:00 AM: Arrive at work. I like to get in a little earlier than others (most other people in the office get in around 9:00 a.m.

Larger companies, such as multinational corporations, exist not only to provide a product or a service, or to drive profits for their investors, but they also have a role to play on the world stage. Large corporations can influence public opinion across the globe with their stance on any number of social issues, along with their advertising and charitable endeavors; however, it is far too easy for a company to simply say they take a stance on either side of an issue, without ever really doing anything.

In recent times, many companies have begun establishing their own, employee-run resource groups. These resource groups provide support for employees of various backgrounds, while allowing individuals to come together under common values and interests.

This year’s Pride Month is a bittersweet one, perfectly captured by the chosen theme: Peace, Love, Revolution. At the time of writing this, the ACLU is tracking more than 490 anti-LGBTQ+ laws on the dockets of nearly all state legislatures, the overwhelming majority of which target transgender people.

In the wake of civil unrest and the death of George Floyd in 2020, Juneteenth has become more widely recognized and is now an official federal holiday following bills that were passed by the Senate and the House in 2021. As of the present, many companies are celebrating Juneteenth in a variety of ways, with some offering their employees time off, or by raising awareness with events or promotions.

We all spend a considerable amount of time in our lives in the workplace. It stands to reason, then, that many social and cultural movements over the years have stemmed from discrimination in the workplace, or from work environments that are otherwise toxic to a group of people.

Welcome back, friends. Today we will be continuing our journey towards unlocking our authentic selves.

Whether you’re a student, a recent graduate, or a 40-plus-hour-a-week veteran, by now you’ve likely noticed how quickly our precious free time can slip away. When you’re caught in the constant motion of everyday life, it can sometimes be difficult to take time to yourself and discover (or rediscover) who you truly are, and what motivates you.