Dear Future Employer,

Whether this is my dream job or a job that will help me further build my skills, I want to say thank you for giving me this opportunity.

You’ve probably heard this cliché hundreds of times from potential candidates: “I am a hardworking person, who is a fast learner, great multitasker and passionate about storytelling.”

This is the typical response most candidates give when asked why they want to work for any company. I will not bore you with that. I won’t tell you is that I am the “perfect” candidate for the job because I don’t think such a thing even exists.

However, I will say that Chico State’s journalism program and working for The Orion has prepared me for the workforce because they have taught me valuable lessons.

Working for The Orion has challenged me in many ways. At times, I was pushed out of my comfort zone, which was a unique challenge.

This is where I learned a lot about myself. l made many mistakes, but it forced me to get the job done and to be accountable when I mess up.

The thing I came to understand about a newsroom is that there are people with diverse personalities, backgrounds and work styles and working together is not always easy.

As I learned that it’s not just people’s feelings that can be hurt, but productivity is at risk when there is conflict between coworkers. It’s important that everyone is on the same page and communication is key, which in return makes the workplace more productive and enjoyable.

I’m thankful to have made mistakes because I would not be the reporter I am today. If you decide not to hire me, that is OK. Nevertheless, I hope you offer me the opportunity to work with your company.

Sincerely,

A Wildcat

Guillermo Felix-Alvor can be reached at [email protected] or @FelixAlvor on Twitter.