Cover Letter Received by Manny’s Auto Body, Perth Amboy, New Jersey

 

May 10, 1985                

Attn:         Emanual “Manny” Alvares, Manny’s Auto Body.

Re:             Employment Opportunity

Dear Mr. Alvares,

Please accept the enclosed resume as a token of my interest in joining the Manny’s Auto Body team. While I have never worked in this field before, I hope this letter will convince you that I have what it takes to be a valuable part of your organization.

My last position was as a longshoreman at the Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal. As you can see from my resumé, in March of 1984 the longshoreman’s union went on strike and since that time nearly 14 months ago, I’ve been down on my luck. It’s been tough. So tough…I’ve had to endure the humiliation of being financially supported by my girlfriend and even had to pawn my guitar which has always been a source of pride and confidence for me.

You may ask how I managed to hold on through these trying times. I noticed that in the months after losing my job my attitude towards work (and life in general) changed dramatically. I came to believe that it doesn’t make a difference if one “makes it” or not. I had my girlfriend to support me (both emotionally and financially) and that seemed like a lot.

I now realize that attitude was hopelessly naive. My girlfriend had always dreamed of running away. I always had the same response: “someday…”, by which I meant we were on our way to better times so we just needed to wait it out. Well, I guess she finally got tired of always being “halfway there” because she did end up running away….with my older brother Buddy, who makes a mint running his own landscaping company. So now all that “we’ve got each other” stuff just seems like a bunch of greeting-card nonsense.

I don’t want to sound like I’m begging, but I’m desperate for a job. Please help. I’m living on a prayer here….

Yours truly,

Thomas “Tommy” DaSilva