Amanda Smith is a freelance journalist and writer. She reports on culture, society, human interest and technology. Her stories hold a mirror to society, reflecting both its malaise and its beauty.

Your résumé is polished, your interview skills are strong, but there’s one thing standing between you and your ability to press “submit” on a job application: the cover letter. For many job-seekers, ...

The cover letter is its own unique, dreaded genre of writing. In a few — often formulaic — paragraphs, job applicants must accomplish several things: prostrate themselves at the feet of hiring ...