Writing Archives • Atomic Dumpling

Mastering Cover Letters in 2025

by Anna Pilette | Jan 31, 2025 | Writing

Cover Letters in 2025? Really?

Back in ancient times, when people hand-delivered their job application or mailed it, one of the things we’d include is a cover letter. That’s been the norm for the last billion years of business. It comes up on LinkedIn threads and it shows up as a request for online job applications. In the age of “everything is right now”, I think they’re a little dated, but that’s neither here nor there.

Uh, Why Cover Letters?

I’ve read my fair share of cover letters and resumes as a hiring manager. I’ve also spent time writing them for myself and other people. There’s a disconnect in the world for applying online and job seekers about cover letters in 2025. Recruiters on LinkedIn telling people to be authentic yet are leaving job seekers wondering how. Employers are asking more from candidates while creating generic and canned experiences that lack response. A cover letter is a key piece to selling you and your knowledge to an employer.

How Do You Write a Cover Letter That Stands Out?

How do you write a cover letter that isn’t generic and still gives you a proper introduction? Plenty of articles lay out the formula: what to include, how to phrase it, and even examples to copy. But let’s face it, most of them read the same. They recycle similar ideas and offer cookie-cutter examples.

What’s a Cover Letter’s Purpose?

So, how do you write a cover letter that stands out? Let’s start by understanding what it’s supposed to do. A cover letter isn’t your resume. It’s connected to your resume, but it doesn’t repeat it. Its job is to reflect your knowledge and qualifications while giving the reader a glimpse of who you are. Think of it as a spotlight moment where you get to say, “Here’s why I’m perfect for this role.” Your cover letter needs to:

Introduce yourself.
Specify the role you’re applying for.
Explain why you’re applying.
Highlight your qualifications.
Showcase relevant soft and hard skills.
Close with a compelling argument and outline the next steps.

This is a formal, first-person letter, and it’s structured like any professional correspondence (STEM too!) In the U.S., formal writing leans on the active voice, which keeps the tone clear and direct. By the way, opening with “Dear [Name]” is perfectly fine. I’m not a fan, it feels outdated, so I lean toward “Hello” or “Good Day” as more modern and equally professional greetings.

Structure is Everything in Cover Letters

Before diving into the content, keep this in mind: structure is everything. Each paragraph has a purpose. Keep them focused, clear, and concise. Paragraphs generally run three to five sentences, though a few more are fine if needed. Every paragraph should open with a clear topic sentence, followed by supporting details and examples. Don’t forget transitions, they keep the flow smooth and the reader engaged.

Your opening paragraph introduces you and sets the tone. Mention the role you’re applying for and explain why it interests you. Go beyond the generic, talk about a specific article you read, an interview you watched, or something unique about their company that caught your attention. You can talk about how you were captured by their social media posts. Be authentic here; it’s your chance to connect.

Detail Your Skills and Qualifications

The next one or two paragraphs are where you shine. Highlight your qualifications without rehashing your resume. Reflect on the key points in your resume but also share additional skills or knowledge that make you a great fit. This is where you bring in your soft and hard skills that align with the position. Don’t fall into the trap of sounding robotic or generic, your goal is to stand out, not blend in or like you Googled a filler sentence. Bring energy and personality to your writing through your wording.

How to Close a Cover Letter Effectively

Finally, close strong. Summarize why you’re the best candidate and seamlessly transition into the next steps. Tell them how to contact you and thank them for their time. A small, genuine thank-you goes a long way. For your closing, “Sincerely” works well because it’s both formal and personable. Make sure your signature matches the name on your resume to keep things consistent. Here are a few last tips to follow.

Use Beneficial Language to Communicate

Write directly to the person reading. Avoid filler words like “some” or “many”, they don’t add meaning. Steer clear of jargon; it confuses more than it impresses. Humor is risky, you don’t want to offend anyone. Instead, focus on clear, accessible language that highlights your strengths and enthusiasm.

First Impressions are Everything

Your cover letter is your introduction, and your handshake on paper. Make it count by writing with purpose, clarity, and just the right amount of personality. You’re not just checking a box you’re making your case. So go ahead, tell your story, and make them want to read more.

Anna Pilette

Owner @ Atomic Dumpling LLC.

Once upon a time—okay, maybe not a million years ago, but it feels like it—I served in the Navy. After my sea adventures, I found myself working for a variety of companies, only to realize that their business practices often felt like they were running on autopilot… in the wrong direction. Fast forward to today, and I’m channeling that experience into helping small businesses and freelancers navigate their own brand journeys, minus the common pitfalls. Need a guide for your branding adventure?

Visit Atomic Dumpling at this link.

Or drop me a line anna@atomicdumpling.com!

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Why Research Matters in Gaming Journalism

by Anna Pilette | Dec 3, 2024 | Writing

Lazy Gaming Articles

I’m a gamer, plain and simple. I’ve platinumed a few games, pre-ordered plenty, and spent more hours playing than I’d care to admit—especially since my mom might read this. My gaming habits span everything from RPGs and open-world adventures to MMOs on console. That’s right, consoles. And when it comes to certain franchises, I’m the first to smash the pre-order button the moment they’re announced.

Lately, in my house our gaming sessions have revolved around Control, Cyberpunk 2077, and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Naturally, as someone who lives and breathes games, I’ve scoured countless gaming magazines and online articles. They’re a goldmine for walkthroughs, answers to those tricky in-game questions, and updates on old favorites.

The Rise of Low-Effort Content

However, here’s where the story takes a frustrating turn: the sheer laziness in some gaming articles is, frankly, astounding. Lazy gaming articles are a sad waste of a reader’s time.

You’ve probably seen them too; those slapdash pieces that writers cobble together after skimming Reddit or X (formerly Twitter) for the quickest, easiest content. Sure, sometimes it’s nice to see that Destiny 2 dropped a new shader or a cool outfit. But is that worth an entire article?

Take this for example: one writer went all in on a post about someone’s Destiny 2 Hunter looking like Skeletor. Don’t get me wrong, I love a creative Guardian as much as the next player; my own Hunter is currently channeling a displacer beast, thanks to Bungie’s brilliant D&D crossover. She’s also been Skeletor, Cobra Commander, Moon Knight, and even a cosplaying Cayde-6. But dedicating a few hundred words to a single Redditor’s post about Skeletor? Come on. Really? Like really really?!

Readers Expect More Than Surface-Level Takes

If you’re writing 400–600 words based on a single social media post, I have one request: stop. These articles aren’t engaging or insightful because most readers have already seen the same content firsthand. Worse, centering an article around a single Reddit post is a missed opportunity to dive into the real gold: the responses. The comedy alone is 100% worth the read. Why not dig a little deeper?

For instance, instead of rehashing one user’s comment, why not explore the creative trends in player customization? What inspires these designs, and how does the community build on them? By digging deeper, you can turn shallow content into a truly compelling read. Build that lazy gaming article into your own Piper Wright approved masterpiece of wordsmithing! My fingers are crossed you get that reference.

The Bigger Problem: Research Is Missing

Lazy articles highlight a bigger problem in gaming journalism: the lack of research. This issue becomes painfully clear when writers publish posts about “new discoveries” in games that have been around for years.

As someone who has logged over 1,000 hours in certain games (and well over that in a few), I can’t help but roll my eyes when I see articles marveling at “rare” items or “astounding” achievements. Nine times out of ten, a quick thread click or a basic Google search would reveal how common those finds actually are.

This isn’t just about gaming; it’s about credibility as a brand and as a writer. Research doesn’t just enhance an article; it defines its value.

Lazy Writing Damages Credibility

Lazy writing doesn’t just frustrate readers; it damages the writer’s reputation and the platform hosting the article. Imagine reading about restoring a 1972 AMC Javelin SST. You’d expect the author to provide detailed insights into the rebuild process, right? Skimming the surface wouldn’t cut it. Listing a single part also doesn’t cut it.

The same standard should apply to gaming journalism. Writers owe it to their audience to do their homework, go beyond the obvious, and deliver content that informs, engages, and entertains.

A Challenge to Writers

Gaming journalism has the potential to be incredible, but lazy articles are holding it back. If you’re serious about writing in this space, challenge yourself to research thoroughly and create content that resonates.

We as readers deserve better. Gaming deserves better. And your brand deserves better.

Anna Pilette

Owner @ Atomic Dumpling LLC.

Once upon a time—okay, maybe not a million years ago, but it feels like it—I served in the Navy. After my sea adventures, I found myself working for a variety of companies, only to realize that their business practices often felt like they were running on autopilot… in the wrong direction. Fast forward to today, and I’m channeling that experience into helping small businesses and freelancers navigate their own brand journeys, minus the common pitfalls. Need a guide for your branding adventure?

Visit Atomic Dumpling at this link.

Or drop me a line anna@atomicdumpling.com!

Free Marketing Tips For Small Business

by Anna Pilette | Nov 12, 2024 | Marketing, Writing

Market Your Business for ‘Free’-ish

Free marketing tips for small business

First, you should probably know that according to the Office of Advocacy, 99.9% of all business in the US is small business. That means there are 33,185,550 small businesses un the US. Which means there’s a lot of competition out there for the products and services your business provides. But there’s also a lot of opportunities that you can tap into as a small business owner for free marketing tips for small business. Creating opportunities for your business is important and that’s why you do need to market it.

Why market your business?

Because there are other businesses that offer what you offer or something close to it. You must explain to people why they should choose your offerings. If you want to make money you have to market your business.

Can I do this for free?

Sort of, there are several ways you can market your business for free or a nominal charge. But I’ll be honest here – this is a full-time job. Creating content isn’t easy and will require skills. It can either be rewarding or frustrating. You’ll need to decide for yourself if this is something you want to do or hire out for. Marketing, even if you’re the one doing it for your business is going to have a cost, be it time or money.

What’s the Free-ish Way of Marketing?

Understanding Your Market

If your small business is scrappy and saving money is your goal, you can create your own marketing endeavor. It would be the same as working with an agency like Atomic Dumpling. However, you’d need several things in your marketing toolbox to get started. First, you’re going to make mistakes. This is a way for you to grow – so just accept the mess-ups and look ahead. Second, you’re going to evolve your plan – so be flexible.

All marketing and advertising have budgets and goals in common. If you’re going the DIY route, then you need to know HOW TO do this. Here’s the list of what you need:

A product,
Pricing,
A location or place,
How you plan to communicate a promotion.

So far so good, right? This is commonly referred to as the 4Ps of Marketing. You’ll need to flex your creativity for this as you think about each of the Ps. Each P represents a component of marketing for your small business you’ll need to be able to address.

Why are each P important?

Well, each is a component of thought that surrounds your business. Let’s break it down into bit sized chunks.

The Product

When I say product, I’m talking about something that’s either a good or a service. My small business, Atomic Dumpling provides a service. We provide social media marketing and business writing services. Your business might provide a good, such as telescopes or hot peppers. No matter the product, you’ll need to define what it is and why someone needs to have it.

Just as important to what and why, you need to also be able to define somethings lifecycle. Think of it as the birth of your product, its growth, the maturity of the product, then its decline. For example, if you are developing an electronic device, that device will have an introduction to the public, it will then be adapted, that device will mature, then it will reach a point where it becomes obsolete. Understanding that cycle is the first step in understanding your product.

I’ll caution you here, you’ll need to know both the benefits and drawbacks of your product lifecycle. If you aren’t sure what those are, you might want to consider getting external help with this. I’ll recommend the Investopedia article on Product Life Cycles as a good starting point for you.

Price & All-Powerful Buck

What are people willing to pay for your product? If you are making something brand new to the market – chances are you’re going to be setting the pricing based on costs and profit margin. (Yes, I know there’s more to it than that, but that isn’t what this article is about. I’m simplifying this down to cost-plus pricing. If you want more, there are specialist in the field. But for reference, here’s the Harvard Business Review.)

In your DYI marketing, you need to clearly outline your pricing, value, and any discounts you might offer. Now here’s the thing – that pricing should also consider competitors and any other sensitivities to pricing your small business may encounter that could throw a wrench into your marketing strategy.

I’m also going to throw out my own personal pet peeves about pricing because you made it this far into the article. When I go to your website because I saw that cool item or service, I want to know the cost upfront. If it takes longer than 10 seconds to find your pricing or if I have to ‘Where’s Waldo’ hunt for it, I’m going to lose interest fast. Seeing no price, I can conclude it means it’s probably too high. If it’s on there but too low, it’s probably a scam. If you’re looking for a starting point for pricing, here are two starting points: HubSpot and Harvard Business Review.

The Place: Your Product & Marketing

Where your product is located and where you market are both important.

Yes, that sentence needed to be its own paragraph. People need to know where they can make a purchase and where they will want to make purchases. This is a big deal, and I can point to one of the reasons Nike was having so many problems (I’ll ignore lack of innovation for a moment.) You have to tell people where they can buy your stuff. If your product is sneakers, you’ll probably want to be getting those sneakers into stores other than your own (Nike, are you listening?)

You’ll also need to know where your customers are and how to reach them. There are a few ‘free’ and low-cost ways you should be marketing. Obviously, you need a website, that’s the first step. The next steps are easy, which include:

Google My Business
Yelp
Better Business Bureau
Yellow Pages
Bing
Local Chamber of Commerce
Other online locations based on the type of product such as Angi, Upwork, etc.
Social Media Platforms
Email Lists

Each of these methods is not a one and done. They all will have their own variable cost or time consideration. Most will require a level of updating too. These are managed either by someone like me or by the business owner. However, each offer a unique way to reach new and existing clients. So, let’s talk about these for a minute because some are not that well known.

Promoting Your Business

Google My Business is a great way promote visibly easily and for free. This is that side frame you see anytime you Google something like fried chicken. You’ll see business information like reviews, the website address, the map location, and phone number for a business.

Yelp is its own application that great for everything from restaurant reviews to making reservation. Yelp is highly popular and great for local business listings.

For younger people, the Yellow Pages used to be the worst thing to carry home from the mailbox. It was big, heavy, but you could find anyone’s name, address, and phone number in it. It was a household item back in the day. It was everywhere, from public phones to the bowling alley. Today, the Yellow Pages available online for a low cost to get listed and depending on your target audience, it may be worth it.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has been around since 1912 to prevent consumers from being taken advantage of. For service based businesses, the BBB helps build consumer trust, but the cost of membership may not be worth it for your business.

Social Media Marketing

Social media platforms offer different things to different audiences. The largest mixed content platform is Facebook. Facebook boasts 3 billion users, and the reach potential is truly a wonder. Next up is YouTube at 2.5 billion, followed by WhatsApp at 2 billion. Every social media platform has a potential to help your business, but you need to cater specifically to what content you should create to you target audience. I’ll caution you here that you also can create paid content to get a larger reach, but it can end up cost your business a pretty penny. Start your social media campaigns organically and grow from there.

Email lists are another way to reach existing and future clients. There are a number of different email tools, ranging from Mailchimp to Zoho to Constant Contact. You’ll find a wide variety of price points based on services, number of users, and other options. Brevo offers a starter kit for free.

The Long & Short of Marketing Yourself

In the end there’s more to marketing than just making a TikTok or two. Creating a plan and understanding who your target audience are important. Following that, having a pricing model, an understanding of where to market, and how to promote your business are paramount. Self-marketing your business is possible!

Anna Pilette

Owner @ Atomic Dumpling LLC.

Once upon a time—okay, maybe not a million years ago, but it feels like it—I served in the Navy. After my sea adventures, I found myself working for a variety of companies, only to realize that their business practices often felt like they were running on autopilot… in the wrong direction. Fast forward to today, and I’m channeling that experience into helping small businesses and freelancers navigate their own brand journeys, minus the common pitfalls. Need a guide for your branding adventure?

Visit Atomic Dumpling at this link.

Or drop me a line anna@atomicdumpling.com!

Importance of Training in the Workplace

by Anna Pilette | Sep 28, 2022 | Writing

Typed page in typewriter that says "Bestest English for gooder grammar."

Why Is Training Important?

I’m so glad you asked! Before I answer this question, I want to give you a bit of background. I’ve worked for several companies, domestically and internationally. I only worked for one American company that has ever conducted training when coming onboard as a new hire. Now, let’s talk about the importance of training in the workplace.

Background in learning in the workplace.

After being in the Navy, to me it was surprising that companies didn’t train their people. In the Navy, we spend our time training (and cleaning) when we’re not on watch (aka shift work). We also trained people on watch, because it was important for them to understand both principles and application of those principles. Prior to going onto watch, we were spending a couple of hours every workday training for our job. There was never a work shift day that we didn’t train on a system or otherwise.

In the civilian world, the opposite is true. In fact, I remember several times over the years asking for training only to be denied. The reasons were always rather baffling as to why.

The Dollars & Sense of Training

Did you know that training talented people is cheaper than the hiring process? It’s also going to be faster than hiring a new person. Let’s talk about the reality I’ve seen in the last 20ish years. While in service industries, it may be that it takes as little as a week or two to hire someone, it can take around 45 days to bring an engineer through the hiring process. These averages I took straight from recruiting websites and Indeed. However, with talent analytics, it can take over 52 days to find the right person.

Now, I’m not going to discuss hiring practices in this blog. I have discussed job advertisements in a blog, but that’s not the total picture. In the very least, it will cost about $4,000USD according to Glassdoor, to hire someone new. But, it can cost as much as 30% of a new employee’s annual income to hire new talent. In the State of Oregon, where my business is located, Oregon workers averaged $55,027USD (in 2019). Obviously, these averages change based on the industry in the state, but you get the point. At 30%, you’d be paying an additional $16,508 for that new hire.

Onboarding a new hire, an average employer spends about $1,500USD to train a person. Of course, this depends on your industry, company size, and the type of training. That’s a big chunk of change. It goes further when you think about shifts in productivity. It’s puzzling to think about, but in the US (and UK), businesses lose an estimated $37Billion because of workplace ignorance.

Anna Pilette

Owner @ Atomic Dumpling LLC.

Once upon a time—okay, maybe not a million years ago, but it feels like it—I served in the Navy. After my sea adventures, I found myself working for a variety of companies, only to realize that their business practices often felt like they were running on autopilot… in the wrong direction. Fast forward to today, and I’m channeling that experience into helping small businesses and freelancers navigate their own brand journeys, minus the common pitfalls. Need a guide for your branding adventure?

Visit Atomic Dumpling at this link.

Or drop me a line anna@atomicdumpling.com!

Importance of Writing in Business

by Anna Pilette | Sep 22, 2022 | Writing

Writing Requires Work & Then Some

The importance of writing in business

Not everyone is a good writer. Yes, I said it out loud. You know what? It’s perfectly fine if that’s not your skill set. But writing is a requirement for business. It’s time to understand why writing is important. It will help you make better business decisions and improve communication.

Forms Of Written Communication & Their Importance

Writing is communication, plain and simple. What isn’t as simple as identifying the various forms of writing and their purposes that can help your business. We also need to establish why good written communication is essential for business.

All forms of writing require skill, thought, and most importantly, the realization you are a mere mortal. Writing for any purpose outside of a wedding invitation requires an incredible amount of work. To undertake a piece of writing will take you through several emotions, at least one life-changing moment, and several stressful situations.

Outside of that, it’s a piece of cake.

Ok, I lied. It’s not as glamorous as cake. In fact, let’s just forget I talked about cake. Let’s talk about writing and why it’s a business requirement.

Day-to-Day Business Writing

We can start simple and think about the different ways we use writing in our business dealings. Just thinking about day-to-day communications from emails to reports, we’re using our skills to communicate with clients and coworkers. Digging deeper into it, businesses and freelancers need to have good writing skills to create everyday items. The shortlist of daily writing would be emails, memos, reports, meeting notes, and agendas.

Arguably, good writing is the most important skill set you have for your work, whatever it is. It allows you to lay out a logical path for others to follow. Providing comprehensive and informative written information creates structure and clarity for people.

Copywriting is Motivational

I love reading good copy and so do you. Copywriting inspires confidence and curiosity about a brand’s products and services. It’s motivational and persuasive, which is why it’s used for marketing, websites, social media, and newsletters. It’s also the reason we love it. Copywriting pieces are communication, just on a different level. It taps into the parts of our psyche that wants to be wowed by something cool.

It is essential to appreciate a great writer who can get you thinking about a product or service.

The power of persuasion is almost everything for text content in marketing (we’ll get back to this point in a minute.)

Complex Communications Through Technical Writing

On the tech side, technical writing is in three distinct areas, instruction, argumentative, and communication.

Of course, all three are still communication, but let’s talk about the specific role of technical writing.

The goal of technical writing is to always provide complex ideas to readers in a way they can understand even if they are not experts in a particular field. This means that a technical writer must take the information and create text explanations for any reader to understand. In business, the role of a technical writer is expansive covering everything from training to safety to production.

Good Writing Is Critical to the Importance of Writing in Business

For your business, you probably use a mix of both copywriting and technical writing. Understanding your business’s deficiencies in communication is critical in improving your brand. Your business should be constantly communicating to the public your work.

This can happen in several ways that include client or employee training, social media, your website, newsletters, or reports. Any business’s amazing story can be told through writing. It’s up to you how you tell it, and no matter the routes you take, you’ll need great writers to do it.

Anna Pilette

Owner @ Atomic Dumpling LLC.

Once upon a time—okay, maybe not a million years ago, but it feels like it—I served in the Navy. After my sea adventures, I found myself working for a variety of companies, only to realize that their business practices often felt like they were running on autopilot… in the wrong direction. Fast forward to today, and I’m channeling that experience into helping small businesses and freelancers navigate their own brand journeys, minus the common pitfalls. Need a guide for your branding adventure?

Visit Atomic Dumpling at this link.

Or drop me a line anna@atomicdumpling.com!

Do You Need a Business Plan?

by Anna Pilette | Sep 13, 2022 | Writing

Do you need a business plan?

When I launched Atomic Dumpling with my business partner, we didn’t have a business plan. Instead, we had an idea checklist and stuck with it. The reality is that we had set up the checklist to think about the things we wanted to do with our side project, which for all intents and purposes, is what Atomic Dumpling started as. We didn’t think we needed a business plan until we realized we did need one. So do you need a business plan or not?

Yes, and I know it sounds confusing, but a business plan is essentially a guide. After a few months of working together, we realized that a plan would help us be clear on our mission.

A business plan takes you along the stops of starting up and running your business from its infancy. Now what makes it a great tool is that this document is continuously updated as your business grows. It communicates succinct information to partners and investors.

How long is too long?

Your business plan needs to be long enough to convey important information. What do you consider “important”? That is a question specific to each business if you are writing to interest investors and partners.

Start out by listing a series of questions that will help you determine what style of business plan you need.

What is your business going to offer as far as products or services?
What are your resources & activities?
What will the cost structures & revenue streams be?
How do you plan to set up your customer relations?
What is your marketing plan & strategy?
Do you have a funding request?
Will you have financial projections for Q1 or A1?

Depending on your answers, you can narrow down how long your plan will be. You can also determine which form of business plan you would like to use. Traditional business plans tend to be longer than a single page, unlike a Lean business plan.

What are the differences between plans?

There are two styles of business plans both are well known. The first, aptly, is called the traditional business plan and is sectionally written and typically has multiple pages. The second is called a Lean business plan and is more simplistic. You can download free examples of either from the Small Business Administration. You can create either to suit any business need. It boils down to your style of writing and what information you feel is important to convey.

Anna Pilette

Owner @ Atomic Dumpling LLC.

Once upon a time—okay, maybe not a million years ago, but it feels like it—I served in the Navy. After my sea adventures, I found myself working for a variety of companies, only to realize that their business practices often felt like they were running on autopilot… in the wrong direction. Fast forward to today, and I’m channeling that experience into helping small businesses and freelancers navigate their own brand journeys, minus the common pitfalls. Need a guide for your branding adventure?

Visit Atomic Dumpling at this link.

Or drop me a line anna@atomicdumpling.com!