Dear Senior Vice President of Talent Joel Greengrass:
I am currently a sophomore at the University of Florida pursuing a degree in Advertising. I am applying to the position of Agency Strategy Intern because I firmly believe that I have what it takes to not only join the Buzzfeed team but excel there. My love of BuzzFeed stems from a sleepless night about two years ago...There I was, a naive 12th grader who should've been studying for his math exam the next day but instead found himself stalking his ex-girlfrie- er, posting photos from his recent trip to the beach. That is, until he saw an advertisement for a quiz that changed his life: Which Illuminati Member Are You? He tentatively took the quiz and was pleasantly surprised at the answer: Winston Churchill...Ever since that fateful day, I've been hooked on BuzzFeed. I've taken and retaken quizzes. I've taken and retaken those quizzes' quizzes. I've watched every single 58-second BuzzFeedFood article that has ever been posted and I've cooked many of them, too. I live by the buzz, die by the buzz.
But I understand that doesn't necessarily set me apart from BuzzFeed's global audience of over 200 million people. That doesn't necessarily set me apart from the millions of other people who have watched every. single. cat. video. multiple times. What does set me apart is my experience. I am currently an Assistant Sales Representative at The Independent Florida Alligator, arguably the foremost newspaper at any university in Florida. I am therefore - by logical extension - the foremost assistant sales representative at any university in Florida. At least that's what my mom says. In the spirit of professionalism, though, I do believe my experience as an assistant sales representative has given me valuable knowledge into the behind-the-scenes working of what a sales team actually does. Besides, you know, sell stuff. My job at Dunkin' Donuts has allowed me even greater insight into what customer service and sales really means on a day-to-day basis. I don't believe in connections or contacts - I believe in relationships. I believe in developing some sort of relationship with every customer that comes through the door - whether I've memorized their coffee order or not. And I think that sets me apart from everyone else - that love of creating relationships where there wasn't one before. That love of the customer's smile when I take their order in a quasi-German accent on Tuesday and a Southern Welsh one on Thursday. I believe in what I do and I believe in the products I sell - whether that be a 3x5 ad in the Sports Edition that's going to run next Friday or a large iced coffee with cream and sugar.
I also believe in BuzzFeed and I know that BuzzFeed believes in what it does, as well. That's why I fit in. BuzzFeed does something remarkable every day - it covers an immeasurably wide area of information (whether that is through quizzes about Disney princesses or legitimate original reporting as in the case of Fostering Profits: Abuse and Neglect At America's Biggest For-Profit Foster Care Company) - and yet still maintains an element of individualism that grows with each quiz. There's something for everyone and yet there's still something for every one of us. That is why I want to intern at BuzzFeed this summer as an Agency Strategy Intern.
As a proud, outspoken BuzzFeed fanatic, I am beyond excited to submit my application for consideration. Please don't hesitate to e-mail me at abenlevy@ufl.edu or call me at the number listed on my resume. I look forward to maintaining contact!
Best Regards,
Arik Benlevy
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