Come win a new life!
We don’t mess about here at Antigone. We like talent, we recognise talent, and we do what we can to help talent. But the job market ain’t what it used to be. In a world that claims to recognise that some people are better at some things than other people, we had a system. But times change, and we are faced with an environment that may claim to be the same thing, but on closer inspection it spelled “meritorcrazy”.
But we can do better. So, to show how this can be done, we would like you – yes you! – to pose as a figure (real or fictional or mythological) from the Greco-Roman world, who is in the position of applying for a real job in our real world of 2023. So long as the modern job is real, we want you to wow us (the appointments panel) with the skill, experience, potential, wisdom, wherewithal and unknowable absurdity that make you the natural fit for the job. Bear in mind that, while we are drawn to excellence, we are not less drawn to wit.
You are to submit a cover letter of up to 500 words, whether of continuous prose, or with a micro-CV built into it. It should follow these guidelines in order to be taken seriously:
– It must be written in English, Latin or Ancient Greek.
– It may be written in prose or verse, but if the latter, the verse needs to be metrical (yes, in English too).
– Myth and history may be fused together as you like, as per our Antigone’s own chaotic diachrony.
– Letters may be addressed to “Mr/s Whom it may Concern”, stronger applicants may specify the living and particular person, or at least the modern company, they are addressing.
– Applicants are permitted to accompany their letters with gifts, bribes, blackmail materials or straight-forward threats, so long as they are described in no more than 50 words as an appendix or postscript to the covering letter.
– We know that many ancient applicants were illiterate. While drawings will not be accepted in lieu, we are happy for a scribe to write the letter, so long as their name is given,
– In the event that the letter has been translated from another language by someone other than the applicant, this must be mentioned in the covering letter as a postscript (one line maximum).
– Availability for interview does not need to be discussed for applicants who have already died, so long as succinct instructions are provided for contacting the applicant’s shade.
Send your letter, in Word or PDF form, to competition@antigonejournal.com by the end of play on Sunday 14 January, including your name and city of residence. The competition, as ever, is open to everyone on the planet.
Since we do like you, our prizes are our best yet. The winner takes £500, the runner-up £250. The following three prizes come in antiquarian/second-hand books: twenty for third, fifteen for fourth, and ten for fifth. All to play for eh?