Are You Cover Letter Conscious?

At a time when many people are looking for jobs, it is important to stand out from the competition. So how could you accomplish this task in order to land an interview? Besides your resume, the next best thing is a cover letter.

A cover letter allows you to speak openly to a recruiter or hiring manager about why you are the best candidate for a specific job. Submitting a cover letter with your resume gives you the chance to re-emphasize your qualifications, and provide any background information that is relevant to the job you’re interested in getting. In addition, those who read your cover letter can learn about the person you are; sometimes, what a job seeker lacks in skills and experience may be overcome by his or her personal qualities.

For each job you apply for, it may be wise to create a unique cover letter. As a result, a potential employer will see your emphasis on working at that particular company. In your cover letter, remember to include why you’re writing, your qualifications for the job, and your interest in an interview.

If your resume alone has not produced interview opportunities, then it may be time to write a cover letter that separates you from the competition.

Source
http://thecareernews.com/newsletter.php?news=2513

 

Guest Post by William Frierson, a staff writer for CollegeRecruiter.com.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Job Seekers: Promote Your Personal Brand

What is your personal brand?

As a job seeker, you should focus on what you have to offer potential employers. A personal brand is an image you portray before a specific audience; it represents your personality and how other people see you. By promoting your personal brand, you can stand out from the crowd of job seekers also looking to get hired.

A recent article mentioned some of the important parts of a personal brand that employers value in candidates. Here are a few of them:

• Good communication skills- Make sure you can clearly present your thoughts both verbally and in written form.
• Ability to lead but also get along in a team environment-Sometimes, you may need to take charge of a situation, but remember, there’s no “I” in “team”.
• Seek clarification when you receive unclear instructions-Simply put, if you are not sure about something, then ask.

Once you’ve defined your personal brand, promote it to employers. Using a social networking website is probably the most popular way to do this; just be careful about what you post and that your brand appeals to employers.

With so many people searching for jobs, standing out is a key to success. Establishing your personal brand could help employers see you not just as a job seeker, but the ideal candidate.

Source
http://thecareernews.com/newsletter.php?news=2519

Author Byline: William Frierson is a staff writer for CollegeRecruiter.com.
Author Website: http://www.collegerecruiter.com/

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Especially on Executive Resume, Avoid These 4 Phrases That Scream “Under Qualified”

At the executive level, you know a lot is expected of you on the job. But those high expectations actually begin at the application process. From the moment you submit your application and executive resume, employers are checking you out to make sure you’re suited for this level. So if you want to avoid instant rejection, it’s best to sidestep the following phrases that could make a resume look elementary:

“Excellent Organizational Skills”

Most employers expect you to be somewhat organized as a professional. Either that or you have had an assistant for years who handled organizational needs for you. This phrase is usually used at the lower professional levels, but even then it is broad and doesn’t explain much. At your level, there is no need to use this phrase. Instead, get to the meat of what you’ve organized — and be specific.

“Team Player”

At this stage in your career, you should have evolved beyond being a team player and become a team leader. Even then, it’s not necessary to use the words, “I’m an excellent team leader.” Your excellence is better defined by your specific accomplishments as a leader. So rather than saying you’re a leader, give examples of your key initiatives and how your leadership helped the company excel.

“Managed [X] Employees”

Again, you’re speaking in vague terms when it’s time to be specific. However, you may be wondering how listing the number of employees you managed is vague. It’s vague because you did not say what it meant to manage X employees. How did you manage them? What did they accomplish under your leadership? How did your management of these employees affect the job as a whole? Without these specifics, you’ve told the employer nothing about how you can really help them.

“Exceeded Expectations”

Here’s another phrase that is better assumed than said. Employers expect you to exceed expectations as an executive, so there’s never a need to tell them this is something you do. Again, your job is to get right to the point by providing examples of how you’ve exceeded expectations throughout your entire career; so get right to it — and be specific.

When writing an executive resume, it’s good to avoid phrases that are too vague or say only what you’re capable of accomplishing rather than provide the specifics of your accomplishments. By sidestepping these phrases, you’ll find yourself being taken seriously by employers and improving your chances of being called in for the interviewing phase.

For additional tips and advice on cover letters, follow  @GreatResume or visit our blog.

Resume authority Jessica Hernandez is a former HR Manager who partners with professional- and executive-level candidates to create authentic, branded resumes and cover letters.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Think “Employer” During Your Job Search

As a job candidate, it is easy to get caught up in the “me” mentality during your job search. That’s because your focus is on getting what you want and what you need. In reality, though, considering what an employer needs will help you get hired. When an employer hires someone, it is like a partnership between him or her, and the new employee. For an employer to invest in you (the candidate), he or she must know what you have to offer. That is why you must think about the employer during your job search.

Here are some rules that candidates should remember about employers during their job search(es):

• Hiring decision-makers are searching for candidates who will help them increase profitability or add to the revenue stream- Think about what skills and/or attributes you have to make money for a potential employer.
• Hiring decision-makers are looking for candidates who will reduce their expenses or eliminate unnecessary costs- How can your skills and/or experience save money for an employer?
• Hiring decision-makers are looking for candidates who will fit the organizational culture and confirm their decision to hire you- Does your personality match the morals and values of the company you’re interested in? Your reputation reflects not just yourself, but also an employer.

Employers want to know that candidates are concerned about their needs. Keep that in mind during your job search.

Source
http://thecareernews.com/newsletter.php?news=2519

 

Author: William Frierson is a staff writer for CollegeRecruiter.com.
Website: http://www.collegerecruiter.com/

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Who is Hiring the Most People at the Best Companies to Work For

“When you work seven days a week, fourteen hours a day, you get lucky.” – Armand Hammer

I’ve posted lots of links to the companies on Fortune‘s Best Companies to Work for list, typically running from top to bottom. But then I got to thinking, what about those companies on the list that are hiring the most people? Seems like a good idea (to me at least), so today’s post will focus on those companies. For those interested in how Fortune derives the list, take a look at “Criteria for the Best Companies to Work For“. And for those wondering if it really matters at all, take a look at “Does the Fortune 100 best companies to work for really matter anymore ?“. Drop me a line and let me know what you think (E-mail Me!).

• Zappos.com – Ranked at number 6 on the list, Zappos increased staff last year by 37%! Their career site starts with with a listing of where they have current openings. The left hand side of the page has a link for Search Open Positions as well as links to other related topics. There is a bunch of stuff center page to tell you all about the company. Click on Search Open Positions to start your search. Click a job that matches your criteria and you can apply online (including resume upload). What is not clear is if there is a resume database that matches your resume against other job opportunities. There were 40 or so job opportunities when I checked the site.

• Scottrade – A discount broker and ranked 12 on this year’s list, they increased staff 19% last year. They have over 2,800 employees. Their main career site has tabs at the top with Search Jobs, Benefits & Compensation, Working @ Scottrade and a tab for Internships. In the center of the page they have a big Search Jobs button. Select Search Jobs to review links to Job Openings by category, manage your resume, create a job agent and look at all job openings. There were 156 job opportunities when I checked the site.

• Umpqua Bank – Number 25 on this year’s list, Umpqua is a financial services firm (if you’ve not already guessed) and increased staff 18% last year. Their main careers page has company information in the center of the page with links to Culture, Perks and Current Openings on the left hand side of the page. Their opportunities page allows registration with resume posting as well as a job search function. Click Search Career Opportunities to use their job search engine. When I checked there were 83 job opportunities across a few states, from junior jobs to senior jobs. Clicking on a job displays the job description and a “submit your application” link.

• Southern Ohio Medical Center – Another medical related company on the list, SOMC is ranked 36 this year and increased staff 18%. With over 2,200 employees, SOMC’s career page is fairly simple. The main part of the page is taken up by an advanced job search function, with special links on the right for Apply online, How to Apply and company information. As with most company career sites, you can register on the site. There were 54 job opportunities when I checked their generic search.

• Balfour Beatty Construction – Ranked at 41, Balfour is a small construction company who increased their staff 37% last year. Their careers page has quite a few related links on the left hand side of the page (like Top 10 Reasons and Career Paths). Center page is a company overview, followed by next steps, what to expect and top 10 reasons to work at Balfour. Click job search on the left hand side of the page to see current open positions. You can also join their career center. There were 21 job opportunities when I checked their site.

Good luck in your search.

 

Author Byline: CareerAlley
Author Website: http://CareerAlley.com

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

4 Simple Ways to Overcome the Age Factor in Your Resume

Growing older is something that creeps into the mind of many professionals, especially if they have reached their 50s or 60s and are on the hunt for a new job. Some worry that they may not be considered viable candidates in the eyes of employers when compared to younger professionals.

But as a wise, skilled, top-level candidate, there is no reason for you to feel any less qualified. In fact, you are likely more qualified than younger competitors; you just need to prove it. So take time to do so on your resume by utilizing the following four tips:

1. Focus on Recent Jobs

If you’ve had more than a couple of jobs during your career, then it’s a good idea to focus on the more recent ones as you write your resume. A good rule of thumb is to not worry about going back more than 15 years, especially since some of what you learned prior to that may not be relevant to the job you’re applying for anyway.

2. Pinpoint Your Strengths

It’s even more important that you highlight your greatest accomplishments in your career as a seasoned professional. Keep in mind that the more recent the accomplishments, the better (i.e., 2009 accomplishments vs. 1979 accomplishments).

Employers are not as interested in what you did at the beginning of your career—when you were still learning your craft—as they are what you have accomplished as a skilled candidate.

3. Keep Up With the Times

One reservation employers could have when considering older workers is a fear that they may not be able to keep up with technological advancements. It’s good for you to show that you are not only keeping up, but are right in the fold.

Show that you understand the Internet by submitting your resume online. Not only that, discuss your technological aptitudes in your resume, and list your professional online profiles too (LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.) to give yourself a great boost as a candidate.

4. Consider a Functional Resume

One more thing to consider is creating a functional resume that doesn’t list the years of your accomplishments but instead focuses on the accomplishments alone. Some employers see functional resumes as red flags for gaps in employment or other issues, however, so take the time to be thorough if you choose to take this route.

As a seasoned professional with many years of experience under your belt, it’s important that you help employers to focus less on your age and more on your talents and capabilities. There’s no doubt that you can get the job done. Now, show the employer just how capable you are!

For additional tips and advice on resumes and cover letters, follow @GreatResume or visit our blog.

 

Guest Post by global resume authority Jessica Hernandez of http://www.greatresumesfast.com. Jessica is a former HR Manager who partners with professional- and executive-level candidates to create authentic, branded resumes and cover letters.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

4 Ways to Make Your Business Card Remarkable

Like your resume, your business card is a snippet of who you are and what you can do for an organization. For example, if you are at a busy networking event, you only have an elevator speech and perhaps a couple extra minutes to make an impression. If you take the time to really create a fine business card, it could be the bridge between small talk and a job.

Apart from the usual features like links to your social networking accounts, here are a few ways to make your business cards memorable and remarkable:

Simple and clean design. Unlike your resume, the use of design and color are largely encouraged in business cards. However, like your resume, don’t go overboard with the flair. A set color scheme and one font is all you need to get your point across. If you have some sort of personal logo or theme you have on every online platform, it would be smart to link these all together.

You should also think about purchasing paper that’s thicker or heavier so it sticks out to the touch. It may be more expensive, but think of it as an investment in your future. You won’t miss those extra dollars when you land a job.

QR codes. QR (quick response) codes are those small, square barcodes on everything from advertisements to granola bar wrappers. When scanned by a smartphone, it pulls up information from the organization that created it. What if you took this theory and put it towards your resume?

For example, Vizibility now has QR code capabilities. When the QR code on your business card is scanned, your top five Google search results will pop up. You can also choose to include your contact information in your QR code so it can be added right to the persons contact list on their phone. Now, you look good not just from an impressive business card, but also from an online brand that stands out easily and effectively.

Include a picture. As the saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Well, how can you come up with the words if you can’t remember the face? According to a Forbes article, it may be a good idea to include a small snapshot of yourself on your business card. Why? Well, if you go to an event with hundreds of attendants, people aren’t going to remember every single face, leaving your business card to potentially get tossed. Putting an actual face to words is one more thing you can do to help the cardholder remember you and your accomplishments.

Interesting features. Think about going above and beyond the normal additions and incorporate personality in your business card. Utilize the back of the card to include space where someone can write where they met you, quotes, short testimonials, images, experience or anything that will make someone stop and think twice about you. It’s all about making yourself that much more attractive to the person holding your card.

Don’t crowd your business card with every single tool. Remember, the simpler, the better. No one wants to see a card that resembles a kindergarten art project.

How do you make your business card remarkable?

 

Author: Adrian Maynard is Vizibility’s director of marketing. He has more than 20 years of experience in marketing, many of those years in the technology industry.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Job Search Tips: 5 Ways To Leverage The Internet In Your Job Search

“What a lot we lost when we stopped writing letters. You can’t reread a phone call.” – Liz Carpenter

You are out for lunch one day and you get a call from a recruiter who has this amazing job opportunity, but he needs your latest resume in 15 minutes. You are no where near a computer, all you have is your cellphone.

What do you do?

Well, if you are “state of the art”, you use your cellphone to grab your resume from Dropbox, make some changes with Quickoffice, and email it back to the recruiter using your smartphone.

Or, you’ve got an interview in 15 minutes and you want to do some research on one of the people who will be interviewing you. Using your smartphone, you quickly use your LinkedIn app to find out everything you need to know.

Okay, you get the picture (and hopefully your smartphone is not like the one in today’s picture).

If you have the right tools at your fingertips, you definitely have an advantage in your job search.

1. On the Fly: So, if you are on the fly, then you will need to leverage your smartphone. And, in order to do that, you will need to have all of the right apps. What might they be, you may ask?

• • Apps to create, edit, and share your documents. Some of the more popular apps are Quickoffice (available in multiple smartphone operating systems), Office2 and Documents to Go.

2. Where’s the File: Apps to access files you may need (but don’t have) on your smartphone. Some of the more popular apps are Dropbox (available on most of the smartphone operating systems), Wuala (also several operating systems) and Live Mesh (there are restrictions as to where it can be installed). And, let’s not forget Google Docs.

3. Who do You Know: Following up on my opening paragraph, who you know (and how you leverage them) is probably the most important tool in your Job Search Marketing Toolkit and LinkedIn is a really important tool (with really good smartphone support). Plaxo is another business social site that has support for smartphones.

4. Get That Job: So many of my posts have been about leveraging the Internet in your job search. But you can also find a job lead and apply from your smartphone. Many of the well known job search sites have their own apps. Take a look at Job Finder (aggregates jobs from a number of sites), Careerbuilder (supports iOS and Android) and of course Monster jobs.

5. Writing on the Road: Maybe you travel a lot by train, bus or plane and have time on your hands to (finally) update your resume. Resume App is an iPhone app (not free I’m afraid) that helps you build your resume. Looking for a free app? Try ResumeBear and “take your resume on the road”.

Good luck in your search.

 

Author: CareerAlley

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

While I’m on Vacation

“No vacation goes unpunished.” – Karl Hakkarainen

I remember my first job as an analyst on Wall Street. I shared an office with another analyst on one of the Trading floors and there was always lots of yelling, selling and cursing during trading hours. Anyway, I remember when my boss was going on vacation. He made this huge list of things for my office mate and I to do while he was gone. Of course, it was enough work to last for ten vacations and we were lucky enough to have a week to get it done. So while he was sitting on some beach sipping some exotic frozen drink, we were stuck in the office. What became clear to me over my career is that you learn more from bad managers than you do from good managers. So what’s all this talk about vacation? Well, while I’m on vacation, you will be reading this and a few other posts. Hopefully they won’t be as painful as my boss’ vacation was for me. Bon Voyage!

• Taking Your Job Search on Vacation – I just couldn’t help myself when I saw the title of this article, which is published on About.com and written by Alison Doyle. Very short and to the point. Don’t forget to click on the “job search travel tools” which is definitely worth a read.

• Search for a New Job on Vacation – This article, from Monster.com, provides the pros and cons of looking for a job when you are on vacation. One obvious advantage is the fact that you will have lots of time on your hand (assuming that you are not on a beach). Certainly worth a read if you’ve not decided what to do on your vacation. There are related links at the bottom of the article.

Now while I’m on vacation . . .

• Jobsonline – If this is your first visit, you will need to create an account to do a search (the site’s creators are currently working to move some functionality outside of the login process). If you do a job search it will ask you to register or can also use this link ==>> REGISTER to go directly to the account creation page page. Once you’ve created an account (the process is similar to other sites), you are taken to the main page which will initially show jobs based on your home zip code. The page is very clean, search results are easy to read and will indicate which search site it is from and the age of the posting. You can sort by Relevancy or by Date Added. You can also create saved searches and edit your details from this page. One nice feature is that you can print your resume, see it in two styles and even email it directly from the Resume page. The site is well done, easy to use and has a clean interface.

• Experience – This site might be geared to college students and recent grads (not really sure). Similar to Jobsonline.net, you must create an account before you can do a full search. Using the “Browse Jobs & Internships” from the main page (you must select an industry) will return some results, but additional information requires an account. There are tabs at the top of the main page for Jobs, Portfolio (profile, resume, experiences and references), Networking (to chat with peers and mentors) and Guidance. Once you create an account, you can update your profile (resume, search agents, advice, etc.). Advanced job search provides a lot of flexibility. Overall, provides most of the tools that a college student or recent grad needs to organize and conduct their search (in one place). Again, not sure if this will work as well for experienced candidates.

• Jobing – Very simple main page, the tag line is “Search local jobs, find local employers, connect with local people and discover local job resources in your Jobing Community”. Not clear from the main page, but the site currently covers only certain parts of the US. Type in your zip code to find out if it covers yours. From the “coverage” page, you can click to crate an account which allows you to add your resume, add job agents, view and store jobs you’ve applied to and make your resume searchable by potential employers.

• Searchease – The main page has two choices, click “career site” on the left hand side (unless you are interested in job board software!). From the main career site page, there are several tabs at the top (Post Resume, Search Jobs, Job Search Agent, Jobs In-Box, Resource, plus much more). “Hot Opportunities” are listed on the left and a standard job search function is in the center of the page (along with advanced search – but you need a login for this). Featured employers are listed on the right hand side of the page. Clicking “Post Resume” from the top tab will take you to the registration page. While I did not register on the site, using the basic job search was difficult and I did not get many hits (and the back button did not work for me).

• Addison Search – This recruiter focuses on four industries: Finance & Accounting, Information Technology, Administrative and Healthcare. From their main page, you can click on one of the four industries. This takes you to a page that has jobs for that industry by city (middle of the page) with locations on the left. Below locations is a Job Hunting Tips area where you can get additional information on Resumes, Search Firms, Interview Tips and more. A very good point they make under “Search Firm Rules of the Road” is that you should keep track of where your resume is sent. Don’t let more than one search firm send your resume to the same place. This is not good for you and certainly won’t help with your relationships with the search firms.

• Tyler & Company – Tyler & Co is a Healthcare Executive Search Firm. Their site includes information for candidates as well as job search (Open Positions on right-hand side of the page). Clicking on “Contact Us” will take you to a page where you can either search for jobs or submit your resume.

• Street Advisor Group – This company provides both job placement and consulting services. Their home page has a listing of the latest job postings. Clicking on Job Seekers takes you to the advanced job search page. You can also submit your resume from this page. Street Advisor Group specialized in Wall Street placement.

• Stan Hamlet Associates – Stan Hamlet Associates specializes in placement for Accounting, Auditing, Tax, Finance and HR for Fortune 500 companies. Their main page has sample postings and the email addresses of their staff. Their areas of focus are also listed, clicking on these takes you to a dedicated search page/listing of jobs associated with that profession. Clicking on “Apply” on the left hand side of the page will take you to a page that allows you to apply for a specific job or submit your resume.

Good luck in your search.

 

Article Contributed by CareerAlley

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

When (Hiring) Worlds Collide

“Man is flying too fast for a world that is round. Soon he will catch up with himself in a great rear end collision.” –  James Thurber

I remember the original Gulliver’s Travels movie (The Three Worlds of Gulliver) where (as you may have guessed from the title) there were three worlds, one where he was a giant, one where he was a “little person” and one where he was “normal.” The original movie was based on a book written in 1726, and even back then they understood that the world looks different depending on your vantage point.

Now I’m sure you know where this is headed. Job search is much the same. There are a few vantage points and depending on where you are sitting, the world looks very different.

The Three Worlds of Job Search:

• Candidate — So as the candidate, you want the best job, for the most compensation. If you’ve had any job leads, you will know that there is (generally) no “perfect” fit. You will most likely fit many of the requirements (but not all) and the job opportunity might be close to what you want (but not a perfect match). If you’ve been looking for a job over an extended period of time, your requirements for a “perfect” fit begin to broaden a bit. If you are anything like most of us, you will defend your qualifications as a perfect fit for any job that is close.

• Hiring Manager — Now the hiring manager wants to hire the most qualified person for the job for the lowest “fair” salary. While they understand that there is probably no “perfect” candidate, they will look to find the best match and are probably (but not always) as stressed to fill the job as many candidates are to get a job. So your “close” match may not interest the hiring manager (even though you think the match is close enough).

• Recruiter — The recruiter’s view sits somewhere between the candidate and the hiring manager. Their goal is to fill the job with the best candidate, but they understand the sometimes contradicting views of their candidates and the hiring manager. They will try to present the best candidates, but will work with the candidates where the fit may not be “perfect”. A delicate balance for sure.

Tools for Navigating the Three Worlds of Job Search:

• Job Search Techniques and Preparation – Finding a Job Using Effective Strategies and Techniques — This article, posted on suite101.com provides information on some of the basic (but oh so important) tools you will need to prepare and become the “perfect” candidate. The article provides information on job-search techniques as well as resume and cover-letter preparation. There are also embedded links with related information.

• Favorite Candidate Interview Preparation — Part 1 — This article is from a hiring manager’s perspective and you are probably wondering why I would post this. But, as Sun Tzu would say — “In conflict, straightforward actions generally lead to engagement, surprising actions generally lead to victory.”. The best preparation is knowing the tactics and questions you can expect as a candidate. The best way to do that is to understand the hiring manager’s preparation as well. This article, posted on manager-tools.com, provides a view from the other side. Take a look at some of the related information on this site as well.

• How to Work With a Recruiter — You will most likely work with recruiters in your job search, and understanding how to do that will help you achieve your goals with less frustration. This article provides a good overview of the recruiter relationship and will help you manage your expectations. There are embedded links for related articles as well as links at the top of the page for additional job search tips and resources.

Good luck in your search.

 

A Guest Post by CareerAlley

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.