And the Winner Is… A Smashing Resume Cover Letter!

Jimmy Sweeney, President of CareerJimmy

It’s time to stop dreaming and start doing! And you can—with a terrific cover letter that will bring that dream job into reality with an offer that is exactly what you want and qualify for.

Even during hard times employers are advertising positions and hiring qualified people every single day. You can be one of them. If you are a trained individual, experienced, eager to work, and someone who can carry responsibility and leadership without buckling under pressure, then you are among those men and women that hiring managers are looking for and eager to hire. A wide range of jobs from entry level positions to executive management positions are available for the right men and women who are willing to step up and fill them. Continue Reading

Bring on the New Year—With a Brand New Cover Letter

Jimmy Sweeney, President of CareerJimmy

Here it is—2013––the new year we’ve been waiting for over the past couple of months. It’s the perfect time to put your goals in order with a sizzlin’ new cover letter at the top of your list.

Employers are setting their goals as well. They’re in the market for qualified job-hunters, people who are ready and willing to fill responsible and good-paying positions in their companies. You can be one of those individuals. Introduce yourself with a well-written cover letter that catches their eye and compels them to select you for an interview. Continue Reading

Give YOUR Cover Letter a “Touch of Class”

Jimmy Sweeney, President of CareerJimmy

Think of your cover letter as you would a business suit. It should be neat, clean, and a good fit. In other words, take time to present your best self in written presentation as well as in personal presentation. Consider what you want to say, choose your words carefully, and then put them on paper. Continue Reading

5 Steps to the Best Cover Letter

Laura Wagner, Résumé Writer & Career Coach

A cover letter is the warm-up band to your one-person stage show. It needs to be clear, concise, and on point or you will lose your audience before the curtain goes up. There are five steps to take in order to craft your perfect cover letter. Continue Reading

How to Find the Gold Hidden in a Cover Letter Template

A general search run in any search engine of your choice will lead to a number of results. Especially if you are looking for cover letter samples to follow up, then the task is extremely difficult, as you will not know what to choose and what to let go of. This entire experience can be extremely frustrating as many nice looking cover letter samples may lead to unwanted results. Continue Reading

How to Write a Cover Letter That Sells YOU

The best thing about a cover letter is that it is an introduction. It is a chance to show an employer your personality. In other words what makes you different, what makes you stand out.

It isn’t a chance to showcase your writing skills – which is lucky because most people wouldn’t call that their strength. If it is your strength then kudos to you.

Anyway, back to my main point. you need to get into the mindset that a cover letter isn’t a summary of what is already in the resume. It isn’t the blurb you find on the back of your favorite bestseller.

What it is though is a sales presentation. Continue Reading

Cover Letter Tips for Your Target Audience

Looking to get your cover letter noticed?  Try focusing on your audience.

One way to set yourself apart in your cover letter is to know your audience. In his recently released book Gallery of Best Cover Letters, David Noble, Ph.D., offers strategies for customizing your cover letter.

“The more you know about the reader of your cover letter, the better you can tailor its content to appeal to that person,” Noble says. “Researching the industry, company and target position through online resources or networking contacts is a great help in this regard.” Continue Reading

Should You Still Use A Cover Letter?

Jessica Holbrook Hernandez of Great Resumes Fast

This question has been the subject of a great debate in recent years, and many times I hear clients ask, “Does anyone really read a cover letter anymore?”

The answer is YES—if you know how to use it!

While some hiring managers and recruiters will scan a cover letter for important bits of information, there is a surefire way to ensure your cover letter is read.  But before I tell you how to make sure your cover letter gets read I want to make sure you have a great cover letter.  Here are three points to remember when writing your cover letter: Continue Reading

Killer Cover Letter Tips!

Jimmy Sweeney, President of CareerJimmy

When it comes to writing a cover letter, the experts advise you to make it short—using fewer rather than more words, succinct––clear and focused on your key points, and sincere––writing from your heart and mind.

Good advice! But how are you to accomplish this task? Here are some KILLER cover letter tips to get yours noticed and hired: Continue Reading

What Makes Your Cover Letter Introduction Stand Out?

Jessica Holbrook Hernandez of Great Resumes Fast

Many job seekers fail to thoughtfully consider the importance of the cover letter introduction.  Oftentimes, it’s viewed as just another paragraph among many in the document.  But in reality, the cover letter introduction holds a lot of weight.  In fact, it can be the determining factor in whether a hiring manager will continue to read on through the remainder of the letter.  So what makes your cover letter stand out—not just among other paragraphs within the document but among other candidates’ cover letter intros? Continue Reading