“Not Getting the Job” Should be a Learning Event

The scenario plays out all too often. You get the call that your resume was selected; you land an interview; and then…silence! Days, perhaps weeks of uncertainty pass, until you finally receive the dreaded email stating “Thanks, but no thanks.”

Getting rejected for anything is devastating, but getting rejected for a job can be very unnerving. The immediate reaction for most is to obsess over what went wrong. Did I blow the interview? Am I too old? Was the position filled internally? While wallowing in self-doubt is the easy way out, rise above your pessimism and take the opportunity to conduct an honest assessment. Follow up by asking why you were not the right fit. Perhaps ask the interviewer if he or she could offer you ways to improve so you might become a better candidate for the company in the future. The interviewer won’t think any less of you, and if you don’t ask, you will never know. Continue Reading

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

Building a Winning Military-to-Civilian Cover Letter

Along with submitting their resumes, military job seekers may want to include a cover letter.  In the following post, find out how they can create one that is ideal for a military transition into a civilian workforce.

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Building a Winning Military-to-Civilian Cover Letter

Job Hunting Tips Part 2: The Dos and Don’ts of Cover Letters

Similar to how a resume is an introduction to the applicant, a cover letter introduces the resume to potential employers. In addition to this initial introduction, cover letters offer applicants the opportunity to animate the document with a voice and personality that is often impossible to convey with the technical nature of resumes. Although a cover letter comes with a great deal of potential to positively affect the reader’s impression of the applicant, it also has the potential to leave a negative image when poor tactics are used. To make an ideal impression on employers, a cover letter should be structured around the following dos and don’ts. 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

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

Searching for a Job? Tips to Help You Find It

In order to compete in today’s job market, your job search must be up for the task. Employers want to fill openings as quickly as possible, but with the right candidates. Are you that person? Employers will decide for themselves based on what they learn about you, which is why your job search is so important.

Here are some tips that can benefit your job search: Continue Reading

Does Your Cover Letter Contain a “HEADLINE?”

Written By Jimmy Sweeney
President of CareerJimmy and Author of the new,
Amazing Cover Letter Creator
Every single day hiring managers all over the country open countless job search cover letters from people just like you who are eager to land an interview for a terrific job. And every single day hiring managers toss most of them into the shredder or the recycle bin.
WHY?

• Because they lack professionalism, personality, and pizzazz.
• They read like a page out of a business manual.

Think about it. You can distinguish yourself by starting out your cover letter with an eye-catching headline that will move yours to the pile marked, “Take another look.”
In order to do that, consider creating a smashing title or headline that turns the hiring manager’s head and compels him or her to read all the way through from the first line to the last.

Continue Reading

Returning to a Previous Employer

Every once in a while, you may do something you said you would not do: return to an ex-boyfriend/girlfriend, dive in the deep end of a swimming pool, or maybe eat frog legs. But for some, doing something they said they would not do falls into the realm of returning to an employer after leaving many years ago.
If you’ve thought about returning to a former employer, it’s definitely not the end of the world. In fact, it could be the beginning of a new one. So if you’re serious about boomeranging back to a former employer, here are some tips to consider before doing so…
Remember the Contributions You Made
The thought of returning to a company that you once worked for can be exciting and intimidating at the same time. On one end, you may be excited about the prospect of returning to an environment that was once very familiar to you. But on the other end, maybe thinking about what employees and managers thought about you leaving the company in the first place. You may also be thinking about how the environment you once knew so well may have changed since you left.
A good way to feel more comfortable about the pursuit of your return is by thinking of the contributions you made while there. If you left the company in good standing then it is likely that the company will be more than willing to welcome a knowledgeable and reliable employee back with open arms – even if you’re now coming into a different position. They will likely have more faith in your abilities than a stranger’s, which actually puts you in a better position than most others up for the same position. So if you’re a little nervous, remind yourself of these contributions to help build your confidence.
Sell Your Knowledge of the Company’s Culture
Another area of comfort that you can carry with you when looking to return to a previous employer is knowledge of the company’s culture, mission, and what it values. This is a big deal since every company can be vastly different – and it takes time to get comfortable in a new one. Because you already understand how the company works, and what is expected of all employees, you have a better shot of sliding past your competition.
As for selling this point to the company, you can do it both in your cover letter and interview. If you are facing a recruiter who has entered the company since you’ve left, selling your knowledge will be especially important. Think about it; unless you were a dynamo, the recruiter will not likely be familiar with what you contributed. But that’s okay; this is where you can explain that catching up will be like riding a bike. Essentially, all you’ll need to do is learn new skills and begin to apply them.
Returning to a former employer can definitely bring with it great rewards. If you decide to return, take it as a positive experience. By rekindling old friendships and building new ones, you can make the return a great experience for everyone involved.
Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. Compare the top resume services in the industry at http://www.resumelines.com.

Making Your Career Dreams a Reality

One of the most challenging dreams to realize for many people is identifying then fulfilling their goal to acquire a great career. Sometimes it can seem that it will take a lifetime to actually get a foot in the door. But if you have an idea of what you would like to do in your professional life, then your next step is to begin making your dream a reality.
For many people, the route to starting their dream career will vary, but there are a few steps anyone can take to set them on the right path. Let’s look at a few …
Start Where You Are
Whether you’re working for a temporary agency or at a job you’ve been at for years, if you want to step into the career you’re really interested in, you can do it. Many suggest that a good way to get this done is to start right where you are, even if it’s not ultimately where you want to end up.
Why? Starting at your current job helps propel you to your intended career because you can easily take advantage of advanced roles and responsibilities. For example, you may be working as a customer service representative but are very good at working on computers, and actually carry a degree in relation to information technology. You notice that your computer is operating differently and realize only a few tweaks are needed to enhance its performance. You bring this to the attention of your supervisor who calls a technician, from whom the few tweaks suggested are identical. It is then that you can reveal your education. With this type of disclosure, or the nerve to inquire about other additional roles and responsibilities, you may find that your desired career can start right where you are.
Constantly Update Your Resume
This is probably one of the most forgotten tasks among individuals wanting to step into a career – but it’s an important one. Anytime you take on any new tasks, it is crucial that you update your resume immediately. This way you can better articulate what you’ve accomplished because it’s fresh in your mind. Also, by updating as it happens, you can not only pick and choose the accomplishments that best suit any new job you’re applying for, but you can also analyze the list to see what roles and responsibilities are missing from that list that you can take on to better your chances of qualifying for your career.
Study the Field
When trying to step into your desired career, it’s a good idea to study the field your career is nestled in. Ways that you can study include looking at who is hiring and firing, what educational background is required, and which jobs will best get you to your peak goal within your career. Some resources available to help you follow trends include trade publications, newspapers, and even web blogs.
Stepping into the career you most want is something you can do if you take the right steps. So study your field, take on new roles and responsibilities at your current job, and update your accomplishments constantly. Your hard work can take you straight to the career you want sooner than you think.
About the Author:
Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. If you need a resume writer, compare the top companies in the industry at http://www.resumelines.com.