Articles

reCareered: Are You Buying the Mac & Cheese of Job Search?

On: 10/22/2009 7:34:31 PM

So much of today�s job search advice is like Mac & Cheese. It�s comfort food. It�s not very good for you, but it�s comfortable�it makes you feel good. Like Mac & Cheese, this advice is very popular � you see it everywhere. Just as Mac & Cheese isn�t an efficient food source, this advice won�t make your job search efficient. But it WILL make you feel good, like you�re doing the right thing, ...

General Cover Letters Vs. Specific Cover Letters

On: 10/6/2009 4:09:18 PM

When job-hunting it is quite common that a job seeker will apply to more than one company and position. However, sometimes a person is looking to transition into one specific career or desired organization. If you are looking to send out your resume more than once, it may be a good idea to develop a more general cover letter. Ultimately it saves time and allows you to perform only minor tweaking. ...

Do I Really Need A Cover Letter?

Do I Really Need A Cover Letter? I get this question more than any other from my clients � Do I really need a cover letter? The answer is YES you really need one! Think about a cover letter as the introduction to a story or the beginning of a movie. If you started the movie off at the midway point you might be lost, you wouldn�t know the background or what was going on. Sure, once you ...

What are Targeted Cover Letters?

If you are currently out of work, or are thinking about leaving your job then there�s a chance that you�ve written at least one cover letter in your lifetime. But the question is what type of cover letter did you write? Many people utilize templates or carbon copy-styled cover letters that allow you to fill in the blanks where needed, but don�t really delve into the position you�re applying for ...

Turning a �Loser� Cover Letter into a Winning One

When applying for a job, it�s not uncommon to send in a cover letter with the resume. In fact, many experts suggest that even if one is not requested, it be sent anyway to show professionalism and enthusiasm for the job. However, not all cover letters are good cover letters. In fact, it is possible to send one that makes you look like a not-so-great candidate. To avoid writing a losing cover ...

Cover Letter Etiquette

Whether you�ve written one or one hundred cover letters in your lifetime, they can present enough challenges to make you dread the process each time. It�s for this reason that many people resort to the �carbon copy� cover letter as opposed to creating an original one for each job application. The �carbon copy� cover letter is not recommended because it lacks authenticity. Even worse, it ...

Generic Cover Letters Don't Cut It

By Jennifer Anthony, Professional Resume Writer The internet makes it possible for jobseekers to apply for several job openings in a click of the mouse. Consequently, the competition is fierce in many job markets because the internet has opened doors to candidates that before might not have otherwise even known about the position. Due to the ease of applying to several positions at one ...

What Counts in a Cover Letter

Writing a cover letter is a commonplace aspect of conducting any job search. When you apply for a job, even if the prospective employer does not ask you for one, it�s good to send one as a way to give them a little more insight into who you are and what you�re capable of. But despite the fact that people write them everyday, many still are unclear about the more important aspects to keep in ...

How to Create Your Cover Letter When Switching Careers

You have recently made the decision to exit one career and enter a new one, which can be both exciting and a little bit scary. But while the choice to make the career switch was probably a grueling one, the prospect of explaining your lack of job experience to potential employers is probably downright terrifying. Though you may be concerned about drawing attention to this missing portion of ...

Creating Your Cover Letter When Feeling Overqualified

Are you highly skilled in your profession, yet seeking a job that for which you are probably overqualified? It is never bad to come into a position already encompassing a boatload of skills. However, some employers are intimidated by applicants who they feel are overqualified, which means you may have your work cut out for you. If you know you have high qualifications, but think this could ...

Writing a Cover Letter: Research Tips Worth Exploring

The process of applying for a job can be taxing to say the least. But the process of writing a cover letter can be downright exhausting - especially when you�re unsure of how to express your interest in that job you�re applying for. The good news is that expressing your interest can be as simple as taking the initiative to do some deep digging. That is, digging for information on how the ...

Fake It 'Till You Make It: Creating a Passionate Cover Letter

Are you applying for a new job but are not thrilled about the work it might entail? You may be seeking an entry-level position and don�t want to be someone�s assistant, yet you know it�s a necessary step to getting your foot in the door. If you feel this way, don�t be discouraged as you are not the first to experience this sentiment. However, in order to avoid expressing disinterest in the ...

Cover Letter�Don�t Sweat It

Writing a cover letter to accompany a resume, for some, can conjure up bad memories from high school or college composition class. With sweaty palms, they reach for the Thesaurus and Dictionary. That feeling of uncertainty begins to cloud their thoughts and words as they ponder, �What do I want to say? Why should they hire me? What makes me a worthwhile candidate?� My advice to clients ...

Cover Letter Mistake #3: Call Me Because I Won�t Call You

The last paragraph of your cover letter can be very powerful. How you end it could leave a lasting impression with the employer � good or bad. So before you sign off using your typical, �Please call me at your earliest convenience to set up an interview� kind of mumbo-jumbo, take care to let the employer off the hook and put the responsibility to follow-up squarely on your shoulders. Mark ...

Cover Letter Mistake #2: Who Are You and Why Should I Interview You?
Have you ever read some piece of literature and as you�re reading you realize you have no idea what the point of the whole piece actually is? It�s very annoying and you�re likely not to read another word because you feel like you�ve already wasted your time. Have you thought about what a hiring manager must think when this happens in a cover letter? Imagine being inundated with resumes and ...

Cover Letter Problem #1: Mystery Hiring Manager
Here�s the situation: the job posting has only the title of the hiring manager or simple just �Hiring Manager�. Frustrating, isn�t it? Many times job seekers don�t do much, if any, digging around to see if they can up with that ever-important name. Are you one of them? For job seekers who really want to impress and get noticed when they submit their resume packages, there are some �secret� ...

5 Ways Your Cover Letter Says, �I Don�t Want This Job�
Cover letters can be a great way to get employers to notice you. Of course you always want to send one but what are some ways that your cover letter can actually hurt your chances of getting interviews? 1) You use �Dear Sir or Madame� as your salutation. It can be a lot of work to find out the name of the hiring manager or the person that your resume is being sent to. ...

5 Cover Letter Tips: Do What Most Job Seekers Don't
Although your cover letter is not as significant as your resume, career and job coaches put more emphasis on writing a good cover letter for obvious reasons - prospective employers usually read the cover letter first. For most employers, a resume is a kind of "fact sheet" that supports the academic and professional accomplishments you highlight in your cover letter. There�s no such thing as a ...

The Perfect Cover Letter�Yummy!
The cover letter is like the icing on a cake. You baked the cake when you prepared your resume, now it�s time to top it off. Just like icing on a cake gives �eye appeal,� the cover letter is the first thing an employer will see before reviewing your resume. The cover letter is one more opportunity for the employer to look at who you are and for you to briefly present yourself. If you ...

Easy to Implement Cover Letter Advice

You should put the same effort into your cover letter as you do your resume. By implementing the following easy steps, you will ensure that your cover letter stands out just as much as your resume.
Don�t state lies or half-truths
It is rumored that a large number of applicants lie when applying for a position. For this reason, decision-makers scrutinize information ...