Want to get hired faster? You can almost always shave days, weeks -- even months -- off your job search if you stop following the herd.
In my eight years of helping people find work, I've watched too many job seekers take too long to get hired because they do the same things as everyone else. This is especially true for recent college grads.
So start doing a few things differently in your job search. And start getting called for more interviews.
Here are three ways ...
1. Look where others don't
When you began your job hunt, where's the first place you looked for openings? I'll bet my next house payment it was either the classified ads or the online job boards. That's where EVERYBODY starts their job search. And that's where you have the MOST competition for openings, like fishing off the same pier with 10,000 other people.
Change your approach.
Where's the last place most people look for job openings? Their network of contacts. Specifically, current and past employers. You know, the people who've signed your paychecks.
Think about it: if someone thought highly enough of your skills to pay you a salary every two weeks, do you think they MIGHT be willing to share job leads with you, or at least pass your name on to someone they know who's hiring?
So today -- right now -- make a list of at least 5 current or former managers you are on good terms with and whom you can contact for job leads. Then call or email them to let them know what you're looking for. Today!
2. Write a very different cover letter
Sorry, but there's no nice way to say this -- most cover letters stink like a high school gym locker.
And, without seeing yours, I can predict with 95% certainty that it has one major flaw -- it's focused too much on you and your needs.
Specifically, I'll wager the last cover letter you sent out was rife with language like this: "I am applying for a job with potential for advancement, where my skills will be utilized and where I will be challenged ..." or something similar.
This is how almost everyone writes cover letters. I know, because I've read almost 10,000 of them since 1996.
Stop it. Now.
Instead, do this: replace every "I" and "my" in your next cover letter with the word "YOU."
This will force you to shift the focus from "me, me, me -- gimme a job" to "you, you, you -- how can I help you, Mr./Ms. Employer?"
Your cover letters will be dramatically more effective. And you'll start getting more interviews as a result.
3. Follow up differently
Most folks fail to follow up effectively after sending out their resumes and cover letters -- when they follow up at all.
Instead of calling employers every week and asking, "Did you get my resume?" or "Did you make a hiring decision yet?" try to add value each time you follow up.
Examples: research the competition and write up a quick report, then send it to the hiring manager. Or share a success story from your past that's relevant to the employer's situation.
In short, try to give employers another reason to hire you every time you contact them. Nobody else is doing this, which is a screaming opportunity for you to get noticed -- and get hired.
Now. These three tips are predicted on a simple idea: why be ordinary?
You can break out of the herd -- and find a job faster -- if you do just a few things differently in your job search. Why not start today?
Now go out and make your own luck!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.
Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others. His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others. Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:
You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting
-------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.gresumes.otiscollier.net
http://www.otiscollier.com/
Monday, May 16, 2005
Friday, May 13, 2005
What Recruiters Hate About Resumes And Cover Letters
I’m going to share with you the awful truth about resumes and cover letters.
Here it is: Most of them stink.
I’ve read nearly 15,000 resumes and cover letters over the years and found glaring mistakes in about 85-90 percent of them.
It’s also the opinion of most of the hiring professionals I’ve spoken to over the years.
Where do most resumes and cover letters go wrong? How can you avoid the mistakes of most job seekers?
To find answers, I spoke with two experienced recruiters. Their candid advice can help you avoid typical pitfalls, and get hired faster.
Here it is ...
Don’t Use The Same Resume For Every Job
Would you grab any old suit off the rack and rush off to church to get married? No. First, you tailor the suit so it fits. That way, you don’t look ridiculous.
Unfortunately, job seekers look ridiculous applying for jobs without tailoring their resumes. It’s a real pet peeve of most hiring professionals, including Larry Harris, a Minneapolis-based recruiter and President of American Consulting (americanconsultingcompany.com).
"Why don’t candidates customize every resume they send out, to fit the job they’re applying for? That makes my job a lot easier when I forward that resume to my client, the hiring manager."
According to Tony Haley, Director of UK-based Fenton Chase International (fentonchase.com), most resumes come across as generic, with no consideration about a particular position or company.
"The most surprising group of candidates who do this is Sales Managers and Sales Directors. These people spend their days reviewing resumes from candidates and yet when it comes to their own, they cannot sell themselves," says Haley.
Solution?
Customize, customize, customize.
Tailor your resume for every different company, position, and manager. Detail experiences most relevant to each opportunity.
Don’t Be Boring
A boring resume is one of the worst sins. The rule of thumb is simple: If they snooze, you lose (because your resume will go in the trash).
Resumes filled with jargon, dry job descriptions, and lack of specific results bore the reader, according to Haley.
"Consider the reader. Remember, the people reading your resume might not be that proficient at it. If they cannot see what they are looking for almost immediately, they might reject it, and if it’s full of technical jargon, they might not understand it," says Haley.
Solution?
Read your resume to 2-3 friends to eliminate dull wording. You lost the audience if eyes glaze over or brows furrow. Revise the resume until it holds your friends’ attention to the end.
Haley offers another way to create a compelling resume: "Use the ‘So, what?’ test. Any sentence on a resume that causes a reader to think ‘So, what?’ probably means it’s waffle. Reword it or take it off."
Don’t Forget The Cover Letter
Don't alienate anyone who could help you get a job.
A missing cover letter alienates busy hiring professionals because it creates more work. They spend time trying to match your application to the open position and more time trying to uncover how you heard about the job.
Solution?
Write and include a cover letter with every resume, including those you send by e-mail. Even a one-line cover letter in an e-mail is better than nothing, according to Larry Harris.
"You could simply write, ‘I’m applying for your telemarketing software sales position. I spent five years doing that exact job. I’d be perfect for it!" he says.
Use these tips from hiring professionals to write a better resume and cover letter next time you apply for that dream job.
Now, go out and make your own luck!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others.
His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others.Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:
You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting
-------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.gresumes.otiscollier.net
http://www.otiscollier.com/
Here it is: Most of them stink.
I’ve read nearly 15,000 resumes and cover letters over the years and found glaring mistakes in about 85-90 percent of them.
It’s also the opinion of most of the hiring professionals I’ve spoken to over the years.
Where do most resumes and cover letters go wrong? How can you avoid the mistakes of most job seekers?
To find answers, I spoke with two experienced recruiters. Their candid advice can help you avoid typical pitfalls, and get hired faster.
Here it is ...
Don’t Use The Same Resume For Every Job
Would you grab any old suit off the rack and rush off to church to get married? No. First, you tailor the suit so it fits. That way, you don’t look ridiculous.
Unfortunately, job seekers look ridiculous applying for jobs without tailoring their resumes. It’s a real pet peeve of most hiring professionals, including Larry Harris, a Minneapolis-based recruiter and President of American Consulting (americanconsultingcompany.com).
"Why don’t candidates customize every resume they send out, to fit the job they’re applying for? That makes my job a lot easier when I forward that resume to my client, the hiring manager."
According to Tony Haley, Director of UK-based Fenton Chase International (fentonchase.com), most resumes come across as generic, with no consideration about a particular position or company.
"The most surprising group of candidates who do this is Sales Managers and Sales Directors. These people spend their days reviewing resumes from candidates and yet when it comes to their own, they cannot sell themselves," says Haley.
Solution?
Customize, customize, customize.
Tailor your resume for every different company, position, and manager. Detail experiences most relevant to each opportunity.
Don’t Be Boring
A boring resume is one of the worst sins. The rule of thumb is simple: If they snooze, you lose (because your resume will go in the trash).
Resumes filled with jargon, dry job descriptions, and lack of specific results bore the reader, according to Haley.
"Consider the reader. Remember, the people reading your resume might not be that proficient at it. If they cannot see what they are looking for almost immediately, they might reject it, and if it’s full of technical jargon, they might not understand it," says Haley.
Solution?
Read your resume to 2-3 friends to eliminate dull wording. You lost the audience if eyes glaze over or brows furrow. Revise the resume until it holds your friends’ attention to the end.
Haley offers another way to create a compelling resume: "Use the ‘So, what?’ test. Any sentence on a resume that causes a reader to think ‘So, what?’ probably means it’s waffle. Reword it or take it off."
Don’t Forget The Cover Letter
Don't alienate anyone who could help you get a job.
A missing cover letter alienates busy hiring professionals because it creates more work. They spend time trying to match your application to the open position and more time trying to uncover how you heard about the job.
Solution?
Write and include a cover letter with every resume, including those you send by e-mail. Even a one-line cover letter in an e-mail is better than nothing, according to Larry Harris.
"You could simply write, ‘I’m applying for your telemarketing software sales position. I spent five years doing that exact job. I’d be perfect for it!" he says.
Use these tips from hiring professionals to write a better resume and cover letter next time you apply for that dream job.
Now, go out and make your own luck!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others.
His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others.Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:
You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting
-------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.gresumes.otiscollier.net
http://www.otiscollier.com/
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Four Niche Job-Search Tips
Looking for a job on the Internet can be daunting. Where do you start? What Web sites are best for your industry? If you're suffering from "job search overwhelm," take heart. Remember the adage about how to eat an elephant one bite at a time.
Your quest for employment is the same.
It’s less overwhelming if you slice the online job market into bite-sized pieces instead of trying to visit 1,000 Web sites in a single day.
Here are 4 ways to divide the online employment market into smaller niches -- and get hired faster.
1. Search For Local Job Sites
Like politics, most job searches are local. You'll likely get hired by an employer within 20-30 miles of where you are now. So it pays to find Web sites that list local job openings.
Tip: look for job listings at the Web site of your local newspaper or TV station. You'll almost always find something. Examples: startribune.com/jobs, kstp.com, detnews.com, nytimes.com. You'll often find links to other regional job sites this way, too.
2. Search For Jobs By Industry
No matter what line of work you're in, there's probably a Web site with employment postings for that industry. So doing a Google search for "job title + jobs" should produce leads.
Another good Web resource is SearchSimpleton.com. It has links to more than 1,000 industry-specific Web directories, from Accounting and Finance to Travel, Hospitality and Restaurant job sites. It's a good place to narrow your search to a specific industry or job function.
3. Search For Unadvertised Openings
Here's a neat trick. You can get hired by companies before they even know they need you, according to Rich Milgram, founder and CEO of the 4Jobs.com Career Network.
All you have to do is think beyond your title.
"Most people take their job searches too literally. If they don't find an exact match for the position Software Development Manager, for example, they give up. This is a mistake. Instead, look for companies hiring lots of software engineers and go pitch yourself as a manager to that company. That's because employers tend to fill lower-level jobs first over the Internet, so you'll be there ahead of their need for a new team manager," says Milgram.
How do you pitch yourself to employers before they've listed a job opening?
Research the company, make contact with people who work there, then send a networking letter. According to Milgram, your letter should say something like: "I've been in your shoes before, here's what you're going to experience as you hire new people, and I'd be happy to talk to you about it."
"The successful job search is not about you, but about the growth and the future of the company you want to work for," adds Milgram.
The sooner you realize that, the sooner you'll get hired.
4. Contact Old Classmates
You already know that networking can uncover the best job leads. It's essential that you tell everyone you know about your job search. But don't stop with those people.
Talk to everyone you used to know -- folks you haven't been in touch with for years.
And the easiest way is to contact people you went to high school or college with. Even if you haven't talked to them in 20 years, you have something in common and they ought to be glad to hear from you (unless you stole their lunch money or did something equally inapt).
Two Web sites to help make contact with old school friends are Classmates.com and Linkedin.com. Also, most college Web sites will help you get in touch with fellow alumni -- try yours and see.
Now, go out and make your own luck!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others.
His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others.Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:
You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting
-------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.gresumes.otiscollier.net
http://www.otiscollier.com/
Your quest for employment is the same.
It’s less overwhelming if you slice the online job market into bite-sized pieces instead of trying to visit 1,000 Web sites in a single day.
Here are 4 ways to divide the online employment market into smaller niches -- and get hired faster.
1. Search For Local Job Sites
Like politics, most job searches are local. You'll likely get hired by an employer within 20-30 miles of where you are now. So it pays to find Web sites that list local job openings.
Tip: look for job listings at the Web site of your local newspaper or TV station. You'll almost always find something. Examples: startribune.com/jobs, kstp.com, detnews.com, nytimes.com. You'll often find links to other regional job sites this way, too.
2. Search For Jobs By Industry
No matter what line of work you're in, there's probably a Web site with employment postings for that industry. So doing a Google search for "job title + jobs" should produce leads.
Another good Web resource is SearchSimpleton.com. It has links to more than 1,000 industry-specific Web directories, from Accounting and Finance to Travel, Hospitality and Restaurant job sites. It's a good place to narrow your search to a specific industry or job function.
3. Search For Unadvertised Openings
Here's a neat trick. You can get hired by companies before they even know they need you, according to Rich Milgram, founder and CEO of the 4Jobs.com Career Network.
All you have to do is think beyond your title.
"Most people take their job searches too literally. If they don't find an exact match for the position Software Development Manager, for example, they give up. This is a mistake. Instead, look for companies hiring lots of software engineers and go pitch yourself as a manager to that company. That's because employers tend to fill lower-level jobs first over the Internet, so you'll be there ahead of their need for a new team manager," says Milgram.
How do you pitch yourself to employers before they've listed a job opening?
Research the company, make contact with people who work there, then send a networking letter. According to Milgram, your letter should say something like: "I've been in your shoes before, here's what you're going to experience as you hire new people, and I'd be happy to talk to you about it."
"The successful job search is not about you, but about the growth and the future of the company you want to work for," adds Milgram.
The sooner you realize that, the sooner you'll get hired.
4. Contact Old Classmates
You already know that networking can uncover the best job leads. It's essential that you tell everyone you know about your job search. But don't stop with those people.
Talk to everyone you used to know -- folks you haven't been in touch with for years.
And the easiest way is to contact people you went to high school or college with. Even if you haven't talked to them in 20 years, you have something in common and they ought to be glad to hear from you (unless you stole their lunch money or did something equally inapt).
Two Web sites to help make contact with old school friends are Classmates.com and Linkedin.com. Also, most college Web sites will help you get in touch with fellow alumni -- try yours and see.
Now, go out and make your own luck!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others.
His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others.Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:
You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting
-------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.gresumes.otiscollier.net
http://www.otiscollier.com/
Monday, May 09, 2005
How To Find A Job By Asking Better Questions
What if you could train your brain to pull job leads almost out of thin air, and see employment opportunities where before there were none?
Well, you can.
The secret is found in your brain’s Reticular Activation System, or RAS.
Here’s the story …
Our minds can focus on only one or two things at a time. If we paid attention to every bit of input coming in through our eyes, ears and sense of touch, our brains would melt down. To keep us sane, there’s a screening device in our heads to filter out the 99% of unimportant data and feed the remaining 1% to our conscious mind.
That filtering system is called the Reticular Activation System (RAS). It’s found at the top of the brain stem (in case you’re looking).
What does this have to do with your job search, you ask? Plenty!
Have you ever suddenly recognized something you hadn’t noticed before, yet it was there all along? Example: you buy a black Saturn SUV and suddenly every fourth car on the road is a Saturn SUV -- in black. This is your filter system (RAS) in action. When something becomes important to us, we notice more of it.
It’s the same with your job search.
When your target job becomes clearly defined and important to you, you’ll start to see more opportunities where none appeared before, like black Saturn SUVs. Example: you’ll turn a casual conversation into a networking interview. Or a relative will call with a job lead. Or your dream job will suddenly leap out of the classified ads.
Now, here’s the good part. You can train your RAS to recognize more and more job leads every day. How? Simply ask yourself better questions.
"The questions you ask yourself will determine how the Reticular Activating System will respond to your search," according to Mark A. Wigginton, an Austin, Texas-based personal development coach (www.focusingonresults.com).
For example, if you ask yourself, "Why can’t I seem to find a job?" your brain will hand you a list of seemingly valid reasons why you aren’t moving forward.
"As you bring the reasons you can’t progress to the forefront of your mind, your RAS will automatically seek out reinforcement. ‘I can’t make progress because of conflicts with my schedule, my family responsibilities, I don’t know the right people, etc.’" says Wigginton.
But if you ask yourself, "What one thing can I do today to move my job search forward?" or "How can I find 30 minutes for an informational interview tomorrow?" your RAS will lead you toward the results you want. And you’ll get hired faster.
So, take a few minutes today to start asking yourself better questions about that job search. Soon, you’ll find employment opportunities popping up all over, like people driving the same car as yours. Try it and see!
Now, go out and make your own luck.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others.
His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others.Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:
You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting
-------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.gresumes.otiscollier.net
http://www.otiscollier.com/
Well, you can.
The secret is found in your brain’s Reticular Activation System, or RAS.
Here’s the story …
Our minds can focus on only one or two things at a time. If we paid attention to every bit of input coming in through our eyes, ears and sense of touch, our brains would melt down. To keep us sane, there’s a screening device in our heads to filter out the 99% of unimportant data and feed the remaining 1% to our conscious mind.
That filtering system is called the Reticular Activation System (RAS). It’s found at the top of the brain stem (in case you’re looking).
What does this have to do with your job search, you ask? Plenty!
Have you ever suddenly recognized something you hadn’t noticed before, yet it was there all along? Example: you buy a black Saturn SUV and suddenly every fourth car on the road is a Saturn SUV -- in black. This is your filter system (RAS) in action. When something becomes important to us, we notice more of it.
It’s the same with your job search.
When your target job becomes clearly defined and important to you, you’ll start to see more opportunities where none appeared before, like black Saturn SUVs. Example: you’ll turn a casual conversation into a networking interview. Or a relative will call with a job lead. Or your dream job will suddenly leap out of the classified ads.
Now, here’s the good part. You can train your RAS to recognize more and more job leads every day. How? Simply ask yourself better questions.
"The questions you ask yourself will determine how the Reticular Activating System will respond to your search," according to Mark A. Wigginton, an Austin, Texas-based personal development coach (www.focusingonresults.com).
For example, if you ask yourself, "Why can’t I seem to find a job?" your brain will hand you a list of seemingly valid reasons why you aren’t moving forward.
"As you bring the reasons you can’t progress to the forefront of your mind, your RAS will automatically seek out reinforcement. ‘I can’t make progress because of conflicts with my schedule, my family responsibilities, I don’t know the right people, etc.’" says Wigginton.
But if you ask yourself, "What one thing can I do today to move my job search forward?" or "How can I find 30 minutes for an informational interview tomorrow?" your RAS will lead you toward the results you want. And you’ll get hired faster.
So, take a few minutes today to start asking yourself better questions about that job search. Soon, you’ll find employment opportunities popping up all over, like people driving the same car as yours. Try it and see!
Now, go out and make your own luck.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others.
His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others.Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:
You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting
-------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.gresumes.otiscollier.net
http://www.otiscollier.com/
Thursday, May 05, 2005
How to Handle a Second Job Interview
You did it -- you got the job interview! Now they want you to … come back for a second one.
What can you expect? What’s the main difference between a first and second job interview? And how should you prepare?
"The first interview is a screening process, to make sure you’re qualified for the job. The second one is usually to see if they like you and to make sure you fit the corporate culture," according to Carole Martin, the Interview Coach (www.interviewcoach.com) and author of the new book, "Boost Your Interview IQ."
You can expect to meet different people each time. While the first interview may be conducted by your future boss, the second could be led by an HR manager. And every interviewer has their own agenda, so keep that in mind as you prepare.
"In the first interview, you may be asked more technical questions about the position itself, to see if you can really do it. In a second interview, someone from HR may ask you more about yourself, to gauge your personality. You can expect behavioral questions, too, such as ‘Tell me about a time you solved a problem for your last employer,’" says Martin.
Are you going to hit the ground running after you’re hired? Or are you going to be high-maintenance? That’s what employers want to find out.
Here’s another tip: on a second interview, be prepared for anything, including an unprepared employer.
"Many hiring managers do not have or use prepared questions," says Steve Kobs, a human resource management professional from Shoreview, Minn.
"Candidate perception of these interviewers varies from bumbling seat-of-the-pants types to the confident, well prepared executive. Some people characterize these interviews more like ‘conversations,’ but be aware you are still being evaluated," advises Kobs.
Managers with unscripted interviews are often looking for personality traits rather than specific knowledge, skills and abilities. They may rely on a gut feel to make hiring decisions by choosing a candidate who "feels right" to them.
With this in mind, what are your most valuable tools in a second interview? Your ears, according to Carole Martin.
"Employers will drop clues about what they’re really looking for in a new hire. If they keep asking about your experience using Microsoft Access, for example, you can be sure that your database skills are a critical requirement for the job," says Martin.
Make sure you understand the employer’s key concerns, so you can address them. A good way is to simply ask, "Can you tell me more about the challenges you’re facing with databases?" for example. Then answer their concerns and prove you’re the one to hire.
Here’s the bottom line.
Employers will call you for a second interview (or any interview) because they have a problem. Whether it’s a need for more revenue, greater efficiency or better customer service, employers have an itch they want to scratch. To ace the interview, demonstrate that you can solve problems and make life better for your new boss.
And while you’re at it, emphasize your unique skills and experience. Doing so will give you an edge in today’s competitive job market.
"You not only want to focus on the employer’s needs and how you can help, you also want to tell them what you can do that the next candidate can’t. You should never go into an interview bland, like vanilla, and expect to succeed," says Martin.
So there you have it.
A second job interview is as much about your people skills as your professional skills. To succeed, be sure to research the company, ask smart questions and act the part of "Miss Congeniality." Doing so will help you get the right job at the right company. Faster.
Now, go out and make your own luck!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others.
His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others.Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:
You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting
-------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.gresumes.otiscollier.net
http://www.otiscollier.com/
What can you expect? What’s the main difference between a first and second job interview? And how should you prepare?
"The first interview is a screening process, to make sure you’re qualified for the job. The second one is usually to see if they like you and to make sure you fit the corporate culture," according to Carole Martin, the Interview Coach (www.interviewcoach.com) and author of the new book, "Boost Your Interview IQ."
You can expect to meet different people each time. While the first interview may be conducted by your future boss, the second could be led by an HR manager. And every interviewer has their own agenda, so keep that in mind as you prepare.
"In the first interview, you may be asked more technical questions about the position itself, to see if you can really do it. In a second interview, someone from HR may ask you more about yourself, to gauge your personality. You can expect behavioral questions, too, such as ‘Tell me about a time you solved a problem for your last employer,’" says Martin.
Are you going to hit the ground running after you’re hired? Or are you going to be high-maintenance? That’s what employers want to find out.
Here’s another tip: on a second interview, be prepared for anything, including an unprepared employer.
"Many hiring managers do not have or use prepared questions," says Steve Kobs, a human resource management professional from Shoreview, Minn.
"Candidate perception of these interviewers varies from bumbling seat-of-the-pants types to the confident, well prepared executive. Some people characterize these interviews more like ‘conversations,’ but be aware you are still being evaluated," advises Kobs.
Managers with unscripted interviews are often looking for personality traits rather than specific knowledge, skills and abilities. They may rely on a gut feel to make hiring decisions by choosing a candidate who "feels right" to them.
With this in mind, what are your most valuable tools in a second interview? Your ears, according to Carole Martin.
"Employers will drop clues about what they’re really looking for in a new hire. If they keep asking about your experience using Microsoft Access, for example, you can be sure that your database skills are a critical requirement for the job," says Martin.
Make sure you understand the employer’s key concerns, so you can address them. A good way is to simply ask, "Can you tell me more about the challenges you’re facing with databases?" for example. Then answer their concerns and prove you’re the one to hire.
Here’s the bottom line.
Employers will call you for a second interview (or any interview) because they have a problem. Whether it’s a need for more revenue, greater efficiency or better customer service, employers have an itch they want to scratch. To ace the interview, demonstrate that you can solve problems and make life better for your new boss.
And while you’re at it, emphasize your unique skills and experience. Doing so will give you an edge in today’s competitive job market.
"You not only want to focus on the employer’s needs and how you can help, you also want to tell them what you can do that the next candidate can’t. You should never go into an interview bland, like vanilla, and expect to succeed," says Martin.
So there you have it.
A second job interview is as much about your people skills as your professional skills. To succeed, be sure to research the company, ask smart questions and act the part of "Miss Congeniality." Doing so will help you get the right job at the right company. Faster.
Now, go out and make your own luck!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others.
His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others.Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:
You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting
-------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.gresumes.otiscollier.net
http://www.otiscollier.com/
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Find Your Job Search Vision
Would you drive to the airport without knowing your final destination, and buy a plane ticket to any old city? Of course not.
Yet, a large number of job hunters start their search with no clear destination in mind. They’re looking for any old job. Does that make sense? Of course not.
Why not start 2004 off right, with a clear vision for your job search? Here are five tips to help you do that and find the right position faster.
1. Begin with the end in mind.
What’s your vision of the perfect job? Think of the skills, hours, environment and the pay you want. A good way to get clear on this is to define your ideal job in rich detail.
According to Don R. Monteith, author of “How To Get Your Dream Job", (www.howtogetyourdreamjob.com). All of your senses will help you focus your mind on the job you seek. Write down what your dream job looks, feels, sounds and even smells like.”
Before you dismiss this as too "new age" to work, know that all top athletes follow a similar process when they visualize the goals they train for years to achieve. The clearer your target, the easier it is to hit.
2. Gauge the demand.
Before starting your search in earnest, make sure employers are hiring for that job you want. After all, the best résumé in the world won’t get you hired as an elevator operator or stevedore. Use the Internet to see how many openings there are for your target job. Tip: you can uncover more jobs by experimenting with your search terms.
Example: a search at Monster.com for "client service Minnesota" brought back 78 job listings, while "customer service Minnesota" returned 224 matches. So, to find and apply for the maximum number of jobs, be open to all possible interpretations of your skills, experience and job titles.
3. Determine to meet the right hiring authority.
Always remember you will be hired by a person, not a computer. And the more people you meet and impress, the shorter your job search will be.
Today, jot down the names of five people who could hire you or help you get hired. These hiring authorities might include a recruiter, a district manager at your target company, an office manager you know who could recommend you to her boss, etc.
Then, determine to call those five people this week to ask for a meeting to discuss their needs and how you can fill them. Because, when it comes to producing job leads, one in-person meeting can be worth 100 emails or 20 phone calls.
4. Plan your course of action.
It’s been estimated one minute of planning can save 20 minutes of doing. So it’s important to schedule your job search tasks 1, 7 and 30 days in advance.
Writing down your job search plan forces you to think clearly. It may even generate new ideas and directions. Tip: write out the steps you need to take to get from where you are (unemployed or in the wrong job) to where you want to be (doing your ideal job).
Examples: write down the number of résumés you plan to send out, networking phone calls to make, face-to-face meetings to set up, and follow-up letters to send.
5. Take action and correct course as you go.
Now that you have a vision -- your ideal job -- and a written plan as a guide, you can proceed like Christopher Columbus, who, even though he sailed uncharted waters, knew his destination would eventually come into view.
All successful ship’s captains check their position regularly and make corrections. You should, too. At least once each week, ask yourself these 3 questions about your job search:
Here’s hoping these five tips will help you create -- and achieve -- a job search vision that brings all the best to you and your family in 2004.
Now, go out and make your own luck!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.
Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others. His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others.
Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:
You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting
-------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.gresumes.otiscollier.net
http://www.otiscollier.com/
Yet, a large number of job hunters start their search with no clear destination in mind. They’re looking for any old job. Does that make sense? Of course not.
Why not start 2004 off right, with a clear vision for your job search? Here are five tips to help you do that and find the right position faster.
1. Begin with the end in mind.
What’s your vision of the perfect job? Think of the skills, hours, environment and the pay you want. A good way to get clear on this is to define your ideal job in rich detail.
According to Don R. Monteith, author of “How To Get Your Dream Job", (www.howtogetyourdreamjob.com). All of your senses will help you focus your mind on the job you seek. Write down what your dream job looks, feels, sounds and even smells like.”
Before you dismiss this as too "new age" to work, know that all top athletes follow a similar process when they visualize the goals they train for years to achieve. The clearer your target, the easier it is to hit.
2. Gauge the demand.
Before starting your search in earnest, make sure employers are hiring for that job you want. After all, the best résumé in the world won’t get you hired as an elevator operator or stevedore. Use the Internet to see how many openings there are for your target job. Tip: you can uncover more jobs by experimenting with your search terms.
Example: a search at Monster.com for "client service Minnesota" brought back 78 job listings, while "customer service Minnesota" returned 224 matches. So, to find and apply for the maximum number of jobs, be open to all possible interpretations of your skills, experience and job titles.
3. Determine to meet the right hiring authority.
Always remember you will be hired by a person, not a computer. And the more people you meet and impress, the shorter your job search will be.
Today, jot down the names of five people who could hire you or help you get hired. These hiring authorities might include a recruiter, a district manager at your target company, an office manager you know who could recommend you to her boss, etc.
Then, determine to call those five people this week to ask for a meeting to discuss their needs and how you can fill them. Because, when it comes to producing job leads, one in-person meeting can be worth 100 emails or 20 phone calls.
4. Plan your course of action.
It’s been estimated one minute of planning can save 20 minutes of doing. So it’s important to schedule your job search tasks 1, 7 and 30 days in advance.
Writing down your job search plan forces you to think clearly. It may even generate new ideas and directions. Tip: write out the steps you need to take to get from where you are (unemployed or in the wrong job) to where you want to be (doing your ideal job).
Examples: write down the number of résumés you plan to send out, networking phone calls to make, face-to-face meetings to set up, and follow-up letters to send.
5. Take action and correct course as you go.
Now that you have a vision -- your ideal job -- and a written plan as a guide, you can proceed like Christopher Columbus, who, even though he sailed uncharted waters, knew his destination would eventually come into view.
All successful ship’s captains check their position regularly and make corrections. You should, too. At least once each week, ask yourself these 3 questions about your job search:
- What’s working? (Do more of it)
- What’s not? (Change it or stop it)
- What’s next? (Plan your next week’s job search tasks)
Here’s hoping these five tips will help you create -- and achieve -- a job search vision that brings all the best to you and your family in 2004.
Now, go out and make your own luck!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.
Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others. His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others.
Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:
You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting
-------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.gresumes.otiscollier.net
http://www.otiscollier.com/
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Three More Job Search Secrets for Tough Times
In my ongoing search for the latest and best job-hunting tips, I interviewed a Silicon Valley recruiter and cracked open my client files this week.
The employment methods we’ll explore here are highly effective, largely unknown, and all boil down to one word: people.
Because it’s not just what you know that will get you hired. It’s who you know. And – more importantly -- who knows you.
Without further ado, here are 3 job search secrets that can get you hired, even in tough times …
1. Employee Referral Programs – Get an Advocate
"In this economy, a number of companies refuse to interview candidates who aren’t referred by employees," says Dave Lloyd, a Silicon Valley recruiter and author of "Graduation Secrets," a career guide for young people (www.graduationsecrets.com).
Large corporations use referral programs to encourage employees to submit names of people they know for open positions. This screening process makes sense, since like attracts like -- talented employees often have talented friends. And companies are willing to pay $500, $1,000 – and more – to employees who refer new hires.
So it pays to start making friends at big companies you want to work for.
"I knew one motivated employee at a high-tech firm who made $500 for every hire he referred. So he actively searched for great candidates. He helped get three people hired while I was recruiting for that company in 2001," says Lloyd.
Takeaway Lesson:
The best way to learn about employee referral programs is to strike up a relationship with someone at your target company -- and ask. A simple email will do. Then, keep in touch. Your contact may end up walking your resume into a hiring manager’s office. You get hired and your "advocate" gets a cash award – win-win!
2. Network from the Inside – Create Your Own Job
From my client files this week comes the story of "Frank" from Toronto, who a marketing manager for a multi-national high-tech firm.
At first, Frank did what most job seekers do. He posted his resume online, sent it to recruiters and answered help-wanted ads.
But it was networking -- within his own company -- that really paid off.
"I used an internal contact in New York City, one thing led to another, and I was over in the US doing 6 job interviews in the last 2 weeks," says Frank.
His Fortune 500 firm is now creating a new position for him with a generous salary and relocation package. This came after I encouraged him to leave no stone unturned with his current employer.
"I emailed a co-worker and asked if I could use him as a resource for an internal job search. He agreed to help, which led to my interviews. And I already had a good reputation internally, with several VPs to serve as references. That gave me an advantage I would not have had at another company," says Frank.
Takeaway Lesson:
The grass may be greener on your side of the fence. If you’ve done good work for your current employer, be sure to exhaust every in-house option before looking outside for a new job. (I know this firsthand – back when I worked for other people, in the 1990s, my last employer created a new job for me. All I did was ask!)
3. Become a Power Broker in Your Field
It’s an old maxim: Givers get. And it’s especially true when job hunting.
Our Silicon Valley recruiter, Dave Lloyd, confirms this.
"Last year, I was trying to fill a supply chain management position for a computer firm, so I contacted an industry association to see who they would recommend.
"Everyone I talked to told me the same thing: call Joe Jones in Houston. It seems Joe had organized an online forum for job seekers and was helping a lot of other folks in the process. His name was well-known among industry leaders – we offered Joe the job," says Lloyd.
Takeaway Lesson:
You can join or create a job search forum for your city, using a service like http://www.yahoogroups.com. By sharing leads in a forum, you become the go-to person and your reputation can spread. As a result, you may be among the first to hear of new job openings.
Now, go out and create your own luck!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.
Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others. His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others.
Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:
You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting
-------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.gresumes.otiscollier.net
http://www.otiscollier.com/
The employment methods we’ll explore here are highly effective, largely unknown, and all boil down to one word: people.
Because it’s not just what you know that will get you hired. It’s who you know. And – more importantly -- who knows you.
Without further ado, here are 3 job search secrets that can get you hired, even in tough times …
1. Employee Referral Programs – Get an Advocate
"In this economy, a number of companies refuse to interview candidates who aren’t referred by employees," says Dave Lloyd, a Silicon Valley recruiter and author of "Graduation Secrets," a career guide for young people (www.graduationsecrets.com).
Large corporations use referral programs to encourage employees to submit names of people they know for open positions. This screening process makes sense, since like attracts like -- talented employees often have talented friends. And companies are willing to pay $500, $1,000 – and more – to employees who refer new hires.
So it pays to start making friends at big companies you want to work for.
"I knew one motivated employee at a high-tech firm who made $500 for every hire he referred. So he actively searched for great candidates. He helped get three people hired while I was recruiting for that company in 2001," says Lloyd.
Takeaway Lesson:
The best way to learn about employee referral programs is to strike up a relationship with someone at your target company -- and ask. A simple email will do. Then, keep in touch. Your contact may end up walking your resume into a hiring manager’s office. You get hired and your "advocate" gets a cash award – win-win!
2. Network from the Inside – Create Your Own Job
From my client files this week comes the story of "Frank" from Toronto, who a marketing manager for a multi-national high-tech firm.
At first, Frank did what most job seekers do. He posted his resume online, sent it to recruiters and answered help-wanted ads.
But it was networking -- within his own company -- that really paid off.
"I used an internal contact in New York City, one thing led to another, and I was over in the US doing 6 job interviews in the last 2 weeks," says Frank.
His Fortune 500 firm is now creating a new position for him with a generous salary and relocation package. This came after I encouraged him to leave no stone unturned with his current employer.
"I emailed a co-worker and asked if I could use him as a resource for an internal job search. He agreed to help, which led to my interviews. And I already had a good reputation internally, with several VPs to serve as references. That gave me an advantage I would not have had at another company," says Frank.
Takeaway Lesson:
The grass may be greener on your side of the fence. If you’ve done good work for your current employer, be sure to exhaust every in-house option before looking outside for a new job. (I know this firsthand – back when I worked for other people, in the 1990s, my last employer created a new job for me. All I did was ask!)
3. Become a Power Broker in Your Field
It’s an old maxim: Givers get. And it’s especially true when job hunting.
Our Silicon Valley recruiter, Dave Lloyd, confirms this.
"Last year, I was trying to fill a supply chain management position for a computer firm, so I contacted an industry association to see who they would recommend.
"Everyone I talked to told me the same thing: call Joe Jones in Houston. It seems Joe had organized an online forum for job seekers and was helping a lot of other folks in the process. His name was well-known among industry leaders – we offered Joe the job," says Lloyd.
Takeaway Lesson:
You can join or create a job search forum for your city, using a service like http://www.yahoogroups.com. By sharing leads in a forum, you become the go-to person and your reputation can spread. As a result, you may be among the first to hear of new job openings.
Now, go out and create your own luck!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.
Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others. His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others.
Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:
You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting
-------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.gresumes.otiscollier.net
http://www.otiscollier.com/
E-mail Your Resume - D.O.A. or A-O.K.?
E-mailing your resume to apply for jobs can be incredibly convenient and frustrating.
While it's easy to send your resume to hundreds of employers and recruiters with the push of a button, how can you be sure it was ever read at all?
Here are four ways to make sure your e-mailed resume gets into the right hands -- and gets read.
1. Attach and paste it
When e-mailing your resume, it's not enough to send it as a Word attachment because attachments can get scrambled during transmission, making them illegible.
You should also copy and paste the text of your resume into the body of your e-mail.
In your word processor, simply highlight the text of your resume and copy it into the clipboard (short-term memory). Then, switch over to your e-mail program and paste the text into your message.
Test and verify that you've done this correctly by e-mailing copies to friends.
2. Include a cover letter
Cover letters aren't just for printing or faxing -- send them with e-mailed resumes, too.
When a company posts an opening online, it might receive 100 or more e-mailed resumes within hours. To stand out and prove you're serious about a job, you must include a cover letter.
One recruiter I found puts it this way: "I give more consideration to resumes that are e-mailed with a cover letter than to simple cut-and-paste submissions.
"As the single recruiter in my department, I don't have the ability to carefully screen 80 resumes for an Internet job posting. Serious candidates usually take the time to prepare [and include] a cover letter."
3. Send it offline, too
Just as NASA builds in a backup to any mission-critical system, you should also fax or snail mail your resume to employers as a backup to your e-mailed submission.
You can include a line at the top of your cover letter that says "Sent via fax and e-mail" or something similar.
4. Finally, follow up
Remember that technology should assist -- and never replace -- human contact. The best way to make sure your e-mailed resume got there and got read is to follow up personally.
If you don't hear anything within 24-48 hours, contact the employer to see if the position is still open. Be polite when you call, fax, e-mail or write a paper letter, and offer to send your resume again if the hiring manager didn't get it the first time. This will always increase your response rate.
Best of luck to you!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.
Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others. His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others.
Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:
You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting
-------------------------------------------------------------http://www.gresumes.otiscollier.net
http://www.otiscollier.com
While it's easy to send your resume to hundreds of employers and recruiters with the push of a button, how can you be sure it was ever read at all?
Here are four ways to make sure your e-mailed resume gets into the right hands -- and gets read.
1. Attach and paste it
When e-mailing your resume, it's not enough to send it as a Word attachment because attachments can get scrambled during transmission, making them illegible.
You should also copy and paste the text of your resume into the body of your e-mail.
In your word processor, simply highlight the text of your resume and copy it into the clipboard (short-term memory). Then, switch over to your e-mail program and paste the text into your message.
Test and verify that you've done this correctly by e-mailing copies to friends.
2. Include a cover letter
Cover letters aren't just for printing or faxing -- send them with e-mailed resumes, too.
When a company posts an opening online, it might receive 100 or more e-mailed resumes within hours. To stand out and prove you're serious about a job, you must include a cover letter.
One recruiter I found puts it this way: "I give more consideration to resumes that are e-mailed with a cover letter than to simple cut-and-paste submissions.
"As the single recruiter in my department, I don't have the ability to carefully screen 80 resumes for an Internet job posting. Serious candidates usually take the time to prepare [and include] a cover letter."
3. Send it offline, too
Just as NASA builds in a backup to any mission-critical system, you should also fax or snail mail your resume to employers as a backup to your e-mailed submission.
You can include a line at the top of your cover letter that says "Sent via fax and e-mail" or something similar.
4. Finally, follow up
Remember that technology should assist -- and never replace -- human contact. The best way to make sure your e-mailed resume got there and got read is to follow up personally.
If you don't hear anything within 24-48 hours, contact the employer to see if the position is still open. Be polite when you call, fax, e-mail or write a paper letter, and offer to send your resume again if the hiring manager didn't get it the first time. This will always increase your response rate.
Best of luck to you!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.
Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others. His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others.
Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:
You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting
-------------------------------------------------------------http://www.gresumes.otiscollier.net
http://www.otiscollier.com
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
Take the 'So, what?' cover letter test
When you write a cover letter, does it hook employers and leave them no choice but to call you for a job interview?
If the answer is "No," you're not alone.
To succeed, every sentence in your cover letter must be compelling and must prove that you -- and nobody else -- are right for the job.
How do you achieve this?
Take the "So, what?" test. It can actually force you to write better cover letters than ever before.
It works like this. After reading every sentence in your next cover letter, ask yourself: "So, what?" Is that last sentence compelling or fluff? Necessary? True? If not, rewrite or remove it. Then ask yourself, "So, what?" again.
Here are some real-world examples taken from cover letters I've seen this week.
Before
"I am currently employed with Oxydyne Systems in Detroit in the Production Logistic Equipment Assembly Division as a Technical Support Manager. (So, what?) I am willing to take up any engineering post." (So, what?)
After
"I am applying for a position where my eight years of engineering and end-user training experience will add value to logistical operations for your clients."
In the "After" example, the writer clearly states the type of job he's seeking, while promising to add value for the employer's clients. Much more powerful.
Before
"The message you are now reading is not a typical cover letter with an attached resume. Please, do not be afraid to continue reading because this evolving communique describes what I can do for Stanley Publishing (SP), if I am chosen as its new Marketing Manager." (So, what?)
Stop! Don't take forever to appeal to an employer's self interest. Often, you can find better opening paragraphs halfway down the page, as in this "After" example:
After
"I am energized by the opportunity to achieve significant things for your firm. Here's what I can give to Stanley Publishing:· Five years of publication and marketing experience for Fortune 500 clientele, resulting in repeat business, 210% revenue growth and three industry awards."
This "After" example came from the fifth and sixth paragraphs of the cover letter, but works much better as an opening.
If every sentence passes the "So, what?" test, your cover letters will be concise, hard-hitting and irresistible to employers. So, there!
Best of luck to you!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.
Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others. His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others.
Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:
You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting
-------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.gresumes.otiscollier.net
http://www.otiscollier.com
If the answer is "No," you're not alone.
To succeed, every sentence in your cover letter must be compelling and must prove that you -- and nobody else -- are right for the job.
How do you achieve this?
Take the "So, what?" test. It can actually force you to write better cover letters than ever before.
It works like this. After reading every sentence in your next cover letter, ask yourself: "So, what?" Is that last sentence compelling or fluff? Necessary? True? If not, rewrite or remove it. Then ask yourself, "So, what?" again.
Here are some real-world examples taken from cover letters I've seen this week.
Before
"I am currently employed with Oxydyne Systems in Detroit in the Production Logistic Equipment Assembly Division as a Technical Support Manager. (So, what?) I am willing to take up any engineering post." (So, what?)
After
"I am applying for a position where my eight years of engineering and end-user training experience will add value to logistical operations for your clients."
In the "After" example, the writer clearly states the type of job he's seeking, while promising to add value for the employer's clients. Much more powerful.
Before
"The message you are now reading is not a typical cover letter with an attached resume. Please, do not be afraid to continue reading because this evolving communique describes what I can do for Stanley Publishing (SP), if I am chosen as its new Marketing Manager." (So, what?)
Stop! Don't take forever to appeal to an employer's self interest. Often, you can find better opening paragraphs halfway down the page, as in this "After" example:
After
"I am energized by the opportunity to achieve significant things for your firm. Here's what I can give to Stanley Publishing:· Five years of publication and marketing experience for Fortune 500 clientele, resulting in repeat business, 210% revenue growth and three industry awards."
This "After" example came from the fifth and sixth paragraphs of the cover letter, but works much better as an opening.
If every sentence passes the "So, what?" test, your cover letters will be concise, hard-hitting and irresistible to employers. So, there!
Best of luck to you!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.
Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others. His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others.
Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:
You Don't Know SQUAT About Job Hunting
-------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.gresumes.otiscollier.net
http://www.otiscollier.com
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