Career Related Tips newsletter

CAREER RELATED TIPS

Bryan Thorby Publisher webmaster@career-related.com http://career-related.com

Date: February 8, 2006

Welcome to This Edition

To view the lastest blogs http://career-related.com/careerblog/

In This Issue:

Thoughts of the Day

Article : Cover Letters - An Important Introduction By Simone Emmons

Article : Getting Hired Before the Interview By Cathy Warschaw

Article : How to Find Your Dream Career! By Paul Megan

Disclaimer & Privacy Statement

I hope all is well with you.

Today I'm giving you a list of things that can destroy an interview. A lot is written about what to do. Now for the not to do. - Arrive late - Weak, fishy handshake - Forgetting the interviewers name. (I've done that - not cool) - Failure to establish an early rapport. - Poor posture and inappropriate body language - Obvious lack of preparation - Inappropriate attitude - Lack of enthusiasm - Failure to provide examples of strengths and abilities.

The list can be longer but I'll leave it there. I know you can analyse your own performance.

All the best,

Bryan

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Thoughts of the Day

Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

When you follow your bliss... doors will open where you would not have thought there would be doors; and where there wouldn't be a door for anyone else. -- Joseph Campbell

You have a choice. It may not be a choice you like, but it is still a choice. -- Michelle Pfieffer

Article

Cover Letters - An Important Introduction

Author: Simone Emmons

Your resume can present your skills, education and experience to a possible employer, but your cover letter must encourage the perspective employer enough to consider you from hundreds of candidates competing for a particular job opening.

Your cover letter must be a presentation of your qualifications and abilities and must be presented in a professional yet personalized format that says you are serious about getting hired. It is your first chance to make a good impression and makes the hiring manager want to continue to read your enclosed resume.

Do You Really Need a Cover Letter?

You bet that you do! It is the first chance you have to market yourself to a perspective employer. It is the most important way to introduce yourself and give a brief highlight of why you think you are right for the position.

Think about this, you would never show up at a perspective employer's door uninvited, therefore your resume should never just show up on the hiring manager's desk without some kind of introduction. Your cover letter is that introduction. Through it, you introduce yourself, sell your qualifications and show them that you are a strong candidate for the position. You don't put too much information into it, just enough to make them interested in learning more about you and what you can offer the company in terms of your abilities and experience.

Cover letters should be created with care. Don't rush it, take your time to think through what needs to be mentioned in it and write a draft on paper. Go over it afterwards and edit it for spelling and grammar. You don't want to send a cover letter that is full of errors. Here are some steps to help you create your own cover letter.

Creating a cover letter

1. Get personal The cover letter should be directed to a specific individual whenever possible. Because many companies recruit for many positions at the same time you should also indicate the position title you are applying for.

2. Why do you want this job? The cover letter should also say "why" you are interested in the position. Be clear and get to the point. Cover letters should be specific but concise. The letter should not be more then one page. Perspective employer's are not looking for your life history in a cover letter, just a brief introduction and overview of your qualifications. Include a few reasons why you think your skills are a good fit for the job and briefly mention the highlights of your career. State your intentions and qualifications. Hiring managers do not want to read a list of skills that have nothing to do with the position you are applying for. They want to see that you have the skills needed to do the job well.

3. Talk about your strengths Hiring managers want to know why you think you are right for the position. Tell them in a big way by listing some of your major career accomplishments. The point here is to make the best impression that says how much value you can bring to the job. Some examples may include: Examples: · Increased sales by 93 percent in first quarter. · Renegotiated leases or loans at a reduced interest rate that resulted in a yearly savings of $50,000. · Implemented new processes that resulted in savings of 100 man-hours. 4. No Negative Information Never include any negative information or remarks of any kind. Especially about your current or past employers or coworkers. This will turn off the reader and your resume will never get read. 5. Salary and/or Relocation Information Include this information only if the perspective employer requests it and do not include it on your resume. If requested, the cover letter is the place where you should include it or create a separate sheet listing your salary history. Salary is usually negotiated once you become a clear choice for the position. Never ask how much the position pays. The interviewer may ask you what starting salary you are looking for, but rarely will tell you how much the position pays until you become a clear choice for the job.

6. Take charge Make sure that you mention in the cover letter that you are available for a personal interview. Include all your contact information so that the perspective employer has several ways to reach you, E.g. email, phone, cell etc.

A professionally written, error-free cover letter can open the door to your dream job or to a new career and will increase your chances of getting the interview.

About the author:

Simone Emmons is a human resources professional of 18 years and founder of http://www.hispanic-Jobs.com & http://www.asian-jobs.com

At Hispanic-jobs.com & Asian-jobs.com we provide thousands of job opportunities for bilinguals

Article

Getting Hired Before the Interview

Author: Cathy Warschaw

You've been cool and calm up until this moment and making all the right moves. You've sent killer resumes, along with fantastic cover letters, out to dozens of employers. And today a prospective employer has finally contacted you for that first all-important interview. You've studied and planned for this dream position for many days; yet now you are terrified.

What has shaken your confidence? You are suddenly finding yourself obsessing over the horrifying idea of going blank during the interview. You can't sleep well at night and butterflies appear in your stomach each time you think about the big day. Are you alone in feeling this way?

Certainly not. Many job seekers experience anxiety and apprehension when it comes to interviewing with a potential employer. After all, what's not stressful about selling yourself to a total stranger on why he or she should hire you for their company? It was probably an interviewee who came up with, "You never get a second chance to make a first impression."

That statement holds true for job interviewing more than any other situation; but it is possible to prepare yourself for a stellar interview and to literally steal the job before you've even sat down for the interview. Learn how you can increase your chances of landing the job of your dreams with some basic tips and advice.

Firstly, know thy audience. Do your research on the company's history and what products or services they offer. Nothing genuinely flatters an employer more than to know that someone has taken the time to understand what his or her company is all about.

Secondly, develop a very short commercial about yourself. Put together a two-minute summary detailing your strengths, skills, and goals; then commit it to memory. This brief infomercial that is all about you serves to effectively promote and sell you to prospective employers.

A third tip that can't be emphasized enough is to practice, practice, practice your answers to possible questions. Not only does practicing ease anxiety and instill confidence in yourself, but it can also prevent you from going blank during the interview. Some of the most common interview questions are: *Tell me about yourself. *What do you know about the services or goods our company provides? *What are your short and long term goals? *Describe your strengths and weaknesses. *What is the greatest challenge you've ever faced and how did you overcome it?

While on the topic of questions, develop a mental list of your own to ask the employer. After all, this could be your future employer; therefore, you should demonstrate enthusiasm and interest for the job for which you are applying. Some suggestions are:

*What are the key responsibilities of this position? *What is a typical work day like? But no matter how tempting, do not ask about how much money you will be making!

A fourth bit of advice is to bring extra copies of your resume and references with you to the interview. This simple little step shows that you are conscientious; never take the chance of an employer not being able to view all of your hard work and accomplishments just because he didn't have a copy of your resume handy.

A fifth step that is frequently overlooked is lining up your list of references before they are contacted by a potential employer. Your list of contacts should be well-versed on your work skills and strengths and have direct knowledge of your job performance. Guarantee that you receive glowing recommendations by informing your references in advance that they may be contacted by a potential employer.

The following is a list of do's and don'ts to go over when preparing for the job interview.

Do: *Verify directions and parking before the day of interview. *Go alone. That means no Mom or your best friend. *Arrive a little early. Ten to fifteen minutes early is a good practice. *Be clean and well groomed. Ladies, avoid nail polish, strong perfume, and loud colors and jewelry. Fellows, don't use strong cologne and avoid wearing jewelry. *Smile and shake hands firmly. *Make good eye contact. *Speak clearly and use proper grammar. *Ask for clarification if you don't understand a question. *Take time to think about your answers. *Ask when a hiring decision will be made. *Thank the prospective employer for their time. *Write a follow-up letter to the prospective employer within one day following the interview.

Don't: *Speak too fast. *Smoke or chew anything. *Ask about salary. *Discuss personal or financial problems. *Criticize your former employers or colleagues. Remember that the prospective employer has already expressed an interest in you by contacting you for an interview. Take advantage of this golden opportunity by thoroughly preparing yourself to land that dream job. You may find yourself reporting for work on Monday morning.

About the author: Cathy Warschaw, Director of the Warschaw Learning Institute provides an online multicultural dental front office course, HIPAA, telephone training and eBooks on team building, managerial, customer service, and marketing at www.WarschawLearningInstitute.com © 2006

Article

How to Find Your Dream Career!

Author: Paul Megan

If you're at all interested in advancing yourself, you've probably wondered how to find your dream career.

The good news is that it's out there waiting for you. The problem is how you find it. Probably the best way is not to go after it head-on, but rather to back into it. By that I mean "learn how to manage your career search risks."

You see, your career adventure success depends not so much on where YOU want to go, but on a balance of your needs with those of employers. Employers don't hire on the basis of what your dream career is, but rather they hire the best candidate they're convinced can do the job . . . not the best candidate on earth!

Managing your career advancement is the secret. And that means controlling your risks. Here are five tips on how to find your dream career by calculating your risks:

1. Decide what the worst case consequences are for making a change. If you can't live with them that this career goal isn't right for you. Or you need to develop a contingency plan or retool to minimize the risk.

2. Don't be overcome by the dream. Take the down-to-earth step of doing your homework. Research the risk. Look carefully before you leap.

3. Get advice. Talk to your spouse, your friends, people you trust and who are in the know. Their feedback will be invaluable in helping you shape the practical realities of your dream.

4. Be honest with yourself. Is this the kind of risk you're going to kick yourself around the block a couple years from now if you don't take it?

5. Ask yourself the ultimate risk control question: "Is NOT taking the risk bigger than taking it?" If the answer is "yes," then get moving!

Now for the best news of all. If you decide this is the right time to discover how to find your dream career, help is on the way. There are exciting 21st Century job search strategies that can help you lock up a high-paying job in as little as 14 days or less!

About the author: Paul Megan writes for EEI, the world-class pioneer in alternative job search techniques and non-traditional career advancement strategies . . . since 1985. Grab our stunning FREE REPORT: "How To Lock Up A High-Paying Job In 14 Days (Or Less)!" Click on RSS! http://www.fastest-job-search.com

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