Bryan Thorby
Publisher
Date: November 8, 2006
In This Issue:
Ebooks and Services
Thoughts of the Day
Article 1: How to Write a Cover Letter Effectively
Article 2: Career Planning for College Students and Recent College Graduates
Article 3: How to Submit Your Resume Online
Disclaimer & Privacy Statement
I trust all is well with you.
Lets talk briefly about some types of interviews you could get
involved with.
Some first interviews are merely screening exercises to
determine a final shortlist of applicants. The interviews are
primarily concerned with establishing the validity of your
credentials - qualifications, skills, experience, etc.
Screening interviewers are looking to see if you have the
appropriate background.
A selection interview process could entail more than one
interview, depending on the seniority of the position.
The criteria being evaluated in a selection interview is
different from a screening interview, as your credentials
have already been established. The selection interviews focuses
more on personality, compatibility, enthusiasm, sincerity,
motivation, etc.
A panel can range from 2 to 10 people. Usually three or four.
Panel interviews are more formal and a lot more structured than
Screening and Selection interviews.
In one panel interview I had a few years back involved most of
the staff - about 12 people and most were asking questions.
To your Career Success,
Bryan
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The best way to cheer yourself is to try to cheer
someone else up.
-- Mark Twain
The path to our destination is not always a straight one.
We go down the wrong road, we get lost, we turn back.
Maybe it doesn't matter which road we embark on.
Maybe what matters is that we embark.
-- Barbara Hall
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How to Write a Cover Letter Effectively
By Jimmy Sweeney
Do not work too hard in sending out your resume to every company in your city, instead, work smart by accompanying it with a well written cover letter.
A cover letter provides the first impression of the employer to the applicant; it may either give way for the applicant a chance for a job interview, or having her resume disregarded instead. It will depend on how well the cover letter was written.
When you write your cover letter, you should observe that the content will not be a replica of your resume. The cover letter will serve to interpret the resume, data-oriented, with the addition of a special touch. Remember, you create a very vital first impression here.
Also, before you start writing, you should make sure that you identify first the type of cover letter that is most applicable to your purpose. There are several types of cover letter, there is the application letter, the prospecting letter, and the networking letter, each of its type has its own focus. Therefore, there is a must that you complement your cover letter to your purpose or it will be included in the junk.
After you complement the type of cover letter to your purpose, do not forget to clarify your reasons in the definite association as well as to make out the skills and experiences that you have. However, in writing this, you should also note that its contents should also make relevance to the position that you are applying for.
Now, in writing your cover letter, if you feel like being disheartened whenever you are trying to write one before, now, you will never be right after you process the guidelines below.
Here's how:
- Do a conventional cover letter for each employer
- Mention your reason in writing.
- State the position you are applying for and tell how you learned about it.
- Explain why you are interested in the position.
- Convey your eagerness for the job.
- Mention your edge that is relevant on the job, experiences and skills as such.
- Point out how your skills relate to the qualification for the position.
- Express your interest, enthusiasm, and strong points.
- Do an emphasis on your accomplishments.
- Specify how you will follow-up.
- Make sure that your references are accessible on request.
Now, you know what to note in writing your cover letter then it isn't that difficult for you to start it.
Another thing that matters in writing a cover letter is that you should always remember to stay away from clichés that are pointless and verbose expressions. And that it should never duplicate the contents in your resume. Most of all, you should make sure that it produces a strong impact of a good impression, bear in mind, this is your first contact with the employer.
Writing your cover letter will never be that disheartening if you are just going to take it in with a step by step process. If you fully grasp everything that was mentioned, it will not be that long, and you will soon be an expert in doing it.
Once again, do not work hard in spending your time in the things which will not give you the assurance of securing a job. Work smart, if you have not grasped the guidelines yet; try to practice over and over again and have it proofread by a family member or a friend.
Jimmy Sweeney is the President of CareerJimmy and author of "Amazing Cover Letter Creator." Visit him at: www.amazing-cover-letters.com for your "instant" cover letters today.
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Career Planning for College Students and Recent College Graduates
By Carla Vaughan
How would you like to achieve more success at work in a faster amount of time than anyone with whom you graduate?
It's really quite simple. Have a plan. Have a career plan.
So many people approach the job search as a "somebody take me please" endeavor as opposed to planning their job search, focusing on the employers where you want to work and setting goals and deadlines for career achievements. Most people just happen along with no focus, goals or deadlines at all.
Life just happens. Jobs just happen.
The reason for making decisions today about where you want to be tomorrow is so that you have the ability to actually get there.
If you don't know exactly where you want to be, you will be wandering aimlessly from position to position hoping that somehow it will all work out. Unfortunately, that isn’t how it works.
When you left for college, you probably spent a lot of time figuring out where you wanted to go, applied to the school(s), then when you were accepted, you formulated a plan to enroll in classes, find a place to live and budget your finances so that you could afford to eat and buy necessities.
If you applied that same amount of time and effort into setting out a career plan and the goals involved in achieving professional success, you would be much more successful and you'd blow past your competition easily. No one in your graduating class at college would even come close to achieving what you would achieve.
Plan to achieve. Plan to succeed.
The great news is that Career Planning isn't some magical experience. Just give yourself a little time and ask yourself a few questions and you'll be on the right track.
What questions?
How about some of those familiar job questions, such as "Where do you want to be five years from now?" Or, "Do you expect to go back to school to further your education?"
As you have more time in the months and years to come, revisit your Career Plan and determine if it still makes sense for you or if you need to tweak it.
You are the only one who can create your destiny. You choose.
Take the time NOW to set the course for your future.
If you take the time to set your career goals, you will be ahead of 90% of the rest of the people out there who don't bother to plan ahead. You will be more successful than your peers in the same field because you know where you are going and how you intend to get there. You will make more money and you will be much happier. Why? Because you didn't wait for destiny to step in. You took control of your life and made things happen.
Carla Vaughan, Owner/Webmaster Professional-Resume-Example.com
Carla is the owner of Professional-Resume-Example.com, a web site devoted to assisting candidates in the job-search process. She holds a B.S. in Business from Southern Illinois University and has authored several books.
For more information about Career Planning, follow this link to: Career Planning
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How to Submit Your Resume Online
By Robin Henry
Introduction
Submitting your resume online is quick and easy and is done in three different ways depending on the agency with whom you are submitting. Those who offer all three ways allow you to submit using their wizard that works you through the task. Alternatively, you can submit an MS Word DOC file or an Adobe PDF file, or submit into a template by cutting and pasting.
Tips for Preparation
Recruitment firms and employer clients search databases of thousands or tens of thousands of resumes. To reduce the number of responses returned, they filter using keyword knowledge, skills and attributes (KSAs) and personal information eg, age or gender.
It should make sense therefore that if you are looking for a project management job, that your resume contains the keywords "project management", "project manager" and any variations.
So prepare your resume with this in mind using common keywords for the types of KSAs you have to your credit. Use as many keywords as possible without being dishonest about your experience eg, if you are an accountant, you could put accountant, accounts manager, finance manager, financial manager etc. Weave these throughout your resume at appropriate places.
Ideally, visit several recruitment sites to see what headings they are using. One heading I see, for example, which is not commonly on resumes is, "Willingness to relocate." Once you've visited and recorded details, make your resume fit the headings you have seen at those sites.
When you've created your keywords and used headings worded the same as recruitment agents, file copies in MS Word in fully formatted mode and save a copy as a text (.TXT) file without formatting.
Submitting Your Resume
Now that you have your resume in several different file formats, it's time to submit them to as many sites as possible. Some sites will allow you to submit multiple resumes. Take up their offer. If you have three types of employment you could apply for, submit at least three resumes, each laden with keywords from the different types of employment.
In my case I am an educator, human resources specialist and Internet marketer. So, I'd submit one resume laden with human resources keywords, another with education keywords and another with Internet marketing keywords. Get the idea?
Finally ...
If possible, do some searches as though you were looking for a person with the same types of skills you have posted. See if anything comes up with your details. It won't be the end of the world if it doesn't, but it might be an interesting experiment.
Return periodically and update your resume with new keywords that describe the KSAs you have acquired since first submitting your resume.
Job hunting is like fishing, you need to cast a wide net. If you manage your resume submissions as I have stated, you will optimize your chances of winning the job you want by being found among a sea of resumes in a universe of databases.
Copyright 2006 Robin Henry | First published November 2006
Robin Henry is an educator, human resources specialist and Internet entrepreneur. He helps home-based businesses and individuals improve performance by applying smart technology and processes and developing personally. He runs his business Desert Wave Enterprises from his home base at Alice Springs in Central Australia, although at present he is on temporary assignment in the United Arab Emirates.
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DISCLAIMER & PRIVACY STATEMENT |
I accept no responsibility whatsoever for the content,
profitability or legality of any published articles or
advertisements contained within the
Career Related Tips ezine.
And, although all of the articles have been selected for
their content, the publishing of such articles within
this newsletter does NOT constitute a recommendation of
the products or services mentioned or advertised within
those articles.
Be responsible! Always do your own Due Diligence before
responding to any offer.
I respect the privacy of my readers.
I will NEVER supply or sell your personal
information to any Third Party!
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