Posted by ResumeHelp on October 14, 2009
That’s the question consciously or unconsciously running through the mind of someone looking through a stack of resumes. That person will often not find the answer if there’s no cover letter from you. Resumes list the information about your skills and experience. Cover letters pinpoint why you should receive serious consideration for a particular job. A cover letter helps readers see how your experience relates specifically to what they are looking for in an employee. Instead of making readers interpret your resume, your cover letter does the work for them. A cover letter says, “I know your company and what it does. Here’s why you should take notice of my qualifications.”
A planning advisor for a huge oil corporation who scans hundreds of resumes a week looks at it this way: “The more someone can tell me what attracted him or her to my company, the better. I try to get a feel for whether the applicant is interested in our industry, which is sometimes clear in the resume and sometimes not. That is where a good cover letter can make a difference. If I get 10 resumes with similar experience and skills, the cover letter prioritizes who I need to speak to. If the resume is strong, then I don’t need the cover letter, but lots of times resumes don’t answer the questions I have.”
Keep in mind that the people who read resumes and cover letters spend mere seconds on them. You could meet every requirement of the job you’re going for but unfortunately, your qualifications might be buried somewhere in your resume. The people who are considering you for a job don’t like to dig. That’s where the best cover letter can be a make or break proposition.
Resumes are a record of your past and current experience. A well thought-out cover letter selects only those skills and experiences that apply to a job description and company. It summarizes your qualifications for that particular job so the hiring manager doesn’t have to search for them on your resume. If your cover letter doesn’t showcase the main points of your resume that match their requirements, the hiring manager is more likely to move on to the next candidate. And in this job market, you don’t want that to happen. Many times it is helpful to have a professional resume writer prepare your resume and cover letter. It’s an excellent investment.
But you may be saying; “I simply cannot afford to hire a Professional Resume Writer”. What’s the answer to that statement? I cannot deny a professionally written resume costs at least a couple of hundred dollars. But there is an answer. Here is a website that will give you basically the same thing for much, much less. You do the work, they tell you exactly how! Most people stumble over Interview questions. They offer help for that too! And you save lots of dinero! Go to Resume On A Budget now!
Authors bio: Darlene Zambruski is the managing for Resume Edge. She has authored 10,000+ resumes/cover letters/CVs for clients at every career stage.
Posted by ResumeHelp on September 18, 2009
To be able to ace any job interview, there is a need to be compelling and competitive and go beyond what an interview is all about.
Who does not get nervous just thinking of the dreaded job interview? What is your chance of making it now after the three interviews that you failed, because you were too nervous to answer? When will you ever get your talking straight when you are in front of the board of directors? Yes, the list goes on for the job interview problems that you need to get over to ace the position.
The chances to make it are odd and the odds are truly great, but still, you can get hired! All you need to do is to find the most credible job interview help and use it to your benefit. There is a need to experiment on every angle when it comes to a job interview preparation and it might take some time before you sound and look natural during the actual interview. You have to analyze your steps before execution and be able to think fast because nothing else beats smooth job interview skills.
All the written requirements, including the cover letter and the resume must be well thought of because they will give the impression of skill and professionalism that they need to consider you in the position. They must be well groomed as you are for the interview. However, take caution to include only what is best for the interview or the position that you wish to land on. An organized resume must not spill to the borders of the paper while the cover letter must be brief but firm and professional.
The power of impact is your key to ace any job. You have to be ready for anything when job interview questions are directed to you as an individual, an applicant, a future employee and a team leader. Be sure to save some job interview answers that produce outstanding impression that does not sound too highly of you but compelling and competitive. Some interviewers want brief but clear answers while some wish to know more about you. That is why you need to think of these things that are not included in your resume that will help them know that they need to hire someone like you.
To be compelling and competitive, you must sound and look professional in every way. Do not give them the idea of another useless employee with slow and senseless answers. You have to do everything the best that you can before the decision is taken, even up to the making of your job interview thank you letter. During the job interview follow up, for example, it must be rendered with a firm tone whether it may be on the phone or personal. Here’s one of the best interviewing tip sources I have seen.
The interview will never be easy without job interview tips. There are ups and downs in life that back you down in getting employed. You have to choose to be better and seek all possible solutions to your job interview dilemmas. Break the barriers and go beyond and learn what job interview is all about.
Author Resource:- Here is a website where you can get up-to-date information on Job Interview Tips, job interview questions and much more. For more information Click Here
Posted by ResumeHelp on November 22, 2008
While most people that have been working for a few years know these things. For those of you just starting out in the “white collar” world we thought we’d give you some simple advice on how to dress appropriately for an interview. While a nice pair of jeans or slacks and a polo shirt work fine for a retail or fast food job, in an office environment you are expected to put your best foot forward, from the interview on. So we hope this information is helpful.
It wasn’t that long ago that it was unnecessary to write an article to explain how one should dress for a job interview. People dressed in their nicest clothes when going out in public anyway. For interviews they just straightened their tie a little better, removed their hats or made sure there weren’t any runs in their pantyhose.
Today, within just one generation that’s all gone and people don’t know how to do “dress for success.” Remember this – You get only one chance to make a good first impression. Blow that and your chance may be gone for good. You can have the best resume in the world yet blow the interview and not get the dream job you want. I recognize that some of you won’t agree, but take it from someone who has been there, done that – I’m right! So how do you dress for success? Here’s how.
For Men:
- Wear a suit. I know, I don’t like them either, but do it. It makes a better impression than scruffy. Basically it just shows your future employer that you know how to “put yourself together.”
- If you don’t have a suit jacket, at least wear a long sleeve shirt either white or color coordinated. Stay away from the “business casual” look.
- Wear a belt and tie.
- Dark socks and polished shoes.
- No jewelry or little. Possibly a watch and ring. Nothing else.
- Comb your hair neatly. No Mohawks. Just kidding.
- Limit the aftershave. Also leave off the cologne, many people are allergic.
- Have your nails neatly trimmed. In other words if you have grease from working on the car, clean them.
- Carry a Portfolio or day planner that neatly organizes your papers.
For the Ladies:
- Suit (Dark or gray preferably)
- If you don’t have a suit, at least wear a pants suit that is coordinated and professional. No tight fitting shirts or belly buttons peeping out.
- If you wear a skit it should be long enough to sit comfortably. Stay away from mini-skirts.
- Wear a coordinated blouse and conservative shoes.
- Limit jewelry. Do not wear dangling earrings or rings on every finger. These can be distracting, and since you don’t know the interviewers taste in clothes, conservative is always the safest way to go.
- No jewelry is better than cheap gaudy jewelry.
- Have your hair styled in a professional manor.
- Wear neutral pantyhose, light make-up and easy on the perfume. No perfume is better than too much.
- Have your nails done in a neat manicured manor.
- Carry a portfolio or day planner that neatly organizes your papers.
What Not To Bring Or Do:
- Cell phones – Leave them in your purse or car. And whatever you do DON’T answer it, even if you’re waiting for the interviewer to come out and get you. Don’t do anything that might cause them to wait on you.
- Ipod or anything that has earplugs.
- NO Gum. Nothing worse than smacking lips and gum when trying to make a good impression.
- Leave the coffee or soft drink in the car. Don’t take a chance you’re going to spill it on your nice clothes. Plus it’s just a little too casual.
- If you have lots of piercings, leave some of them home. The best rule is earrings only.
- Cover tattoos.
If you do this you will knock them dead. If you look sharp, you will feel sharp as the old advertising slogan from Gillette goes, but it is true.
Extra Tips:
Be sure your clothes fit well. Lay them out the day before the interview so you can check to be sure things are ready.
Carry a breath mint and use it before you enter the building. This is especially important if you smoke.
Polish your shoes. Many people ignore this but statistics show that when a person is making a first impression they look you “up and down” and that scuffed shoes will turn them off. It seem silly, but why take a chance?
If they keep you waiting in the lobby be polite to the receptionist and maybe even chat a little instead of just sitting there. I discovered a long time ago that many companies rely on their receptionists to give them a “first impression” opinion. So if you’re nice to them they may have something nice to say about you to their boss!
