The short answer is that, yes, cover letters are most definitely needed in today’s market. A cover letter is your opportunity to introduce yourself to a potential employer and get them excited about reading your resume. While a well-crafted resume describes your experience, education, skills, and accomplishments, a cover letter describes you: who you are, what you can bring to the table, and how eager you are to interview for the job. Cover letters should be approximately three paragraphs—never more than one page—so get the most out of your cover letter by incorporating these elements:
• Be specific. Start off with an actual person’s name, rather than a general title or, worse, a department. Instead of “Dear HR Department,” address it to “Ms. Adams.” This may require a bit of research on your part, but it’s well worth it. Similarly, be sure to convey your interest in a specific job—not just a job anywhere in the company. Even if you’re sending a prospecting resume (for a job not currently open or advertised), the hiring manager needs to know where to keep your resume in case something opens up: in the IT file or the graphic design file.
• Build interest. Too many people make the mistake of simply recopying their resume into paragraph form and calling it a cover letter. Cover letters should complement, rather than regurgitate, your resume. Add in something that gives it a “wow” factor and compels employers to read the attached resume. Expound on an impressive fact in your resume by adding an interesting side note: not only did you accomplish XYZ (the fact on your resume), but you were the youngest person in your company’s history to do so.
• Tell them you’re qualified. Don’t assume that the company can figure out that you’re qualified for the job—tell them. If the company needs an experienced marketer, describe your 10 years as marketing director for a non-profit agency. If they need someone with a master’s degree, talk up your degree and one or two things you gleaned from your master’s program that you look forward to applying in your new role.
• Say thank you. Everyone is busy, so don’t forget to thank readers for taking their precious time to review your cover letter and resume.
• Describe your next steps. In the last paragraph, tell potential employers that you’ll call within a week to make sure they received your resume and that they have everything they need to fully consider your candidacy. Then do it!
There are a few occasions when cover letters typically aren’t necessary. Feel free to skip them when:
• A potential employer asks for your resume directly. If you’re in an interview, for example, and are asked for a copy of your resume, a cover letter isn’t necessary.
• You’re at a job fair. You’ll be handing your resume out to many people that likely cover a variety of industries, and it’s difficult to craft an effective cover letter in that situation. However, if you want to stand out from the hundreds of resumes that employers will receive, you may want to think about a cover letter that provides a general introduction.
• You’re meeting with a recruiter. They need the nuts and bolts of a resume to determine whether you’re a good fit for jobs that they’ve been hired to fill. You can use the interview process to fill in any softer areas that a cover letter might touch on.
• A company tells you to. Rarely, a company will specifically make a “no cover letter” request. Take them at their word.
Tip: Start with a sample cover letter to make your writing easier, faster, and better.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Writing Your First Resume: Where to Start
Have you managed to avoid writing a resume until now? Well, there’s no time like the present to dig in and create a fantastic piece that will land you all kinds of interviews. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, know that the most important thing about writing a resume—whether it’s your first or four hundredth—is that they’re all about marketing, no matter what field you’re in. Lots of people likely have a comparable degree and work experience that’s similar to yours. The trick is in effectively marketing your greatness.
• Design it well. How your resume is laid out can have more of an impact than just about anything that’s on it. Here’s why: if it’s too chaotic or unfocused, hiring managers won’t spend more than two seconds trying to decipher it before tossing it. Organize the sections in ways that make sense; that may mean a traditional format where all of your education and work experience is grouped, or it could be a functional format where similar skills are grouped. Above all, make sure that your resume is consistent in design—don’t use bullets in one section and numbers in another, for example—and clutter-free.
• Start with an objective. Besides your name and contact information, the first portion at the top of a resume should be an objective or summary. This lets potential employers know which job you’re applying for, allowing them to route your resume effectively. If you’re creating your first resume because of limited work experience, you’ll likely want to choose an objective (a one-sentence goal) over a summary (a rehash of your career highlights). Tip: Use a sample resume objective to get off to a good start.
• Emphasize the right things. Whether you’re a student who’s new to the nine-to-five world or someone who’s been with the same company for 40 years (and, hence, has never needed a resume), you may have similar fears: no experience in the first case and not enough diverse experience in the second. As a jumping off point, brainstorm all of the skills you’ve gleaned through your job(s) and community service. If you don’t have much in the way of relevant job experience, it makes sense to showcase the skills you can bring to an organization.
• Eliminate irrelevant information. Some people who feel like they lack sufficient work experience will “fill out” their resume with things that shouldn’t be there. An academic award you received is perfectly acceptable, but listing your top honors in the 4-H fair doesn’t exactly scream “professional.” And as tempting as it may be, including a section on your hobbies is a definite no-no.
• Target a position. Writing a resume is much easier—not to mention more effective—when it’s geared toward a specific job. When you find a job ad that’s attractive, go over their “wants” and integrate these requirements into your resume. Researching help wanted ads will also help you determine what employers in your field are looking for in general.
• Resist the urge to be negative. Don’t include things like, “While I don’t have much experience…” or “Other people are probably more qualified for this position, but…” Your job is to sell yourself as the best candidate for a job, period. Don’t give employers any reason to think, “Well, even he thinks he’s under-qualified.”
Find and compare top resume services at JobGoRound.com.
• Design it well. How your resume is laid out can have more of an impact than just about anything that’s on it. Here’s why: if it’s too chaotic or unfocused, hiring managers won’t spend more than two seconds trying to decipher it before tossing it. Organize the sections in ways that make sense; that may mean a traditional format where all of your education and work experience is grouped, or it could be a functional format where similar skills are grouped. Above all, make sure that your resume is consistent in design—don’t use bullets in one section and numbers in another, for example—and clutter-free.
• Start with an objective. Besides your name and contact information, the first portion at the top of a resume should be an objective or summary. This lets potential employers know which job you’re applying for, allowing them to route your resume effectively. If you’re creating your first resume because of limited work experience, you’ll likely want to choose an objective (a one-sentence goal) over a summary (a rehash of your career highlights). Tip: Use a sample resume objective to get off to a good start.
• Emphasize the right things. Whether you’re a student who’s new to the nine-to-five world or someone who’s been with the same company for 40 years (and, hence, has never needed a resume), you may have similar fears: no experience in the first case and not enough diverse experience in the second. As a jumping off point, brainstorm all of the skills you’ve gleaned through your job(s) and community service. If you don’t have much in the way of relevant job experience, it makes sense to showcase the skills you can bring to an organization.
• Eliminate irrelevant information. Some people who feel like they lack sufficient work experience will “fill out” their resume with things that shouldn’t be there. An academic award you received is perfectly acceptable, but listing your top honors in the 4-H fair doesn’t exactly scream “professional.” And as tempting as it may be, including a section on your hobbies is a definite no-no.
• Target a position. Writing a resume is much easier—not to mention more effective—when it’s geared toward a specific job. When you find a job ad that’s attractive, go over their “wants” and integrate these requirements into your resume. Researching help wanted ads will also help you determine what employers in your field are looking for in general.
• Resist the urge to be negative. Don’t include things like, “While I don’t have much experience…” or “Other people are probably more qualified for this position, but…” Your job is to sell yourself as the best candidate for a job, period. Don’t give employers any reason to think, “Well, even he thinks he’s under-qualified.”
Find and compare top resume services at JobGoRound.com.
Job Search Myths
Think you know everything there is to know about getting a job? Not so fast. There are lots of myths floating around that people have come to accept as fact. Check out some of the most common myths below, and get one step closer to scoring a job you’ll love.
• Help wanted ads are the best place to hunt for a job. The first places people look when they want or need a new job is online job boards and newspaper classifieds. Why? Because it’s easy and requires virtually no effort on the job-seeker’s part—which is why everybody does it. That’s a huge problem in a tight job market. You might be very good at what you do, but are you better than all 50,000 people looking at the same ad that you are? By all means, use help wanted ads as a jumping off point for your search, but if you stop there, you’ll be looking for work for a long, long time. Contact the career center at your alma mater, call placement agencies (what used to be known as “temp agencies”), and talk to people you know about job leads.
• I don’t have anyone to network with. Networking is often the most difficult avenue for job-seekers, but it can offer the best results. No one wants to feel like a charity case by asking friends and family members to hook them up with a job, but the trick to networking is to think of it as a relationship-building process. Go outside of your immediate circle and chat up everyone from people at your church to other parents at your kid’s fundraiser to your fellow gym-goers. Ask them about their career, their company, and what they like and dislike about both. Everyone likes talking about themselves, and before you know it, you’ll have built a rapport. Eventually, these new friends will be happy to share job leads and contacts.
• There’s no need to resend a resume. You sent your resume to Company X two years ago when they posted a job you were interested in, so they probably still have it on file, right? Wrong. Most organizations keep resumes for a year (at the outside), so unless you sent one a few weeks ago, send it again. Besides, if it’s been a while since they looked at your resume, you’ve probably—hopefully!—racked up more accomplishments that they should be aware of.
• You can’t overcome a resume gap. If you’re currently between jobs, you may think that employers will send your resume straight to the circular file once they detect that gap in work history. Because of this myth, some job seekers are tempted to blur the lines of truth in order to cover it up. Don’t. Especially in today’s tough economy where thousands of talented people have been downsized through no fault of their own, employers are very willing to accept some out-of-work time as a norm.
• Your resume should demonstrate your mastery over everything in the work world. True, you want to come off as an expert in your field, but employers don’t care—and may not believe—that you can design a high-rise building, have memorized all one million tax laws, and can perform brain surgery if the need arises. You need to focus on a couple of areas that match the job for which you’re applying. If you’re an outstanding salesperson as well as an intensive care nurse, you need two resumes tailored to best display your strengths and accomplishments in each field. Dual careers make interesting water cooler talk after you’re hired, but they’re just confusing—and unnecessary—on your resume.
• Your salary requirements should be next to nothing. When jobs are tough to come by, it’s tempting to tell potential employers that you’ll work for a pittance—heck, you’ll pay them to work there. But unless you’re changing careers entirely or just starting out in the work world, that’s a mistake. It’s not unusual for someone from HR to call and conduct a brief screening before bringing you in for an interview, and part of that typically involves asking about your salary requirements. Give them a range if you don’t feel comfortable with an exact figure, but be sure that you’ll be satisfied with a salary anywhere in that range. Firms really don’t like to be given one salary during the screening and another (higher) salary during negotiations.
Get more job search and resume writing tips from JobGoRound.com.
• Help wanted ads are the best place to hunt for a job. The first places people look when they want or need a new job is online job boards and newspaper classifieds. Why? Because it’s easy and requires virtually no effort on the job-seeker’s part—which is why everybody does it. That’s a huge problem in a tight job market. You might be very good at what you do, but are you better than all 50,000 people looking at the same ad that you are? By all means, use help wanted ads as a jumping off point for your search, but if you stop there, you’ll be looking for work for a long, long time. Contact the career center at your alma mater, call placement agencies (what used to be known as “temp agencies”), and talk to people you know about job leads.
• I don’t have anyone to network with. Networking is often the most difficult avenue for job-seekers, but it can offer the best results. No one wants to feel like a charity case by asking friends and family members to hook them up with a job, but the trick to networking is to think of it as a relationship-building process. Go outside of your immediate circle and chat up everyone from people at your church to other parents at your kid’s fundraiser to your fellow gym-goers. Ask them about their career, their company, and what they like and dislike about both. Everyone likes talking about themselves, and before you know it, you’ll have built a rapport. Eventually, these new friends will be happy to share job leads and contacts.
• There’s no need to resend a resume. You sent your resume to Company X two years ago when they posted a job you were interested in, so they probably still have it on file, right? Wrong. Most organizations keep resumes for a year (at the outside), so unless you sent one a few weeks ago, send it again. Besides, if it’s been a while since they looked at your resume, you’ve probably—hopefully!—racked up more accomplishments that they should be aware of.
• You can’t overcome a resume gap. If you’re currently between jobs, you may think that employers will send your resume straight to the circular file once they detect that gap in work history. Because of this myth, some job seekers are tempted to blur the lines of truth in order to cover it up. Don’t. Especially in today’s tough economy where thousands of talented people have been downsized through no fault of their own, employers are very willing to accept some out-of-work time as a norm.
• Your resume should demonstrate your mastery over everything in the work world. True, you want to come off as an expert in your field, but employers don’t care—and may not believe—that you can design a high-rise building, have memorized all one million tax laws, and can perform brain surgery if the need arises. You need to focus on a couple of areas that match the job for which you’re applying. If you’re an outstanding salesperson as well as an intensive care nurse, you need two resumes tailored to best display your strengths and accomplishments in each field. Dual careers make interesting water cooler talk after you’re hired, but they’re just confusing—and unnecessary—on your resume.
• Your salary requirements should be next to nothing. When jobs are tough to come by, it’s tempting to tell potential employers that you’ll work for a pittance—heck, you’ll pay them to work there. But unless you’re changing careers entirely or just starting out in the work world, that’s a mistake. It’s not unusual for someone from HR to call and conduct a brief screening before bringing you in for an interview, and part of that typically involves asking about your salary requirements. Give them a range if you don’t feel comfortable with an exact figure, but be sure that you’ll be satisfied with a salary anywhere in that range. Firms really don’t like to be given one salary during the screening and another (higher) salary during negotiations.
Get more job search and resume writing tips from JobGoRound.com.
Resumes For Older Workers
You’re well established in your career and can bring years of experience to any company lucky enough to hire you. So why do older workers often have trouble landing a job? Part of the reason is that age discrimination—though illegal—happens every day, often before a candidate even has the opportunity to interview. To combat this, it’s essential to create a resume that spotlights all of your wonderful experience and downplays potential objections.
• Choose the best format. People right out of college often choose a traditional resume format that starts with education, goes into work experience, and ends with a skills section. This isn’t the best format for more experienced workers, however. Instead, use a functional resume (where your skills are front and center) or a combination resume (which merges the skills-focused functional resume with a reverse chronological format). If you’ve jumped around a lot career-wise, a functional resume may be right for you. If your career has more or less stayed within one industry, you can choose either a functional or a combination format.
• Stay away from dates. This is especially important when it comes to college dates. It’s still a good idea to list your education, but you can note your degree(s) and the college you attended without the associated dates. This applies even if you went back to school later in your career; it’ll confuse employers who expect a 30-year-old to show up for an interview and then meet a 60-year-old. Some resume experts also advise excluding dates related to previous jobs; instead, you can simply state the number of years you were employed at each company or within each position.
• Stick to the rule of 15. The general rule of thumb is to only include positions you’ve held within the last 15 years, but you can be a little more flexible if you’ve been in the same position with the same company for that period of time. This doesn’t mean that you’re out of luck if you have impressive accomplishments that date back more than 15 years. You can create a separate section for successes and list your achievements there.
• Emphasize continual learning. Yes, you have decades of experience, but you’ve probably also been removed from formal education for decades as well. This can be a concern for potential employers who want to be sure that you’ve kept up with changes in your field over the years. To help ease this fear, make sure to prominently list all of the classes and continuing education you’ve participated in. Similarly, it’s essential to broadcast your computer skills.
• Consider downplaying titles. Unfortunately, many hiring managers see titles like “vice president” and assume that you’re out of their price range. This may or may not be true, but you want the chance to find out during the interview process rather than being unilaterally dismissed based on an assumption. Depending on how anxious you are to secure a job, you may want to consider softening lofty job titles a bit—senior manager instead of vice president, for example.
• Slip in your work ethic. Again, right or wrong, it’s assumed that younger professionals don’t have as strong a work ethic or as much loyalty as older generations. This prejudice can actually work to your benefit. Whether in your resume summary or cover letter, subtly incorporate language that conveys your reliability, responsibility, and desire to find a company where you can contribute for years to come.
Get more resume writing help by using a professional resume writer.
• Choose the best format. People right out of college often choose a traditional resume format that starts with education, goes into work experience, and ends with a skills section. This isn’t the best format for more experienced workers, however. Instead, use a functional resume (where your skills are front and center) or a combination resume (which merges the skills-focused functional resume with a reverse chronological format). If you’ve jumped around a lot career-wise, a functional resume may be right for you. If your career has more or less stayed within one industry, you can choose either a functional or a combination format.
• Stay away from dates. This is especially important when it comes to college dates. It’s still a good idea to list your education, but you can note your degree(s) and the college you attended without the associated dates. This applies even if you went back to school later in your career; it’ll confuse employers who expect a 30-year-old to show up for an interview and then meet a 60-year-old. Some resume experts also advise excluding dates related to previous jobs; instead, you can simply state the number of years you were employed at each company or within each position.
• Stick to the rule of 15. The general rule of thumb is to only include positions you’ve held within the last 15 years, but you can be a little more flexible if you’ve been in the same position with the same company for that period of time. This doesn’t mean that you’re out of luck if you have impressive accomplishments that date back more than 15 years. You can create a separate section for successes and list your achievements there.
• Emphasize continual learning. Yes, you have decades of experience, but you’ve probably also been removed from formal education for decades as well. This can be a concern for potential employers who want to be sure that you’ve kept up with changes in your field over the years. To help ease this fear, make sure to prominently list all of the classes and continuing education you’ve participated in. Similarly, it’s essential to broadcast your computer skills.
• Consider downplaying titles. Unfortunately, many hiring managers see titles like “vice president” and assume that you’re out of their price range. This may or may not be true, but you want the chance to find out during the interview process rather than being unilaterally dismissed based on an assumption. Depending on how anxious you are to secure a job, you may want to consider softening lofty job titles a bit—senior manager instead of vice president, for example.
• Slip in your work ethic. Again, right or wrong, it’s assumed that younger professionals don’t have as strong a work ethic or as much loyalty as older generations. This prejudice can actually work to your benefit. Whether in your resume summary or cover letter, subtly incorporate language that conveys your reliability, responsibility, and desire to find a company where you can contribute for years to come.
Get more resume writing help by using a professional resume writer.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Are Resume Distribution Services a Rip-off?
When you are looking for a job the last thing you want to be doing is going to all the different job posting boards that you can find and entering in your personal information again and again followed by posting your resume and because of that many people are now choosing to go with a resume distribution service. The purpose of a resume service is to distribute your resume to as many potential employers as possible saving you time, but are resume services worth their salt or are they just a big rip-off?
Resume distribution services can be a blessing or a rip-off and the answer really depends on the resume distribution service you are going with. There are so many to choose from that the task of finding a good resume service versus one that wants to just take your money can be daunting at times. Here are some ways to help you decide if the company is a rip-off or legit:
• Where they post: Many resume distribution services will claim to post your resume to thousands of employers that are ready to hire now. The problem is that many of these employers are getting so bombarded with resumes from bunk services like these that they never even open the resume and you never even get seen. Also, these types of companies typically blast out your resume to thousands of jobs that are not even relevant to your work history. Look for companies that offer you a choice of where to have your resume sent or at least what business sectors to have it sent out to.
• Are they accredited: Look for signs of accreditation such as the Better Business Bureau, or BBB, and if you want to be sure that they are on the up and up you can check with the BBB to see if any complaints have ever been filed.
• Beware the price trap: The old saying is that you get what you pay for. Many resume distribution services will charge you just a little bit of money and do very little to no work. If something is not effective does it really matter how cheap it is? While it is not necessary to go with the most expensive service you should stay away from the rock bottom priced ones as well. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, that is probably because it is.
• Multiple levels of service: They are only supposed to be distributing your resume so why the different price levels? Stay far away from the services that offer you a great deal at one price, but an even better deal at a higher price. These companies are simply out to rip you off.
• How often they post: This can only be found out by asking, but you need to know how often they post. Is it a one shot deal or do they constantly keep getting your resume in the hands of potential employers?
While posting your resume to multiple job boards does take time and is easier accomplished by hiring a resume distribution service, if you have a bad one you are doing yourself no good. Don’t let these rip-off companies waste your time, instead look for one that is reputable and will get you the results you are after.
Resume distribution services can be a blessing or a rip-off and the answer really depends on the resume distribution service you are going with. There are so many to choose from that the task of finding a good resume service versus one that wants to just take your money can be daunting at times. Here are some ways to help you decide if the company is a rip-off or legit:
• Where they post: Many resume distribution services will claim to post your resume to thousands of employers that are ready to hire now. The problem is that many of these employers are getting so bombarded with resumes from bunk services like these that they never even open the resume and you never even get seen. Also, these types of companies typically blast out your resume to thousands of jobs that are not even relevant to your work history. Look for companies that offer you a choice of where to have your resume sent or at least what business sectors to have it sent out to.
• Are they accredited: Look for signs of accreditation such as the Better Business Bureau, or BBB, and if you want to be sure that they are on the up and up you can check with the BBB to see if any complaints have ever been filed.
• Beware the price trap: The old saying is that you get what you pay for. Many resume distribution services will charge you just a little bit of money and do very little to no work. If something is not effective does it really matter how cheap it is? While it is not necessary to go with the most expensive service you should stay away from the rock bottom priced ones as well. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, that is probably because it is.
• Multiple levels of service: They are only supposed to be distributing your resume so why the different price levels? Stay far away from the services that offer you a great deal at one price, but an even better deal at a higher price. These companies are simply out to rip you off.
• How often they post: This can only be found out by asking, but you need to know how often they post. Is it a one shot deal or do they constantly keep getting your resume in the hands of potential employers?
While posting your resume to multiple job boards does take time and is easier accomplished by hiring a resume distribution service, if you have a bad one you are doing yourself no good. Don’t let these rip-off companies waste your time, instead look for one that is reputable and will get you the results you are after.
How to Negotiate Salary
Your dream employer is interested in hiring you and all that lies in the way now is to negotiate your salary. You want to be sure that you get what you are worth, but at the same time you don’t want to lose this huge job opportunity. So how so you go about successfully negotiating your salary?
Getting what your worth is not an impossibility if you do a little homework ahead of time and know what you are doing going into the negotiations. Here are some vital tips on how to successfully negotiate your salary:
• Research the company: This is a step all too often overlooked. You need to know going into negotiations the financial state that the company is in. If they are in great shape financially you probably have more room to work as far as salary goes.
• Research your industry: Find out what other companies in the industry you are going for are paying for your particular position. Of course some will be higher and some will be lower, but this will give you a great average and a great place to start.
• Ask about benefits: Benefits should also be factored into how much you are willing to take. The dollar amount may be off of what you are expecting, but if you get perks such as a company car, an expense account, health insurance, and a 401 K plan, you may actually be able to take less as the perks will make up for the lesser dollar amount. Be sure to discuss perks so that they know that you are going to require more money if the perks are too few.
• Avoid salary talk beforehand: Make sure that the company is seriously interested in hiring you before you spit out any solid numbers for salary. If the company really wants you this plays to your advantage. If asked about it before hand, counter with a question of your own, such as ‘What is the salary range here?’ This will avoid the numbers talk too early and give you some sort of indication on where you should try to aim for.
• Don’t lie: Never lie about your past salary. A quick reference check can return the fact that you lied about it and that will do you absolutely no good. Be honest about what you made in the past if asked and remember, you are either worth what you asking or you are not.
• Throw a high ball: Always ask for more that you will settle for. By doing so you leave room for negotiating to actually take place. If you come in at the number you actually want then the company needs only counter your offer once and you are already under what you want. A word of caution here, don’t get too crazy. If you high ball a number that is too ‘out of the ballpark’ you may not get a counter offer at all and you will thus blow the whole deal.
Finally, you have to try to control the situation. Be firm but don’t be demanding and remember that if you don’t ask for what you are worth then chances are you probably won’t get it.
Get more career advice at JobGoRound.com, which provides job search tips, interview advice, and resume service reviews.
Getting what your worth is not an impossibility if you do a little homework ahead of time and know what you are doing going into the negotiations. Here are some vital tips on how to successfully negotiate your salary:
• Research the company: This is a step all too often overlooked. You need to know going into negotiations the financial state that the company is in. If they are in great shape financially you probably have more room to work as far as salary goes.
• Research your industry: Find out what other companies in the industry you are going for are paying for your particular position. Of course some will be higher and some will be lower, but this will give you a great average and a great place to start.
• Ask about benefits: Benefits should also be factored into how much you are willing to take. The dollar amount may be off of what you are expecting, but if you get perks such as a company car, an expense account, health insurance, and a 401 K plan, you may actually be able to take less as the perks will make up for the lesser dollar amount. Be sure to discuss perks so that they know that you are going to require more money if the perks are too few.
• Avoid salary talk beforehand: Make sure that the company is seriously interested in hiring you before you spit out any solid numbers for salary. If the company really wants you this plays to your advantage. If asked about it before hand, counter with a question of your own, such as ‘What is the salary range here?’ This will avoid the numbers talk too early and give you some sort of indication on where you should try to aim for.
• Don’t lie: Never lie about your past salary. A quick reference check can return the fact that you lied about it and that will do you absolutely no good. Be honest about what you made in the past if asked and remember, you are either worth what you asking or you are not.
• Throw a high ball: Always ask for more that you will settle for. By doing so you leave room for negotiating to actually take place. If you come in at the number you actually want then the company needs only counter your offer once and you are already under what you want. A word of caution here, don’t get too crazy. If you high ball a number that is too ‘out of the ballpark’ you may not get a counter offer at all and you will thus blow the whole deal.
Finally, you have to try to control the situation. Be firm but don’t be demanding and remember that if you don’t ask for what you are worth then chances are you probably won’t get it.
Get more career advice at JobGoRound.com, which provides job search tips, interview advice, and resume service reviews.
Painless Cover Letter Writing
Writing a great looking cover letter is the first step to you getting an interview at the company of your dreams. Yes it is the resume that actually tells all about your work history and qualifications, but the cover letter is the first thing that the potential employer looks at before they view your resume and a cover letter offers more flexibility when it comes to selling yourself. Along with your personal information, a basic cover letter contains the following:
1. The position in which you are applying for.
2. Your reasons for wanting the job.
3. Any skills you have that relate to that job.
4. Your knowledge of the company in which you are trying to get into.
Writing a cover letter doesn’t have to be rocket science and if you follow these tips you will be on your way to painless cover letter writing that will have you knocking the socks of the potential employer before your resume is every viewed:
• Think before you write: Map out on paper what you want to say on your cover letter. This will allow you time to organize your thoughts so that you can better write your cover letter.
• Short and sweet: Your cover letter should be short, concise, and to the point and should be kept to one page if possible. You want it to be professional sounding, but if you drag it on too long, you may lose the interest of the reader. Keep them wanting more because that more is your resume.
• Make it a custom fit: When writing the cover letter make it a custom fit for the particular job you are going after. If you are going after a managerial job then make your cover letter relevant to that job. If you have managerial experience tell the potential employer that you would be the perfect candidate for the job because of it and if you do not, explain why you think you would be perfect to become a manger. Bottom line is custom fit it.
• Draft, draft, draft: While your cover letter needs to be a masterpiece, it’s not a painting and you don’t have to get it on the first shot. Be prepared to do a draft or two, or three, whatever it takes. This is going to allow you to add new ideas and subtract rambling that don’t need to be included.
• Proof read: Nothing say, ‘Please go on to the next resume,’ like a cover letter that is full of spelling and grammatical errors. Check it several times and make sure it is perfect when done.
• Would you hire yourself: Once you have completed your cover letter, read it over as though you where the potential employer. Did you find it so intriguing that you feel like you want to know more? If not, then chances are that the potential employer won’t either. If you find this happening, go back and add and subtract until you are satisfied.
Often times you only get one shot at a job you are going after so make it a good one. Take your time and create your masterpiece cover letter and doors will fly open like you never saw before.
Get more cover letter tips. Consider starting with a sample cover letter to make your writing faster and more professional.
1. The position in which you are applying for.
2. Your reasons for wanting the job.
3. Any skills you have that relate to that job.
4. Your knowledge of the company in which you are trying to get into.
Writing a cover letter doesn’t have to be rocket science and if you follow these tips you will be on your way to painless cover letter writing that will have you knocking the socks of the potential employer before your resume is every viewed:
• Think before you write: Map out on paper what you want to say on your cover letter. This will allow you time to organize your thoughts so that you can better write your cover letter.
• Short and sweet: Your cover letter should be short, concise, and to the point and should be kept to one page if possible. You want it to be professional sounding, but if you drag it on too long, you may lose the interest of the reader. Keep them wanting more because that more is your resume.
• Make it a custom fit: When writing the cover letter make it a custom fit for the particular job you are going after. If you are going after a managerial job then make your cover letter relevant to that job. If you have managerial experience tell the potential employer that you would be the perfect candidate for the job because of it and if you do not, explain why you think you would be perfect to become a manger. Bottom line is custom fit it.
• Draft, draft, draft: While your cover letter needs to be a masterpiece, it’s not a painting and you don’t have to get it on the first shot. Be prepared to do a draft or two, or three, whatever it takes. This is going to allow you to add new ideas and subtract rambling that don’t need to be included.
• Proof read: Nothing say, ‘Please go on to the next resume,’ like a cover letter that is full of spelling and grammatical errors. Check it several times and make sure it is perfect when done.
• Would you hire yourself: Once you have completed your cover letter, read it over as though you where the potential employer. Did you find it so intriguing that you feel like you want to know more? If not, then chances are that the potential employer won’t either. If you find this happening, go back and add and subtract until you are satisfied.
Often times you only get one shot at a job you are going after so make it a good one. Take your time and create your masterpiece cover letter and doors will fly open like you never saw before.
Get more cover letter tips. Consider starting with a sample cover letter to make your writing faster and more professional.
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