Thursday, May 28, 2020
What to Include in a Cover Letter What Goes Where
What to Include in a Cover Letter What Goes Where You're about to learn what to include in a cover letter, but first:Whew! Weeks spent looking for a job have finally paid off.You found a position that has your name written all over it.You know you need a cover letter But what goes in a cover letter besides blood, sweat, and tears?Worried you might miss something?If you dont include the right things in your cover letter, your dream job will slip by.Cheer up!If you know what to put in a cover letter, writing one will be a breeze. Not only thatyoull actually write an attention-grabbing cover letter that will get employers on the phone ASAP.This brief cover letter guide will show you:What should be in a cover letter to start getting interviews.What goes in a cover letter introduction that makes managers read on.A great hack you have to put in a cover letter to make sure employers respond.Plus, what to include in a cover letterexamples from career experts.Heres an infographic showing you what to put ona cover letter:Want to save time and have your cover letter ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder, which doubles as a great cover letter builder. Its fast, easy-to-use, and you'll get tips and right-vs-wrong examples while writing it. See 10+ cover letter templates and create your cover letter here.See what to include in a cover letter:1. Your Personal Info, Contact Details Date2. The Details of the Company You're Applying to3. A Professional Salutation (Formal Greeting)4. An Introduction with Your Skills and Professional Wins to Grab the Recruiter's Attention5. Reasons Youre a Perfect Fit for the Job6. Reasons the Company is a Perfect Fit for You7. A Strong Closing Paragraph with a Compelling Call to Action8. A Professional Closing Sentiment Your Name9.A Postscript at the Bottom of Your Cover Letter to Seal the DealRead on for a detailed explanation of what to put in a cover letter in individual sections:1Your Personal Info, Contact Details DateFirst up when putting together a cover letter is the heading area , as it was when you were starting your resume. The heading area is where youll put your personal information, and its look (cover letter fonts and cover letter design) may vary depending on the cover letter template that you use.Heres what it may look like:Must-haves include your name, email address, and phone number. Nice-to-haves are your mailing address, branding statement, and a LinkedIn profile. End your cover letter header by inserting the date of writing before moving on.Pro Tip: Dont add the rest of your social links, profile URLs, and portfolio information with your contact details as you did on your resume, unless the cover letter template you choose includes an area for them.2The Details of the Company You're Applying toImmediately after the date, its time to add the addressee. In your case, its a company, but try to find the specific name of the hiring manager or HR director to insert at the top of the company address. This will make it feel more personalized and will b e much more compelling.Pro Tip: Research on the company website, or a site like Glassdoor, to locate the name of the hiring manager. This gives it that personalized touch, and it will help in the following sections of your cover letter, as well.Want to write your cover letter fast?Use our cover letter builder. Choose from20+ professional cover letter templatesthat match your resume. See actionable examples and get expert tips along the way.Sample Cover Letter for a ResumeSee more cover letter templates and create your cover letter here.One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.Create your resume nowDont address your cover letter the right way, and you could jeopardize your entire job application. To get it right, see this: How to Address a Cover Letter: Sample Guide [20+ Examples]3A Professional Salutation (Formal Greeting)Youd scowl if the barista at Starbucks called out, Hey, y ou! when handing over your mocha frap, right? Well, the same thing goes for cover letters when the hiring manager reads it, as well.One of the best cover letter tips out there is to call them by name. Something like, Dear Ms. Srivastava, will work just perfectly. Using a title and their last name is formal and fine, but you can also grab their attention by calling them by their first name: Dear Jacqueline,.Now, what about that Dear part? Dear is regarded as one of the best cover letter salutations out there, as it is useful whether the letter is formal or informal, and whether you know their name or not.Not satisfied with Dear? Cant find a name? Weve got other options for various scenarios on starting a cover letter: How to Start a Cover Letter: Sample Complete Guide [20+ Examples]4An Introduction with Your Skills and Professioanl Wins to Grabs the Recruiter's AttentionNow we get to the good stuff: the opening statement. Like with the compelling first line in a great novel, the ope ning paragraph on a cover letter should hook them immediately in a way that makes them want to read further.There are different ways to go about this. As long as they grab the hiring managers attention, you wont go wrong. Lets look at an example of a great cover letter opening:As a longtime fan of United Airlines peerless flying experience, I was excited to see the opening for long-haul flight attendants. With my experience as an award-winning flight attendant for Lufthansa, I know I can use my skill set and knowledge to become a valuable member of the United Airlines team.This one is written about the company, and it gives some compelling arguments of why they would be a great addition to the companys team. This makes a great opening, and it will make them want to read more.Pro Tip: As you called out their name in the greeting, mention the companys name in the opening paragraph, as well. It feel more personalized, and it ensures the recruiter that this is a dedicated cover letter, not one you mass-emailed all over the continent.Listing responsibilities without achievements wont fly on your resume, and it wont work on your cover letter, either: Achievements to Put on a Resume - Complete Guide (+30 Examples)5ReasonsYoure a Perfect Fit for the JobYouve got them hooked, now start reeling them in with your second paragraph. In the second paragraph of a cover letter, show them how you are the perfect fit for the company and team.Heres an example of what a future barista might say in their second paragraph:In my current position as a residential painter, Ive had many responsibilities and achievements that would serve me well as a future Koffee Konsultants barista. Completing painting jobs all around Manhattan gives me a unique sense of speedy work under high pressure while maintaining quality, something that can translate easily into the fast-paced positions at your cafes. On top of that, my numerous clients have always maintained that I exuded a sense of profession alism while remaining warm and friendly in conversation during jobs, which would be useful in the cozy and inviting atmosphere of the Koffee Konsultants cafe.See that? With that paragraph, you show that even though you have no barista experience, your acquired skills from painting gigs and inherent attitude and friendliness would make you the ideal new hire.Pro Tip: As the items in this middle paragraph are of significant importance to the company and hiring manager, dont afraid to make this one longer than the rest.Weve got more where that came from. Check out our ultimate guide: How To Write A Resume Cover Letter in 8 Simple Steps6Reasonsthe Company is a Perfect Fit for YouNow youre over the hump, but you still got a little ways to go before the end. For the third paragraph, explain to them why their company and this position in particular is perfect for you.Lets look at an example for a future chef of Greek cuisine:Obtaining the head chef position would be my dream come true. Ive long been a fan of the seafood dishes you serve and the wines you suggest. In fact, Baharis peerless menu is what caused me to study Greek cuisine to begin with. Though I love cooking with all my heart, there is no other restaurant that would make me as happy to work for. I know, should I be honored with the position, that Id be the envy of the neighborhood as Baharis head chef!How about that one? You praised the restaurant and showed them just how great a position there would be for you. You gave specific examples of what attracted you to apply, and just you wait, this attitude will not go unnoticed!Pro Tip: Let your hair down and wear your heart on your sleeve. Skip the robotic tone for the resume, and convey your enthusiasm and excitement for the position here in this third paragraph!Weve got a wealth of tips on writing a cover letter that will let you stand out: 35+ Successful Cover Letter Tips, Advice Guidelines7A Strong Closing Paragraph with a Compelling Call to ActionJust about there! Youve grabbed their attention in the opening paragraph, showed them that you will only benefit their company and any team youre a part of, and told them why this position is just so damn perfect for you.Now go for a strong finish with an impressive closing paragraph by briefly summing up:I would welcome the chance to discuss your digital marketing objectives and show you how my successes at ABC can translate into digital and online marketing growth for XYZ.See that? You bring it to a satisfying end by summarizing your letter and then leaving the ball in their court.Pro Tip: How long should a cover letter be? Keep it down to no more than the areas weve talked about here. It shouldnt near a page in length and definitely not a 2-page cover letter!Closing strong on a cover letter is just as critical as an attention-grabbing beginning. Read this for more examples: How to End a Cover Letter: Sample Complete Guide [+20 Examples]8A Professional Closing Sentiment Your NameNow youre there! Its time to just add a closing sentiment followed by your name and you can let out a sigh of contentment at your accomplishment. Heres what that could look like:Sincerely,John SmithNot much to it, right? That closing sentiment is often called a complimentary close (or complimentary closing), which is then followed by your name to end the cover letter.Remember to add a cover letter enclosure to make sure the hiring manager knows you sent through a complete application.Pro Tip: You can let loose a bit in your cover letter, but just as with the formal header, where you structured your address and theirs, keep the closing sentiment more formal.9A Postscript at the Bottom of Your Cover Letter to Seal the DealWait a minute, I thought you said we were done!Though not at all a necessary section on your cover letter, adding a P.S. is a great hack when writing a cover letter. Every great cover letter contains a postscript.Let me show you what I mean:P.S. Id love the opportunity t o sit down with you and go over how I can bring similar results (12% productivity increase) to your office, as well.A P.S. (postscript) at the bottom of your cover letter always draws the attention of the reader, even if they dont care to read the rest of it.Key TakeawayYou may notice that what to include in a cover letter has a similar formula to the business letters you may have learned to write in school - and thats right. Cover letters are formal letters, so they should follow the standard lettering structure. Cover letters for internships follow the same rules.In a nutshell, here's what a job-winning cover letter should consist of:Start with a bang. Your opening sentence and introductory paragraph on your cover letter are important because itll determine if the hiring manager continues reading. Mention your relevant skills and work achievements to grab their attention.Show you belong together. Use the second and third paragraphs to show that you are a perfect fit for the positi on on offer and the company, but also that they are the ideal place youd love to work at.Finish strong. You kept their attention that far, but have a compelling ending and an attention-grabbing postscript so that theyll be sure to move on to your resume.Do you have any questions on what to put in a cover letter? Not sure about cover letter structure or the basic cover letter parts? Get at us in the comments below and we will answer your question. Thanks for reading!
Monday, May 25, 2020
Its Scary Movie Time - Whats Your Favorite Frightful Flick -
Its Scary Movie Time - Whats Your Favorite Frightful Flick - When I was very little, my siblings took me to see a scary movie. Between that and watching frightening flicks every weekend on television, its amazing I didnt die of suffocation. Because there were many years during which I never came out from under the covers all night long. As an adult, I pretty much avoid anything thats more scary than, say, Goldie Locks And The Three Bears. And thats the cartoon version. But it seems there are still lots of my friends and relatives that just love a good scare, especially as the traditional Halloween season approaches. The last scary movie I saw was Event Horizon. That was twenty years ago, and it so rattled me that I swore off all things horrific or that made me jump and gasp in fright. To this day, I dread this season, because every year it comes with renewed Hollywood one-upmanship to see who can get just a little more gruesome, bloody, or terrifying. Heres a few interesting scary movie statistics, from the people who run redbox.com. Scariest Movie Ever Seen, Ranked Top 5 The Exorcist The Silence of the Lambs The Ring The Shining Saw Favorite Family Friendly Halloween Movie, Ranked Top 5 Hocus Pocus Its the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Beetlejuice The Nightmare Before Christmas Hotel Transylvania Halloween is Scary Movie Season Staying home and watching a scary movie (37%) edged out trick or treating (31%) as respondents favorite way to spend Halloween, while understandably parents with children at home prefer trick or treating (53%) over watching a scary movie (26%). When watching scary movies, most responders (41%) prefer to have their significant other with them. When given the option to choose popcorn or Halloween candy as their favorite snack while watching a scary movie, popcorn was the clear winner for 72% of responders. So whats hot this Halloween on the Scary Movie Menu? Top of the list has to be Jamie Lee Curtis returning to play the iconic Laurie Strode in the âHalloweenâ franchise. Universal Pictures set Oct. 19, 2018, as the release date for what its calling the final film in the âHalloweenâ series. If thats not enough to fill your need to scream, check out the list of the best scary movies of 2018. Im sure youll find ample reason to hide behind the pillow or chair. As for me? Ill be watching a nice romantic comedy, thank you.
Thursday, May 21, 2020
How To Be An Excellent Public Speaker - Classy Career Girl
How To Be An Excellent Public Speaker Do you dread public speaking? Whether we like it or not, we all have to make a speech or give a presentation from time to time. We can do this well or we can do this badly, and the outcome strongly affects the way that people think about us. This is why public speaking causes so much anxiety and concern. You may take comfort in knowing that studies show after death and spiders, speaking in public is what people fear the most. For most, becoming a great public speaker is an art, not a science. Many of the worldâs top CEOs have accredited practice as the number one reason why they are so successful. The good news is that with lots of preparation and practice, you too can leave a lasting impression that you will want people to remember. The most important thing to remember as a public speaker is to be R.E.A.L: Relevant Make sure your topic fits your audience. You would give a different speech to a group of CEOs than you would give to your daughters first grade class. Eloquent Present using clear language. Nothing is worse than sitting through a speech, then asking yourself what was that about? Tell them what youre going to tell them, then tell them, then tell them what you just told them. Articulate Your speech should be well thought out and expressed. This is the opposite of winging it. In order to be articulate you need to put in a significant amount of time preparing for your speech. Learned In order to be a great public speaker, you must be an expert on your topic. Davitt Corporate Partners has created the infographic below that offers us some helpful advice to give the best speech possible.
Sunday, May 17, 2020
Want to Freelance Setting and Sticking to Targets is Crucial.
Want to Freelance Setting and Sticking to Targets is Crucial. Maybe youâre also one of those people who embarked on the full-time freelancing journey with great excitement, only to realise that thereâs still room for growth when it comes to your self-management skills. You set clear and achievable targets and theyâre perfectly doable, but so far theyâve been achieved only in your head. If there was a book written on this subject, it would carry the title âThe Doom of a Freelancer: The Art of Knowing What to Do but Not Doing Itâ. Thereâs no point in beating yourself up though; self-control has always been the hardest thing for us humans to master. But if we can take control of ourselves, we can take control of anything. Dip into the sea of productivity apps for freelancers Clever people invented clever apps so that even freelancers can increase their daily productivity multi-fold. Toggl, for example, keeps track of hours worked as well as gathers information to help you set your hourly rate. Touted as one of the best timesheet software available, time logging with Toggl is incredibly simple. If you havenât entirely grasped the meaning of time is money, Toggl will help you do so. With amazingly detailed reports, attractive visuals and cool overall design, itâs a delight for the eyes. RescueTime will come to your aid if you think the reason behind your unmet targets is keeping absolutely no track of time. The app lets you categorise your time into various activities (business, design/composition, social media etc.) so you can have an accurate idea of where your day goes. How does the app know what you do? Naturally by keeping track of which applications and websites you spend time on. [emailprotected] will help you rechannel your mind into the work groove by listening to music specially engineered to your personality type. You can identify your type by completing a focus quiz developed by neuroscientists. (Bear in mind that your brain typically needs some repetition before it can fully trust a new input like [emailprotected] Once trust is built, though, youâll get into workflow that much quicker.) There are many more apps to choose from and new ones are being developed all the time. If nothing else, taking stock of your time gives you a chance to take control of it. Take your targets seriously One of the reasons people initially set deadlines and commit to goals, but then fail to follow through on them is that they donât take them seriously enough. Why? Most likely because they havenât fully accepted themselves as freelancers/self-employed yet. The idea is sitting on the back shelf of their mind like a possibility rather than the real thing. Plus entering new waters is always a tad uncomfortable; it takes an extra dose of self-discipline and self-sacrifice to get comfy out of the comfort zone. Visualise how youâll end up if you donât stick to your targets How bad would that be? If this imagery doesnât propel you full steam ahead, then perhaps being a solo worker isnât the happiest lifestyle option for you. (It isnât for many, if not most, people). Freelancing has been enjoying tremendous popularity over the past years, but few mention the amount of self-motivation and âself-mobilisationâ one needs to harness in order to be able to live the freelance dream. Freelancers such as Eric Rosenberg have provided insight on why this career path might not fit every personality type. The fact is, freelancing usually doesnât provide steady work at the beginning and things can appear a bit unstable. Nevertheless, every new freelancer should see this as the crucible and, once passed through, all those initial struggles with setting and meeting first targets will seem laughable. Katarina Matiasovska writes for Inspiring Interns, which specialises in finding candidates their perfect internship. To browse our graduate jobs London listings, visit our website.
Thursday, May 14, 2020
Tis the Season to Land an Executive Job - Executive Career Brandâ¢
Tis the Season to Land an Executive Job How did it get to be the holiday season already? Before you know it, the new year will be here, and it will be time to resume your executive job search in earnest. Youâve put your search on hold until January, because everyone knows that no one lands anything but seasonal work in November or December, right? You couldnât be more wrong. According to online job search expert Susan P. Joyce, in a recent post at her Work Coach Café blog: ⢠Only 1% more jobs were open in January and February of 2013 (vs. November and December of 2012). ⢠Only 3% more jobs were filled in January and February of 2013 (vs. November and December of 2012). ⢠Employers are more desperate to fill jobs in November and December. Using employer spending as a measure, employers are willing to pay more to promote their job postings in November and December than they are in January and February (when they have plenty of attention from job seekers). In fact, the holidays are a great time to make networking headway in your job search and land your next gig. Youâll have less competition for about the same number of jobs because everyone thinks itâs the worst time to land a job and donât bother trying. Employers want to fill openings before the end of the year, so theyll be 100% staffed at the start of the 2014. Youâll have more opportunities to meet and speak with executive recruiters, hiring decision makers, and others who can help you with your career goals, because they wonât be inundated with meeting requests, like they will as soon as January gets here. Want to learn how to best accelerate your search over the next 2 months? Susan and I published a nifty Amazon Kindle book to help you: New Year, New Job! 101 Top Tips from the Job-Hunt Experts for Your Holiday Job Search: How to Use the Holidays to Advance Your Job Search And the price is only 99 cents !!! In the ebook youâll find valuable tips and resources from 26 of the job search and career experts at Job-Hunt.org â" one of Forbes Top 100 Websites for Your Career â" with a preface by Richard Bolles, author of What Color Is Your Parachute? Hereâs a great holiday networking tip from Jeff Lipschultz, Job-Hunts Working With Recruiters Expert: Give a recruiter their favorite gift: a lead. If they are the business owner, they will appreciate being introduced to hiring managers interested in working with a new recruiter to fill positions next year (some recruiting firms will even pay a finderâs fee for the lead). Another form of lead is candidates. If you donât fit a job they are working on, but you know a perfect fit, you should present their resume as a gift. Itâs all about networking and helping each other. By providing leads, you are helping the recruiter and they do remember and help people who go the extra mile for them. Read more about the Kindle book and the Job-Hunt Experts, and order it on Amazon. For only 99 cents, this is a steal! And you dont need a Kindle device to read Kindle books. You can download Amazons free Kindle reading app, for your smartphone, computer, or tablet. 00 0
Sunday, May 10, 2020
When Skill Sets Dont Match the Job Market - CareerAlley
When Skill Sets Dont Match the Job Market - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I will be sober and you will still be ugly. Winston Churchill By the time I finished my undergraduate degree (the last half of which I did at night), I knew that I did not want to have a career in my selected major (imagine). Since I was already working during the day to support my degree program at night, I needed to continue within my selected field while I retooled my background. So what did I do? A few months after I finished my undergraduate I started Grad schoole (also at night) and changed my major to a related (but very different) field. Think of your career is ajourney, with lots of forks in the road, each taking you down a different path. Everything you do is a stepping stone to your next (and, at some point) ultimate destination. Research: No job search is complete without doing your homework. International Association for Corporate Professional Recruitment The IACPR site includes a list of professional recruiting firms (list) which you can use as a resource for contacting recruiters. The list also includes corporations which belong to the organization, but you should be able to differentiate with a simple Google search. Association of Executive Search Consultants The AESC site includes a list of executive search firms which you can also use as a resource for contacting search firms. Click here - AESC List. Company Research Vault.com offers company and employer research on their site. You can search by name, industry, state, country, number of employees, etc. (or any combination). There is basic information on each company on their list as well as the companys website (which will have additional information). Job Fairs Monster.com has a Job Fairs page. There is an option to search for job fairs based on your zip code as well as some job fair tips and resources. There is a calendar of events by state/city and a job fair registration option. Monster also offers an article onAre Job Fairs Worth Your Time? Good luck in your search. Visit me on Facebook
Friday, May 8, 2020
How to Find a Retaining a Lawyer to Write Your Resume
How to Find a Retaining a Lawyer to Write Your ResumeResume writing services are growing in number. While most would think of the basic resume, there are a variety of requirements that would need to be incorporated in these documents. When submitting these documents for possible employment purposes, it is important to know exactly what the needs are and how best to meet them.In addition to needing to include the basic requirements for success, there are legal requirements that must be met. This includes those issues of age, disability, education, law enforcement and occupation. There are also different requirements for the country in which the applicant resides. That is where the necessity of hiring a qualified resume writing service can become very important.The way that a resume should look is a critical part of its presentation. In many cases, it may have to be extensively modified to make the most of the structure provided. For example, if it is being used for employment purposes , a high degree of detail may be needed. In these instances, the personal details are almost always necessary. These may include the education, legal name, occupation, assets, skills, hobbies, and other related data.This information is often left out of the resume and is referred to as personal information. Most employers are very particular about the personal information and will ask that it be included. Another common problem is an incorrect spelling and grammar. This is another situation where a qualified resume writing service would be valuable. The resume may need to be modified based on these elements.One can hire a freelance resume writer or do some research by searching online. However, in most cases, hiring a lawyer will be the best choice. Some might even suggest that it is better to call a few professionals and ask for their opinion. Some may have already written an employer's own resume and are ready to give their own input. There are also a lot of questions on whether a resume is proper or not. Not everyone has the experience and knowledge to write one themselves.Using a professional resume writer to provide an assessment of what the requirements are is the best way to go. A resume written by a lawyer is often more accurate than one written by an amateur. This is because a lawyer knows about all of the laws pertaining to employment and would know what is required. This can also include federal and state law as well as other related legal regulations. The resume may not be as thorough as it could be but it is a simple guideline that will often provide the employer with what they need.Some argue that hiring a professional resume writer is too costly. There are also other reasons for doing so. In general, a lawyer is considered a higher quality document and is usually valued. It is sometimes difficult to find these types of writers in a location other than in a lawyer's office. In this case, hiring a lawyer provides the best solution.
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