Hate cover letters? Well, now is the time to get over your hate and start to love them. Okay, maybe not love them but at least understand their importance to employers.

My students always ask if cover letters really do matter. My answer is yes they do matter. Cover letters are a very important part of your job search strategy. Your job is to provide your customer (employer) with all the tools needed to make a final purchase decision regarding different products for sale (job seekers). Cover letters provides an opportunity for job seekers to differentiate themselves among competitors. Cover letters also provide another chance for job seekers to showcase their skills using examples and paint a picture for the employer. Just like products paint a picture for potential consumers you need to do the same.  In today’s economy you need to standout. Consider cover letters a necessity for today’s job seekers.

Please note that your cover letter needs to be written well. Sending bad marketing material to your consumer is not going to sell the product. But it will surely hurt your chances for interviewing. At the same time there is nothing worst then not sending marketing material at all.

 Remember that a cover letter is simply a business document. Meaning they are concise and to-the-point not English papers but at the same time provide enough information for readers to make a sound decision. In this case the employer is making the decision to bring you in for an interview or not.

 The purpose of the cover letter -

  • Serve as an introduction to the employer
  • Address the position you are seeking and hoping to interview for
  • Serve as one of your self marketing tools
  • Communicate that you are the product to solve the needs of the employer
  • Offer and invite the employer to contact you
 Try to keep your cover letter to one page. Remember employers are busy. They hardly have time to recruit and fill for openings. It is your job to make it easy for the employer to identify you as the solution to their problem.
 
 
How can you build a power network? First, start thinking of networking not as a work style, but as a lifestyle that can enhance your personal and professional life. Then develop your networking skills. This takes time and practice.


  • Make the person you are speaking with feel comfortable from the very first meeting.
  • Look people in the eye as you communicate with them
  • Ask questions and listen intently, rather than scanning the room for someone more important to talk to.
  • Be loyal and look out for your friends.
  • Be easy to work with.
  • Have an enjoyable presence and be at ease with both men and women.
  • Exude confidence.
  • Embrace all people, not just the right people.
  • Follow up and stay in touch with those in your network  
 

Remember, if you do not follow up and stay in touch with those in your network they won’t be around for long. Networking is a lifestyle that does not have a start and end date. Be ready to network at any given time. Always have business cards available at all times. You never know when you will meet someone who could possibly assist you. After all, approximately 15% of available jobs are advertised meaning 85% are filled using other methods.  

 
 
Take a close look at your facebook or myspace page from an outside prospective. What types of pictures are posted? Would you be comfortable with someone from your company or a potential employer viewing your profile? If not please clean it up! What type of music do you add to your Myspace page? You can be certain that employers are checking you online persona and including what they find in their hiring decision. Even if your page is block or set to private, do you know everyone you are connected to and who they are connected too? Are you willing to take the risk? Have you done a thorough Google search on yourself to see what appears when someone does a key word search with your name? Check your Flickr, YouTube, LinkedIn, Ning, Twitter and etc accounts. Make sure they are not hurting your personal brand.

 
Protect your online image. Be careful with the information you post about yourself on the internet. My advice is if anything is attached to your name (your brand) keep it professional. I am very active in the social networking and media scene. I choose carefully what information I post about myself and the people I connect and add to my network and you should too. Yes, I recommend that you use social media but do not forget that anyone may be looking. The wrong pictures and information posted about you could lead to a damage brand.

 
Just like a brand for a product can be ruin so can yours. Your brand is something to protect and cherish. You are the one that can build and maintain it. Be sure you are making the right decisions. Your brand is the only one you have so don’t let others destroy it. Do not be careless with it. Just like a brand for a product once it is destroyed it is almost impossible to restore back to what it was.


 

 



 
 
  Job seekers, there is no doubt that you are facing a very challenging time. Whether you have 20 years of experience or only a year, the pressure is on. But realize it is not impossible to find opportunities, despite our current economic standing. Job seekers, you have to go the extra mile to show employers that you are the right fit. A few years ago, employers could handle the risk of hiring the wrong fit, but today it is very different. The cost to let an employee go and hire another is very high. Employers want to pick the right fit the first time around.


Here are my tips to help you stand out…

 

1. What is your brand and value proposition? What will you bring to the employer? What makes you better than the rest? This needs to be communicated in your resume, cover letter, interview and even as you network. Have your elevator speech down. If you met the CEO of your dream company and had 30 seconds to talk about yourself... What would you say?

2. Utilized the free career-related workshops offered in your city. Services that can cost hundreds of dollars are available at no cost (or very small fees) from organizations looking to help out job seekers in transition. Do your research! You might be able to get assistance with resume development, interview preparation, networking effectively, and much more for free. If you are in Portland or SW Washington, stay tuned to my site for information regarding events coming up in the area.

 

3. Research every organization before you submit your resume. You need to know about these companies well before an interview. It shows your professionalism and more importantly your interest in the company. Employers want employees who will love their company not just the job. This will help you stand out by showing that you are genuinely interested in the organization and that you will be ready to hit the ground running day one. Do not just check out the company’s website. Read articles on the company and create Google news alerts for companies you wish to work for. Your goal is to impress the employer with your knowledge of their company.

 

4. Joining LinkedIn is a requirement. Job seekers are having amazing luck on LinkedIn. Recruiters, headhunters, hiring managers and others with hiring decision power are recruiting via this site. Make sure you are taking advantage of every aspect of LinkedIn. Many resumes and business cards will have a link to a LinkedIn profile. This is a requirement. Create your profile today. You can also use LinkedIn to find out more about a company and their employees. I know some job seekers use the site to become more familiar with the person they will be interviewing with. You can also use it as a powerful networking tool and meet people who have similar interests as your own.

 

5. Your documents need to be flawless. Resumes, cover letters, thank you letters, websites, social networking sites, portfolios and any other tool you are using to market yourself must be perfect. I know this seems like an apparent one, but typos and grammar issues are pet peeves of employers today. If you can, get the advice of someone in the industry you are looking to go into. Again, all marketing tools need to be 100% error free and be relevant to the industry you are applying for.



 
 
Recent graduates need to brand themselves. It is the most critical part of marketing yourself. You need to think in the mindset of employers. What do employers and your associates think when they see your resume, cover letter, business card, website, blog or even see you in person?

Just as companies are selling products/services to consumers you are selling yourself to potential employers. Think of the 4p’s Product, Promotion, Place and Price.  

Product/Service = YOU
  • Skills
  • Education
  • Experience
Promotion of the Product/Service
  • Resume
  • Cover letter
  • Interview
  • References
Place – Distribution Channel

  • Network Events
  • Job Boards
  • Company’s website
  • Newspaper
  • Cold calling
  • Recruiters
  • Career Fairs
  • Career Center Dept.
Personal branding can help a job seeker communicate their skills and abilities in a unique and effective way. Right now, to most of us personal branding is just a word. I believe it is the cure for surviving the downward economy.  There are 3 times more job seekers than open positions! From my experience working with Job seekers, it is extremely hard to even get an interview in today’s economy. You have to change your approach.

Resume after resume are placed in the front of recruiters. Some will make the cut while others will be tossed away.  How do we get into the pile they read? How do we set ourselves apart? Personal Branding is the answer. We are the products that are sold to employers. What makes your product different from another product?  Knowing the product well along the characteristics of it and how the employer would benefit from it is. If you understand both the product and target well you will be able to sell it with the right mediums.

Don’t be left behind! Brand Yourself!


 
 

Hate cover letters? Well, now is the time to get over your hate and start to love them. Okay, maybe not love them but at least understand their importance to employers. 

 
I received a question from a job seeker yesterday asking if cover letters really do matter. My answer is yes they do matter. Cover letters are a very important part of your job search strategy. Your job is to provide your customer (employer) with all the tools needed to make a final purchase decision regarding different products for sale (job seekers). Cover letters provides an opportunity for job seekers to differentiate themselves among competitors. Cover letters also provide another chance for job seekers to showcase their skills using examples and paint a picture for the employer. Just like products paint a picture for potential consumers you need to do the same.  In today’s economy you need to standout. Consider cover letters a necessity for today’s job seekers.

 

Please note that your cover letter needs to be written well. Sending bad marketing material to your consumer is not going to help your position. But it will surely hurt your chances for interviewing. At the same time there is nothing worst then not sending marketing material at all.

 

Remember that a cover letter is simply a business document. Meaning they are concise and to-the-point not English papers but at the same time provide enough information for readers to make a sound decision. In this case the employer is making the decision to bring you in for an interview or not.

 

The purpose of the cover letter -

 
 

Preparation for the job search process is not easy. It is all about creative and effective communication and this does not happen over night. General resumes are almost meaningless thus creating the process of resume writing more difficult. Today, employers care less about a list of duties completed the past. They are more concerned with results you produced and how you contributed to your past employers. This means you need to tailor your resume to the positions and companies are you applying to. Employers are interested in seeing resumes that clearly demonstrates the applicant ability to be highly effective on the job instead of resumes that only communicates duties found on a job description. They want to know how you will be an asset to their company. Think results while creating your resume one of your most important self-marketing tools.

Here are some tips for your job search:

1) My number one advice to anyone is to create a resume-in-progress. You do not have to wait until you are seeking opportunities to update your resume. Update your resume today! Nothing is worst than an unexpected layoff, but if your resume is ready to go it will make the process run smoother.

2) If you are looking for opportunities be sure to target your resume to the position and company you are applying to. Today is a different type of job market. Employers want to feel special. They are your customers and it is your job to make this happen. These days, many companies use online databases and software to track their applicants and scan resumes as they come in. Your resume will not get into the hands of the hiring manager if it does not communicate your fit for the job. 

3) Highlight your accomplishments. You need to demonstrate how you will be an asset to your future employer.

4) Always include a cover letter every time. Your cover letter should briefly and effectively highlight your skills and strengths that are needed to effectively perform the job well.

5) Research the organization and industry including competitors before applying for the job. You need to be comfortable and able to talk to about this information at any point.

6) Before you apply to the job make sure you have done your research on salaries in the industry. Keep in mind your experience and education levels when looking at these figures. Check out www.salary.com and www.indeed.com.

Remember to focus on the skills and accomplishments that will show you to be a great asset to your potential employer. Do not make the mistake of only focusing on your duties. Your resume, cover letter and interview needs to state “Hire me because I am the right fit.”  

 
 

Every person I work with in the job market knows that I highly recommend business cards for their job search strategy. It is a fabulous idea! When you hand someone your card you are presenting your professionalism. It is one of your marketing tools that can present your brand. Having a business card is very impressive because so few job seekers will take the time and initiative to do so.                        

Business cards will give prospective employers your contact information, but can also highlight the industry you are looking to go into. Some job seekers will use the back of the card to showcase their skills by including a few bullet points. This is how it differs from your typical business card. It can be a powerful marketing tool. They also are easy to carry and can be discreetly giving to a person when a resume would not be suitable.

Business cards are great to have for networking hours, social gatherings, professional association meetings and great to give to an employer.

Be sure to include your name, phone number, website and email address! Your home address can be included but it is not a requirement. One the back of the card is where you can highlight your experience using bullet points almost like a jist card. Make sure your business flows well with the rest of your marketing campaign. The last thing you want is to cause brand confusion. Keep everything consistent… Formatting is key to showcasing your professionalism!  

 
 

 

Do you find yourself asking this question over and over again? Are you on the job boards faithfully only to find positions of no interest to you? Let me ask you what is your job search strategy? If you don't have a strategy other than job boards well there is work to be done.

 

Every time I present on the topic of job search strategy I mention that there are only 15% of available posted on job boards participates are astonished. This is the #1 reason you have to tap into your networks for leverage.  

 

I believe that is it becoming more apparent that networking is extremely important in everything we do. The connections and information we can bring to each other compares to no other source. I am sure you would agree. People are the most powerful resource we have. Why not help each other out if you cam. This takes time. Relationships need to develop and an establishment of trust. To be successful in networking it is important to not just think of yourself. Instead ask yourself how you can help another person. When the time comes and you need information you will have people by your side ready to assist you in finding information and resources you need.

 

With that said, it is important to note that the process of networking starts way before you are in the job market. If you know where you want to be 3 years (Assistant Director of IT) from now make those connections today.

 

How many times have you come close being hired and months later you learned the position was filled within? Or the employer decides to go with another candidate because the person was referred by a trusted source? This happens all the time! You need to network and have people on your side who can speak to your abilities and personality. The best chance of working for your dream job and company is when you have someone ready and willing to recommend you.

 

This is the Public Relations side of your Job Search Campaign. NETWORK, NETWORK AND NETWORK!

 

 
 


If you are unemployed, you have just accepted a full-time job as a seeker. You will put in 40+ hours into your job search easily. Try not to conduct your job search with anything less than a full time effort. This will help you increase you chances of finding the right fit. If you are putting in part time hours for whatever reason remember it may take you longer to find that right opportunity. Searching for the right fit for both you and the employer takes time. To succeed at this position you need to set goals, create a timeline and an action plan to get there. You need to have professional accountability for yourself and your productivity. You also have to take time to educate yourself how to seek out new opportunities. What worked 5+ years ago when you were in the job market is completely different from what is expected of you in today's market.
 
We are treating this like a full time job! Think about it. At your past job you had rules and policies to follow. Maybe you had to be at work at 8am in the morning. You also knew that you had a report due every Friday at Noon. Do this with your job search!
 
Following is a simple work schedule can increase your productivity:

7:30 a.m. - Early morning callbacks to contacts you were unable to reach the previous day.

8:30 a.m. - Off to a quiet area to do further research and write follow-up letters from the day before.

10:30 p.m. - Hit the telephone all afternoon. Do not stop until you have contacted every potential employer and every potential contact

12:30 Lunch time

1:30 p.m. - Send same day follow-up e-mails or letters to the most promising contacts of the day.

3:30 p.m. - One last attempt to reach all those who were unreachable during the day.

4:30 p.m. - Attend an event where you have the chance to network (Career Fairs, Networking after hours, Trade Shows, Professional Association or Volunteer).
 
6:30 p.m. Eat dinner and have some "you" time. You will be more effective during the day if you do this.

Of course this schedule will change per day. In looking at the above, there are major activities missing such as informational interviews, job interviews, morning networking events, all day trade shows and etc. Some of you may be students and cannot commit to the times and hours listed. You will have to adjust the schedule to fit your individual needs.