Teacher Resume Tips: How to use References in your Teacher Resume

Free Resume Articles : Teacher Resume Tips: How to use References in your Teacher Resume by Adam Waxler

Without a doubt teaching jobs can be quite difficult to secure these days. Just go to any popular teaching forum or teacher discussion board and look at all the posts from teachers who are desperately trying to land a good teaching position.

Due to the fact that teaching jobs are so difficult to secure, teachers must do everything they can to stand out form the crowd.

One of the most important aspects of getting a teaching job is your teacher resume. What makes the teacher resume so important is that it is the first, and often times the only thing an administrator or teacher interview committee will see or hear about you. As the old saying goes...you only get one chance to make a first impression...

Therefore, you need to use your resume to make that first impression.

There are many features that make up a quality teacher resume, but this article is about one specific part of that resume...the references. Remember, just like anything else, a person is most likely going to remember the first and last thing they hear/see/read etc. The same holds true for your resume...to stand out you must open with a bang and close with a bang. Unfortunately, this is where many people miss the mark.

At the end of every resume is where the applicant should list their references. However, I am shocked at how many people still simply write "references available upon request". This is a huge mistake. Why make it difficult for your potential employer to seek out your references? Are you trying to hide something? Because that is exactly what "references available upon request" indicates.

What you should do instead is make sure you list your specific references at the bottom and make sure to provide their title/position, telephone number, and email address. Again, you want to make it as easy as possible for the interview committee to contact your references.

Another mistake people make is not listing enough references. All too often people will list only three references. Any qualified teacher should be able to get many, many references. Now, while you will not need to list them all, by listing 5-10 of them you are separating yourself from all the other teachers who only listed three, or worse, stated "references available upon request".

The bottom line is that you want your resume to say loud and clear "Go ahead, check my references...I encourage you do so!"

Again, your references are the last thing the reader will see when reading your resume. By ending with several references that are easy to contact, you are ending with a bang that will make your teacher resume stand out amongst all the others.

About the Author
If you're serious about getting a teaching job and want an unfair advantage over the competition then make sure to read Adam Waxler's "Your Basic Guide to Acing ANY Teacher Interview" @ http://www.TeacherInterviewTips.com .

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=862520

Resume Tips To Land The Perfect Job

Free Resume Articles : Resume Tips To Land The Perfect Job by Tony Jacowski

Your resume must always attract an employer's attention at first sight. Hence make a best resume using some resume tips to land you your dream job

-Always use attractive titles and heading that match the job profile you want and a great way to do this would be to mention the job titles and skill headings clearly. Maintain the flow and the length of the resume and like a myth, you don't have to follow the strict rule of writing a resume in one page. You can highlight the headings to make it more presentable

-Employers generally make snap judgments while reading your resume - and if they see an unrelated job profiles or titles or skills then they immediately assume that you are not qualified for the position. Don't waste your time elaborating on your skills or the headings, as employers don't have time to waste on each resume and determine whether you have the appropriate skill or experience which they are looking for. The design of your resume must showcase your skills, experience and education at the first glance. At first glance, employers must form an image about your skills and abilities.

-Your resume should be designed to attract the employer's attention, but it should not be jazzy and should have the complete content and should include all your skills and abilities. These things may land you an interview, as well as determine your salary package that you may receive.

-Always use powerful words and statements to demonstrate or describe your achievements as well as your responsibilities. These points can grab an employer's attention and elevate your image in front of him or her. The more you specify your positive points, the better. Use powerful words and phrases to control the images that the employers develop about you while reading your resume. Powerful words should match the job profile you are seeking.

-Learn and analyze the key words that employers provide in the advertisements or job descriptions, as this should be the key element in creating powerful and impact oriented resumes.

-Always try and understand and project the employers hidden needs through your resume like for example if an employer needs someone who can handle departments, accounting more efficiently then you should identify it and anticipate the full range of need and show that you can resolve it through your resume.

-Resumes should always provide a list of duties of each applicant without explaining the benefits of the skills to the employers like for example a secretary's resume should state her typing speed and should also state how it could benefit the new employer. The real benefit of the employee should produce more work and also save the employer money.

-Your resume should create an image of you in front of the employer. When writing your resume, keep in mind the level of the job you are seeking and the salary you are expecting. Always use language according to the position you are seeking.

-Try and prioritize the content of your resume, as this is the most important mistake that is made by many job seekers. Always compile statements according to importance, relevance of the job you want.

-Always try and tweak your resume and cover letter as they can generate many more interviews for you. Try and place the heading to the left hand column for retail management positions.

Try and improve your resume as much as possible - after all, it's the one that can get you an interview call.

About the Author
Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solution's Six Sigma Online offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=862383

A Great Cover Letter For Nurse Positions

A Great Cover Letter For Nurse Positions by Mario Churchill

You finally made it through nursing school and are ready to put what you have learned into practice. The first step in getting the nursing job of your dreams is to compose a viable, nursing cover letter to introduce yourself to the potential employer and let them know exactly what you can do. A good cover letter gives your job search the punch it needs to be fruitful and successful. Nurse your cover letter with tender, loving care and you are sure to be satisfied with the end result.

All cover letters are subject to the same basic guidelines but the nursing cover letter must be created with extra care. Choosing what information to include in the letter is an important step in composing it. Writing your cover letter will be a breeze compared to the rigors of nursing school and the complexities of actually practicing medicine once you obtain the job you want. Pick specific skills and cite personal experiences in a short and sweet manner. Direct the hiring manager to your resume for further information. If your cover letter is Approach the task with the same confidence and skill required to accurately assess. Be organized, observant and keep meticulous records to aid you in the cover letter writing process.

If you adhere to the adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure then your cover letter cannot go wrong. Use your cover letter to prevent the reader from getting bored and the prognosis is bound to be favorable. The opening paragraph should let the reader know something about you in a memorable way. It should also allude to your qualifications. Tell the reader how you find out about the position and mention names if you heard about it from a nurse or other health care professional at the facility. Connect yourself to the institution in a way that the hiring manager or nurse is not likely to forget.

Nursing is an occupation that usually requires a continuing education. Many medical professionals are required to take classes in order to keep their licenses current. Nursing is generally no exception to those rules. If your license is current and everything is good to go feel free to mention it. If you are willing to take the necessary classes and further your education in accordance with the position's requirements express your motivation to get it done. These considerations are especially important if you have been out of the job market for a while.

Specializing is also a common practice within the nursing industry. There are many different kinds of nurses and each specialty comes with its own unique criteria. For example, if a hospital is looking for an Emergency Room nurse a recent nursing school graduate with prior experience as an EMT or a paramedic would be given higher consideration than . If a surgical clinic needs a nurse anesthetist, they will be looking for a CRNA license and probably prior surgical experience of some kind. Match your prior experience with the job description in some way. If you are applying for a position as a psychiatric nurse you might want to make note of any experience you have in the field of mental health. A pediatric nurse wants to connect her experience to working with children and their parents.

Whether you want to use your skills at a hospital, a clinic or a doctor's office there are plenty of opportunities out there for nursing professionals. It does not matter if you are fresh out of nursing school or a seasoned floor nurse with years of experience there is ample room to grow in this busy, ever-changing field. The nursing cover letter is a powerful job search tool that promotes your skills and talents for you, before you get the opportunity to do it in person. Make sure you cover letter is outstanding enough to get your package put on the short list of potential employees. Take the time to compose a letter that is able to fully express what a quality nurse you are. Then drop it in the mail-box or click the send button to secure the nursing job you have been looking for all along.

About the Author
Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more information on nursing cover letter checkout his recommended websites.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=632740

A Cover Letter Tip That's Guaranteed

A Cover Letter Tip That's Guaranteed by Mario Churchill

Job seekers everywhere are constantly on the lookout for that one tip or trick that will make their resumes stand out above the crowd. It is amazing that will all the tools at our disposal we all manage somehow to create very similar resumes and cover letters when seeking jobs. With this in mind, it makes complete and total sense that doing something a little different than the other 500 applicants for the same limited number of desirable positions will give you a serious boost when it comes to actually making it from the application process to the interview process. If you are on the lookout for that one little thing that can leap frog you ahead of other applicants then consider adding a summary at the end of your cover letter.

There are many things one may place in a cover letter that will get a resume noticed. Sadly, most cover letters are not read from beginning to end and chances are good that the important things mentioned in the middle will be missed by those reading your cover letter. If all the good stuff is in the middle of your resume, so to speak, I am quite sure you can understand how those who are planning the actual interviews may miss the best information. By placing a summary of the highlights at the very end of your cover letter you are allowing the hiring manager to skip through main points of your cover letter and enjoy the highlights so to speak.

Do not simply highlight your experience in your summary however. Make a point of letting the hiring manager know that you are eager to work for his company and ask for that oh so important interview. It's amazing how often people get what they want simply by asking for it when others, who may actually be more qualified in the case of job seekers, do not get what they want for the mere fact that they did not ask for it. The power of suggestion is a powerful tool when competing against unknown competitors for a tiny slice of a really big pie. By reminding the hiring manager why you would be a benefit for his company at the end and asking for the interview you have saved him the trouble of reading your entire cover letter and suggested to him that you are, in fact, open to an interview. Compared to many job seekers you are already one step ahead of the competition and you haven't even made it to the interview process at this point in time.

Of course there are many other things you may do that will make your cover letter shine a little bit above and beyond the competition. Avoid filling your cover letter with words that are either ambiguous or difficult to understand. You want your cover letter to be honest, open, uncluttered, and easy to read. This is especially important during the summary portion of your cover letter and when requesting an interview. You want to get your message across and you want to avoid looking as though you are trying to hide something.

You should also make a point of using the summary of your cover letter to sell the skills you have that are pertinent to the position in mind. You want the hiring manager to know without a doubt that you are the best person for the job. Don't squander your opportunity to shine with irrelevant skills that have little to do with the position to which you are applying--leave that to those who won't get the interview. Instead use this opportunity to remind the hiring manager that you have experience, skills, or extensive research with "XYZ" and that you would be delighted to put those skills to use for her company. This will set your cover letter apart from all the rest.

If you take the idea of a summary at the end of your cover letter seriously and work it to highlight the positive effects a company would experience by hiring you, you will find that you are getting a lot more interviews than if you continue providing the standard boring cover letters that your competition is providing. Wow your potential employers by making the decision process much easier for them.

About the Author
Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more information on cover letter tip checkout his recommended websites.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=631602

Basic Cover Letter For Resume Samples

Basic Cover Letter For Resume Samples by Mitch Kono

Crafting a cover letter might seem like a tantamount task for some people, but you can find some basic cover letter for a resume samples in many places on the Internet. There are all sorts of web sites that are dedicated to helping people get jobs just with their resumes and cover letters. You should really take advantage of their services so that you can put your best foot forward when applying for a job. When you have a great resume and a great cover letter, you will have a better chance of getting the call for an interview.

You do not have to have a magic formula to make a great resume and a great cover letter. You just need to know what to include in both of these documents. That is why you may want to find a basic cover letter for a resume samples to help you along your way. When you have a sample resume as well as a sample cover letter, you have a better chance of getting your foot in the door of the place where you want to work.

It does not matter how much experience you have in making resumes or cover letters, you can always learn new things that will make you stand out above the crowd. Perhaps things have changed since the last time you had to put together a resume. Maybe the cover letter is much more important than it ever was. If you are wanting to find a basic cover letter for a resume samples, you can find all sorts of places that will give you the help you need.

Most of the web sites that we have seen that offer up a basic cover letter for a resume samples are made by professionals in the business, so you know you are getting a quality product - all for free! All you need to do is tailor the sample to fit your job experience, your education, and your skills and abilities. Samples are great to have as reference guides so you know that you are doing everything you can to get the job of your dreams.

You do not have to get fancy with your resume and cover letter. That is why you should look online for a basic cover letter for a resume samples and then take and make that sample something you can be proud of. When you send out your resume and cover letter, all you have to do after that is to sit back and wait for the interview call.

About the Author
Mitch Kono runs a website to help people writing a resume that gets them a job interview. Check out his site at: ResumeWritingTips.eliv.info

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=630254

Beware the Life Coach Who Offers to Help you Fulfill your Dreams

Free Resume Articles : Beware the Life Coach Who Offers to Help you Fulfill your Dreams By: Jennifer Selby Long Copyright (c) 2008 Jennifer Selby Long

What on earth is happening out there? When I attend professional association meetings and am routinely assaulted by "life coaches" trying to pitch me as a client, I wonder if the professional world has gone slightly mad. Now I know this does make me sound solidly middle-aged, but I was doing executive coaching before it had a name. When on earth did it morph into "life coaching" and take on this strange, frothy form? Good grief. It's just embarrassing.

These days, you'll have to pierce through a lot of noise in the system to get to a good coach whether of the career, leadership, or personal variety. I know, because I am always trolling for affiliates to join my team. For what it's worth, here are the minimal criteria I think you need to use. I use them myself when screening candidates.

Screen without any hesitation for ALL of the following:

1. Good personal chemistry and a sense of trust. Done right, coaching of any variety will quickly put you in some very vulnerable and occasionally uncomfortable places (sorry!). You must be able to trust the coach both personally and in terms of his or her professional competence. If you can't let down your guard with the coach, you won't grow. A "maybe" should always be a "no." If you don't feel good chemistry and a gut-level sense of trust in your first meeting, move on.

2. Substantial demonstrated results. Has the coach worked with others at your level and in similar professions? What goals did these clients have? Were these goals similar to yours? If so, what results did they achieve? Some might blab on about how results are hard to define. That's nonsense. Don't waste your time with anyone who can't demonstrate results with clients who are in some meaningful way similar to you.

3. Availability. A coach should be available to you, and not just during prescribed meeting times. Everyone learns differently. Not everyone grows best through weekly one-hour structured meetings. It's a relatively personal relationship, but a business one between peers first and foremost. As such, I expect coaches to take calls between appointments and from time to time after the official coaching process has been tied off. Some of my clients don't even set appointments any more. They call me when they need me. If a potential coach squirms at this idea, it makes me wonder why he or she can't better manage time, client expectations, and fee schedules.

4. Speed. Unless you drag your feet, you should be able to experience some progress and personal improvement within the first 1 - 2 weeks after the initial assessment is complete, in some cases sooner. Coaching is not therapy, and no coach should assume that it will take months for you to show any improvement at all. The only thing that improves with that attitude is the bank balance of the coach.

5. Strategic focus on strengths, and not just because Marcus Buckingham made it trendy and cool. We lead from our strengths, and studies had proven this years before Now, Discover Your Strengths hit the bookstores. A good coach helps you figure out how to better leverage and develop your strengths in order to make progress toward your development goals. He or she will also help you figure out how to manage or improve your weaker areas, but your weaknesses shouldn't be where you spend all of your coaching time, or even most of it. Now if I could only convince some of my clients of that...

These items are completely discretionary, depending on your interests and needs:

1. Age and Gender. If you want someone your own age (or older or younger, for that matter), it's o.k. to ask for what you want. Likewise, if you believe you would feel significantly more comfortable working with one gender over the other, seek out what you want, and curb any feelings of guilt that you might be ageist or sexist. It's more important that you be comfortable enough to be open than to be politically correct. Your coach is an objective outsider, not an employee. Clients always apologize profusely when they call to ask for a male coach, but I never take it personally.

2. Industry knowledge. As much as we all like to think that our companies, roles, and industries are unique, the truth is that the majority of leadership challenges are similar across industries. Industry experience can help some people feel more comfortable with their coaches from the onset, but consider the counterargument -- the less industry experience, the less likely you are to learn that your coach is also developing your direct peer at your direct competitor.

3. Broader consulting or management experience. In my own experience, I have found that the best executive coaches have a great deal of other business experience and do not dedicate 100% of their time to working as coaches. This gives a broader perspective, but that may or may not be important in your particular situation, particularly if your development goal is of a personal nature.

When it comes to career coaching, you're swimming in some mighty strange waters these days. So strange that career coaching deserves its own spotlight in this article. If you seek coaching in anticipation of a big career move, you could experience a strange irony: your so-called career coach could do damage to your career.

Career coaching has become a popular field, along with its sidekick, resume writing. There are no barriers to entry, with the extreme variations in quality that you might expect under those circumstances.

Gone are the days when you could count on your career coach to have a graduate degree in career counseling and years of experience. You absolutely must ask for and check credentials of anyone claiming to be a career counselor.

The worst are the career coaching services that charge thousands of dollars to provide executives and aspiring executives with a "marketing director" to write your resume and tell you how to pitch yourself. There's certainly some quality to be found out there, but mostly I come across expensive junk. For example, I recently blasted two of those resumes to bits and it was a shocking but much-appreciated experience for the clients, both of whom had previously worked with me on projects. I charged a whopping $0.00, a substantially better price than the executive career coaching services had charged. These "marketing directors" had absolutely no idea what executives value, how they think, or what would make a candidate attractive to them. The resumes were full of false bravado and hot air and did not in any way reflect the fine personalities and genuine executive potential of the candidates.

Your resume is your calling card. It's your voice to prospective colleagues, and it impacts your reputation before you've even had a chance to make one in person. Don't hand the responsibility for your voice to a near-stranger. In this arena, I know of no way to take a shortcut that doesn't shortchange. Do the hard work of writing your own resume, and give it to trusted colleagues and advisors for feedback. You can't travel light on the front end of a job search, but you sure can save yourself months of delays and wasted time later by doing the hard work now.

If you've personally used an outstanding executive-level resume writing service, I'd love to hear about it. For now, though, my recommendation is this: resume writing services may be helpful for individual contributor jobs or for those who struggle a great deal with English - although I have my doubts -- but proceed with extreme caution if the hiring manager for the job you want has a title that starts with Partner, Chief, or Vice-President.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/beware-the-life-coach-who-offers-to-help-you-fulfill-your-dreams-333919.html

About the Author:Jennifer Selby Long, Founder and Principal of Selby Group, provides executive coaching and organizational development services. Jennifer's knack is helping clients navigate the leadership and organizational challenges triggered by change and growth. She knows firsthand that great plans often fail because companies don't take into account the human factors that come into play when implementing them. Visit Jennifer at: http://selbygroup.com

How to Avoid the Killer Errors That Get Your Resume Shredded

Free Resume Articles : How to Avoid the Killer Errors That Get Your Resume Shredded By: Nick Moseley

So you need a new job then? A first job, a dream job, or maybe in credit crunch 2008 any job will do for now). No matter what job you're hunting you need a really sizzling resume in order to get interview invites flooding in. Problem: Creating a hot resume can feel impossible. Believe me, it's not hard at all, when you know what to do. However, it IS easy to make mistakes and mess it up - And messed up means shredded and shredded means no job interview.

Fear not. It's not that hard at all - once you know what to avoid - and that's what I'll tell you now.

So what are the common mistakes that will mess your resume up?

**John Doe - No contact information**

Many people feel that because they're sending a cover letter, they don't need to include their name, address, phone number and email address at the top of their resume.

However it's very common for cover letters to be separated from resumes by HR departments who then pass the resume to various other staff members for review. At this stage your contact information is very likely to be lost forever! And I can tell you that it's very frustrating for a manager to receive a good resume that has all of the qualifications that he or she is looking for in an employee without a name or any contact information.

So - Very important - Include all of your contact information at the top of your resume. Name, address, phone, email.

**What do you want to do? No objective**

Large organizations may have dozens of ads for employees advertised. If your resume goes first to an HR admin person for filtering then how will he or she know what job you're applying for unless you state this in your resume as well as cover letter (again same dangers of lost cover letters apply so put it on the CV header too)

**What do you want to achieve? No goals or ambition?**

Not necessary in all cases. Use common sense. Under your name and contact information should be a heading about your career objective. You can break this into two categories. One should be for the position which you are seeking. The other can be what you hope to attain in the future.

If, for example, you are seeking the position of a newspaper reporter but have ambitions to be an editor or a features writer, then you can outline this in your resume as a career aim. This can be a handy indication that you're a long term strategic thinker as well as a loyal employee who is keen to develop new skills and add value to the business.

As I say use common sense. If applying to small companies it may not be wise to indicate that you want the job of the person who's recruiting you!

**You don't many or any skills, bye bye! They're not psychic you know!**

In any job no matter how junior there are skills required even if it's just a summer job selling ice cream on the beach (hey that's customer facing with a bit of sales you know!) Way to many CVs are thin on evidence of relevant skills.

To many applicants lump all their tasks in a short paragraph, which will not impress many possible employers.

So don't understate your past experience ' Include all of the tasks you performed at your old job, or know how to do, that concern to the position which you are seeking.

It's good to list all of the tasks and knowledge in bullet point format so that it makes it easier for the employer to see just what you can do. This is not the time to be shy or modest. Highlighting your accomplishments, knowledge and past experience can not be too underestimated when it comes to your resume.

**Got fired or saying my current job and company are rubbish - Writing why you left or are leaving**

Not necessary at all and looked at unprofessional. You will most likely be asked why you left your prior employment during your interview. Don't badmouth your last place of employment, even if your boss was a reincarnation of the Devil! Just say that you are seeking an opportunity for new development.

**I want, I want! Talking money right off the block**

NEVER put down how much you are making at your current job or how much money you expect to pull in at the new job.

While some employers will ask that you state your salary qualifications in your cover letter, this is never acceptable on a CV.

Many employees who ask that prospective employees state their salary requirements in their cover letter tend to pay low wages and do not want to waste their time with anyone who expects to be paid enough money to make a living.

**Your resume looks like a 5 year olds "art" project**

For a 5 year old it's cute. For a resume it's death. Coloured paper, fancy fonts and pics may look really nice but is generally considered to be amateurish. Use white paper. Black ink. Standard fonts. Standard upper and lower caps and make it easy to read.

**Uneducated barbarians need not apply**

You didn't spring into existence from nowhere so make sure that you put down your educational experience from the last college or university that you attended to the first.

If you have a post graduate degree, that should come first under the Education heading, along with the degree and any awards.

Your undergraduate university or college should come second along with degrees and accomplishments. If you have a post grad degree you don't have to put down high school information ' That's a given.

**No autobiographies please!**

Pages of life story filler are a sure way to get round filed fast. With that said, it's a context thing. Don't hesitate to make your CV more than one page if your accomplishments, experience and education warrants this in the context of the position applied for.

It's better not to underestimate yourself than to keep your resume short and sweet. On the other hand don't pout down long lists of hobbies, and non work related achievements, your junior schools, places lived in, travel done and so on. It's filler and recognised as such right away. Black mark.

**Summary**

So, avoid these clangers and you'll be well on your way to creating an interview magnet of a resume that will reflect all of the reasons why you are the best person for the job as well as a resume that reflects your personality.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/how-to-avoid-the-killer-errors-that-get-your-resume-shredded-387928.html

About the Author:Originally from London sales manager Nick gave high energy strutting multi lingual audience presentations all over Europe. For love he threw that in and now lives in publishes careers websites from, for example CoolCareer where you can find public speaking, resume/CV and interview help ideas and tips.

5 Cover Letter Tips

Resume Cover Letter Tips : 5 Cover Letter Tips by Mario Churchill

Competition for jobs these days is fierce. The internet has made it easy for dozens or even hundreds of people to apply for a single job. With that kind of competition, how can you hope to even get your cover letter noticed, and are a cover letter and resume even enough to land the job of your dreams?

Fortunately, for you, so many people do it wrong that you will get your cover letter noticed by following a few cover letter tips that will give you an instant advantage. Follow these tips and you will have a cover letter that works.

Tip #1 - Send Your Cover Letter to a Real Person

If you want to send your cover letter to an early death, start out by addressing it to "Dear Hiring Manager". Not only does this look like the vast majority of bad cover letters, it shows that the job is not important enough to you to do a little research. Call the company and find out the persons name that is doing the hiring for this position.

People like seeing their own name. If the hiring manager sees their name, they will slow down enough to give your cover letter a second look. Sometimes that second look is all it takes to give you a huge advantage.

Many companies will only accept applications emailed to a specific address, so it may not be possible to send it directly to the person doing the hiring, but you should try. Anything you can do to separate your cover letter from the rest of the stack is worth the effort.

Tip #2 - Ask For an Interview

Another area where many job seekers fall short is asking for an interview before you end your cover letter. They spend a lot of time and effort building a case for why they are the right person for the job, but they never ask for the job. While it is implied that you want the job when you submit your resume and cover letter, you should still ask. There is power in asking.

Successful sales and marketing people will tell you that the most success people are the ones that ask for the sale. That one call to action can be the difference between success and failure. If no one else asks for an interview, and you do, your cover letter is more likely to stand out and be remembered.

Don't forget to include your contact information. When you ask for the interview, let the hiring manager know, "I can be reached at...then give your phone number. Even though your information is in the header of the cover letter, write it again. The idea is to make it as easy as possible for them to contact you.

Tip #3 - Make a Follow-Up Telephone Call

After you ask for the interview, let them know when you will be following up with a telephone call. When that day comes, make sure you call. Many hiring managers say that they are more likely to hire a candidate that calls after sending in their resume. It shows that you are serious about wanting the position, and not just applying to every classified ad they see. It only takes a couple of minutes, but that one telephone call can make all the difference.

Tip #4 - Write a Thank You Note

After you get your interview, follow it up within a day or two with a thank you note. Besides being a polite thing to do, is serves the purpose of getting your name in front of the person doing the hiring one more time. When the time comes to make a decision, they are more likely to remember your name. That name recognition is invaluable. They may not even remember anything about the interview, but your name will be familiar to them. It is just one more way to stand out from the crowd.

Tip #5 - Make Sure It Is Correct

Your final step before sending out your cover letter is to check it for spelling and grammar mistakes. With the capabilities of most word processing programs, there is really no excuse for mistakes in this area. Run the spelling and grammar checks, then re-read your cover letter aloud to find any words that are misused, or that your software missed. If there are any parts that are unclear, fix them.

While there is no guarantee that you will get an interview, following these cover letter tips will help you stand out from the crowd. Your cover letter, a telephone call, and a thank you note. Three simple tools that can help land you the job of your dreams.

About the Author
Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more information on cover letter tips checkout his recommended websites.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=629980

Cover Letter Problem #1: Mystery Hiring Manager

Resume Cover Letter Articles : Cover Letter Problem #1: Mystery Hiring Manager by Heather Eagar

Here's the situation: the job posting has only the title of the hiring manager or simple just "Hiring Manager". Frustrating, isn't it? Many times job seekers don't do much, if any, digging around to see if they can up with that ever-important name. Are you one of them?
For job seekers who really want to impress and get noticed when they submit their resume packages, there are some 'secret' ways to find out the name of the elusive hiring manager so you can address your cover letter to the correct person in charge.

Tip #1: Search Online

This may seem pretty obvious but some people forget to check the company website for personnel information. If you have the title, many times you can find out their name, phone number and email. Wouldn't that be great? Definitely utilize the Internet for this search.

Also on the company website, check out to see if they have open positions posted. They may have more contact information available on their website than on general job boards where you originally found the job opening.

Check out the Media page for their latest happenings (this will also help you get more familiar with the company as a whole and give you an edge during interviews). See who is quoted in the press releases as they usually give the person's name and title.

Tip #2: Call the Company

There are some sneaky ways you can try to find out the name of the hiring manager in charge of the open position for which you are applying. Pick up the phone and call the company. Ask the receptionist the name of 'X Position' (for example: Marketing Manager for Soft Goods). This can obviously work if you know the title of the hiring manager.

There's also a trick that I used to use when working in the corporate world. You can call and ask the receptionist for the spelling of the person's name in the position you are trying to contact. So you might say something like, "Hi, I am sending the Public Relations Manager a piece of important information and need to confirm the spelling of her/his name. Could you please spell it for me?" While you have them on the phone, you can even try to get their email address so you can follow-up. If there is no phone number listed, you might want to hold off on calling them directly. You don't want to get on their bad side.

In most instances, where there's a will there's a way. That's not to say there won't be situations that, despite your best effort, you absolutely cannot find out the name you so desperately need. That's when you just have to applaud yourself for giving it your best effort...then let it go. And maybe that phone will ring anyway with the mystery hiring manager on the other end wanting to interview you.

About the Author
Recognized as a leading expert in the employment search industry, Heather Eagar is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. Check out reviews of the top resume writers in the industry at http://www.ResumeLines.com

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=628539

Create a Resume That Rises To the Top

Free Resume Articles : Create a Resume That Rises To the Top by Michael Fleischner

Today's job market is difficult. With fewer available jobs, getting the job you want can be a real challenge, even if you're qualified. One way to stand out from the crowd is with a well written resume that makes the selection process easy for hiring managers. Make sure your resume answers who you are, what you can do for the hiring managers company, and how you can be contacted.

Who Are You?

This topic includes your name and any professional designations you have obtained, such as an MBA, Ph.D., RN, MD, or any of a number of professional distinctions. By including these designations with your name in the header of your resume, you are providing the hiring manager with immediate and valuable data regarding your candidacy and career level.

The manner in which you present your name is also important. Including familial designations such Joe Jones, III may very well be seen as pretentious by a hiring manager. Using a “Jr.” after your name may be applauded by your family, but it could give a hiring manager the wrong first impression â€" that you are young and inexperienced. Caution is always advised in these instances.

A quick word about the use of nicknames. Nicknames can work for you or against you given the circumstances. If you were named “Kendrick,” but go by “Ken,” use of your nickname would be appropriate as Ken is more modern and sounds more youthful than Kendrick.

However, if you were christened “Barbara,” but are known as “Babs” - even at work - it would be best to err on the conservative side during your job search, especially if the targeted industry is a traditional one such as banking, accounting, or education. Once hired, you can then decide whether using your nickname is appropriate. What can you do for my company?

The purpose of reading a resume is largely to determine what you can do for a particular hiring manager and the company he works for. What makes you unique? How can the company be sure that you would provide significant value?

When forming your resume, put yourself in the shoes of a hiring manager who has to look at dozens of resumes. Be sure to highlight your skills, industry expertise, or knowledge that sets you apart from all other applicants. Place this information at the very top of document. Don’t make hiring managers search for this all important information.

How You Can Be Contacted?

This data should be instantly obvious to a hiring manager. Your phone number and email address are your most important contact data. For easy access by hiring managers, phone numbers and emails should be bolded and in a larger type than the physical address, as hiring managers rarely, if ever, contact a successful candidate by “snail” mail.

A quick word about phone numbers. Although you may be tempted to list numerous phone numbers, including fax numbers, don’t.

Never include a work number even if your boss knows you’re searching for another position as this sends the wrong message to a potential employer. He or she will wonder about your loyalty and whether you’ll be using company time at your new job to speak to prospective employers.

Never include cell phone numbers because you may just be contacted while you’re in traffic which brings intrusive background noise, or where the phone signal is weak which could irritate a busy hiring manager.

Stand out from other candidates by answering the simple questions of who you are, what you can do for the company you are applying for, and basic contact information. Make this information easy to discern and you’ll have the edge you so desperately need in a challenging labor market.

About the Author
Michael Fleischner is the Managing Director of Resumeedge.com which provides Resume Writing, Sample Resumes, and Cover Letter Services.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=860123

Job Hunting - 9 Easy Steps to a Winning CV Resume

Free Resume Articles : Job Hunting - 9 Easy Steps to a Winning CV Resume by Robert Paterson

Do you want to get a head start in the job hunting market? Your cv resume is your most important asset. No matter how brilliant or highly qualified you might be, if your resume is not up to the mark, you will get rejected. Follow these 9 easy steps to make a resume that will give you the edge over your rivals.

1. Keep it simple

Don't try to impress with anything fancy or complicated. You have probably about five seconds to make your impression on the reader - if you try to be too clever, your cv will get trashed.

2. Be straight

Don't try to be witty or humorous. You might be tempted to make a joke to show that you'll be "one of the guys" when you start the job, but it's best to just confine yourself to being as factual as possible.

3. Never criticize former employers.

It might be very tempting to justify your reasons for leaving a previous job by slagging the employer to make you look good. Remember that if you do this the prospective employer is much more likely to put themselves in the position of the former employer, and to think that you might be a troublesome employee.

4. Be concise

Try not to ramble. There aren't any clear rules about how long your resume should be, but if you can fit it all on to a single A4 page, then that's probably the best. You have to include your full career history, education and achievements - so if you need to use two sheets, then do so. Don't try to cram it all on one page so it looks cramped. But never use more than two sheets.

5. Mark everything clearly

Again, there are no hard and fast rules about the design of a cv, but you should ensure that it's easy to find everything. Your name, address and contact details should be clearly shown at the top of the page.

6. Be brief

List your previous employment in reverse chronological order, stating briefly your responsibilities and any achievements. Resist the temptation to go into descriptive detail about them. You can save that for the interview. After this should follow your education history with qualifications gained. Then state your interests and hobbies. Again you should avoid going into detail about them - just state what they are.

7. Ask your referee's permission

It may seem obvious, but if you are giving someone's name as a referee, you should check with that person before you do it. It's only a formality, that's true, but your politeness will make your referee more disposed to write nice things about you.

8. Make it look good

Your resume should be printed on good quality paper, without any attachments. It should stand alone. You can show off any certificates or letters when the employer asks for them. Check carefully to ensure there are no spelling mistakes or typos on the resume.

9. Tell the truth!

It's tempting to tell little white lies on your cv, for example, to fudge the dates to hide any times of unemployment. However, this is a risky course of action, since the employer can easily check such details. Also try not to claim you can do something which you in fact can't do. This will be easily exposed. So the best thing is to be as truthful as possible.

About the Author
Robert Paterson writes for the blog "Success is not just about Money" which you can visit at http://positivehighenergy.blogspot.com/

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=859017

How to Create the Perfect Cover Letter

Free Resume Cover Letter Articles : How to Create the Perfect Cover Letter by Li Ming Wong

Are you in the process of finding and applying for jobs? If you are, you may be ready to mail out your resume. Before you send out your resume or resumes, you will want to take a close look at the cover letter of your resume. For starters, are you even using a cover letter?

If you are currently not using a cover letter, you will want to refrain from mailing out your resume, at least right away. Many businesses expect to receive cover letters attached to all resumes. In fact, many now require them, especially with mailed in applications or resumes. If you are unsure as to how you can go about creating the perfect resume or at least one that can benefit you, you will want to continue reading on.

When it comes to creating the perfect cover letter, there are a number of important factors to take into consideration. One of those factors is the job that you are applying for and the wishes of that company. It is common for some employers to list exactly what they want cover letters to include. If you are given a sample or directions, you are advised to follow them. Not following instructions can result in your resume, as well as your cover letter ending up in the "don't call," pile.

As previously stated, a company may have their own preferences as to what they would like cover letters to include. This is because no two companies are truly the same. That is why it is advised that you do not use the same cover letter for each resume that you send out. Instead, you will want to create and distribute different cover letters for each employer that you have. You can have a sample cover letter or a template to use, but it is advised that you take the time to personalize each cover letter in one way or another.

Speaking of personalizing your cover letter, you will want to personalize each cover letter that you send out to the jobs that you are applying for and the companies in which you are sending your resume to. For instance, if you are applying for the position of a legal secretary, you will want to plainly state that position. This will automatically set you apart from a good percentage of your competition. Customizing each of your cover letters to the particular job that you are applying for is a great way to get yourself noticed, as you took a few extra steps not necessarily required.

Another one of the many ways that you can create the perfect cover letter for yourself is by being short and to the point. With that in mind, you will not want to be too short either. A cover letter should be at least three paragraphs and you should try and keep all cover letters under one page long. It is advised that you do not use any colored fonts, as black ink should do. It is also advised that you do not use any colored paper for your resume cover letter. Some job seekers mistakenly believe that this catches the eye of those in charge of scheduling job interviews. Yes, it may, but not always in the ways that you had hoped for.

As for what you should include in your cover letter, it is advised that you list a few of your skills and qualifications. It is also important to keep this portion of your cover letter short and to the point. Your resume will go into further detail, but it is still advised that you quickly outline the qualifications and skills that you have. Be sure to focus on those that apply directly to the job that you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for the position of a legal secretary, you will want to summarize your computer software knowledge, typing skills, transcription skills, and so forth.

The above mentioned points are all points that you will want to take into consideration, when making a cover letter for yourself. In all honesty, any cover letter is better than no cover letter at all, but with cover letters being relatively easy to create, why take the chance.

Not getting the job that your want? Frustrated? We recommend you check out the best Job Interview Tips.

About the Author
Struggling with your resume? Here's how to create a resume and get your telephone ringing off the hook with more top job interview requests faster and easier than you could ever imagine. Learn how to create a resume now.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=623708

How To Write A Cover Letter For A Resume - Compelling The Employer To Read Further

Free Resume Cover Letter Articles : How To Write A Cover Letter For A Resume - Compelling The Employer To Read Further by Jeff Melvin

Resume cover letters are an important part of your job search strategy and every resume you send out should have one. The cover letter compliments your resume. It's an opportunity to pre-sell your skills and qualifications showing how you are the right person for the job. Employers review hundreds of resumes and look for reasons to screen some out of the process. Your cover letter can make the difference in getting the interview call.

Surprisingly, you will find that writing your cover letter is just as time consuming as writing your resume. However, it's not as difficult as it may seem. There are some simple, concrete action steps you can follow that will virtually guarantee the employer notices your resume.

Stay away from generic cover letters! There are literally hundreds of free resume cover letter examples on the Internet. The temptation is to take one of these and copy it as your own. Don't do it. The key is to use a sample cover letter for a resume as a resource, a brainstorming tool. Notice the structure, format, and wording of the letter; especially how each one is customized to the organization and its needs. You want to copy the basic structure that all resume cover letters use and personalize it with your individual style. A well written, carefully typed, error free cover letter will set your resume apart from all the others.

Follow the tips below to learn how to write a cover letter for a resume:

• Use a standard business letter format when writing your resume cover letter (no more than 1 page in length).
• Four basic elements are essential to a successful cover letter: salutation, introduction, body, and conclusion.
• If possible, you should address your Resume Cover Letter to a specific individual within the company.
• The first paragraph should grab the employer's attention. Use action words to pull the reader in and/or mention a personal contact within the organization. Don't forget to mention the position for which you are applying.
• Use the body to highlight a couple of your key skills and how they connect to the organization's needs.
• Include a call to action in your conclusion. Initiate the next step by stating your desire to meet with the employer in person. Tell them you look forward to the interview and that you will be following up with a phone call.

The resume cover letter is your prelude to the job interview. It sets the stage for your resume and shows the employer that you took the time to customize it to their needs. Follow the tips outlined here and employers will be compelled to read your resume ahead of the rest.

About the Author
Jeff Melvin graduated with an MBA and is a highly experienced resume writer with over 10 years experience. Download the FREE eBook How to Write an Effective Resume Today!

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=616233

How to Cheat on Your Resume

Free Resume Articles : How to Cheat on Your Resume by Fae Cheska Esperas

Do you always feel that your resume is not impressive enough for your employer to notice? Do you find your CV layout utterly boring? Well, worry no more for here are some tips to dress up that resume of yours-without the need of glitter and photo paper!

1. Make use of POWER WORDS

Remember that your future employer is looking for achievements and accomplishments. With these they gauge your working potential and see how efficient you can be as a part of their company. Better use of credible descriptor words such as "achieved", "accomplished", and "headed" when writing down your resume details. These words easily catch your interviewer's attention making him do more than just a quick glance at your CV.

2. Highlight the important details

Put emphasis on the areas which you want your employer to focus on. These include your job objectives, key strengths, most recent job experience, and most of all, your most important achievements which you think have to be recognized by your prospective employer. If you have previously taken up online degrees, then highlight them as well.

Make your dream career find you.

3. Include a short list of references

This always comes in handy because some employers actually do intensive background checks on their applicants, particularly the ones whom they think are really fit for the job. Be sure to indicate the correct contact information of your references.

4. KISS-Keep It Short and Simple

Keep your sentences simple enough for your employer to understand. Put your resume details in individual phrases so that each of them will get an equal share of the limelight. This also allows your employer to review your CV step by step and not get cluttered with a truckload of information.

Keep in mind that you are selling yourself with your resume. When your potential employer sees that you are packed with all the qualities and benefits he is looking for, then you're definitely in.

About the Author
Fae Cheska Esperas is a 22-year old writer who aims to help individuals find success in their careers.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=856360

Resume key mistakes to Avoid

Free Resume Articles : Resume key mistakes to Avoid by Syed Muzaffar Aqleem Tirmizi

The major purpose of Resume/CV is to get you to the interview rooms. Therefore, for jobseekers this is the step that requires great deal of care and holds vital significance in the whole process of Job Hunting.

Now I have listed down some key mistakes to avoid so that your Resume/CV could give you better results the next time you send it.

1- Avoid Grammatical Mistakes:

At times this has been observed and has been sated by the employers that one of the most negative that could go against any candidate is having grammatical errors in their Resume/CV. Thus, preventive measure should be taken. Before taking a printout for final submission whole document should be carefully corrected for any grammatical mistakes.

2- One Resume/CV will do:

Another turn off for the employers has been that the Resume/CV which they have received has nothing to do with the job opportunity. What the Job Seekers do is that they take many printouts of one CV and send it to all the employers. What the employers actually are looking for is a specific CV which has been created for them only. So substantial care if required.

3- Lack of Details:

At times irrelevant information is provided and relevant information seems to be missing from the Resume/CV. Therefore, we need to make sure that the key information will remain present there. Remain to the point and not to mention irrelevant details. However, do list about your accomplishment in a story form.

4- Incorrect Contact Information:

Another thing that needs attention is that you should not provide incorrect information in the resume. As this process usually entails getting in touch with you. But, if the information is not as correct that it should be then it will again fail to full fill its purpose.

5- Consultation:

Before sending your resumes do get it checked by some individuals. It's always a good idea to get your Resume/ CV checked by some expert. They will provide you professional feedback and might also recommend you for something better in future.

So, these are the major mistakes which you need to avoid and by doing so you will be increasing the probability of letting the Resume/CV attain its objective.

About the Author
Syed Muzaffar Aqleem Tirmizi is part of the operational management in leading cellular operator in Pakistan, specializing in providing training solutions for individuals, teams and organizations.For your training needs or operational analysis could be contacted at tirmizi@tirmizifinancials.com or visit http://www.tirmizifinancials.com or http://www.ma-tirmizi.com

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=853709

Business Resume Tips

Resume Articles : Business Resume Tips by Jason Kay

For most job-seekers, the resume is the only way to get your foot in the door. Unfortunately, the employer probably gets so many resumes, that he barely has time to read through them all. This makes getting a foot in the door extremely difficult.

What usually happens is that human resources will do an initial screening of all resumes sent in. Those that pass the initial HR screening may go to the hiring manager, who will scan the resumes and pick out the ones that seem to be a good fit for his needs. After this process, a more thorough screening will be done to select candidates that might be called for a phone interview.

Once a job-seeker gets that phone call, the importance and weight of the resume starts to drop in comparison with the more personal communications. Therefore, the goal of creating a resume should be to pass through the initial screening process. Some tips to help you be impressive on paper are listed below.

Make it a marketing tool

A resume is a tool for you to use to market yourself. An employer lists a job because there is an unmet need. Therefore, your resume should address how you can meet that need better than anyone else.

There is nothing wrong with creating multiple versions of a resume, so long as you are truthful. Target your resume to the employer either by creating a resume for different industry verticals or targeted job titles.

Make it highlight results

Too many people simply write down job titles and dates without giving good examples of what type of previous results were achieved. When writing your experience, make sure you highlight your biggest achievements. Use action words like, "I managed", "I led", "I developed" and then in a very short sentence, state what the result was.

A great example is "I led a 4 million dollar project which resulted in a 50 million dollar profit." This is short and to the point, but also gives the employer something very real and practical to work with.

Make the summary meaningful

When creating a summary, avoid generics at all cost. Be specific about who you are, what you have accomplished and what you wish to do.

A sentence that states you are a professional seeking a challenging position doesn't have any meaning. Instead, a summary that states you are a sales management professional with ten years success in increasing profits wishing to find a position in the automobile sales industry gives the employer more information to work with.

Make it look good

Last but not least is how your resume looks. Use bullet points, keep the same font and format throughout the resume and make good use of white space. Realistically, you probably have 30 seconds to make it into the follow-up pile instead of the throw-away pile.

In addition, check spelling and grammar. Then, you should check spelling and grammar. Finally, you should have someone else check your spelling and grammar. One misspelled word or unreadable sentence could label you as incompetent.

In conclusion, remember that a resume is not intended to be a complete job history and is not intended to list every accomplishment you have ever had. A resume should be used to show the employer why you are worthy of an interview. You must address the employer's needs, target the employer's industry and make it look eye-catching and professional.

About the Author
Jason Kay is an expert resume writer who contributes to career advice websites such as JobGoRound.com, which provides resume writing service reviews and resume distribution service reviews.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=853011

Writing An Effective Legal Resume

Free Resume Articles : Writing An Effective Legal Resume by Jason Kay

Law school taught you plenty, but it probably didn't teach you how to write a resume that will secure you an interview with the firm of your dreams. It can be daunting to create or even update a resume because there's so much pressure to be unique. The best advice, however, is not to strive for "different" but for "best." Legal resumes aren't the venue for getting creative or artsy. You want to blow them away them with your incredible successes and winning attitude. How do you do that? By putting your experience in the best possible light (no lying) and expressing your desire to do great work for them.

Below are more tips on creating a winning legal resume:

Pick a format. In some professions, it's easy to determine whether you should submit a chronological resume or a functional resume. For attorneys, however, the choice isn't as clear cut. First, think about the goal of your resume. Are you changing fields? Do you change jobs a lot? Are you new to the legal profession? A functional resume is probably your best bet. Are you submitting your resume in hopes of a promotion? Are you applying for a senior-level position? Are you changing cities but sticking to the same area of law? Choose chronological. The final factor in the format debate is the firm to which you're applying. If it's a young, hip firm, they may conclude that you're not up-to-date on current legal matters if they see 25 years of experience on your resume. So opt for a functional rather than chronological resume. But if you're applying to an old-school firm, they may think that 25 years is just a launching point, so chronological is fine.

Include an objective--or not. Again, whether you include an objective at the beginning of your resume depends on a couple of factors. It's only considered necessary if the firm to which you're applying is active in a number of legal fields or if your resume includes experience in a variety of areas. If you're a family law attorney applying to a family law firm, it's assumed that your objective is to work in family law.

Move your education to the bottom. Unless you've been out of law school for fewer than five years, format your resume so that the details of your education are at the end of your resume. And the longer you've been out of school, the shorter your education section should be. It's your experience talking now--not your GPA.

Keep it clean. It's tempting to throw everything into your work history in hopes that something in there will impress a potential employer, but resist the urge to "kitchen sink" your resume. Make sure every detail is somehow relevant to the job you want. When you're applying for an environmental law position, mentioning your 82 percent success rate in personal injury law is fine (it shows your winning history), but mentioning the number of hits per game that you average on your slow-pitch softball team is just bizarre. And, yes, it happens more often that you'd like to believe.

Spell it out. There's a significant amount of legal jargon and acronyms that you'd hope potential employers would know, but you can't be sure that the person reading your resume first is an attorney. Lots of firms farm out their human resources needs to companies who sift through resumes from doctors to garbage collectors. When in doubt, spell it out. And definitely spell out your job titles. If you were an assistant state's attorney, for example, spell out "assistant." One exasperated hiring manager mentioned that if she saw any more "ass. attorneys" on a resume, she would simply toss it.

Consider a transaction sheet. Depending on the area of law for which you're submitting a resume--and if you have enough years of experience--you may want to include a transaction sheet as part of your resume. For an even cleaner look, make it a supplement to your resume. Rather than list transactions chronologically (you shouldn't use dates anyway), group them by area of law. Also, keep the sheet simple, using bullet points to illustrate your successful transactions. Finally, make sure you're legally able to disclose any information you include on the sheet--dollar amounts in particular.

Proof and proof again. While it's never a good idea to make a grammatical or spelling mistake on a resume, nobody wants to hire an attorney who doesn't know the difference between "there" and "their." Run your resume past a friend who does know the difference.

About the Author
Jason Kay is an expert resume writer who contributes to career advice websites such as JobGoRound.com, which provides resume writing service reviews and resume distribution service reviews.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=852870

5 Ways Your Cover Letter Says, 'I Don't Want This Job'

Resume Cover Letter Articles : 5 Ways Your Cover Letter Says, 'I Don't Want This Job' by Heather Eagar

Cover letters can be a great way to get employers to notice you. Of course you always want to send one but what are some ways that your cover letter can actually hurt your chances of getting interviews?

1) You use 'Dear Sir or Madame' as your salutation.

It can be a lot of work to find out the name of the hiring manager or the person that your resume is being sent to. However, if you do, it will put you in the good graces of the hiring manager...at least to start off with.

2) The reader is left with the question of what job you are actually applying for in their organization.

You need to state the title of the job somewhere on your cover letter. It can be as a title or in the first paragraph. Hiring managers don't want to guess which job you want. If they do, then you'll likely get passed up for interviews.

This is another way you can personalize your cover letter. If you use the exact title for which they are hiring, then they'll know that you took the time to tailor it just for them.

3) Your cover letter addresses none of the job requirements.

One way to really impress an employer is by their specific needs they listed in the job posting. This is where you can completely personalize your cover letter. Check out your achievements from your resume and see what is applicable to their needs. Pull a few and reword them a bit to add them as a bullet list on your cover letter.

4) You end it with a passive call to action.

You want to make the Hiring Manager do the least amount of work as possible in order for you to get an interview. One of the ways you can ease their burden is by calling them to follow-up. State that you will call them in a certain amount of time - say one week or on a specific date - and be sure to do it.

Don't worry about coming across as to aggressive. It's acting proactively which employers think highly of and you can expect them to take note. Of course they may call you even before you get a chance to give them a ring, but that's a good thing.

5) No contact information.

I know you're saying 'Give me a break!' It seems like that's common sense, right? Not necessarily. Sometimes when job seekers create their own resume package, they only put their contact info on their resume, not their cover letter. But what happens if the two get separated and your resume accidentally gets tossed? Your desire to get an interview just got tossed along with it.

Paying attention to detail will go far when you're job hunting. Don't be in such a rush that you forgo some of these pointers. Take your time to do it right and you'll find yourself getting many more employers wanting to meet you.

About the Author
Recognized as a leading expert in the employment search industry, Heather Eagar is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. Check out reviews of the top resume services in the industry at http://www.ResumeLines.com

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=597828

Cut Down Jobhunting Time With Cover Letter Examples

Cut Down Jobhunting Time With Cover Letter Examples by Erik J. Michaels

Did you know that according to national statistics, average American jobhunter could easily take over 9 months to find a new job? Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm betting you don't have the luxury of waiting that long. What would you say if I told you there was a way to cut that time to shreds?

Guess what, there is such a way...and it goes by the name of "cover letter". Well, technically, it's actually called a "great cover letter". Chances are good that any job you apply for will want a resume, and even if it didn't ask for one, why wouldn't you add it anyways? The same applies for a cover letter, it just doesn't make sense to leave out such an important tool for raising your chances of getting the job.

When a potential employer is trying to sort through literally hundreds of applications looking for ONE person to take the position, do you really think the poor guy is going to sit there and scan through every minute detail in every single resume? No! There's not a fellow in the world who has that sort of time. What that employer will do is look at all the cover letters. It's the first thing he'll read, and it's your first chance to avoid elimination.

The process is easy: the resumes with cover letters that look promising will stay in the game, and the ones with the sub-par cover letters --or dare I say it: none!-- will be given to Bob in Accounting to feed to his goat.

So if you want to survive the first initial culling, you'll want to not only have a cover letter, you'll want to have the best one you possibly can! Your resume is important too, and of course you have to be a decent candidate for the job, but the right cover letter can not only open the door but also lay down a welcome mat.

Now, this is great if you are already an expert at writing amazing cover letters...but what happens if you for some reason missed the opportunity to go to college to get a master's degree in Cover Letter Writing? What if you're just a guy looking for ajob? Think about it. what's the best way to learn how to do something?

Well, it's to have somebody teach you! You find a person who's written a wonderful cover letter that got him a job, and find out how he did it. Learn by example! And why limit yourself to only one person? Learn from tons of examples! Look at what works, and figure out how to adjust the ideas to fit your needs. Now, I don't advocate plagiarism, but if you see what others have done, usually you can figure out how to do it yourself.

But the problem is...where exactly does one find these cover letter examples? How can you tell which ones work and which ones are worthless? This I can help with.

About the Author
Visit this site to get your hands on some great cover letter examples that you can use to figure out how to write a cover letter. It shouldn't have to take nine months to get a new job.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=590349

What Are You Reading, and How Can It Help Your Resume and Job Search?

Resume Articles : What Are You Reading, and How Can It Help Your Resume and Job Search? by Allen Voivod

If you're about to prepare a resume, or you're considering a revision to a resume, of course you're bound to be diving in to books about writing resumes.

But you're not just a resume writer, are you? You're a well-rounded business person. As a manager, executive, or solo business professional, your reading shouldn't (and probably doesn't) center simply around task-based books. And interestingly, reading some of the higher level business books can actually help you with the task of completing your resume - and other job-search-related tasks.

Before we get into that, though, here are three great resources for finding out which business books should be on the top of your reading list.

*Bestseller lists. From major media outlets like the New York Times, to major retailers like Amazon, you'll find a bounty of bestseller lists with a quick Google search.

*Top books of the year lists. The lists differ, since everyone's opinion is different, and lists like these are more about fostering discussion than anything else. Major media and retailers put out these lists, too, and so do more job-search-relevant places. Monster.com, for example, offers an Best Business Books of the Year list.

*Business summaries. You've seen them advertised in the airline magazines, flooding your mailbox with direct response offers, and blinking in banner ads on the sides of your favorite business websites. The truth is, these summaries are a great deal for the time-crunched professional. Absorb the main concepts in a short reading session, and take a stroll over to your local library if you want to dive deeper.

So, what do these business books have to do with resume writing and distribution? On the face of it, not much. But step back for a moment and ask yourself these questions:

* What are hiring managers in your target industries reading right now?

* What are recruiters and headhunters reading right now?

* What's on the executive office bookshelves in venture captial firms right now?

I'd be willing to bet the answers include a few of the books on those lists. And if these are the books they're reading, shouldn't these be the books you're reading, too?

Make sure your resume, your interviews, and your networking encounters demonstrate (in a nicely understated way) you're up to date with some of the hottest business books out there. Even (and especially) if you don't agree with what you read in them. Polite disagreement makes for some great conversation.

About the Author
Allen Voivod is the Chief Blogger for ResumeMachine.com, the leading resume distribution resource for managers, executives, and professionals looking to accelerate their job search results. Get the attention of thousands of hiring agents with the largest and most frequently updated recruiter database on the web, and dive into a wealth of immediately useful career articles and blog posts - all at http://www.ResumeMachine.com !

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=847760

Preparing Your Resume and Cover Letter: What They Forgot to Teach You in College

Free Resume Articles : Preparing Your Resume and Cover Letter: What They Forgot to Teach You in College by Michael Flesichner

Congratulations! You have a college diploma in your hand that says you're ready to go out into the working world. You may have maintained a stellar GPA. You may have participated in groundbreaking scientific research. You may have written, produced, and performed an entire concerto. Whatever your program of study, you may feel like your college education has paved the way into the work force. That is, until you realize something: you don't know how to prepare a resume.

It's astounding how comprehensive your college education seemed to be, and yet it's likely you were never taught the basics of resume-writing. Presenting yourself to a potential employer by writing an excellent resume may be critical to your success. It may even be more important than your grades, extra-curricular activities, and your other achievements. Make sure that you include these crucial elements:

* Your personal info. Include your name, address, telephone number, cell phone number, pager number, and email. Most potential employers will try to contact you by your home phone. But just in case, it's good to leave a few different contact options. Never include your social security number, as some people mistakenly do on resumes or job applications. This information could be used to steal your identity and isn't necessary during the application process.

* Your educational history. You need not go all the way back to elementary school. Start with your most recent educational info: college. Details should include where you attended (every institution, if you attended more than one), its location, your graduation year, and your major/program. Next, list the high school that you graduated from. It is usually not necessary to list every high school, if you happened to attend more than one. Simply include the name of the one where you graduated and the year.

* Your employment history. How many of your past work places you include will depend upon how many there are. If you've had less than five different jobs in your life so far, list them all, and the duration that you worked at them. If you've tried more than your average share of jobs, you may want to list only the most recent ones. There is no prohibition against listing them all. However, if you did a lot of job hopping and some of your positions lasted mere months, including this information should be discretionary.

* Any volunteer work that you've done. This is important because it shows that you have other experience besides your last fast food job. Volunteer experience may be the key that sets you apart from other potential job candidates.

This is the basic information about yourself that every potential employer you contact will see. In addition to handing out your resume, you should include a cover letter addressed directly to the company you are making application to. The cover letter is extremely important, because it gives you a chance to share more than just the basics about yourself. Your resume contains general information; the cover letter contains information specific to that company. This is where you explain why you want to work for that particular company. It's your chance to persuade a potential employer that you are worth granting a face-to-face interview. There's a good chance that whoever is looking at your resume is also reviewing dozens of others. A persuasive cover letter may be the difference between causing an employer to examine your resume more closely or tossing it in the 'out' file. Address it directly to the person who will be reviewing candidates. If you don't know it, make an effort to find out.

Remember that being persuasive does not mean being long-winded. Busy executives won't have time to read a five page cover letter. Make it at least a page, but no more than two pages. Coupled with a well-written and concise resume, your cover letter will grab an employer's attention and make him or her want to take a second look at you.

About the Author
Michael Fleischner is the Managing Director of Resumeedge.com which provides Resume Writing, Sample Resumes, and Cover Letter Services.
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Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=846606

Employment Cover Letter-11 Tips that guarantee your job

Free Resume Cover Letter Articles : Employment Cover Letter-11 Tips that guarantee your job. by Kris Malviya

Don't get a job just because you can't write a good employment cover letter?
Do you think that someone else less capable than you is getting employed just because his cover letter was better than your's?

Maybe yes because cover letters play a very vital role in your job employment.

Cover letters actually let the reader read your mind!!

Here are 11 Tips on writing a good, professional Employment Cover Letter. These are some basic tips. You will find complete set of tips with tips on stylizing your employment cover letter in my website.

1.An employment cover letter should create interest in the reader to go through your resume.

2.Don't make your employment cover letter very long. The reader might just not read it after seeing such a long letter. Express more in less words. Don't make your letter repetitive.

3.Tell them what you will do for the company and how willing you are to help the company and how you will help them. Don't write a big essay on how you will do that, make it a small paragraph. Tell the company what you specialize in and how a professional like you will help the company.

4.Show them how interested and willing you are to help the company through the employment cover letter. Get all the information about the company and show how enthusiastic you are towards the company.

5.Try making your employment cover letter as different as possible. The reader will have hundreds of cover letters to read. So its quite understandable that he will just have a look at the cover letter and select you if he thinks you are among the best. So try to tell him that you are the best in every possible way.

6.Don't take your employment cover letter lightly. It's the key to your employment and thus your success. Be creative, get involved in it. Dedicate yourself. Show how enthusiastic you are.

7.Don't brag too much about yourself. Be genuine and straightforward.Show that interest.

8.If the employment cover letter is communicative, straightforward and good looking, the reader instantly comes to know that you are motivated and get involved in your work very well. Also tell them what you will do if you are employed. How you will help the company grow your knowledge and talents.

9.Tell them about your qualifications and the extra courses in your employment cover letter, if you have done any.

10.And yes, be careful about not making any grammatical mistakes.

11.Your employment cover letter should not possess too many colors or graphics. That makes it seem unprofessional.

Stylizing an employment cover letter is important. I have stated only 1 point on stylizing your cover letter here. Visit his website and go through the complete tips on stylizing an employment cover letter.

about cover letters. If you want more tips on writing an effective employment cover letter, want to know why cover letters are so important, want great tips on stylizing your cover letter, want samples for reference, or links to the best articles on writing cover letters and some extra information.... Visit his website by clicking here.

In order to make the article short, Kris has put the complete set of tips in his website. Stylizing a cover letter is important. Colorful cover letters don't actually help. To find complete tips on stylizing your employment cover letter, click here.

Kris Malviya is a freelance writer. He possesses useful knowledge about cover letters. If you want more tips on writing an effective employment cover letter, want to know why cover letters are so important, want great tips on stylizing your cover letter, want samples for reference, or links to the best articles on writing cover letters and some extra information.... Visit his website by clicking here

About the Author
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kris_Malviya

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=582799

A Good Cover Letter Makes A Resume Shine!

Free Resume Cover Letter Articles : A Good Cover Letter Makes A Resume Shine! by Larry Presley

As good as any resume can possibly be, it can become even better with a well written cover letter. You absolutely "never" mail a resume without a cover letter. Why? Because it can say so much more than your resume is supposed to. It can explain what your intentions are with the resume you're presenting, such as your plans for changing careers or industries. It can also reemphasize the strengths and competencies that you are offering a potential employer. It's an important tool that you must use in the pursuit of employment.

The key to writing a great cover letter is to start with a draft, making sure all important issues concerning your experience, skills and abilities are included. Work with the draft until you get all the critical information addressed om a succinct manner. Remember, if the letter is too wordy, there's a good chance it won't be read. Good writing skills are important. Typically, you will be able to write your own cover letter, but if you feel you need assistance, seek it out. There is nothing wrong with getting help from someone else or using a resume writing service, if necessary. It is just that important! The letter has be developed and written properly.

The good thing about a cover letter is that you only need one good one. That's right, only one good one. Once you have the body of the letter written (the part that showcases your experience, skills and competencies), you just simply adapt that same letter over and over again to the particular employer by changing the inside address, salutation, etc. It might be necessary to make other slight adjustments if you are attempting to make some major change in your career outside of your normal profession or industry.

If a part of your job search includes direct mail, always indicate in the last line of your letter that you will be following up with a phone call at some point. Make that phone call. Otherwise, don't waste your time. Direct mail without a phone call is a complete waste of time and postage.

Always try to address your letter to a person. You want to avoid, if at all possible, a general salutation such as "Dear Hiring Manager". However, in the absence of a name, use "Hiring Manager" as opposed to "Dear Sir/Madam" or "To Whom It May concern".

TIP: If you don't know the appropriate manager's name, do a little leg work and find out. You can call the company's Human Resources Department and get the name. Be sure and ask for the correct spelling. You have a much better chance of getting your letter and resume in front of a hiring manager if you address it directly to that person.

TIP: Better yet, send only a strong cover letter to the manager. It may increase your chances of getting your letter read if a resume does not accompany it. Why? Because in most cases if a resume is detected by the person who opens the mail it will most likely be forwarded to Human Resources. Generally, a manager will have a letter or card that is personally addressed to him/her forwarded to his/her desk.

So, bottom line, never underestimate the importance of a good cover letter with your resume, especially in responding to ads. If you want your resume to shine, a well written cover letter is a must!

About the Author
Larry Presley is owner/operator of "Resumes That Open Doors", a resume preparation service including cover letters and interview coaching. Larry has extensive experience in Human Resources management, consulting and insurance. Visit his blog on homeowners insurance policies, The Basics of Homeowners Insurance http://larrys-insurance-tips.blogspot.com

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=570789

Lacking a Degree? Top Resume Tips for Aspiring Leaders

Free Resume Articles : Lacking a Degree? Top Resume Tips for Aspiring Leaders by Laura SmithProulx

If you're a senior-level professional or manager, you've probably worked your way up the corporate ranks through demonstrated leadership, dedication, and proficiency.

At some point, you may find yourself wanting to transition upward in your career, and this can be where that nagging doubt sets in: you never finished (or even started) college.

What if this holds you back?

In my work as a professional resume writer, it amazes me how often this question comes up. It seems that ascending professionals divided into two camps: those who fear what might happen during the job search because their career took off too quickly to attend to educational matters, and those without a degree who have ascended the career ladder just the same.

If you aspire to the corner office, moving from the first group into the second requires using some key strategies to pique an employer's interest. Consider these tips to present a confident image, no matter what your educational status:

> Look at your career contributions with dollar signs.

Employers are always interested in the bottom line. Can you add to it, or control the expenses affecting it? Then, by all means, get this information onto your resume.

Now, extracting this data can be a challenge, but consider the payoff! A powerful leadership resume must practically shout this information in order to prove the strength of your performance.

Ask yourself hard questions about the results of your work, and then put figures to as much of it as possible.

For example, when working with a telecommunications executive lacking a degree, I discussed his leadership role in a reengineering project.

Our analysis yielded sentences such as "Eliminated $34M in rework and achieved 78+% ROI by leading sales and service delivery teams to identify core revisions." Information such as this helped him quickly demonstrate fitness for a leadership role, while minimizing questions on his educational status.

Results such as these speak for themselves and can cut through any doubt about your abilities-degree or not.

> Add professional training as proof of ongoing development.

You may have attended hours of seminars, leadership training sessions, and other professional development endeavors. Now's the time to take advantage of your participation.

Keep a complete list as fodder for an educational section on your resume, thus avoiding any temptation to simply skip this information. Adding this data can demonstrate not only a passion for lifelong learning, but also a dedication to learning concepts that benefit employers.

> Mention partial degree programs and other studies.

College coursework, even if you did not finish a degree program, still counts toward secondary education requirements in the eyes of many hiring managers.

In fact, one of the key questions I always ask leadership professionals is whether they attended college without graduating. Most employers understand that life happens, and that not everyone finishes their degree programs.

Use every opportunity to your advantage! Don't forget to list college studies, including majors and areas of concentration, on your resume.

> Showcase your personal brand and leadership qualities.

Everyone has unique strengths and capabilities to offer their next employer. What are yours? Have you thought about the impact you have on the company's business?

Ask yourself what pattern emerges when you name personal qualities and traits that allow you to succeed. Believe it or not, these are very relevant to employers, and OFTEN stand out more during a job hunt than degrees do.

Make a list of what you achieve that consistently affects revenue, the corporate reputation, or efficiency, and then describe the steps you've taken to attain these results.

Ensure that this information takes center stage on your resume, rather that just listing mundane tasks and other details.

In summary, establishing a link between your expertise and consistent corporate performance is the fastest way to gain attention during your job search.

And consider this: For every employer requiring a degree, there are probably two others that will look at your "on-the-job education" as equivalent (and possibly even stronger) credentials.

About the Author
A unique resume authority, Laura Smith-Proulx is the Executive Director of An Expert Resume (http://www.anexpertresume.com), a career services company that caters to organizational leaders, from managers poised for growth to senior-level executives. Laura has contributed to the success of hundreds of leadership professionals with powerful resumes designed to uniquely brand candidates and facilitate career advancement.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=846396