Gift Yourself an AMAZING Cover Letter for the Holidays…

Do you look forward to the holidays––and dread them at the same time? November and December often blur together as we move from Thanksgiving to the December Holidays. And the next thing you know it's time to celebrate the next twelve months on New Year's Eve! 

If this sounds familiar, you, like many people, may be caught in a holi-daze. Cooking, shopping, entertaining, cleaning, and organizing take over. If you're in the market for a new job you may be tempted to put off writing that cover letter till all the celebrations are over.  

Don't Give In 

Tempting as it might be to glide through the next month, avoid it if you can. The holiday season is actually a great time to keep moving along with your job-search goal. You'll get a jump on all the job seekers who are waiting until January. 

While the kids are playing with their holiday toys and games, and visitors are resting or sightseeing, sneak off to another room and spend time drafting a brand new cover letter. Set your sights on what is ahead. Look forward to all the good that will come your way in 2012.  

A well-written job-search cover letter is a gift to give yourself—one that will give back to you all through the new year.  

Such a letter will: 

·       Put you in touch with hiring managers

·       Plant your name in the mind of those who read your cover letter

·       Place you in the running for an interview for a specific job

·       Promote your work experience and skills to decision-makers 

Get Started Now 

Here are four steps you can take immediately to write the kind of cover letter that will capture a hiring manager's attention, one that will compel him or her to contact you for a job interview by phone or in person. 

Step 1. Meet the hiring manager's needs.  Show him or her how you, the job seeker, can benefit his or her company––if you're hired to fill the open position. 

Example:

I'm aware through my friend Rich Lewis, your company CPA,that you're interested in hiring someone to expand your sales territory in the southwest . . . I'd like to accept this challenge. I have a master's degree in Sales and Marketing . . . I opened six new accounts in less than six months while employed by Fenwick and Bolton Textile Company in North Carolina. 

Step 2. Ask for what you want.

Example:

May we get together in person to talk about how your expectations for the person you hire and my job expertise can benefit your company. 

Step 3. State your goal. 

Example:

I'll phone you by the end of the week to schedule an appointment that works for you. If you prefer to speak before then, please call or email me using the contact info above.           

Step 4. Show your appreciation. 

Example:

Thank you for the opportunity to introduce myself. I'm enthusiastic about meeting in person to see how I might help fill the opening and enhance the vision of your company.                       

Keep in mind that hiring managers need you to do their job. They must hire people to fill the available positions. Make them look good by showing the benefits you can bring. 

Let your cover letter work for you, not against you. Focus on the hiring manager's needs and in turn, he or she will give you what you want—an interview for the job of your dreams.

 

Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the brand new, "Amazing Cover Letter Creator." Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, "Job Search Secrets."

Celebrate the Holidays With a Job-Winning Interview!

Celebrate the Holidays With a Job-Winning Interview!

Whether you light a pine tree for Christmas, a Menorah for Hanukkah, or kinara candles for Kwanzaa, the holiday season for each of us can be a bit overwhelming. Shopping, decorating, gift-wrapping, cooking, baking, and entertaining consume our time and thoughts. 

This year, however, you may want to consider taking the following three steps to achieve a happy and restful season: 

Slow down. You don't have to do it all yourself. Enlist the help of family and friends with cooking, gift-wrapping, and mailing. 

Simplify. Let go of some of the time-consuming rituals so you can relax and enjoy the celebrations. Order gifts online. Set up a potluck. Pay a teen to clean up. 

Stop! Take a breather—and while you're resting, make a list (and check it twice!) of where you are now and where you want to be a year from now. 

If being employed in a new position is on that list, remember that every great job starts with a terrific interview. Start thinking about what you'll bring to this meeting: your appearance, your ability to speak with confidence, and your skills and work experience that will grab a hiring manager's attention. Use some of the spare time you have during the holidays to make a plan so that when you're called for an interview you'll be ready. 

Take Charge

Keep in mind that today's hiring manager is more interested in who you are as a person than who you are as a professional. Behavior-based interviewing is now the norm. Employers are looking at a candidate's previous performance as an indicator of future behavior. They're not only interested in your resume, but also in the way you interact with others and how you respond when part of a team. They want to know what they can expect if they hire you and how you'll handle tricky situations that call for calm and confident leadership. It will be up to you to convince them that you're the one for this job.

Tell the Truth

Following are some of the hard-edged questions and directives you could face in a behavior-based interview. Answer each one honestly to the best of your ability.

1.     Tell me about a time you took charge of a situation that was out of control.

2.     Give an example of a goal you set at work and how you achieved it.

3.     Have you performed beyond the requirement of the job you held? If so, how?

4.     If you made a mistake in judgment how would you handle it with management?

5.     How have you dealt with difficult co-workers or customers?

Be prepared to provide details, dialogue, and a description of what occurred and how you resolved it.

Trust in Yourself—A Three-Point Review

1.     Recognize your good qualities and review them often in your mind. 

2.     Jot down a few experiences that illustrate situations and times when you successfully resolved conflict, stood up for the truth despite criticism, or used your creativity to negotiate a challenging relationship.  

3.     Take your emotional pulse. If you're smiling and feeling comfortable and well suited to the job in question, go for it. If you feel stressful, confused, or overwhelmed, consider setting this opportunity aside and looking for a job more appropriate to your skills and experience. 

Once you're clear in your mind that this is the job you want, you'll be able to walk into any interview and establish a good rapport with the hiring manager. Following that,

all that's left is the question only you can ask and answer for yourself. "Is this the job for me?" 

Happy holidays! May you land the interview that will lead to the job you really want.

 

© Written By Jimmy Sweeney

President of CareerJimmy and Author of the new,

Job Interview "Secret"

How To Use A "Thanksgiving" Cover Letter

© Written By Jimmy Sweeney

President of CareerJimmy.com

Author of the brand new, AmazingCover Letter Creator    

 

Hungry job seekers focus their cover letters on what they want, what they expect, and what they can do. Then they wait for the phone to ring to book an interview. That's one way to approach the job search market.  

Essential as these points are, however, they're not nearly as effective as opening and closing a cover letter with two simple words—THANK YOU.  

Why say thank you when you don't know the hiring manager and you don't have the job yet? Here's why. Behind every desk in every company sits a human being just like you, a person with hopes and dreams, plans and challenges, and a desire to be acknowledged and appreciated. 

One day your cover letter will land on his or her desk. Will you jump off the page as a person ideal for the job, a team player, someone who'll be a great addition to the staff? I hope so, but more important, will you come across as someone who has a humble and grateful attitude, an individual who recognizes the value of an opportunity, the privilege of holding a job and working with others toward a common goal? That profile is what every hiring manager is looking for.

 

Giving Thanks Could Land You a Job!

 

Thank you. These two simple words seem to be in hiding because they so rarely appear in public! But they are golden, even more so than your resume, skills, and qualifications—because they set the stage for what is to come. What man or woman wouldn't respond to someone who is polite, personal, and professional? 

Following are examples of how to express your thanks at the beginning of your cover letter and at the end. 

Example #1: 

Dear Mr. Hiring Manager: 

(beginning) 

Thank you for taking a moment to read my cover letter. I'm pleased to meet you here and hope to do so in person. I was happy to see on careerjimmy.com your listing for an administrative assistant—a position for which I feel qualified and eager to fill.   

(ending) 

Thank you again for reading my letter and resume and for considering me for the job. May I come in for an interview so I can hear your perspective on this position and the qualities you're looking for in the person you hire? I can be available any time that works for you. I appreciate this opportunity very much. 

Example #2:

Dear Mr. Hiring Manager: 

(beginning) 

Thank you for posting on careerjimmy.com such a clear description of the opening for an administrative assistant now available at your company. I was able to tell at a glance that this job is just what I've been looking for and feel qualified to fill. 

(ending) 

You must receive hundreds of cover letters every week––all the more reason for me to thank you again for taking time to read mine and for considering me for the position of executive secretary on your administrative staff. I'd welcome the opportunity to meet with you in person for an interview so we can discuss what I can bring to the job and what you expect from the person you hire. 

After sending off your cover letter, take a moment to expand your thanks silently.  

·       For the job that is waiting for you, even if you haven't landed it yet

·       For the person who will hire you when the time comes 

·       For the experience, talent, and skill you have to earn a living 

·       For the people in your life who love and support you 

Thanksgiving Day is not the only time to give thanks. Move gratitude to the top of your list at home, at work, and in the community and you will find what you're looking for in the job market and in your relationships. 

 

Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the brand new, "Amazing Cover Letter Creator." Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, "Job Search Secrets."  

Visit our friends at AmazingCover Letters for your "instant" cover letter today. "In just 3½ minutes you will have an amazing cover letter guaranteed to cut through YOUR competition like a hot knife through butter!"

 

Job Interview Questions To Ask And Avoid

No job interview is easy. You need to be smart in answering as well as asking questions.  Knowing what questions to ask and avoid is one of your keys to success.  Although asking intelligent questions won’t guarantee an offer, but asking bad or inappropriate questions will definitely kill.  I’ve recently read an article from Jimmy Sweeny which contains valuable tips about what to ask and avoid over a job interview.  Here’s the article.

Questions to ASK and AVOID during your next job interview…

The phone call you've waited for has finally come! You've been invited in for a job interview. Now your nerves are on edge. You know what to wear but you may not know what questions to ask or avoid, or if you'll even have an opportunity to speak up other than to answer questions fired at you.

Don't worry. There will be time for you to voice your concerns and inquiries. The important thing is to know what questions to ask and which ones to set aside—for now. Keep in mind that interviewers want to speak with job seekers who are sharp, confident, and professional. This is no time to be passive and overly polite, though courtesy is always appropriate. Remember, you're vying for the job you want. Take an active role in asking questions by being prepared ahead of time.

Consider These:

·       What factors about this company are attractive to you?

·       What makes this firm a great place to build a career?

·       How do you see the future of this company?

·       What is the most challenging aspect of working for this organization?

·       In your opinion, what would be the biggest adjustment for someone new?

Answers to these questions can help you decide whether or not this is the place you want to work. They will also help you respond to the questions you're asked. You'll be ready to answer in a way that will show you were listening, paying attention, and taking note of management's vision and objectives for the company.

Questions to Avoid

Steer clear of questions that you can answer yourself by doing a bit of basic research online—such as the kind of work you'd be doing, or the level of leadership that would be expected of you or the focus of the company. Walk into the interview armed with as much information as possible and then ask only those questions that will help you decide whether to accept or decline the job offer if it is presented.

Also avoid asking questions related to salary, benefits, vacation, sick days and so on. At this point you have not yet been offered the position. You are being 'screened.'

There will come a time and place to discuss pay and benefits, but the interview is not that place.

Use What You Learn

The most important thing you can do during an interview is to show yourself as someone the hiring manager wants. Focus on displaying your skills and experience and how you can fit the profile of the person the interviewer is looking for. This gives you leverage for negotiating salary and benefits when the job offer comes through.

Be aware of the impression you'd make if you ask questions that have nothing to do with the job opportunity. An interview is not a social visit or a time to talk about sports and hobbies. It's a business meeting that has one purpose: to determine if you are the right person to fill the opening. If the interviewer asks a few questions about your interests, it's fine to answer them honestly. He or she wants to get to know you—but avoid getting off-track with long-winded responses that take the focus off the job.

Common sense is your best ally. Be yourself. Do your homework. Show up neatly dressed. Arrive on time. Know the right questions to ask, and the ones to avoid. And bring enthusiasm, a smile, and a firm handshake.

© Written By Jimmy Sweeney

President of CareerJimmy and Author of the new, Amazing Cover Letter and Secret Career Document

Ring in the New Year With a Brand New Cover Letter

With the turn of a page or the click of an app you'll be looking at January 2012 on your calendar—a perfect time to start fresh with a brand new cover letter to help you land the job you've been dreaming about.

Employers are ready for a new beginning, as well. They want to match qualified job-hunters with quality jobs. You can be one of the people they're looking for. Get started now with a top-notch cover letter that catches their attention and compels them to call you in for an interview.

Raise Your Glass!

Imagine yourself chatting with a friend over a Coke or coffee. You'd speak in everyday English with a relaxed and easy tone. No clutter. No camouflage. No confusion. You'd talk and smile, toast the new year, and end with a handshake or a hug.

Think of a winning cover letter in the same way. It's a friendly, yet professional form of communication that does the job clearly and succinctly so each party understands what's important, necessary, and useful. To reach this goal, here are five tips for writing a brand new cover letter that will bring you face-to-face with a hiring manager who wants to hire—you!

Be friendly. Start you letter with a warm greeting.
Example: Thank you for listing your description of the position of store manager now open at your company.

Be focused. Stick to the point of your cover letter.
Example: My experience as an assistant store manager has motivated me to move to a new level of leadership. I feel ready to assume the full responsibilities of store manager.

Be forthright. State your goal.
Example: May we meet in person to talk over this job? I'd welcome an opportunity to hear what you're looking for in the man or woman you hire and to share more fully why I believe I'm qualified to fill this position.

Be far-sighted. See what's ahead.
Example: I plan to invest myself in the company for the long run and to do my best to promote its mission and vision.

Be firm. Say what you mean.
Example: I've played sports all my life and know the value of performing and leading with integrity, enthusiasm, and commitment to reach the team's objective.

Kick the Clutter!

Read your cover letter aloud. Take a hard look. Does any of your writing sound like this?

"Regarding your listing for a job in administration on jobsaplenty.com I am taking time today to respond to that post in high hopes that you will take some time to consider me for the job of administrative assistant, given that I have six years of doing this type of work for the employer I used to work for before I saw your listing. It would be great if you decided to interview me, although I realize there are other people hoping to win this job but if you meet me in person I think you'll agree I'm a good candidate. If you want I can provide you with more information about my qualifications. Just ask. Please consider me for this job. I have been unemployed for the past six months and need to get to work soon so I can pay my bills and keep my family going."

Now's the time to cut, slice, and chop any words that give the impression you're desperate, discouraged, or disappointed. Follow the suggestions in the list above and you'll create a cover letter that will catch any hiring manager's attention.

Tip Your Hat!

Add a dash of personality, a pinch of humility, and a bit of gratitude. Then tip your hat to the new year—the year that will change your life and your employment because of a great cover letter that is uniquely yours.

Happy New Year and happy job hunting!