What to Say in Your Cover Letter

What to Say in Your Cover LetterWhat to Say in Your Cover LetterWhat to Say in Your Cover LetterNo matter how much advice is out there, a lot of job seekers still seem baffled by the concept of using deckblatt letters. They wonder if they really need a cover letter (yes) if it should just repeat whats in the resume (no) if it has to be customized for every job (yes), and how long it should be (1 page max). But the burning question, the one that really seems to gets peoples knickers in a twist, isWhat should I say in my cover letter?Clue Wagons Kerry Sandberg Scott (yesterdays guest blogger) puts it this wayReally think about why you want this particular job, and why your experience makes you the one they should call first. This doesnt have to be long, because you want to save something for the bewerbungsgesprch. It just has to show them that you really did read the ad, that you understand what theyre looking for, and that you might be the one they need.6 Key Cover Letter ElementsIn o rder to convey that message effectively, there are six things you must include in your cover letter. The table below shows the six must-have elements for an effective cover letter, and gives anexample of how you might express themWHAT TO SAYEXAMPLE1) Who you are and how to contact youJulie Jobseeker44 Bearfoot RoadNorthborough, MA866-486-4660jjobseekeryouremail.com2) Which job youre applying for and how you found itNew Business, Inc.123 Main StreetSpringfield, MA 01110AttentionHarold Von HirerRE Plant Manager Position posted on JobBoard.com3) Why youre interested and enthusiastic about this job at this organizationDear Mr. Von HirerAs my attached resume indicates, I have spent the past four years as a Plant Coordinator at Former Company, and the prior three years as a Line Manager with Smith Company. These roles have given me the multi-faceted expertise to successfully take on the Plant Manager position at New Business. This opportunity is especially attractive because I share your commitment to the local community. As a longtime volunteer at the Springfield Shelter, I have seen firsthand how your corporate contributions directly impact peoples lives.4) What relevant experience or transferable skills make you a good candidateMy expertise aligns exceptionally well with your job description, and Im proud of my track record. At Former Company, I continually sought ways to streamline processes, reduce scheduling conflicts, and minimize downtime. During my tenure, production rates rose steadily, achieving an overall 33% increase between 2005 and 2009. Im confident I could achieve similar results for your business.5) That youd like an interview I welcome the opportunity to meet with you to explore how my skills and experience could best meet your teams needs.6) That youre grateful for being consideredThank you for taking the time to consider my candidacy. I look forward to your call.Best regards,Julie Jobseeker

Best (Unconventional) Job Interview Advice

Best (Unconventional) Job Interview AdviceBest (Unconventional) Job Interview AdviceCongratulations Youve landed an bewerbungsinterview with one of the major players in the industry - a company you would die to work for. After your first reaction of triumphantly smiling from ear to ear, anxiety kicks in with force. Have you prepared enough? What if you screw up the interview? Is there some job interview advice out there that will help you master this meeting? Obviously, theres the voreingestellt preparation checklist that you find in every article on career advice Research the companys homepage and corporate values, bring two copies of your resume, make arrangements to be there five minutes early (but notlage more), make sure your dress code meets expectations, practice how to best present your strengths and weaknesses, prepare intelligent questions - and the list goes on.All of this is very important job interview advice, but in the end, theres just one thing you need to make a st rong and immediate connection with your interviewer. Its hard to prepare for this, but there are six unconventional tidbits that can help make this connection more effectiveFocus on 4 basic questionsIn the first interview, employers usually aim to answer only four basic questions about prospective candidates like youCan you do the job?Will you add value to their skills pool?Will you fit in with and enrich their company culture from a personality standpoint?Are you trustworthy, motivated and willing to go the extra mile?Make a great first impressionBreaking the ice will be essential for the course of the entire conversation. So to get started, concentrate on your breathing while you wait in the reception area, and place your hands on your thighs to make sure they stay warm and dry. Warm smile, firm handshake, confident eye contact, tall posture, calm voice - even the speed of your movements - will determine your interviewers very first and unconscious impression of you.If you can, practice the first five minutes with a friend or your partner, and even better, record it with your phone and analyze your body language to determine where to make adjustments. Its not about being someone youre not its about being on top of your game and making sure you get rid of any distracting features that will prevent the interviewer from instantly connecting with you.Research your interview partner thoroughlyHeres more essential job interview advice If the invitation does not include any names, make sure to call the company and ask. Once you have that, the interviewers LinkedIn pages are a good place to start. Find out about their backgrounds and expertise, but also try to get a sense for them personally. What stories do their profiles tell you? What other organizations besides their employer do they invest time in? Are they board members for any non-profits? What schools did they go to? Do they write for a blog? Do you have a common contact who could tell you a little more ab out them?All of this information will not only make you feel more comfortable walking in but will also allow you to have more personalized conversations and give you a chance to show off that you did your homework.Dig deeper by doing some company research to prepare yourself for the interview.Practice your pitchesTypical interview questions like Tell me about yourself or walk me through your resume open the door to pitfalls and miscommunication. A good way to start answering either of these is by first asking if the interviewers would like you to follow a certain agenda, or tell them to proactively point out where they would like more detail. A successful presentation of your background will not only depend on saying the right things but on showing your ability to focus on the most important parts (without too much rambling) and how you connect the pieces.Make a list of the required skills and most important tasks from the job posting, and for all of them, find a skill or experience of yours that mirrors it. Make sure you concentrate on these and talk about real-life examples of how you applied them in your day-to-day activities - including the added value for your last employer. Practice what you plan to say, as well as questions you want to ask during the interview. Record yourself once you have found your perfect version so you can listen to your pitches and find your rhythm with it.Take some time - for youIn the race for a job, we tend to forget that were not in it for a short-term win, but for a long-term match. That means youll need to assess the job just as much as your potential next employer will be assessing you. Take a long walk or exercise the night before. Ask yourself what you are truly looking for in this next step, and where your long-term journey is headed. Recall professional situations that you felt great in.Not only will this help you come across as calm, confident and professional, but it will also sharpen your radar in the interview to m ake the right assessment in regards to your own ability to succeed and remain happy in that role. On the day of the interview, make sure you do everything to feel positive and strong - put on your favorite song, smile even when youre alone, and keep moving throughout the day. Believe me, it makes a differenceIn case youre wondering, there are red flags to watch for in a job interview that may find you turning your attention to other companies.Dont forget the ever-important thank-you musiknoteFinally, heed this job interview advice As an interview follow-up, a thank-you note is a given, but many candidates concentrate too much on appearing thankful for the meeting instead of branding themselves in the right way. Remember, it is not only about the gesture, but also another chance to prove that youre focused and considerate, and that you listened to your interviewer. On top of the thank you, reflect on and add some more perspective to an interesting question that was asked during the interview (dont go on too long though), pointing out a key moment or realization that was a true take-away for you. You might even include a favorite quote or the link to an article that sums up one of the points the interviewer was making.The value of interviewing well cant be overestimated. Its about making a solid connection instead of simply repeating the content of your resume and answering questions. Your resume has opened the door, and now its your personality that needs to walk through it. Make it as easy as possible for them to look beyond the surface and see your value and true self shine through And dont forget Its not only the company that interviews you, its also you who assesses a potential employer. Good luckRead more about how you can work with Robert Halfs recruiters to secure a position matched to your unique skill set and requirements. LET US HELP YOU

How Team Diversity can Boost Business Success Robert Half

How Team Diversity can Boost Business Success Robert HalfHow Team Diversity can Boost Business Success Robert HalfTeam diversity is often acknowledged as an important goal in building project groups. Diversity means difference. But isnt it counterintuitive to expect dissimilar individuals to perform with a single-minded purpose? Wouldnt a gruppe composed of employees with comparable professional experiences and similar personalities function more smoothly?As many experienced managers would attest, the answer is no.In fact, of the array of employment solutions that foster progress in the workplace, project diversity can be one of the strongest factors working in favor of business success. A gruppe works best not when its members are identical, but when they are compatible, complementary and able to cooperate. Thats why a group of people who think and work alike may ultimately fail, while a dream gruppe of disparate individuals might be extremely successful.In striving for team diversi ty, most people envision a group of individuals who represent a blend of races, ethnicities or cultural backgrounds. Though important, this is just one approach to creating an eclectic team. Managers can build the best teams by seeking diversity in a broad array of areas.PersonalityOne secret to creating successful team diversity is to combine compatible personalities. A group composed entirely of Type-A superstars may become mired in power struggles, while a team of introverts might have a hard time choosing someone to lead the way. A more functional, harmonious group would include one or two leaders who can organize and direct the activities of the rest of the team. Other members would represent a variety of personalities - extroverts and introverts, deliberate planners and spontaneous do-ers, logical fact-finders, and perceptive thinkers who can connect the dots and synthesize information. Personality counts - and the right combination can make the teams efforts that much more successful.Skills and experienceWhen a project requires the team approach, it means that no single individual possesses the breadth of skills and experience necessary to complete the task. Managers must identify which skills are required and what types of experience would be most beneficial, then assemble the appropriate players. Cross-departmental collaboration may be involved.As the group works together, its members will end up sharing valuable knowledge and best practices. Informal cross-training may take place as the teams technical guru presents a report on several different software options. Mentoring relationships may arise when a large team breaks into subgroups to handle interim tasks. At its best, the team will embody the principle that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. And thats the greatest outcome of team diversity.FIND JOB CANDIDATESWork stylesFor optimum harmony and cooperation, managers should choose team members with complementary work styles. For exam ple, hyper-focused, detail-oriented people balance out teammates who tend to have a more panoramic view of resources, deliverables, schedules and deadlines. In general, individuals are not identical in the way they approach tasks and responsibilities. The key thing - within the parameters of your own office culture - is to acknowledge that theres often more than one right way to tackle a job and to try to reach agreement on the best approach for each task.Individual positionsEven in a randomly selected group, people tend to assume specific roles that are consistent with their personalities, habits, training and skills. Thats why some people appear to be born leaders, while others are most comfortable in behind-the-scenes, supporting roles. While setting objectives and responsibilities, managers should take the time to identify each position on the team - leader, researcher, tech specialist, facilitator, resource coordinator, liaison with other work groups - and then choose those individuals who can best perform the duties of a given role.The managers key roleTeam diversity can clearly add strength. But its up to the manager who creates the team to make sure diversity leads to an invigorating environment that sparks innovation, creativity and fresh thinking rather than a hodgepodge of irreconcilable differences. By carefully composing teams of individuals who know how to play to each others strengths and compensate for one anothers shortcomings, managers will discover that team diversity not only enlivens the group, but is also a source of greater productivity and success. Tags