Interview Assitant

Have you been fired?

If so, you know all the negative feelings that assault you immediately. You feel:

*Confused-"I thought they liked my work."
*Cheated-"They should have fired George instead. His work was sloppy."
*Resentful-"I'll tell everybody off if I ever get the chance."
*Sad-"I feel like I'm attending my own funeral."
*Frightened-"Guess I'll never get a good job again."
*Bitter-"I'll never speak to those people again."
*Worried-"I can't eat, sleep, or even think straight."
*Alone-"Now I know what real loneliness is."
*Ashamed-"Guess I let my family down big-time."

Yet to succeed in your search, you will need to subdue those crippling thoughts. You can do that by focusing on seven communication strategies that will help you stand out as the best applicant available. Let's consider these career-saving strategies:

First Strategy: Talk Positively to Yourself

You might be thinking, "That's crazy. I don't talk to myself." But you do. I'll bet you have muttered to yourself comments like these:
"Lost my glasses again. Man, am I scatterbrained."
"No need for me to try out for the team. I've got no athletic ability."
"I'm so sloppy. That's why my office looks this disorganized."

During a job search, you need to change the tone of your self-talk considerably. In fact, you should say many affirmative things to yourself before you go to your first job interview. Try affirmations like these:
"My suit might not be new, but it's still in style and looks very professional."
"I meet people well, so this interview will give me a chance to shine."
"Other candidates for this position might have more credentials on paper, yet none of them can match my work ethic, which makes me the ideal choice."

Second Strategy: Sharpen Your Speaking Skills
When you interview for upper level jobs, you can expect to do more than talk with one or two individuals in an interview setting. Chances are good that you will also speak to a group, made up of the officials you would be working with very closely. Search committee heads arrange these group interviews frequently, so you will be wise to get ready for them.

Let's face it-we choose presidents, corporate CEOs, coaches, and other leaders because they can stand before a group and share their ideas with poise, power, and persuasive ability.
To become a more compelling speaker, join Toastmasters, hire a speech coach, enroll in a public speaking class, or watch top-tier speakers in action.

Third Strategy: Become a Keen Listener
Assume that you are interviewing a candidate for a job. Suppose the candidate didn't get your name right, or the name of your executive assistant. Imagine that although the candidate seems intelligent and articulate, he seems to misunderstand key points you are trying to make. Occasionally he asks you to repeat a question. Once while you were talking, he was looking out the window, as though he had lost interest. He looks like he prefers not to be here.
As a supervisor, would you hire this person? No, you wouldn't. You recognize that top-notch team members are keen listeners.

Almost everyone who meets former President Bill Clinton gives the same report. They describe Clinton as one of the finest listeners they ever met. He welcomes everything you say. He asks questions, inviting you to talk longer. He nods in agreement. He doesn't interrupt you. He seems far more interested in what you have to say than in taking over the conversation himself.
Interviewers respond very positively to good listeners, sensing they will become solid team players, open to other people's ideas.

So evaluate your listening habits. In talking with a business executive, what percentage of your time is devoted to listening. Do you interrupt? Do you give visible listening signals, such as eye contact and nodding in agreement?

Fourth Strategy: Maintain Maximum Motivation
I'll admit that's not easy for an unemployed person. Appointments get canceled, advertised jobs are filled before you apply, and you keep finishing among the top four finalists-which doesn't do you any good at the bank or grocery store.

Realize first that maintaining your motivation is strictly up to you. Your family, friends, and professional contacts can't do that for you. Don't wait on others to inspire you. Our first strategy explained the value of self-talk. That's a splendid starting point for staying motivated.
Consider some other motivation steps. Affiliate with a positive group. Avoid hanging around with job seekers who complain constantly that "there's nothing out there for any of us." Join civic, humanitarian, or religious groups centered on hope.

Study the lives of highly successful people, particularly those who faced severe hardships.Of course, the role models you select don't have to be famous. Unheralded heroes surround us, volunteering in hospitals, delivering meals to shut-ins, and tutoring underprivileged children.
Memorize inspiring sayings, even short poems. Repeat them while you are exercising or as you start your day.

Spend time reveling in the marvels of nature. Breathe the fresh air deeply, with appreciation for your lung capacity. Step outside at night to see the stars on a clear evening.

Maintain your motivation, and you'll become far more winsome than job applicants who display long faces and sagging outlooks. They look like losers, and who wants to add a loser to the payroll?

Fifth Strategy: Understand How to Adapt Your Communication Style
Jane goes in for an initial interview with Marvin. Jane is the effervescent type, always upbeat, bubbly, and extroverted. She intends to win Marvin over with her witty comments. Unfortunately, Marvin prefers a communication style that is much more subdued. He is detail oriented, interest in financial reports and budgets. He considers small talk a waste of time. When Jane begins the conversation by telling him what fun she and her friends had on the weekend, Marvin wonders why she didn't get to the point of the interview right away.

Situations like that happen all too often. Highly qualified candidates like Jane are unaware of the barriers they create by using a style that not only won't work but backfires.

Is there a simple, cost-effective way to learn your preferred communication style, and then identify the style of another person quickly, so you can adjust your style to get the best results? Yes. Start asking your colleagues to direct you to qualified administrators of the DISC System of Personal Style Analysis or the Hermann Brain Dominance Instrument.

Sixth Strategy: Simulate Interviews, Videotape Them, and Critique Them
The camera doesn't lie. The camera tells us when we frown too much, lose eye contact, get defensive when a question makes us uncomfortable, repeat nervous mannerisms and gestures until they become distracting, use a monotone pitch, and ramble from the point under discussion.

On the positive side, the camera tells us when we establish obvious rapport, demonstrate a commanding presence, look confident, talk proudly about our professional accomplishments, and smile regularly.

Be sure to arrange at least one simulated interview, with a person qualified to role play, and then enlist a professional communicator to help you critique your performance, offering suggestions for creating a more convincing presence.

Seventh Strategy: Network Creatively and Constantly
Networking could easily become your most powerful communication tool during your search. Why is networking so valuable? Because you can capitalize on the credibility others have created with decision makers.

Are you reluctant to ask business leaders to refer you actively or be available to give an endorsement by phone? That's not a realistic fear, because prominent citizens feel complimented by your request.

With this in mind, list the key players you know, make appointments with them, and ask for their referrals and testimonials. Quicker than you would guess, you will have advocates who are eager to help you land your next job.

Bill Lampton, Ph.D.--author of The Complete Communicator: Change Your Communication, Change Your Life!--helps you "Learn More. . .Earn More," through his expertise in communication, motivation, customer service, and sales. His speeches, seminars, and communication coaching have benefited top-tier clients, including the Ritz-Carlton Cancun, Gillette, Duracell, Procter & Gamble, Missouri Bar, CenturyTel, British Columbia Legal Management Association, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Visit his Web site to sign up for his complimentary monthly E-mail newsletter: http://www.ChampionshipCommunication.com Call Dr. Lampton to discuss how his services will benefit your organization: 678-316-4300. E-mail him: drbill@ChampionshipCommunication.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bill_Lampton,_Ph.D.

Change can be good. Sometimes there's merit in shaking things up just a bit, especially if you've gotten into a rut.

When you wrote your first professional resume, you may have opened with an objective statement. Many updates later, you're still using the same basic design - and still leading with an objective.

It's time to kiss it goodbye.

Three good reasons to get rid of it:
1) It's too broad
2) It's too narrow
3) It screams out, "Me, me me!"

A broad objective statement is one that's very general and consequently doesn't say anything. It accomplishes only one thing: it takes up up space. Ironically, this is the most valuable real estate on your resume.

(i.e. To secure a challenging position in marketing communications with a dynamic company....)
Potentially just as damaging is the opposite...a narrow objective statement. This one is too specific. One important unintended consequence is that it can exclude you from consideration for other jobs for which you might be well qualified. Because you painted yourself into a box with your opening blurb, your paper gets tossed to the side.

Finally, there's the issue of focus. By its very nature, the objective statement is pretty much all about you. The problem with that? The hiring manager isn't considering your candidacy and your potential fit for the position in terms of what's in it for you. He's not concerned with your objective; he's thinking about his, which is to fill the position.

Leading with a pitch that talks about what you want out of this job, then, is not the most effective method to capture the reader's attention.

Your objective is to get a job. The reader doesn't need a statement to figure that out.
My suggestion? Skip it.

You've got a limited amount of space to work with. Make every line on that resume count.

Rebecca Metschke helps professionals improve their marketability. The author of The Interview Edge (http://www.TheInterviewEdge.com), a comprehensive career guide to career management, she also writes a daily blog posting strategies, tips and advice for those whose careers are in transition.

http://blog.TheInterviewEdge.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_Metschke

So you think you have produced a quality resume, but you never seem to get any responses to your resume. You then begin to question your own skills and qualifications. The problem may not be with your resume; instead it may be with the way you are trying to distribute your resume. Many people simply fall into the mainstream trap of doing what every other job seeker is doing.

So what may be the real reason why you get no responses to your resume?

Most people use the traditional approach of simply posting their resume on one or two large job boards. The problem with this approach is the competition is extremely high on these larger job boards; which makes it hard for your resume to get discovered.

A better approach for many people would be to distribute their resume on smaller niche job boards where there is less competition. Also, smaller job boards attract more small to medium sized employers. This is because smaller niche job boards are much more affordable for smaller employers to post their job openings. Large job boards charge employers $300-$400 to post one single job opening. This is simply to expensive for many small to medium sized employers; therefore, they use smaller more affordable niche job boards.

There are several companies that specialize in distributing your resume to a large number of smaller niche job boards for a small fee if you want help in this process.

The bottom line is you need to think outside the box of traditional mainstream job seekers. Successful people are always looking for new ways to promote themselves in order to get ahead of the competition.

Chad Surges has a Bachelor's Degree in Business and currently owns and operates the investing website called lucky-dog-investing.com. He also invites you to visit his job network website: chiob.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chad_Surges

Writing a resume in English can be different from writing a resume in one's native language.

There are many key points to consider when writing an English resume. The following is a list of helpful tips on writing a resume in English:

An English resume should be created on a word processor. Hand written resumes are not acceptable. Print your resume on high quality paper.

Do not include a picture of yourself.

Do not put the title Resume or Curriculum Vitae as a heading.

Type your complete name, address, telephone number, fax, and email at the top of the resume.
The Profile section is where you summarize your skills and experience. It should be only one or two paragraphs long. Write a resume objective. The resume objective is a brief sentence stating what type of work you want to acquire. You should also include your career ambitions.

A resume should be no more than two pages long. Try for one page. Highlight your positive characteristics by keeping content brief and to the point.

Proper grammar and spelling is essential. Use a capital letter at the beginning of a name. Write complete words. That is, do not use initials for company names or qualifications. Ask an English speaker to check your resume for errors. Use strong verbs such as: accomplished, encouraged, managed... etc. Use past tenses unless explaining your current job and make sure you do not use "I" in your descriptions.

Spacing: Address: bold and placed in the center of the page Objective: double space Experience: double space Education: double space Additional Skills: double space
Align everything to the left except your name and address.

When entering your education achievements place your highest qualification first and list the others in reverse-chronological order. Include any degrees or certificates as well as your major. Make sure that you enter the institution and dates you attended. Do not list grades unless they are requested.

Highlighting English Language skills is an extremely important part of the English resume. Under the "Skills" heading, describe your knowledge of the English language. This includes if you are bilingual, fluent in English, and how well you speak the English language.
When entering your career history, place your most recent job first and then list the rest in reverse-chronological order. Include where you worked, dates, name of employer, your position in the company, and your duties.

When listing your skills in an English resume, it is important to highlight technical, professional, and other skills not associated with your career history. Choose skills that are similar (transferable) to the position in which you are applying.

List no more than six achievements from your education, work experience, other experiences (paid and non-paid), and special skills. Highlight unique achievements from your career or education history that will help you stand out from other candidates.

Personal details should be brief and to the point. Details should include your nationality.
Finish your English resume with the statement: References available upon request
The purpose of an English Resume is to sell your qualifications. It is essential to emphasize your education, skills, work experiences, and achievements. A well-written and well-rounded resume can catch the attention of a potential employer.

Learning English is essential to success when immigrating to a new country. Visit our Resume cover letter section for useful tips.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amy_Nutt

When you write your cover letter, every single detail counts. Your cover letter is your first impression so you need to make it work for you. Don't make these 7 deadly mistakes when you are preparing your job application cover letter.

#1 Sending your cover letter when you do NOT need to
Read carefully the job requirements; sometimes you do not need to attach a cover letter to your resume and you need to fill out an application form instead. Failure to do that could ruin your chances.

#2 Failing to address the letter to the specific person
You need to go the extra mile and find out what the name of the person you are writing to is. If this implies making a phone call to the company to enquire about the name of the right person, do it.

#3 Telling the employer what the company can do for you instead of what you can do for the company
The hiring manager needs to feel that he needs you in his company, not the other way around. You need to appear confident enough in your job application cover letter and demonstrate strong marketing skills to sell yourself.

#4 Put your reader to sleep in the first sentence
You need to grab your employer's attention from the very first lines; Like in an arena, you need to "make an entrance" as the first impression, as often, is essential.

#5 Have typos, incorrect grammar and misspellings
Your cover letter needs to be mistake-free. You can proofread it yourself or ask a friend to do so.

#6 Rehash your resume
Your employer does not need you to repeat your resume. Just highlight the key aspects that make your application relevant.

#7 Forget to sign your letter
Since you are very likely to type your job application cover letter, do not forget to sign it at the end; otherwise you are just a robot.

Do you know what is the secret sentence used in one out of a thousand cover letters? Use this secret sentence and you will dramatically increase your chances of getting a job interview. Visit us if you want more tips on how to write cover letters. Take action now!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Raphael_Marquez

How to write cover letters? So many people wonder how to write cover letters effectively. This is not hard. You just need to follow a few guidelines and you will be on your way. Let's have a quick look at 7 golden rules.

Writing a good cover letter is the key to attract potential employers. Yet many people seem to stumble upon a few simple rules to craft a well-presented and effective cover letter.

*Golden rule #1
Use normal paper when you write your letter. You want to stand out with the quality of your writing skills not the quality of your paper, its colour or the fancy font you have used.

*Golden rule #2
Do a little bit of research and address the person you are writing the letter to. DO NOT use pre-made structures such as "To Whom it may concern" as it is too impersonal.

*Golden rule #3
Do some research about the company you want to join. If you mass-write letters, you MUST adapt each letter to the particular characteristics of each position. There is nothing more annoying for an employer than reading a written piece with the name of another company in it.

*Golden rule #4
When you talk about yourself, be straightforward. There is no need for you to tell a long story about your life in the cover letter. If you do, it might end up in the bin.

*Golden rule #5
Show off. You need to show off your qualities in your letter and what you can bring to the company. Ask yourself why the recruiter would hire you instead of someone else. You are better than the other applicants because you are able to bring the notion of efficiency, dedication and commitment to another level. You are unique. Keep that in mind. There is no need to eat humble pie when you are writing a cover letter. It is your time to shine. Of course, do not go too far. When the job interview comes, you will need to back up your claims.

*Golden rule #6
This is an aspect which is, interestingly enough, often underused by applicants; your letter does not need to be breathtakingly original yet you should display a bit of personality in it. What I mean by personality is, of course, humour. If you make your recruiter smile when reading your letter, you win. Needless to say that it'd better be a smile than a smirk. In other words, make him smile because you are displaying a witty sense of humour. Not because he is laughing at your spelling inaccuracies.

*Golden rule #7
This brings me to my last point: Spelling. It does not matter whether you are John Grisham or the guy next door. Your cover letter has to be mistake-free. Ask a friend to proofread it for you.
There is a secret sentence used in one out of a thousand cover letters. Use this secret sentence and you will dramatically increase your chances of getting a job interview.

Visit us if you want more tips on how to write cover letters. Take action now!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Raphael_Marquez

When constructing your Cover Letter, you must think of it as a "Sales Letter". It's the instrument that will open more doors for you than your resume. Resumes do not sell. They are not written to sell. And in most cases, unless your resume is outstanding, it can actually end up hurting your chance of landing the job.

Therefore, your Cover Letter is the only chance you have to sell yourself to the hiring manager, for the chance of getting an interview. This is where you have an opportunity to out shine your competition. A carefully written letter with the right marketing terms can open the door for you over your competition. Remember in today's world you are most likely going up against 25 to 100 people for the same job opening.

The vast majority of job seekers simply throw's something together to attach to what they hope is an outstanding resume. Today's hiring mangers want to be impressed with a job applicant. They want an individual who not only meets all the requirements of the job, but will also be an asset to the company. Put yourself in their shoes. Everyday they see the same old boring cover letter attached to an average quality resume. You need to stand out from the crowd.

By having a carefully crafted Cover Letter that speaks to the hiring manager and grabs their attention, you can be assured of getting an interview. A brilliantly worded cover letter is the greatest edge you can have over your competition and most job seekers fail to understand this fact.

Elements you should have in your cover letter are how your skills and background can make a substantial positive difference for the company. Write about your strengths as to how they can be directly applied for the company's benefits. Use the best features from your resume to hammer home any points you want to high light and write about them.

Remember, your Cover letter should be hyper focused on getting you the interview and Hired. That's all the "Sales Letter" is supposed to do. Sell you to the hiring manager.

for more information on how to write a killer cover letter, visit us at http://jobhuntingresources.info as well as learning about other tips for finding that next job

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Mclaren

Can you do it?

Can you step back, assume the role of a neutral and impartial observer, and accurately assess the fruits of your labor?

Unless you're a practiced editor, it's not easy.

To begin with, this is an important document; you've probably put a lot of time and effort into revising it. The resulting sense of ownership can be hard to disassociate from.
More importantly, when you review your resume you inevitably see a complete picture of the person described...because it's you. Missing pieces of data, any lack of clarity, points that aren't as strong as they could be - these are harder for you to discern because you have an exhaustive knowledge of the subject matter. Your brain has the information it needs to fill in the blanks automatically, so they may not register as such.

Even when it comes to seemingly more benign issues such as page layout, it can be a challenge to critique your work objectively (and whatever you do...don't underestimate the importance of layout and design).

As difficult as it may be, you've got to acquire the ability to critically review your resume. Either that, or you need to find someone whose judgment you trust to help you with this task.
Whether or not you have success at the early stages of the hiring process will, in large part, be determined by your ability to successfully execute this step.

There's a good chance the hiring manager who's preparing to pick up your resume does not know you. Therefore, his brain isn't going to fill in any blanks or clarify ambiguous information. He's got nothing to go on but the words you sent to him.

You'd better make sure you're telling a complete, comprehensible, compelling story. You've got to present the information in such a way that a quick scan catches his attention...and peaks his interest enough that he slows down and actually reads it.

Don't become so enamored of what you've written that you lose the ability to look at it through someone else's eyes. Someone who has never met you. Someone who may be sifting through hundreds of other resumes - all representing people vying for the same position.

Sometimes it's not easy to critically judge your own resume.

Remember, though - the hiring manager isn't going to have any such difficulty.
Rebecca Metschke helps professionals improve their marketability. The author of The Interview Edge (http://www.TheInterviewEdge.com), a comprehensive career guide to career management, she also writes a daily blog posting strategies, tips and advice for those whose careers are in transition.

http://blog.TheInterviewEdge.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_Metschke

These days, if you want to get hired by an employer you need a professional looking resume. No longer can you simply get a job by sending in a resume you created within 2 minutes. You need to be head and shoulders above your competition. If you want that job, you need to learn how to create a professional resume. In this article I'm going to share with you some tips that you can use to create a professional resume.

Do you know the two biggest mistakes that job seekers make on their resume? They either provide too much information, or they provide too little. An employer doesn't have a lot of time to actually read resumes all the way through. If you provide too much information your resume won't get read. Period. If you don't provide enough information, then it seems you aren't enthusiastic about the company.

You need to find a middle ground. Short sentences are better. Employers skim read resumes. So it's better to use short sentences. Tailor your resume to each job you applied for. Take out information that is irrelevant. Use plenty of line breaks. And replace boring words, with some exciting and bold words.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to the layout of your resume. The way it looks. Most job seekers out there have no idea how to correctly format their resume. If you format your resume correctly and get the layout right you'll be a head of the competition. You'll be able to get hired by any employer you want.

That's why I recommend you pick up some software that will format your resume correctly and replace boring words with power words that will excite a potential employer. Let your experience and qualifications get you through an interview, but let your professional looking resume dazzle the employer who will give you that interview.

Click HERE to discover how to create a professional resume with amazing resume creator!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Lee_Dean

The answer is simple, but the importance of the time taken in browsing through sample resume cover letters is often neglected by job applicants. Professionals from different fields have offered advice to aspiring hunters on what employers generally expect from their applicants, that when added with the personal flavor or the unique impressive written style of an individual, makes him or her rise above other applicants. Getting aware of what are considered plus and minus points are highly effective. True enough, confidence is a crucial factor that employers look out for in their applicants, but it is already a different matter when the confidence is pointless and directionless.

Relying on your own skills in writing a cover letter is an important facet. However, so is being resourceful and open-minded in searching for ways to improve yourself, which in this case, is your job application. There are a lot of sample resume cover letters that, though you are not encouraged to copy them verbatim, will help you in developing your own by consolidating the ideas from different point of views and eventually allowing you to have a final output which is yours. So, once you have your eye on that dream job, the first thing is to formulate an effective and impressive way of getting your application noticed - the good way, and not because you would have committed every violation possible. So, on a final note, the acceptance in a job relies on your credentials and qualifications, and a cover letter is one of the first steps in manifesting that.

Mark Mattey is a writer and entrepreneur. To learn more about sample resume cover letters or cover letter samples and examples, visit his website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_W._Mattey

Are you interested to find out the secret behind getting that dream job of yours? While you certainly need to do good in your interview and have good credentials, if not stellar credentials, the other thing that you should not take for granted when you are applying for a job is your cover letter. For those who are quite clueless on what a cover letter is - especially since a lot of people do not ever bother to make one when they are giving out their job or internship applications, this is what you should know about the basics behind the right cover letter format.

A cover letter will serve as an introduction about yourself, a way for you to give the interviewer a background on who you are, your objectives for applying, and your interests. As interviewers do not really have the luxury of time when it comes to talking to applicants, a letter that is written in the right cover letter format will be able to cover all the basics that the interviewers need to see if you have the right stuff for their company.

So what are the basics that you need to know for the right cover letter format? Firstly, make it clear and concise. No interviewer will be pleased to see a cover letter that is more than a page long. Remember, they do not have the luxury of time to go through your whole family history nor do they actually want to find out about it. What is important is that you are able to talk about your interest in the job and that you are able to show your sincerity in working for the company. However, do not ever sound like you are sucking up to them, just be genuine, and if you really are sincere then it will definitely shine through your cover letter.

Mark Mattey is a writer and entrepreneur. To learn more about correct cover letter format or cover letter writing tips, visit his website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_W._Mattey

Every application is valued through the element of a good impression and the capacity to make it better than most submitted ones. Since each day, a recruiting company would receive thousands of letters from hopefuls even with just one vacancy available; the challenge would then lie on how you can make your competitors seem more insignificant than yours. Sample resume cover letters are one of the ways in which you can gather tips and valuable advices to apply to your own, recognizing the fact that in the case of job hunting, first impressions certainly lasts.

The resume itself would be the so-called main course. But, even before the employer would proceed in analyzing the details about your experiences and achievements, you would have to set the mood first and make them interested. Be sure to do so without sounding redundant. Sample resume cover letters would teach you that in making your words complement your resume; the former would state the overall capacity for every job function and how it relates to the position you are applying for while the latter specifically details the achievements objectively.

Your cover letter is your opportunity to sell yourself, with the information contained on your resume backing up your claims on how effective you are for the job. Getting the employer nod their heads while reviewing what you have written would just about launch a good career for you and pave your way up the professional ladder. Inexperienced as some applicants may be, how good a written cover letter is would signify the potentialities of the candidate in while growing with that job.

Mark Mattey is a writer and entrepreneur. To learn more about sample resume cover letters or sample cover letters and resumes, visit his website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_W._Mattey

Do you need to write a cover letter now - and fast? Well you certainly need not panic over something like this. Cover letter writing is not a daunting task that not everyone can do. As long as you keep an open mind about it, surely you will be able to easily come up with cover letters as fast as you need them. Are you now ready to get started on cover letter writing? Read on get some quick and simple steps.

• Keep things formal yet never ever boring: when it comes to writing anything, especially cover letters you should always be able to keep the attention of the person who is reading what you wrote. So why make a boring letter, right? Especially when it comes to cover letters, you should always be able to keep the reader's attention given that you he or she should remain interested enough for him or her to want to continue on reading up to the next part of your application.

• Don't forget to include the main point of your letter which is to talk about how much of a good fit you are to the company and to the position that you are applying for. The one thing that you should never ever forget about cover letter writing is that you should be able to point out all your best assets, especially for the job you are applying for. Make your cover letter sound like you will prove to be an asset to the company but do not sound boastful either.

Use those tips and you should be well on your way to creating a quality cover letter.

Mark Mattey is a writer and entrepreneur. To learn more about cover letter writing or cover letter writing techniques, visit his website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_W._Mattey

Before the challenges of carrying out the job duties comes the difficult task of sending out applications. To help out in composing your own, reading through examples of cover letters can let you in on the "what to do" and "what not to do" tips before letting your resume come under the scrutiny of an employer. Before you get to excited to cram up all your life's achievement in the letter, it is best to first analyze what you want the employer to know about you. A novel would definitely bore whoever the letter will be addressed to, not to mention that irrelevant details are not necessary and would not contribute to making your application stand out. One page is the recommended length of a cover letter - so as the saying goes, keep it short and sweet.

Remember that a fact of life is that the employers will hire you to get the job done - in short, you are to fulfill the company's needs and not the other way around. Do not include in your application, as you would notice in expertly written examples of cover letters, why you need the job desperately or how it would significantly help you in answering your financial problems. Be objective, formal and sincere. Keep the ideas of your letter coherent and clear. Each sentence should complement the previous to get an overall effect of inviting the audience to review your resume. Also be alert in checking spellings, punctuations and grammar, and once you've kept tab on these reminders, you are a step closer to bagging that dream job.

Mark Mattey is a writer and entrepreneur. To learn more about examples of cover letters or cover letter examples and samples, visit his website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_W._Mattey

Are you clueless about cover letter writing? Well you definitely need not be, especially with the help of these easy-to-follow techniques for cover letter writing. So how do you get started on writing your cover letter? First things first, you should be knowledgeable about the company and the position that you are aiming for. An interviewer will certainly not like it if you are totally clueless about what kind of company they are and if you seem to not know the requirements for the position.

So before you start on your cover letter writing, what you need to do is to conduct a bit of research to give you a good edge over the others who will be applying for the same position. To further help you out in writing your cover letter, here are some simple techniques for cover letter writing that you need to keep in mind:

• Follow the business-style of writing a letter, keep things formal but not boring or stiff. That's a common mistake of a lot of people, because they try to hard to sound business-like, they usually end up sounding boring, and that is something that does not sit too well with interviewers.

• Do not forget to spell check your letter and proofread your grammar as well. Even if you are not applying to be a writer, it is still imperative that you do not sound like you a child still trying to learn the basics of writing in English. Read your letter, once, twice - even thrice if that's what it takes to get things right before you send it out to your prospective employers.

Mark Mattey is a writer and entrepreneur. To learn more about cover letter writing or cover letter writing tips, visit his website.

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Do you need to make a cover letter fast? Well if you are in a hurry to write a cover letter but you are not even sure about one is in the first place, then read on to learn the secrets behind cover letter writing in a jiffy.

If you have absolutely no idea about what a cover letter is, don't fret because writing one need not be a daunting task for you. In fact, cover letter writing is actually a pretty easy skill to master and a definite advantage especially when you are working in a business-like setting. Why is that? Well cover letter writing needs to have a business-like tone, this will help show the interviewer or whoever it is who will be reading your piece know that you are very professional when it comes to handling your job. Aside from showing the interviewer that you have a professional working attitude you should also highlight other key traits about you that you think will serve as an asset to the company.

Do not leave out even the simplest skills that you have may it be being adept in using Microsoft Office or being a licensed driver, you may consider these as just normal things that you can do but believe it or not, employers highly value such things as it as good sign that you will prove to be an efficient employee of the company. If you have other traits or skills that will be a good fit for the company do not to leave those out too.

Mark Mattey is a writer and entrepreneur. To learn more about cover letter writing or cover letter format, visit his website.

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Most people assume a cover letter is just an introduction. And that your resume is what an employer will focus on. Things can hardly be further from the truth. This "introduction letter" is more important than your resume. A cover letter is what opens the eyes of the employer, grabs their attention and encourages them to read your resume. In other words, that so called opening letter is what "sells' you to the employer.

Your cover letter should be well written and point out the facts as to why you're the best candidate for the job. The letter is like a little salesman telling the employer all your benefits and why you're the best person for the job. Your resume in reality is just the facts about your pass experience and what your have done.

Think about your letter this way. It connects all the dots (the facts on your resume) together and paints a picture for the employer. That picture is what "sells" you to the employer. This picture is what makes the employer want to read your brilliantly crafted resume.
Remember, in today's economy, the employer most likely has received any where from 25 to 225 resumes for the job you're applying for. This is not the time to have the typical attitude that most job seekers maintain, which is: "employer; you have a job, I have a resume, and I hope to hear from you soon".

In today's tough job market, it's the person who stands out above the crowd that has the best chance of getting the job. The person that can "sell' himself or herself to the employer is the one rewarded with a job interview.

So take time in writing that all important Cover Letter, as it can do more for you than any well written resume could ever accomplish.

For more information on how to write a killer Cover Letter that gets job interviews, visit us at http://jobhuntingresources.info as well as other good tips for finding that next job

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There is no doubt how stiff the competition is when it comes to getting hired especially these days when even the most qualified person is getting laid off.

What can get you hired?

The only way by which you can get noticed, which is your first goal when applying for a job, is to have a great looking resume. A great looking resume is not a resume that is printed on colored paper. A great looking resume is one that speaks how qualified you are to the position that you are vying for. It will be able to tell the recruiters that you are what they are looking for. It is not only about listing down the experiences that you had in the past years. It takes more than that.

That is why there is a growing number of people getting Resume Writing Services. You would be surprised that even the most experienced person when it comes to work experience gets these services. Let us face it, we all have our strengths and weaknesses and it is so hard to put our strengths on paper. If we do not know what we are doing, we might actually be putting the wrong information on our resume. Getting services for resume writing prevents you from doing that. After all, your resume is technically the company's first impression of you.

All it takes is a few seconds for a Human Resource personnel involved in the hiring process to scan your resume and put it in the reject pile or the "possible hires" pile. Thus, have a great looking resume ready, at all all times, even if you have to get resume writing services to have that.

Cheryl Forbes owns and operates the website http://www.cvbuddy.com

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Even if a lot of people say that cover letters aren't important during the application process, to most HR managers these letters have some significance to their decisions in choosing potential applicants for the roster. The cover letter is basically the first page that the boss will browse through when a resume is submitted, giving him or her an idea of how interested you really are in the job position they are offering. Standards for job applications and employee qualifications have risen up since wages are becoming higher and higher, so usually bosses would narrow down their choices basing on the resumes and documents they receive about the applicant.

Writing an interesting and creative cover letter usually increases your chances of being in that roster of applicants. It serves as your very first impression to the company, so it has to reflect just how interested and how determined you are in getting that job. A lot of applicants would usually learn by downloading a cover letter template and using it as a guide to write their own cover letters. A cover letter template can be very useful since it allow people to pattern it to their own letters basing it one the structure, format, and style. Unfortunately most people would download a generic cover letter template and use that to submit to the HR managers instead, which not only would show them a hint of laziness but the inability to really think out of the box. If you want to avoid such assumptions, then use it as a guide and draft your very own cover letters for every job application process you get into.

Mark Mattey is a writer and entrepreneur. To learn more about great cover letter templates or write a great cover letter, visit his website.

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Cover letters are actually important pages that should be given time and effort when applying for a job. Getting a job in a good and reputable company is becoming more and more difficult by the day due to the recession that has been going on for the past few months, so it's pretty obvious that the standards and qualifications of potential employees have risen even higher than ever before. If you really want to grab their attention and snag that interview invitation, then the first thing to work on first is your cover letter.

The cover letter goes along with your resume when you submit it to the HR manager/s of the company. It is usually the first page they see when they begin browsing through your resume, which basically addresses them in a professional way and informs them of your interest in the position that the company is opening up to the public. Now the reason why it is important that you submit a good quality cover letter is because the bosses need to see just how determined and interested you are in applying for the job. They want employees who can think out of the box, who are quick thinkers and who are very good in communication, and the best place to start would be how you communicate to the HR department. A cover letter template would make a great guide when making your own cover letter so check out some websites that cater to tips and articles on careers.

Mark Mattey is a writer and entrepreneur. To learn more about cover letter templates or writing from a cover letter template, visit his website.

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Have you recently graduated? If so, then you are one of the many young ones who are all eager to get their first jobs. While job hunting can end as short as a few days or as long as many months, you can actually make the process of job hunting easy and effective by making only the best impressions. If you believe that you are qualified for the job that you have applied for, then do not let your abilities and efforts be wasted with a wrongfully written cover letter and resume. Do not let all your credentials go down the drain simply because you do not know how to write an impressive cover letter. Cover letter examples are now available online and you can have access to these powerful cover letters easily.

Cover letter examples are made available online to guide those who o not know how to write killer cover letters. Since the competition for jobs are ever increasing, it has become necessary that you have perfectly written cover letters in order to send the best possible impression to the companies that you have applied for. Do not waste your time making a cover letter of your own if you have zero knowledge on how to write it. You will just inflict more damage. Make use of impressive cover letter examples so you do not leave your job hunting success to chance.
Even if you are a fresh graduate, you can land that dream job you want. All you need is a powerful cover letter to make any company call you back for an interview. Making the right impressions at the right time gives you the edge over the hundreds of other applicants.

Mark Mattey is a writer and entrepreneur. To learn more about cover letter examples or cover letter templates & examples, visit his website.

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First things first, what is a cover letter? A cover letter is your way to be able to introduce yourself to the person who will be interviewing you in such a way that there is no need for you to give out a long monologue of your family history, academic background, and work experience. A cover letter, to put it simply, is where you will be able to put in your career objectives in the company, this is your way of letting the interviewer know how interested you are in working for their company and how passionate you are about the available position.

To be able to do this you need to have the right cover letter format, there are a lot of people who just babble on and on in their cover letters and this can be quite a turn off for interviewers as they are not really interested in the nitty gritty details of the applicants' lives. What they really want to learn about is how effective you will be for the company and how will you be able to communicate that to your interviewer? Through the right cover letter format of course!

For the right cover letter format that will help you pique the interest of the interviewer to consider your job or internship application, keep the language of your letter formal yet not too stiff. Just simply show the interviewer your professionalism by giving a letter that is business-like but don't forget to make sure that you are able to send your point across. Be very clear with your motives and be able to impress the interviewer in your genuine interest in working in the company. Also, always be mindful to highlight your key skills that will prove to be an asset for the job or internship that you are applying for.

Mark Mattey is a writer and entrepreneur. To learn more about cover letter format or coverletter templates & examples, visit his website.

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When you're finally done with your resume, the next step is writing a resume cover letter. If it's a daunting task to write your resume, it is twice more daunting to write a cover letter. Why? Since this will be the first one to look for in a resume, the idea of creating an impression primarily is important. Even if a cover letter is just a one-page concise and brief statement weigh against numbers of pages of your resume, cover letters still stands as the far more complicated type of letter to put in paper.

Writing a resume cover letter need not have expertise in words, it need not have pompous, big and flowery statements, rather what it should mainly exhibit are simple sentences that make sense and are interrelated with each other.
To give you a glimpse of the following key factors to comprise your resume cover letter, here are the following guidelines.

What is the Position You're Applying For?

Indicate the desired and particular position you're applying for, first and foremost. Your cover letter should consist of the job title you want to get into. Do not suppose that employers have a solid idea of the purpose of your letter of intent, so you better be specific in your objectives. There are times when there are numerous job postings in a particular company and it would be hard for the person in charge to discern which is which since no indication is made. Therefore, to steer clear of confusions and in finding your hard work curriculum vitae in the trash, you need to take proper consideration in designating your concern.

How Do You Find Out About the Vacancy?

Another significant aspect to include in your curriculum vitae cover letter is the question, 'How do you find out of the job and the company'? Your grounds can be stated in your cover letter and this can include the options of an online source, newspapers job postings and other media advertisements or a referral from an employee of the company itself. It is important to note these down for both the benefit of the applicant and the management as well. For the applicant for further notes and points about the company and for the company to discern which hiring advertisements work for them best.

How Do You Create a Formal and Efficient Resume Cover Letter?

Writing a resume cover letter should have 12 point font size with appropriate spaces in between words, sentences and paragraphs. Avoid overcrowding and overstuffing of words and sentences - this will only create an unprofessional and unpleasant cover letter. Apart from this, you also need to avoid including graphics and other icons that is not significant in your letter of intent. Rather make it a kind of letter that is easy to read and understand.

Mark Mattey is a writer and entrepreneur. To learn more about writing a resume cover letter or cover letter templates, visit his website.

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Writing a cover letter means you're ready to face the world of employment and job opportunities. However, don't be like a clone and copy a basic format off the Internet. Instead, make it more interesting and personalized.

You don't have to use scented papers or those with crazy colors when writing a cover letter. In all honesty, what's important is the content. Below are some useful tips:

1) Keep it simple.
When writing a cover letter, keep in mind all the important points about yourself. What makes you stand out from the rest of the applicants? What are your strengths and assets? Include these in it and you'll have a better chance of receiving a call from the company.

2) Check your grammar.
A cover letter is not like a resume and is written in paragraphs. If you're not very well-versed in the English language, it's best to have others double check it for any errors. Any grammatical error or typo automatically turns the employers off, so beware.

3) Use company details.
Employers like it when they see that the applicant has done his or her research. When writing a cover letter, you have to keep in mind the questions which are likely running around in your interviewer's head. Why should they hire you? What do you have that the company needs? Always think in terms of the company you're applying for and include it in your cover letter.
Writing a cover letter can make or break the deal. Don't think of it as just another piece of paper that your employer will toss into the trash can. Most employers actually read it first before proceeding onto the resume. If your cover letter has too many errors and does not interest the boss, then don't expect them to take a look at your resume either. And that would kill any chances of you getting the job.

Want to get your dream job? Get FREE tips and video on how to write a cover letter that grabs attention like a magnet, and secrets of preparing for a job interview that gets you hired on the spot.

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You may be the best employee in the world, but if you can not write a good resume you will probably never find your dream job. The corporate world puts a lot of emphasis on resumes. Your resume is essentially your first impression. So if your resume is put together improperly and filled with fluff instead of substance you will never even get your foot in the door.

The first thing you need to decide is if you are able to write your own resume properly. If you have been sending your resume out and receiving no responses then there is a good chance you are not sending out a quality resume. If that is the case you may want to seek professional help to produce a quality resume for you.

Secondly, keep your resume short and sweet. Most employers will only be scanning the first page of your resume; so if you turn in a resume with multiple pages of accomplishments they will probably never be seen. You want to list the most important details quickly and precisely so you can get your foot in the door. Then you can always talk about your accomplishments in more detail once you get an actual interview.

Thirdly, keep your resume real. If you pretend to know more than you actually do you will not only be wasting the employers time, but your time as well. It is not hard to figure out when a potential employee is in over their head.

Lastly, keep your resume clean. This means do not use fancy colored paper or wild fonts when creating your resume. Many companies will scan resumes by machine to find trigger words and phrases before they ever actually read them. This helps companies quickly go through many resumes at a time to weed out the bad ones without wasting human labor. Therefore, you need to keep your resume layout simple so it can be easily read by machines.

Chad Surges has a Bachelor's Degree in Business and currently owns and operates the investing website called lucky-dog-investing.com. He also invites you to visit his job network website: chiob.com

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There are lots of cover letter examples to choose from - internet websites offer a lot of these. Mostly, information about the previous job of the applicant is written in it. Cover letter examples are only the guide since it must consist of the things that reflect your skills, training and experiences. Also, this could tell the readers about your personality and attitude and how it is matched to the job that you are applying for.

Look for cover letter examples where in the objectives, reasons for applying for that certain job and the interest of the applicant are present. This is actually a relevant tool in creating cover letters in many ways. Put in mind that you should take time to review the examples that you have, and then make sure that your cover letter gives a profound explanation on your skills and how it is related to the job criteria that are listed. Remember that this is a letter of purpose; you need to do it well and construct it seriously. This letter will be send to the company that the applicant is applying for with a certain proposal, a resume for job application is a good example of such, and aside from this, it provides some added information on the job interests of the applicant and of course those job interests should be high lighted too.

In writing a cover letter, be sure to write it in complete uniqueness, the background of it should fit in the company's needs and should make the recruiter or the HR personnel to call you and set an interview. Be sure that your cover letter will be aligned with your profile and the job needs.
Margaret Marquisi is a retired writer and full time grandmother. To learn more about cover letter examples or cover letter samples, visit her website.

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Once you've finished your resume, don't send it out until you have someone else look at it. Even if its just your spouse, a second pair of eyes can always see mistakes, or omissions, in a piece of work, and it's better to find mistakes before the resume is sent out for the first time.
That's a simple resume tip, but it's an important one.

Other resume tips to consider are:

1. Put your resume on the web. There are plenty of job search sites on the web, like Monster.com - which is a general site, or specific sites dedicated to certain industries - for example AvJob that lists aviation jobs, and so on. Use a PDF rather than a scanned version of your resume, it looks nicer and is more professional.

2. Update your resume on a regular basis. It used to be that many people would get one job and work their way up through a single company, but the business atmosphere is much different now. Chances are people will move from job to job. Therefore, update your resume at least once a month, with any new achievements you've accomplished, any new organizations you've joined, or any new certifications. Don't put it off and put it off until finally five years have passed, and all of a sudden you need to update that resume and you can't remember half of what you've achieved in that time.

3. There are certain professions for which certifications have to be passed on a six-month or annual basis. Academics have to publish regularly or basis or perish. One should always grow in one's job - if not for advancement than at least for job satisfaction!

4. If you're not getting the response from your resume that you expected -- if you're sending out dozens of resumes and getting only one or two responses - have a professional business coach look at your resume and see if it needs improvement and in what areas.

Don't know the first thing about creating a resume? Gary Lawson can help! Gary did his fair share of pavement pounding before he realized the key to successful job hunting is in the RESUME. Today, he writes career-related articles for popular blog EmploymentBlawg.Com. Check out Gary's resumé series when you visit the site today!

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A resume varies in length between one page to two to three pages. (Anything over three pages is a little bit... pushy!) You know what needs to go in your resume. Information on your educational history, and on your work history. But how you present that history is all important. It's all part of your resume style.

When you give your educational history, for example, you list the school you attended, your major, and specific interests you had. Not a lot of room for originality there. But once you get into the work history, that changes. You have to list all your accomplishments, and you want to present these clearly and coherently.

Then you'll list any certifications you have, or any organizations you belong to. Resume style differs for the type of position you're looking for. Engineers and mechanics will have certifications for example, academics will have lists of organizations they belong to, and so on.

Resume style also refers to the layout of the resume.

A staid style of layout, for example, is to have your name and address as a big, chunky block of text, centered at the top of the page, with the body of your resume below. But resume layout goes in trends and that address can be in one line, all across the top of the page...or even at the very bottom of the page.

However you decide to layout your resume, the key is that the information must be clear and easily accessed. "White space" makes it look attractive.

There's no need to cram all of your details onto a single sheet of paper - these days resumes of two or three pages length are perfectly acceptable.

Keep your resume up-to-date. Even if you are quite happy in your current job, you should always have an eye out for the future. Whenever you accomplish anything of significance, make sure you add it to your resume for future reference.

Looking for a resume tip? Gary Lawson can help! Gary did his fair share of pavement pounding before he realized the key to successful job hunting is in the RESUME. Today, he writes career-related articles for popular blog EmploymentBlawg.Com. Check out Gary's resumé series when you visit the site today!

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Putting together a resume is not quite as difficult as putting together a book, but it does take a certain amount of skill to make sure it looks as professional as possible and conveys the proper impression to your potential employers.

There's no need to sit at your computer and try to decide how to put together this resume. Take a look at a resume format sample. You can find hundreds of these samples on the web. These samples are available for a variety of professions.

Executive resumes - those used for people looking for six-figure jobs in the management fields, will convey more and different kinds of information than professional resumes - those resumes for people in the white and blue-collar fields who actually do the work! Professional resumes are for people like accountants, construction consultants, salespeople, nurses and so on.

Public sector resumes - those used by military people who have separated from the military and are now looking for jobs in government. People who work for politicians are also considered part of the public sector. Then there are student resumes - the students aren't necessarily looking for jobs but rather for entrance into a certain institution of higher learning.

You can never look at too many resume format sample(s).

Obviously you are not going to borrow some of the job entries and experience listed on those samples (some people have been so desperate that they've actually tried this. Rest assured, prevaricating on resumes will be found out, especially in today's climate.) However, it's helpful just to see the way the resumes are formatted and the types of information that are included.
You will find these sites very helpful as you pursue your goal of a new job, or a better one that that which you now have.

Feeling torn over what to use for your resume style? Gary Lawson can help! Gary did his fair share of pavement pounding before he realized the key to successful job hunting is in the RESUME. Today, he writes career-related articles for popular blog EmploymentBlawg.Com. Check out Gary's resumé series when you visit the site today!

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Writing a "killer" resume is not rocket science. You write down your educational qualifications, and you write down the various jobs at which you've worked, and your duties in each position. What you do not want to do is lie on your resume. People have done that in the past - high-profile people - they always get found out and lose their job in consequence. (Of course, if you're some kind of sports coach, another job will come along thanks to the old boy network, but you can't count on that in the real word!)

However, many people who are perfectly find at their chosen profession have a difficult time creating their own resumes. Well, you can find resume assistance as easy as performing a search on the internet. There are plenty of qualified wordsmiths who can help you craft your resume so that its is "just right."

Resume assistance comes in a variety of ways. You can check out books from the library that will give you advice on everything from writing your resume to how to act in an interview. You can hire a business coach to help you out. Or you can check out the many online services.

The economy is lousy. More and more people, across the spectrum from blue collar to white collar jobs, will be sending out their resumes desperate for work. It behooves you to have the most professional resume possible, and if it's been a long time since you've had to apply for work, it might also make sense for you to talk with a business coach who can give you mock interviews to help you prepare for the real thing.

In addition to sending your resume to potential employers, you should also post your resume online at your own private website. It should be a PDF, so that your potential employers can look at it, but not acquire your email address or phone number.

Looking for a resume format sample? Gary Lawson can help! Gary did his fair share of pavement pounding before he realized the key to successful job hunting is in the RESUME. Today, he writes career-related articles for popular blog EmploymentBlawg.Com. Check out Gary's resumé series when you visit the site today!

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In many ways, it is simpler than ever to go about creating a resume. If you purchase a sophisticated word processing application, such as Microsoft Word or WordPerfect, they will include several different templates for resume design.

The most difficult part of creating a resume is deciding what information to put in it! Despite what some people would have you believe, having a college degree certainly opens doors. Not having a degree will prevent you from getting even an entry-level position in most fields.

In order to assure your prospective employer that you have the experience needed for the job, it is as well to participate in as many organizations as possible - relevant to your chosen field - while you're in college. Work experience gained by working on the college newspaper will stand you in good stead when you're applying for a job at a news agency.

Even if you're going to work for an individual who never went to college but, because of their fantastic computer skills, for example, was able to create a multi-million dollar business on their own, chances are that they are going to expect you to have a pretty thorough resume. There's usually room for only one genius in businesses of those kind.

A resume consists of three parts - your education, including the names of the schools you have attended and the specific field of study you followed, your work experience, including names and addresses of companies, and specific work that you performed for each employer. The third part typically features miscellaneous information such as your hobbies, and is where you list your membership in various professional organizations - another important key to make you resume look all the more inviting.

A separate page to your resume is a list of your references. Make sure to talk to your college professors, and your supervisors and associates at all your jobs, so that you can include their names and phone numbers on your reference list.

Desperate for help with resume? Gary Lawson can help! Gary did his fair share of pavement pounding before he realized the key to successful job hunting is in the RESUME. Today, he writes career-related articles for popular blog EmploymentBlawg.Com. Check out Gary's resumé series when you visit the site today!

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When applying for banking jobs or accountant jobs, your CV is the first time a potential employer will come in contact with you, so you should utilise it as a marketing tool and make a good impression. Before you start writing, you should ask yourself where you are and where you want to go, what experience and qualifications you have, and what your strengths and weaknesses are.

Format

* You should keep your CV under 3 pages

* Put personal details at the beginning

* Work experience should go in reverse chronological order

* Use bullet points to break up the CV

* Print on high quality white A4 paper

* Use examples of managerial and leadership success

* Honestly is the best policy as if you get caught it will make you look bad

* Be as positive as possible about previous work

Content

* Draft out your CV and make sure you get some friends or colleagues to proof read it for you

* Outline instances where you have instigated a particular concept or project

* Talk about how you took this project from start to conclusion

* Detail unique skills that you possess that will make you stand out from the crowd

Your finished CV should be printed on high quality A4 paper, but many employers will ask you to submit your CV by e-mail. When submitting your CV by e-mail you need to remember to use standard fonts and a universal file type like Microsoft word.

Most employers will require you to send a cover letter, but we will save that guide for another post.

Visit my online Travel Blog http://www.onlinetravelblog.co.uk by Tom Sangers.

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You've spent your career being the A-list 'go-to' person in your department or company. Awards hang on your wall, and the company exec pops in to personally give you a 'good job' handshake every so often. You're in good standing with an admirable track record.

Does your résumé reflect that?
Most people spend the majority of their résumé space citing a laundry list of what they did, rather than focusing on their accomplishments, and worrying about the length of the overall document. More importantly, they don't effectively showcase their top-line value proposition to prospective employers.

When it is not uncommon for hiring managers to receive 100, 200 and even up to 500 résumés for each open position, communicating what makes you stand out is even more critical. And résumé length has everything to do with it. The devil is in the details, and in this case, the details have to be short, sweet and to the point.

Delivering a concise, value-laden résumé takes critical editing skills. Many people end up edging past two pages once the details start to flow. This is exactly the point where the red pen needs to come out and ruthless changes need to happen. One résumé writing expert recently announced that she is now down to a one-page résumé summary for executives, who are usually the ones who flow onto three pages. (!)

So how do you winnow your background into a tidy and clear illustration about your value to prospective employers?
You need to show what you are capable of doing, not what you've done on a daily level. To get to this point, the truth hurts as you begin the editing process. A good way of thinking about it is to frame your background the following way:

Action (what you did) + Results (what was the outcome to company) = your value to the prospective employer

Take off that one responsibility that you really enjoyed but didn't produce results. Trim down extensive training and professional development classes that you've taken... leaving just the 'cherry picked' top-notch opportunities that are the most relevant to your background.

Train yourself to think about your background in terms of not what you did on a daily basis but what the overall results were to the company as a whole. Did you make them money? Save them money? Save them time? Or in the case of non-profit organizations... did you expand services? Make efficiency changes? Increase outreach and exposure?

By adopting this approach, you can drastically shorten your résumé but add focused power behind communicating what you offer to a potential employer.

It'll have an amazing effect on your viability as a candidate, and you won't be worrying about how long your résumé is at all.

Dawn Rasmussen - CTP, CMP
President
Pathfinder Writing and Career Services
PO Box 20536Portland OR 97294503-539-3954 phone
503-408-4894 fax
http://pathfindercareers.com/

Advance your career with a professionally - written resume!

Proud member of the National Resume Writers Association

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