Quest4Work

by Brian Simms 

We all know that, before we can even hope to get a job, we must first select the prospective employer and apply for a job. Therefore, this is the most vital stage of the whole process. All too often people make a half-hearted attempt at making the application which results in it ending up in the employers waste basket!

If you follow these simple tips, your application will stand more chance of being seen and therefore more chance of being short-listed for an interview:

• Do not leave the application until the last minute as it will be obvious to the employer. Why should they want someone who leaves important tasks until the last minute? Instead, do a rough draft of the application as soon as you can – don’t worry if it isn’t perfect. Leave this draft for a couple of hours or even a day if possible. The second time round, you will spot glaring mistakes and find it easier to improve upon the letter.

• If you are sending a CV and covering letter, make sure the covering letter is not just repeating what is on your CV. Pick important bits from the Job description /advertisement and use these points to show the employer that you have these skills/experiences/qualifications. Say what you can do for the employer or explain how your experiences reflect mirror what the job advertisement is looking for.

• If your CV has a personal profile and/or key skills included, make sure they mirror the job advert (if applicable). Remember, you may slightly exaggerate the skills you have but do not lie in your application - you will get caught out. The consequences are that you will either mess up the interview or after being in the job for a while, you could get dismissed from the job.

• Show the prospective employer that you are the right person for the job by taking more care of your application. This will be the first thing they see of you. Treat it like an advertisement as you are selling something valuable to them – YOU! They are looking to buy your services and they obviously want some value for money.

• If sending by normal mail, allow plenty of time for it arrive. Always send them by first class post whenever possible as this can create a positive impression upon the employer.

Don’t just complete one application and wait for a positive response from the employer before applying for another job.  Applying for jobs is a ‘numbers game’.  The more applications you send out, the more chances you have of getting to an interview and a job.

About the author:  Brian Simms is a freelance ICT and Jobsearch Tutor and has written a number of articles, white papers and produced a variety of vocational learning materials. 

by Mario Churchill

In sales, when people talk about cold calling, they are actually trying to get hold of a potential client that has not yet decided for such interaction. The client is not aware of such calls or has not purposely requested the salesperson to call him or her, hence, the term “cold.”

Similarly, cold cover letters can provide you the opportunity of contacting a hiring manager and inquire for any possibilities of employment in their company. In most cases, there had been no apparent announcements or advertisements regarding the position applicants wish to apply. 

With cold cover letters, job applicants are trying to spontaneously get hold of a job offer that has not been specifically declared. That is why cold cover letters are sometimes known as unsolicited cover letters.

In reality, people may see that using cold cover letters is just a waste of time. Most people think that the possibilities of getting a job is almost zero whenever applicants have to opt for cold cover letters.

What these people do not know is that companies will always be hiring people. People come and go and there are times that the resignation becomes so abrupt that the process of hiring another person will take time to get published and be known to the public.

However, if people will use cold cover letters, they might be tapping on a hidden job application that is yet to be disclosed. For instance, an employee just resigned from his position today and at the same time, a resume with a cold cover letter attached to it has just arrived. Perfect timing as you may call it, but this can really happen. 

In the end, employers may even consider such applications and may no longer need to advertise the position if the applicant is already appropriate for the job. This would mean less competition and greater chances of getting hired.

Cold cover letters vs. Regular cover letters 

There are some small discrepancies between cold cover letters and the regular cover letters. Although they both have the same goal, which is to land an interview and eventually get a job offer, the construction of cold cover letters is slightly different from the regular cover letters. 

Here’s why:

1. More interesting

Cold cover letters should be more interesting. If regular cover letters should be made in such a way that it attracts a potential employer, cold cover letters should be able to keep the reader on the hook. This means that the cover letter should contain more weight and should create an impression that the possibility of hiring a particular applicant for the job could be an advantage.

It is best to state the value of the person’s application. Keep in mind that there are no specific jobs advertised, hence, coming up with ideas that will tell the potential employer that you could be the right person for some jobs for the organization could just be your ticket to success. 

The thing is, there might not be some existing need for such positions but the problem is already there.  And so, when the employer sees you as a potential solution to the problem, he might just consider you for a possible position.

2. Request for interview

Even though regular cover letters also aim in getting an interview, cold cover letters should have a strong need for such appointment. It is best if you could emphasize on discussing the matters with your potential employer. 

Boiled down, cold cover letters should have greater attention-grabbing power. The ability to attract a potential employer to read your cover letter is one thing, but keeping the employer on the hook and continues to read the cover letter even if  here are no available positions yet is the ultimate value of cold cover letters.

About the Author: Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects.  For more information about cold cover letter checkout http://www.amazing-cover-letters.com/cover_letter_resources/cold_cover_letter.htm.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

by Mario R. Churchill

Finding a job will be a lot easier if you have a powerful resume that will put your future employer on hot seat. It is like telling them either you get them now or suffer the consequences. That is as far as what your skills can show.

However, most applicants can exactly do the same. Of course, this can be traced down to the very fact that every applicant would want to be hired. With all these similarities, it will be doubly hard for you to get your potential employer’s attention. The thing is you need to stand above the rest and be noticed.

How? Just try to come up with a powerful resume cover letter as well and you could be a star instantly. 

A lot of people are neglecting the fact that the future of their job application is right in the hands of their cover letter. Hence, aside from focusing on your resume, it is also important to give equal attention to your resume cover letter.

Resume cover letters play a major role in the job application process. These items serves as the front liners of every applicant. They tell your future employer who you are, what have you become, and what you can offer to the company. These things are the main links or the main line of communication to your potential employer.

To get that job that you want, you need to learn how to write effective resume cover letters. Here’s exactly what an effective resume cover letter should have:

1. Probe on the company’s benefit on you  The main error of most resume cover letters is that applicants focus more on telling about their selves, such as their chievements, their skills, and everything about them. This is definitely wrong.  

Of course, it is advisable to put on some selling points about yourself. However, in order to catch your potential employer’s attention, you should be able to establish a “what’s-in-it-for-me” connection. This means that your potential employer should clearly see the benefits they will get should they decide to hire you. It is important to always state what you know about the company. This is one way of showing your interest to the company as well as the job you are applying for.

2. Define your goal   Never beat around the bush. Try to come up with resume cover letters that will create an impression of what you really want — and that it is to land an interview. The main point to be considered here is brevity. You need to be concise on what your intentions are. Employers could see professionalism and the ability to communicate well on concise cover letters. 

3.  Cover letters should be personalized  The problem with most job applicants is that they tend to use a generalized cover letters, which is really wrong. Keep in mind that potential employers are always looking for people who have the ability to communicate well.  

Always remember: try to express not so much to impress. It is on how you can express your goal in a brief and concise manner that you will get the job that you deserve.

In the end, one can simply say that the strength of a resume cover letter is focused on the applicant’s value. Potential employers would like to see the applicant’s worth and what he or she can do for the company before hiring.

About the Author: Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects.  For more information about resume cover letter checkout http://www.amazing-cover-letters.com/cover_letter_resources/resume_cover_letter.htm.

Source: http://www.isnare.com