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 August 31st, 2010 |  Welcome to Jobs, Skills & Advice. This looks like your first visit here. Don't forget to claim your FREE eBooks by subscribing to the newsletter. Thanks for visiting! © Written By Jimmy Sweeney President of CareerJimmy and Author of the new, Amazing Cover Letter Creator
Make no mistake! All cover letters are not the same. Some are at best, ho hum. Others are professional in every way. In these tough economic times, any old cover letter won’t cut it with the hiring manager. You can imagine which one he or she will move to the top of the pile.
There are so many people in the job search market competing for interviews that in order to be noticed you must write a professional, eye-catching cover letter—one that convinces the hiring manager of the kind of person you are—someone eager to bring his or her time, talent, and trustworthiness to the company.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Show that you’re ready to assume responsibility, deliver excellent service, and do your job with energy and enthusiasm.
Example: “I am eager to join your team of financial planners. I promise to learn and listen, as well as offer my ideas for expanding the client base, increasing company profits, and most important, living up to your mission statement—Customers Come First. Period. May I come in for an interview to discuss the details and to find out more about what you’re looking for in the persons you hire?”
When a hiring manager reads a professional cover letter that is both concise and precise, he or she will certainly take a second look. In fact, such a letter will stand out from the crowd and result in a phone call for an interview in person.
It takes an extra effort to land more quality job interviews in these tough times. Your cover letter can serve as the “sales person” that presents a professional, compelling argument as to why YOU should be scheduled for the next interview.
Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the brand new, “Amazing Cover Letter Creator.” Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, “Job Search Secrets.”
Visit our friends at Amazing Cover Letters for your “instant” cover letter today. “In just 3½ minutes you will have an amazing cover letter guaranteed to cut through YOUR competition like a hot knife through butter!”
August 27th, 2010 | © Written By Jimmy Sweeney
Author of the brand new, Amazing Resume Creator
Most job-seekers write their resumes with one thing in mind—themselves! They toot their own horn so loud the interviewer is blown away by the sound. The “I did this” and “I achieved that” approach is important, of course. The hiring manager wants to know what you’ve accomplished in your previous line of work and how you can benefit his or her company in the new position.
Reading Between the Lines
BUT—he or she is also looking for some intuitive abilities that a potential employee can express on the job without every detail being spelled out. This means the new hire should be able to anticipate and sense problems and challenges and be able to meet them instinctively.
For example, suppose you hope to be hired as an administrative assistant to the president of a financial corporation. You have computer skills, an ability to organize corporate data, you’re capable of keeping the filing system up-to-date, and you’re ready to field phone calls and e-mails for the executive without being told.
Beyond the Job Description
These skills look good on paper, but for your resume to move to the top of the pile, include a few sentences that state what else you can do that may not appear in the job description. Example: Able to chair a meeting of corporate executives when the president is unexpectedly detained or called away on emergency business; able to trouble-shoot with customers on the phone, keeping the president free of time-consuming entanglements; able to stimulate essential communication between employees in other departments and then report back the findings to the president.
An employee of real value is one who not only meets the requirements for the job, as described, but goes beyond them, delivering both practical help and heart-felt support that call for intuition and attentiveness.
Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the brand new, “Amazing Resume Creator.” Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, “Job Search Secrets.”
Visit our friends at Amazing Resume Creator for your “instant” resume today. “In just 10 minutes flat you will have an amazing resume guaranteed to land you more hot job interviews next week.
August 17th, 2010 | © Written By Jimmy Sweeney
President of CareerJimmy and Author of the new, Job Interview “Secret”
You know what kind of job you want. A sales manager. An office manager. A legal secretary.
Whichever position suits your personality and skills, you’ll have a better chance of landing it if you do a little detective work––before the interview. Learn as much as you can about the company, its goals, as well as products and services. Then during the interview, you’ll be ready to ask good questions, and to show how and why you’re ideal for the job.
How To Research
- Visit the company’s web site to find out about its day-to-day business, employee benefits, mission statement, and customer service.
- Consult friends, relatives, stock markets or other source at your public library to be sure the firm has a solid reputation.
- Make a list of items you’re interested in learning more about, including: history, financial stability, plans for growth.
- Call the personnel department and ask for a brochure and other material that will help you decide whether this is the right company for you.
- Read magazines such as Business Today, Business World, Fortune, Business Week, and Wall Street Journal to learn more about the organization. Also read pink papers such as the Economic Times etc. to get as much information about the company as possible.
- Google the company, look for job seeker forums and posts to get a feel for a particular business.
Take Care of Yourself
The more you know ahead of time, the better you’ll feel before, during, and after the interview. And think about what a boost you’ll give the interviewer. People who are prepared, peaceful, and professional are those most likely to win the job. So do your detective work and you’ll be among them!
Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the brand new “Secret Career Document” job landing system. Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, “Job Search Secrets.”
Visit our friends at Job Interview “Secret” and discover Jimmy Sweeney’s breakthrough strategy that will have you standing out from the competition like a Harvard graduate at a local job fair… DURING your next job interview.
August 10th, 2010 | © Written By Jimmy Sweeney, President of CareerJimmy and Author of the new, Job Interview “Secret”
You may walk out of the job interview with a sigh of relief. It might feel good to grab a cappuccino or go for a run or crash in front of the TV. But save those thoughts for another time. The most important thing you can do after the job interview is to send your thanks and then prepare for a callback interview.
It’s not uncommon for employers to wait weeks or even months after a job interview to select the final candidate. Why does it take so long? Because hiring decisions may require coordinating several factors such as the company budget, inter-office politics, and company reorganization. In some cases it could be a simple matter of a key decision maker being out of the office for vacation or a business trip. If three or more people need to meet and sign off on a hiring decision it could take several weeks, depending on their individual schedules.
Put Your Name In Front of the Employer
The more time it takes for the hiring decision to be made, the greater the chance that your interview will be forgotten. During that time, other job seekers will have come and gone and the employer will have even more candidates to consider. Therefore, the burden rests on you to help bring about a callback for a second interview—especially during these tough times. You can do so by planning a strategy that will keep your name in the front of his or her mind for as long as it takes to make that final decision.
Hold the Employer’s Interest
- Write a thank you note expressing gratitude for the meeting and your continued interest in the job.
- Express your willingness to re-engage in conversation about the job at the employer’s convenience.
- Include an ‘informational gift’––something the interviewer would find interesting, based on what you talked about or on the notes you took. This could be a link to a publication about a topic you discussed, or tips on how to improve an activity or sport the interviewer mentioned.
- Sign off with a friendly closing such as ‘warm regards’ or ‘yours with appreciation.’
By adding the small gift you keep your name and personality among those at the top of the hiring manager’s list. You affirm your interest in the job but also your interest in the employer as a person. This makes a huge difference. Continue contacting the hiring manager every couple of weeks until the position is filled. When the time comes, you may be the one to fill it.
Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the brand new “Secret Career Document” job landing system. Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, “Job Search Secrets.”
Visit our friends at Job Interview “Secret” and discover Jimmy Sweeney’s breakthrough strategy that will have you standing out from the competition like a Harvard graduate at a local job fair… DURING your next job interview.
August 6th, 2010 | © Written By Jimmy Sweeney
President of CareerJimmy and Author of the new Job Interview “Secret”
You may feel comfortable meeting with one interviewer. But then you’re called in for a panel or group interview. Your palms grow moist and your head spins. It may feel as though people are ganging up on you. But that’s not the case at all. A group or panel interview is one way the employer or hiring manager can share the responsibility for making hiring decisions. Such an interview may work for you rather than against you. For example, if one person is uncertain, others may speak up for you, resulting in a change in perspective that could lead to a job offer.
Engage the Interviewers
When a question comes your way, respond to that individual, but make eye contact with the others too. The more each person feels included, the better your chances of making a favorable impression. Notice how the panel or group members get along with one another, as well. Is there a nice, easy fellowship, or do you detect a competitive spirit?
Consider What You Really Want
Of course it’s important to know the company, so find out all that you can before the group interview, but then think about what you need, the kind of organization you see as a good fit for your skills and personality, and if the mix displayed by the panel is one you can live with. Just because you’re offered a job doesn’t mean you have to accept it. Be sure that what you’re looking for is what you see in this environment.
Follow Up With a Thank You
Before you leave, ask for business cards from the panel members and send a thank you note to each one. At the very least, send a thank you to the person who arranged the interview.
Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the brand new “Secret Career Document” job landing system. Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, “Job Search Secrets.”
Visit our friends at Job Interview “Secret” and discover Jimmy Sweeney’s breakthrough strategy that will have you standing out from the competition like a Harvard graduate at a local job fair… DURING your next job interview.
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