Best Cover Letter Tips for 2015

Best titelseite Letter Tips for 2015The titel letter landseems to be the document most job seekers get stumped on. They start to write oneand theyre just not quite aya what to say or how to say it. To ease the burden so many of you are feeling when you sit down to write it out, I thought Id offer some titelseite letter tips from the experts.2015 titelseite Letter TipsCover Letter Tip 1 Be YourselfThis is probably the most important tip of all. Theres so much formulaic cover letter advice that nowadays, every cover letter sounds exactly the same. That makes it even more difficult for employers to see the differences between candidateswhich is one of the primary functions of your cover letter. So my advice is this ditch the A, B, C formula and write about yourself and your interest in the position.Cover Letter Tip 2 Make a ConnectionWhen you are writing your cover letter and sharing about yourself, tell the employer why youre interested in working for them. What do you admire about th e company? Speak from your heartin a professional waybut dont be afraid to show a bit of your personality. This is what helps make your cover letter unique to you.Cover Letter Tip 3 Meet a NeedIdentify a need the company may have and share how you can help. Use examples of past successes to demonstrate or paint a visual picture for the employer of how you can help them in this same area. Again, speak in a conversational way and avoid using any templates or canned phrases.Cover Letter Tip 4 Avoid Canned MessagesContinuing on a bit with my last cover letter tip, I would avoid using any canned cover letter phrases and openings. For example please accept this in response to or I saw your advertised position of XYZ on Monster. These tend to be incredibly overused. In fact, Id venture to say 90% of cover letters start with one of these or a variation thereof. Buck the trend and start another way.Cover Letter Tip 5 Dont Bother RepeatingSteer clear of repeating bullets from your resume. I ve seen too many cover letters where people just pick three bullets from their resume and put them in their cover letter. Cover letters should introduce you to the employer, give them a glimpse of who you are, why youre interested, and direct them to your resume for more information.Cover Letter Tip 6 Copy and Paste Your Cover LetterI wrote a whole article on this one tip a few years ago, but it bears repeating now because I still see so many people who attach their cover letter to the e-mail when applying for a position. I recommend making your cover letter the body of your e-mail when you apply. In this case it would technically be referred to as an e-cover letter or e-note, but it will ensure it gets read. People read e-mail. They see a cover letter attached and they may never open it and go right to the resume. But by making your cover letter the body of the e-mail, it will be read.Cover Letter Tip 7 Keep It ShortNo one has the time to read your whole life story, but brevity is even more important when youre using your cover letter as the body of your e-mail. You want to keep it short so the reader will actually read it. If it seems too long, theyll either scan it or avoid reading it because its too overwhelming.Cover Letter Tip 8 Close With a CallEncourage the employer to reach out to you via telephone or to review your LinkedIn profile. Include both when you close your cover letter. You may even consider mentioning endorsements you have on LinkedIn so they can learn more about what your clients/past employers have to say about your work. Dont forget to include your phone number at the end and a link to your LinkedIn profile URL to make it easy to access.Cover Letter Tip 9 Consider Including a PSI like to add a PS to the end of the cover letters we write. Of course, its not appropriate in every situation, but when you have something really compelling to say and you want to make sure its read, I recommend including a PS. Curiosity gets the better of people its just menschengerecht natureand they will read it. So if you made an important contribution to a vital project that would benefit the employer, I recommend mentioning it.So thats my list of cover letter tips for 2015. Which tip was your favorite? Didnt see your favorite tip listed above? Id love to hear it Feel free to comment below and share it with me.In the meantime, lets connect on LinkedIn Feel free to send me an invite here.

How to avoid the 6 most common mistakes of job searching

How to avoid the 6 fruchtwein common mistakes of job searching Share Share via TwitterShare via FacebookShare via Google PlusShare via LinkedInShare via E-mail Sometimes an unintentional mistake can keep you from a great job opportunity. Here are some tips to help you avoid the common pitfalls many people make when seeking employment.1. Dont let your social media tell the wrong storyEmployers regularly search the internet to look for mora information about job candidates. If the social media content they find seems concerning, they may not follow up with the candidate.If an employer searches your name zugnglich, what will they find? Will the information (images, social content, etc.) help or hurt you in the job search? Making sure your online presence accurately represents whoyou are is an easy thing to fix. As you review your online activities, look at your online presence from an employers perspective.If theres anything that could be perceived as negative or concerning, co nsider removing it.Double-check that all of your social media accounts are set to private.Be sure anything you are putting out there is a good representation of who you are. This includes email names, social handles, websites, hashtags, photos, etc.Update your profiles to show your activities and interests. For example, if you are passionate about making change in the world, show how youre involved in your community with photos, blogs, shared articles, etc.Be active in your field of interest on social media. Post industry-related news, questions, quotes or articles. Follow inspiring people and companies in your field, especially those you are targeting in your job search.2. Adapt your resume to match the job descriptionSubmitting the same generic resume and titelseite letter for multiple job applications wont help you stand out to employers. Tailor your resume and cover letter specifically for each opportunity, even if the jobs seem similar or youre not entirely decided about your c areer.After reviewing a job description, take note of the keywords and phrases they use or the skills they are seeking. Your resume will get more traction if you use the same words and phrases. During bewerbungsgesprchs, be very clear about what you bring to the position and how passionate and enthusiastic you are for the opportunity.3. Proofread, proofread, proofreadLittle mistakes on your resume or cover letter can stand out in a big way, and can impact the employers overall perception of you as a candidate. Double-check that the names, job titles and companies on your application materials match the job you are applying for especially when youre creating tailored documents for each job application.Next, get in the habit of proofreading everything. Print and read your resume and cover letter backwards to catch any typos or errors. Then, ask a friend or family member to proofread them orvisit Career Services to have a career development advisor look them over as well. You can neve r be too careful4. Do your researchEmployers have shared that their biggest pet peeve at career fairs is meeting with potential job candidates who arent familiar enough with the company or what they do. This can give the impression that you arent that serious about the job opportunity.A few minutes of research can make all the difference. Read the about section of their website or company blog. Check their social media accounts to gain a sense of office culture. Employers love to see that you have taken time to get to know the company youre interested in. This can also help you prepare interview questions of your own to demonstrate your knowledge and desire for the position.5. Use your networkMany people think that job searching is a solitary process, but its more than okay to ask for help Your network is there to support you in this journey.It may not feel like it, but you likely already have a wide network to rely on. Between family, friends, professors, supervisors and CU alumni, there are people who are ready and willing to help you in your search. Reach out to let them know what you are looking for and how they may be helpful. Whether they are available for proofreading or can connect you to a hiring manager with a great opportunity, it never hurts to ask. Continue to grow your network this year by attending career-related events on campus.6. Dont be afraid to go for itThe only sure way of not being considered for a job is to never apply for it. Sometimes we talk ourselves out of great opportunities if we dont think we meet all the qualifications listed on the job description. If you are attracted to a position and think you can do it well, apply even if you dont meet every single item on the list. Most employers will interview candidates if they meet most of their criteria.Want to learn more? Meet with a career development advisor who can help you plan for your job search and avoid these common mistakes. Stop by drop-in hours Monday - Thursday from 11 a .m. to 4 p.m.TagsJob Search