Cover Letter Mistakes: Don't let this happen to You!

Here are some ideas on how not to write a cover letter. Don't let these blunders keep you from the job you want.

The right cover letter will make you stand out from the crowd. You've just come across a job opening that exactly fits your skills and experience. Don't rush drafting the cover letter, pay attention to detail and you'll likely make the first cut and get the interview. But what can you do, or not do that will severely hurt your chances in getting the interview?

1) You fail to address the letter to the hiring manager: Finding the name of the hiring manager is a simple as a phone call or a few minutes on the internet. If you call, get their extension number, as you will probably be calling again. This small item will get you off to a good start.

2) You fail to indicate the job you are applying for: Many employers have a number of ongoing job openings. If you fail to put a reference line between the employers address and the salutation, or indicate the job you are applying for in the first paragraph, the hiring manager will not guess and your submission will likely get thrown out.

3) You fail to address none of the job requirements: The employer lists specific needs and skills in the job announcement. If you fail to focus on these needs your cover letter will impress no one.

Personalize your cover letter by speaking to the employers need and the skills required in the job. Use the words in the job announcement and tie them in to your achievements and skills. In this way, the personalized cover letter will show that you understand their needs and you've spent some time tying their requirements to your experience.

4) You fail to include contact information: Many times the applicant will put their contact information on their resume and not put duplicate contact information on the cover letter. If the two documents get separated and the resume gets misplaced your chance of an interview goes down to zero.

5) You fail to add a call action: You want to make the hiring manager do the least amount of work as possible in order for you to get an interview. One of the ways you can ease their burden is by calling them to follow-up. State that you will call them in a certain amount of time - say one week or on a specific date - and be sure to do it.

Don't worry about coming across as too aggressive. Its acting proactively which employers think highly of and you can expect them to take notice. Of course they may call you even before you get a chance to give them a ring, but that's a good thing.

Cover letters that show you have paid attention to the details will get your cover letter and resume in the "to interview" category. Take your time with the details, craft the best cover letter that you can and you'll find more employers wanting to interview you.


John Groth is a career coach. Find valuable Career Development Ideas, in-depth articles and a free seven day career planning guide. Discover up to date recruitment and Job Hunting strategies; all to assist you in developing and advancing your career.

Posted by bizz at 12:33 AM 0 comments

Women In Those High-Paying Positions Have Something I Don't Have - Are You Sure?

Women in Those High-Paying Positions Have Something I Don't Have - Are You Sure?

I believe there are three reasons why most women do not pursue positions which they know to be higher-paying.

* They believe they lack sufficient ambition * They see the sacrifices as too great * They view themselves as unqualified

Let's look at these, one at a time.

Ambition

Think about how you define the work "ambition." Many people believe that people either have it or they don't, and there is no middle ground. Of course, ambition is not an either/or concept. The majority of working men do not aspire to be president of the company for which they work, yet they expect to earn enough to support themselves. They do not worry about unbridled ambition ruining their lives. They know that business is not a conveyor belt that they get on and cannot control. People are not promoted against their wills.

The issue of ambition may cloud your view of a specific job opportunity. You may decide that a particular level of ambition is necessary for a specific job, when other things are actually much more important. You may be wrong about your own ambition level, or unsure of it. This uncertainty may seem to be an important obstacle to overcome. You may not want to be ambitious. You might think it is unfeminine or unattractive to have ambition. You may feel it is selfish and greedy to want a lot of money. You may feel it is more noble to work hard for little pay than to work hard for a lot of pay.

Some people would have you analyze your feelings about ambition until they are completely resolved. You will probably retire before you can accomplish it. Try to simply put these bad feelings and all thoughts of ambition out of your mind. Ambition is a vague concept, defined by different people in various ways. You work for many reasons, and one of them is money. If you had enough ambition to get out of bed this morning, you have enough to pursue a new career.

Sacrifice

You see women anchoring the news, selling cars, and developing new software products. If you're like many of us, you may see these positions as requiring more sacrifice than your current job. You may believe that these women will pay any price to climb further and earn more.

The fact is, different jobs require different kinds of sacrifices. Yes, there are high-stress jobs which require long hours and travel. But many, many jobs which pay more than yours require far less sacrifice than you imagine. I am constantly amazed at the sacrifices women are willing to make in long hours, extra work, harassment and belittling treatment, when their paychecks hardly warrant any sacrifice. Many working men and women who go home to their families every evening earn much more than you do. Be realistic, but don't count yourself out of a new career just because you have other priorities in your life. Everyone does.

Qualifications

The issue of whether or not you are qualified for a different career path is probably more simple, and at the same time, more complex, than you thought. The word "qualify" has been overused and abused in the workplace. In fact, it remains undefined and means different things to different people, even when they are talking about the same position. Women are much more likely to consider "qualified" to mean technically competent. We believe direct prior experience in that exact kind of position is necessary. We believe some kind of unique technical training is required. In fact, the position may require someone who is politically savvy, and is able to bring a new prospective to the job. Generally speaking, men with the same level of skill are more likely to consider themselves as "qualified" for a job while the women next to them see themselves as unqualified.

In 1977, Betty Harragan (Games mother Never Taught You, Warner Books, Inc.) quoted from a study in which men and women were asked how many of the appropriate job skills they would need to have in order to "qualify" for a job. Women responded that they would need 100% of the skills. Men, on the other hand, believed they needed an average of 40% of those skills. Personally, I think this study would have the same results if done today. Consider the difference between 40% and 100%! Yes, this is an over generalization, but you can probably think of several examples of this in your own experience. This alone can account for the difference in confidence levels we often see in business. If one person considers himself qualified with far fewer skills than another, he will automatically feel more confident and appear more confident. In fact, he will be better able to execute the job, since self-doubt is a barrier to success. Well-paid women have learned to live with this. They have recognized that if they wait to be 100% qualified, they'll miss their chance entirely. So will we.

What we consider to be good performance on the job may be impossible for any human. Until we can adjust our view of competency, we will never see ourselves as qualified for the jobs we so deserve. Until we can see ourselves as qualified, we will not be. Change your view of competency from perfection at all times to excellence in the context of the job. Make your demands on yourself more realistic, and you will be able to do more. More women must learn to "fake it until they make it." We must assume authority, instead of waiting for it to be handed to us. We must see self-doubt as a faulty mis perception that we must rise above, instead of an indication of our unworthiness. We are able to do this in other areas of our lives, we must learn to do it in the workplace. For most people (men and women alike) self-confidence is learned rather than earned. We simply do not have enough time in this life to overcome all traces of self-doubt before we act. When we act in spite of our own self-doubts, and succeed, or at least survive, we gain confidence.

In other ways, women often differ from the men around them in how they approach work. We are more likely to feel powerless and doubt ourselves. We are more likely to be paralyzed by that self-doubt, unable to act until we are certain of the outcome. We often have a different, and unhealthy view of risk. We are sometimes more task-oriented than is advisable in decision-making positions, and we may lack negotiating skills. What we can do about this is the subject of Each of Us: How Every Woman Can Earn More Money in Corporate America. It is important to remember that all the highly-paid men and women you know have learned these skills, they weren't born with them. They are only people doing their jobs, they aren't perfect at the business game. With a few minor adjustments, we can make an enormous difference in our incomes.

Patricia Smith is a businesswoman, speaker, and the Author of Each of Us: How Every Woman Can Earn More Money in Corporate America. http://www.eachofus.com

Posted by bizz at 12:32 AM 0 comments

Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Career College

The road to a career can be a long and winding highway with lots of dead ends and wrong turns. Perhaps you've hit some of these occupational detours--unnecessary coursework, scattered employment opportunities, and wandering around the Internet, looking for just the right profession. But with a career college, you can be on the fast track to rewarding vocation in a respected field. "I received training in exactly what employers are looking for," said one vocational school student. "I didn't waste time taking classes that you don't really need for the job market."

If you're thinking about earning a certificate from a career college that trains you for a specific niche, such as health care support staff positions--pharmacy technician, medical assistant, or health claims examiner/medical biller, and other challenging positions--it's important to ask questions before enrolling. You'll want to feel confident about your decision before embarking on your studies. According to educational experts, here are some criteria to guide you as you evaluate the pros and cons of a career college:

1. INTERESTS AND GOALS:

*What kind of career and technical training do you want to receive? If you're interested in medical support careers, you'll want to consider a career college that specializes in that type of preparation. Look for an established college with a good reputation.

*Will the education you receive be adequate training for your job? If you're interested in being a pharmacy technician, for example, you will want to gain technical knowledge and practical skills such as dosage calculations, drug distribution systems, and product recognition.

2. CHOOSING A SCHOOL:

* Is the school fully accredited and will you receive a certificate of completion? An accredited school means that the institution's programs and policies have been reviewed and meet the criteria set by an outside agency. This ensures that you'll receive a quality education with high standards. Your certificate of completion will be recognized and valued by potential employers.

* Does the school have convenient locations? Look for a career college that has campuses in different counties and is accessible by public transportation as well as freeways. Check to make sure parking is available.

* Are the facilities clean and up-to-date? Modern classrooms and labs with advanced equipment mean that you'll have the tools you'll need to learn up-to-date technology and clinical skills.

* What are the requirements for admission? Typically, applicants are required to complete an application form and participate in a personal interview with admissions representatives, as well as visit the campus. If you need a GED, some schools will pay for you to take this high-school equivalency test if you have been approved for testing by the school administration. If you don't have a high school diploma or GED, some programs only require that you pass a nationally recognized ability-to-benefit test.

3. FINANCIAL AID:

* How will you pay for your training or program? Career colleges are very affordable, and the financial aid office can help qualifying students find the funds they need. You'll also have several options for tuition payment. Grants and low-interest loans can help those with financial needs.

4. OTHER SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

* Does the career college offer job placement assistance? You'll want to rely on the help of a career services department to help you find employment after you graduate. For both students and alumni, this can include interviewing techniques and resume preparation; job leads and networking workshops; and time management planning. You'll be well on your way to a rewarding and successful career in the health support professions.

To request free information about healthcare career training programs offered in south California, visit our website.

Cindy Atoji is a freelance writer who specializes in career education articles and healthcare opportunities.