7 Tips For A Fool-Proof Cover Letter

Here’s a question that a lot of job seekers ask: Is it really necessary to include a cover letter in a job application? The answer to that question is yes, and it can’t be a copy-paste job; the cover letter must be tailored for the job you are applying for if you are to have any chance of getting an interview.

Unless the job description specifically states that a cover letter is not required, you are going to have to include one along with your resume and other job application materials. Failing to do this will dramatically increase the chance that your application will not even get a look from the hiring manager. 

So what does it take to write a cover letter that will wow the employer? It would seem that it is entirely subjective at first glance, but there are actually a number of universal elements that need to be included.
If you are to write a fool-proof cover letter, make sure to follow these seven tips:

• Keep it short and sweet. Include all of the basic information, including your full name and where you can be contacted.
• Make it specific. Instead of opening by saying “To whom it may concern,” address it directly to the hiring manager. If you can’t find her name, address it to the human resources department.
• State which job you are applying to in the opening paragraph.
• Be passionate. There’s no better way to stand apart from the crowd than to inject a little personality into your writing.

Tips 5-7 and the complete article

The 5 Job Interview Stories That Will Get You Hired

by Luke Roney


For your next job interview, don’t prepare to give answers about your skills and experience. Instead, prepare to tell your career stories.

Well-crafted career stories can be a powerful tool to show a prospective employer what kind of worker you are. And, when you craft your stories ahead of time, you’re less likely to stray off topic, talk too much or give information that you’d rather not.
General guidelines for career stories:

• Be sure they are true
• Make them succinct
• Show professional growth

Here are 5 career stories you must be able to tell at your next job interview:

1. The Mistake/Failure

This is your chance to show that you recognize your own fallibility; that you can take responsibility and be accountable; and that you can fix your errors and learn from them. When telling your story, don’t come off as sheepish or overly embarrassed – everyone makes mistakes, it’s how we handle them that matters.

2. The Difficult Situation

Your difficult situation story should illustrate how you faced a challenge, prevailed and became a better employee for it. Note: You might want to come up with a few stories in this vein dealing with different situations, such as meeting a challenging goal, dealing with a difficult coworker, dealing with a difficult client and so on.

Also, while a mistake or failure can certainly lead to a difficult situation, with this story we’re looking for a challenge presented to you, rather than one you created for yourself.

3. The Disagreement with Your Boss

This story should show that you are assertive and stand up for what you think is right. If you were able to sway your boss to your point of view, all the better. If not, though, the story should demonstrate that know when to set aside your idea and get with the program (unless, of course, it’s an issue of ethics). It may also be handy to have a story about disagreeing with a colleague or client ready to go.

Stories 4,5, and the complete article

4 Reasons Recruiters Don’t Call After You Submit Your Resume Online

Posted by Heather Huhman

Job seekers are very familiar with the time commitment and stress of searching for a new job. When performing your job search, you can spend hours upon hours perfecting your resume and cover letter, applying for jobs, and waiting to hear feedback from recruiters. However, after you’ve applied for 10 or 15 jobs and haven’t heard from a single company, it’s easy to become discouraged about your search.


This frustrating cycle can be recognized as the recruiting black hole. This term describes the millions of applications that go seemingly unnoticed by recruiters. Many job seekers spend countless hours applying for jobs online, yet don’t see the results they anticipate.

If you’re wondering why recruiters haven’t contacted you about your resume, here are some reasons why your resume could have disappeared into the black hole of recruiting:

1. You aren’t qualified for the position. Ask yourself: Did I honestly meet the requirements of the job posting? If the position you applied for required you to have at least five years of experience and you only have two, many recruiters will ignore your resume. Job postings provide qualifications to help recruiters weed out candidates who lack experience; therefore, if your resume doesn’t fulfill the requirements, it likely won’t make it to their desk.


2. You overlooked the right fit. According to a recent study, many job seekers only spend one minute to determine if a job opening is the right fit and can only determine a good fit 38 percent of the time. This means roughly six out of 10 job openings viewed by job seekers are a bad fit! In addition, job seekers will also overlook two out of four opportunities that could be a good fit. What does this mean for your job search? Job seekers aren’t applying for the jobs they are best suited for, which contributes greatly to why they don’t hear back from recruiters.

Reasons 3,4, and the complete article


Bonus Reasons.

Misspellings.  Everyday I see resumes that have misspellings in them.  How accurate will your work be if you can't spell check your resume.  ( I've been guilty of this myself.  I have never actually had a job as a Costumer Service rep.... )

You are not eligible to work in the country that you are applying to.  Because of the world economy it is actually fairly difficult to get sponsorship / approval to work in other countries unless you have a very unique skill set.

3 Assumptions You Should Never Make About a Job Interview

 By Susan P. Joyce


Although all of these statements below will hopefully not be true, depending on the employer and the interviewer, go into the interview expecting that they will apply.  Don’t be discouraged by that!  Expect these situations to arise and, knowing they might happen, you can be prepared.

Bad Assumptions About Job Interviews 

As important as a job interview opportunity is for you, often for the person on the other side of the table interviewing job candidates are interruptions in their day, keeping them from getting their “real” jobs done.

1. The interviewer knows how to interview.

Unfortunately, most often, the people doing the interviewing are not professional interviewers.  Interviewing usually comes under the heading of “additional duties as required” – something done only when unavoidable.

How to diagnose:  If they spend more time talking about themselves, their job, or the company rather than asking you questions relevant to the job, they don’t know how to conduct an interview.

How to respond:  If you let them jabber on uninterrupted, it will be a low stress interview for you, but it probably won’t be a successful one.  Without talking with you, they won’t have a sense of your qualifications and your ability to do the job (although they may think you are very agreeable).

You may need to try to take over the conversation or at least break into the monologue.  Ask some of the questions you had prepared in advance (right?).  When they talk about some aspect of the job, gently interrupt to point out situations where you have encountered the same thing and successfully accomplished your goal – “I know just what you mean!  We had a similar situation in my last job, and this is what we did…”

Or, launch a few short (!) monologues of your own on topics like why you want to work there and why you are qualified for the job.  Be sure to mention your major accomplishments and other achievements in your work that are directly relevant to the new job.

2.  The interviewer is focused on you and the interview they are conducting.

Since this is an “additional duty” for most interviewers, their minds may well be on their real jobs – a crisis, a deadline, whatever work activities they normally do.  So, job candidates are sometimes an unwelcome distraction as well as a difficult thing to do well, particularly if # 1 above also applies.

How to diagnose:  If they seem agitated, checking their watch frequently, distracted, not focused on what you are saying or the questions they are asking.

How to respond:  This is a tough one.  Try to be laser-focused and provide clear, succinct answers to their questions, maintaining eye contact as much as possible.

Assumption #3, more advice, and the complete article

5 Things NOT to Say in a Job Interview

Tess C. Taylor, PHR, PayScale

We’ve all been there at some point in the job search process. Sitting in the interview hot seat with sweaty palms, waiting for the interviewer to start rattling off questions that somehow we must answer skillfully. It can seem a lot like an interrogation. This experience can make even the most practiced candidate resort to saying something foolish, merely as a result of being nervous. It’s referred to as the “foot-in-the-mouth” syndrome and it can happen to the best of us!

However, you don’t have to fall prey to this infliction or look bad to the hiring manager. Fortunately, you are reading this article now to learn how to avoid the top 5 things you don’t want to blurt out at an interview.

#1 – Anything bad or negative about a former employer.
In terms of job interview etiquette, this is a cardinal sin. You never want to portray a former employer in a negative light to a potential hiring manager. To do so can make you look bitter or disgruntled, and those traits are the last thing a new company wants to deal with. Instead, smile and try to share something positive about your previous employers. A US News article also advises to keep your story short, when talking about past experiences.

#2 – I’d like to give an example from back in the day…
The surest way to “date” yourself is to recall an event or circumstance going back more than five years. While it is illegal to discriminate against older candidates, secretly some recruiters will focus on younger job seekers who are fresh out of college or have current skills and training. To avoid this little snafu, provide a scenario without the actual name of the employer and give it a modern twist by using industry lingo that relates to newer technology.

#3 – Sure, I know all about that software, or type of project (but I am actually fibbing a little).
People will often say whatever it takes to get their foot in the door, including stretching the truth a little to indicate skills and experience. If a job calls for a specific type of software or project knowledge, do your research before the interview and see if it’s similar to something else you’ve used. However, don’t tell the interviewer you know the product or task unless you have some experience with it, as this can seriously backfire once you are on the job. 

Tips 4,5 and the complete article

7 Job Search Fears To Conquer This Summer

Posted by Heather Huhman


It’s finally summer. Summer is the time to relax and let some of your worries wash away. Use this philosophy to get rid of some of the fears that come with your job search.

Here are seven job search fears to conquer this summer:


1. Networking. Many job seekers are intimidated by the concept of networking. Introducing yourself to strangers and trying to impress them with your background can be a challenge. It’s important to take it one person at a time. Talk about the things you know best. Be confident in your background and the rest will come naturally. Don’t look at every person you meet as a future employer. Instead, look at them as someone from whom you might learn something new.

2. Preparing. Resumes, cover letters, portfolios, social media, research, and interviews. Remembering everything involved in your job search can be a lot. These things don’t have to be such a burden. Learn what you can about each aspect of the job search through advice sites like Glassdoor. Prepare each item individually and ask someone (or multiple people) to look over it all. Find a way to stay organized and the fear will go away.

3. Interviewing. Job seekers fear interviews because interviews are the determining factor in whether you land the job. It’s important to look at the interview as an opportunity to shine, rather than a reason to be afraid. Remember to show your passion for the job and the organization. Prove you’ve done your research and you’re perfect for the role. Demonstrate why you are the best person to help the employer.


4. Relocation. If you’ve lived or worked somewhere for a really long time, a location change can become frightening. But don’t fear relocation. Look at it as an opportunity. If you’re willing to commute or move somewhere new, you’ll have more options in the job search. Take the time to research factors like travel expenses and living options. Ask people in your network or your interviewer for advice about the new city. Be open to change.

Fears 5-7 and the complete glassdoor article