Why is it that career seekers spend numerous hours creating their resumes and then treat their cover letters like the forgotten stepchild? The cover letter is a critical component to your career search package and can help you stand out from the crowd. Here are some helpful hints to help your cover letter work for you. The cardinal sin You should never use ‘To whom it may concern’ in your cover letter. Get the name of a pe...

There are many old adages associated with career success. One that remains true is, “Better to have a job to get a job.” Candidates who are employed fair much better when job-searching. In fact, the longer you are out of work, the more difficult to find work. Recently, Bullhorn Reach conducted a survey of 1,500 recruiters. Recruiters were asked to name the “single biggest obstacle” for a candidate. 39% surveyed named j...

Unfortunately, there are people lurking behind the cover of seemingly legitimate offers. They are ready to steal your money. Often the most vulnerable are the ones targeted by these con artists. Who is more vulnerable that an unemployed person? With the sophistication of today’s technologies and communication methods, an individual with a modest operation can pose as a trustworthy corporation. However, we can outsmart t...

Job seekers everywhere stress over how to write a cover letter. Some dread the task of writing the letter so much that they forego the letter entirely. The cover letter is essential. Not only does it entice the reader to read your resume, it is a sample of your writing. The cover letter must be professional and concise as you make a specific call to action. The final paragraph is where you conclude your message and comp...

Many careerists believe there is one résumé template that fits everyone. It is not uncommon for job seekers to borrow a résumé from a friend or copy a template found online when creating their résumé. It is a great idea to look the résumé of a successful professional to get inspiration. However, when it comes to the résumé, there are subtleties that separate candidates even if their history is very similar. Here are some...

If you are actively job searching out of your area and you have not used Skype for an interview yet, you will. Prepare yourself now so you are ready when the opportunity is presented. Create an Ideal Background Remove people, pets, and any other distractions. Choose a room with a neutral, uncluttered background. Avoid using your bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen. An office-like setting is ideal. Turn off all televisions (kee...

Many clients come to me for career advice when the same old approach is no longer working. Often they will say, “Something is going on in the market. In the past, I was in high demand.” Well, perhaps it is the challenging market. On the other hand, could it be your long-time brand is no longer effective? In a challenging market, it is twice as important to update your brand. How do you know if you need a brand make-ove...

Are you active on Pinterest, yet? If not, you may be missing a valuable way to enhance your career and have fun in the process. Pinterest.com is a virtual bulletin board where members pin graphics that they’ve virtually “torn” from various websites. Think of it as an old-fashioned idea book or collage of favorite things. The site itself has done a terrific job of explaining how to get started, so I won’t waste space he...

Many stories begin with the trope, “long ago in a far away land.” We expect to be transported to an unfamiliar place and time. Unfortunately, some careerists use this technique when writing a résumé. We feel as though we are climbing on grandfather’s knee to hear the tale of a time when 3.5 inch floppy disk was king and everyone was blown away by DOS. We see skills such as Fortran and dBase. On the contact line, we see...

Résumés for candidates in certain professions and industries will be judged with greater scrutiny. For example, a résumé for a designer will be evaluated for creativity. A résumé for an accountant will be scrutinized for organization, details, and accuracy. This particular accountant, Jordan, is lacking details in critical areas, such as the Professional Experience section. She also has ordered her résumé in a way that...