The goal of any cover letter is to provide insight into your qualifications that a hiring manager might not get from a resume alone. You try to show not only that you have the skills to do a job, but to inspire others to theirs as well.
A management level letter will include information on your accomplishments, the leadership roles you have held, and how you can help the organization succeed. See key letter points, a sample and a template here.
Having a career mentor can be the secret sauce to career success. A mentor is someone who’s in your corner and wants to help you succeed professionally. This is most successful when you both spend time coming up with a strategy for success and have a clear understanding of the long-term goals of the relationship.
A career mentor helps you figure out how to achieve your career goals. They can help you make decisions that move your career forward, offer advice and insight when you face challenges, and provide general feedback about your goals and plans. See how to use a mentor in your job quest here.
Being overqualified for a job might be a good thing, is there anything better than feeling confident and self-assured? A job would be a step back for you if desired experience, role expectations, organizational structure are far exceeded.
Being overqualified is if you need to focus on things in your life other than work, like your family. If so, then mention your intentions in your cover letter and explain to potential employers your reasoning for wanting the position. See how to explain your overqualifications here.
The pandemic has created enormous changes in the workplace. Regardless of their jobs, employees needed to adapt rapidly to massive changes ranging from working remotely to changes in operations and fulfillment.
As organizations continue to operate in a pandemic and plan for the future, some of the essential skills that most employees will need have been identified. See 6 skills for a competitive advantage here.
Job references are one
major aspect of job searching. You need to have several available on request.
You need to choose people who are the best possible stand-ins for
ourselves—people we trust to support us, stand with us, and make us out to be
the best possible candidate for the job
Finding people to say good things about you may sound like easy. However, choosing people who can specifically speak to your skills and work ethic on a professional level should be taken seriously. These people are typically held back until the end of a key interview.
Pay attention to the finer details of securing job references here.
You’ve given your notice and it’s time for your exit interview, you may not know how to proceed. Your former employer wants to know why you’re leaving. They’re trying to see what they can do going forward to keep other employees from leaving.
Instead of being apprehensive about the interview, view the interview as an opportunity to think critically about your experience. What was learned, how might the company improve? See how to handle your exit gracefully, honestly, and professionally here.
It’s easy to think that being overqualified for a job might be a good thing. Sometimes it’s not obvious that you are overqualified for a job. It takes more than meeting the job checklist, it takes a self evaluation of qualifications and future objectives.
Whether you’re deciding if you want to apply, or are feeling uncertain in the middle of the interview process, there are six factors to look for.
See how to handle overqualifications in a job interview here.
Millions of technologists are now working from home. Many have figured out remote schedules that allow them to effectively balance work and life. Teams have adopted workflows that compensate for a lack of in-office contact. However, the possibilities of burnout remains.
With more businesses moving to a remote-only model for employees, it’s clear that employees may have to take steps to avoid frying mentally after too many months of hardcore work at their home offices See several tips on managing your personal 'homework' here
Businesses large and small rely on email. If you need to circulate an interoffice memo, discuss progress on a project, or plan a meeting agenda, email was “the” way to communicate. You need to know your audience and have clear objective to communicate.
Email is a hybrid type of communication, blending casual conversations with the structure of a formal written letter. That means that when you write an email, you need to combine both informal and formal writing styles. See detailed considerations for a successful email here.
It can come as a surprise when your boss quits their job. No matter how or why your boss leaves, you’ll want to collect yourself and make sure that regardless of what happens, you’re set up for success. Pay attention and be aware, figure out what happens next.
While you may worry about your next boss, continue to be the professional you are and remember that the one thing that’s constant in life (including your work life) is change. Find eight things you should (and shouldn’t) do here.
You may feel like you have this job search process down pat. However in today’s competitive job market, job seekers need to do everything in order to set themselves apart from the competition. Having a personal website is one of the ways to do just that
Anyone can and should have a site that helps give potential employers a better glimpse into who they are as a job candidate - and why they should be hired. A personal website is an additional source that you can use to demonstrate your achievements, work history, and personal interests - all of which will help you stand out from your competition. It also is not limited to a resume's one or two page limit or format.
See some tips on creating a personal website portfolio here.
If you need a new job, you’ll need a revised résumé to pass today’s A.I.-powered screening algorithms. Today's tools using A.I. screening go beyond keyword matching to mimic how humans read and analyze information.
A.I. screens for context and the candidate’s utilization of skills and knowledge to rank each résumé against the top job requirements, generating a shortlist of candidates to interview. Making your résumé appeal to a robot also makes it appeal to human's too, see here.
Job seekers take the time to tailor applications to the job they are applying to, providing specific examples that show how their skills match the job description. While the right skills and experience are essential, being the right cultural fit, and proving your values match those important to the employer, can also be important.
Finding a great company extends beyond just finding a position that matches your skills. For an interviewer, an interview gives them insight into the type of employee you will be. For the job seeker, this is an opportunity to access an employer’s culture and beliefs. Find out if you are a fit with the company’s culture here.
Given that college costs are on the rise, many people question the wisdom of pursuing a bachelor’s degree. Does it make sense to spend time and money getting your degree when you could be working and gaining practical work experience?
While there is something to be said for that argument, what really matters when it comes to getting a job is what employers think. How do they feel about education versus work experience on a resume? The resume gets you the interview.
See a discussion of the value of education and experience here.
Whether the home office is temporary or may become permanent it is important to maintain continuity with supervisors. Workers have pivoted and adapted in ways to navigate quickly in changing circumstances, and meet the challenges.
Communication within remote teams is essential for staying in touch on tasks, priorities, and shifting schedules. When you’re working from home communicate your needs and keep your boss updated as schedule and deadlines change. Find 5 tips for updating your boss here.
Flexible jobs are a critically important source of income for professionals who have disabilities or special needs.
Remote and flexible work can make a difference in earning a steady income and having a stable job. Remote work, a part-time job, freelance gigs, or jobs with flexible or alternative schedules where you can choose your hours or work hours outside of the typical workday can provide career opportunities for disabled professionals.
For a continuing discussion see 15 top companies here.
Millions of office-bound employees started working from home when pandemic impacted the workforce. The benefits of working from home have become apparent and many companies are incorporating remote work into their long-term plans. If you experienced working from home and feel that remote work is the future of work, find a way to continue working from home that might not require switching companies. Find ways to negotiate a permanent work-from-home employment here.
A recent survey found more than three-quarters of pandemic workers who’ve been working remotely say they would prefer to work from home. Many people think a remote job will allow them to work from anywhere, the truth is the majority of remote jobs require workers to reside in a specific geographic location.
It is important for job seekers to know only 5% of advertised remote, work-from-home positions are truly work-from-anywhere jobs.
Find the highest concentration of remote jobs in 15 states here.
Starting a new career after 50 isn’t as overwhelming—or as difficult—as you might think. Deciding what you want to do and how you want to get there is the first important step. You’ll also need to figure out what you can offer a new employer and how you can show them that you’re the right person for the role. See six key tips for a late career change here
The hiring process can drag on for weeks. If you want to know if you’re in the running for the job, you should follow up on your job application. Knowing how to follow up on a job application could be the difference between getting interviews and not making any progress. Following up is an expected part of the application process, so be proactive about getting the job you want! Find twelve 'follow up' thoughts here.
Choosing whether to work for a large or small company can impact the quality of your life.
Choose a large company, and you may have endless opportunities for advancement. But, you may have to try hard to be noticed. Work for a small company, and there may be a greater sense of community and “family,” but you may stay “stuck” in the same position year after year.
Find the pros and cons of company size here.
Being prepared for a layoff is good advice even when the economy is robust. Keeping you resume up to date and watching for shifts in your industry should be on-going activities. Whether you know layoffs are coming or you just suspect it, there are some steps you can take to prepare for a layoff before it happens. Preparing now will allow you to have a solid plan in place. Just know that getting laid off and getting fired are two different things. The former isn’t because of bad performance, that’s important to remember. See 14 things to consider here.
If you have been laid off from the virus, consider a volunteer or temp position in Senior care. Use your skillset to make a compassionate impact in the lives of seniors. Temporary opportunities are available in communities throughout the local area and be of benefit to our senior population. Do a internet search on 'Senior Care' or see a link here.
In a competitive job market, you need an edge to make your application materials stand out. You can do that listing your career accomplishments from each key position in a resume and cover letter. Career accomplishments offer concrete examples, often based on data points, showing how you contributed to your company in your particular role. Find three tips on identifying your career accomplishments here.
Networking is a trial for shy people for whom it feels insincere and manipulative. But avoiding it will undermine their careers and projects. Networks are built on good relationships based on mutual generosity. Good networks are built on good relationships; you can't build your career or business without them. You need people to help you. Networking is a set of social skills, find 17 skills here
It's important to use power words in your resume and cover letters when applying for jobs. Using these words helps demonstrate your strengths and highlights why you are right for the job. Power words also enhance your job descriptions and make them come alive, as opposed to flat.
Examine the importance of power words, and how to effectively use them here.
See 5 key sections described in detail here.
Your resume is your marketing tool, your summary section is the headline that conveys your track record of success. A well-written summary gives specific examples of how you’ve added value in your current or previous positions.
Your resume summary is a hard-hitting, concise declaration of your abilities. See five key points here.
Your resume has been reviewed, the employers like what you have to offer, and they’d like a chance to learn more about you. If this is the first interview, you need to be well prepared for answering tough questions. If it is a second call to meet, you are close to to an offer, again be prepared. Here are a few tips that can help you successfully navigate the next few days before the interview. See four steps to follow when you get invited in for a job interview here.
The competition for positions is high and applicants for any given job will have similar skills and qualifications. To stand out, you need to demonstrate to the potential employer that you can do the job well. Do that by showing how you’ve made a positive contribution to your employer’s business. A resume should be accomplishment-oriented, not responsibility-driven. Find a focus for your presentation here.
Finding a new job can be a challenging and frustrating experience. You can make the job search a bit easier on yourself if you use proactive strategies for finding a new job. There are steps, specific considerations and strategies applicable to all jobseekers, from those just starting out to experienced candidates who need a quick refresher. Find 14 tips for finding a new job here.
Entry-level marketing jobs involve a unique blend of sales, customer service, consumer psychology, graphic design, and data analytics. While some marketing positions are this and more, the marketing employment industry is fraught with deception. Not all entry-level marketing jobs are scams. However, it is more difficult for job seekers to distinguish between legitimate marketing job postings and deceptive ones. See key points involving the marketing industry here.
While progressing in your career, perhaps as a sutdent, the potential of working abroad may be attractive. There are steps you can take to find summer employment in another country including: getting a work visa, enrolling in special programs connecting people with work overseas, and searching job sites dedicated to working abroad. See the details, the pros and cons here.
If your interest or necessity takes you out of the country, use job sites that focus on international listings. The international sites allow users to search company sites, associations, and other online job sites by keyword for a variety of countries. These sites expedite your search; you’ll find jobs from a variety of sources on one website. This information provides for finding overseas jobs, for tips and advice for finding a job abroad. Find over a dozen international focused sites here.
If you are interested, there are job sites that focus on international job listings. You will be able to find job postings for the country where you may want to work. International job search engine sites allow users to search the major job sites, company sites, associations, and other online job sites by keyword for a variety of countries. Find tips and advice for finding a job abroad here.