How many times have you replied to a job ad via e-mail by shooting them a copy of your resume and cover letter? I’m going to venture a guess and say at least 20 (but more likely hundreds of times) if you’ve been searching for any significant length of time. Here are some of the most notorious mistakes we’ve seen—and what you can do to greatly improve your chances of being noticed.Attaching the cover letter to the e-mail.Wha...

With hundreds and thousands of resumes being submitted for one single job opening, the only way you can make the recruiter open your resume is by having a smart and unique cover letter (and of course the other way is when you have a direct reach to the hiring managers). Remember that the employers are seeking the best candidate for their offered job description and it is to you how you can make yourself stand out. Here are...

One of the services I offer is cover letter writing. Many clients contact me and ask me to write both a resume and cover letter. I always tell them the same thing: I am happy to write a resume but let's wait until you are applying for a specific job or to a specific company to write that cover letter. Part of the reason for that is that the way I write cover letters is very customized. I need to learn about the person I am...

I wrote the column below two years ago, but that’s irrelevant, because the situation continues. I tend to run it every few months, this time because I’m not only seeing it in cover letters, but several of us were discussing it on FB this week. I don’t care about casual communication between friends, but resumes, cover letters, websites...That there’s a plethora of applicants for almost every job is no secret. But a compa...

A persuasive sales letter will separate your job application from the avalanche of resumes that land on the desk of employers.In most instances, your cover letter will be your first and only opportunity to make a good first impression on the potential employer.It's purpose is simple: capture the potential employer's attention and cause him to go on to read your resume which you hope will lead to an interview and an offer fo...

The biggest mistake many job hunters are currently making is that they actually skip writing a cover letter when sending off a resume, says an AT&T Human Resource Manager. “Cover letters are very influential, and a well written letter can grab an interview just on its own merit. It’s too bad most job hunters are so lazy they don’t write one anymore,” notes this HR manager who’s seeing hundreds of applications a week.This is...

You’ve heard it a million times: Always send a thank-you letter after a job interview. So it may surprise you to learn that some hiring managers don’t like receiving these letters. It’s a waste of their time, they say.Sounds a little curmudgeonly, doesn’t it? But maybe it’s because so many thank-you letters are a waste of time--theirs, and ultimately, yours, too. Are you using your letters just to say “thanks for the interv...

• Is your Cover Letter unfashionable?• Does the thought of writing a cover letter – put dread in your heart? • Would you rather get a root canal, sort your socks, clean the drain?If this sounds like you, read on to learn the Psychology behind cover-letters...These days, with the advent of social media, texting and tweeting – writing is a lost art. Some predict that the ability to spell and write in full-sentences may soon b...

In this fiercely competitive job market, references can make or break you as a job candidate. It has been said that there is one job for every six people on the job hunt. So what can you do to make sure you stand out from the competition? Sometimes the answer is what other people have to say about you: your references. The following tips can help you with selecting the best references for your resume.• Pick relevant people:...

It Pays to Groom Your ReferencesGrooming your references is essential; knowing exactly where you stand and avoiding surprises can be the make-it or break-it in a search. A little time with a reference can result in great returns.10 Steps (“Yes, Another 10-Stepper”) for Preparing Your References to Work for You1. First, phone or visit your references. Demonstrate the importance of your request my investing your time.2. Ask f...