Cover Letters

Mohamed Asks: What are the most important 3 things that you need to cover in a cover letter? which ones you should absolutely avoid?

In Answer:
Write your cover letter as if you are responding to employer's questions - make it as easy as possible for them to read and to invite you in for an interview by:
1. Stating where you found position listing, and what position is of interest (they want to know how advertising is working)
2. Briefly framing your understanding of position (employers often have multiple position requisitions open at a time) and how you fit the job (how your skills fit within the context of the position)
3. State why you are interested in the company/position/industry in a way that adds value. Employers want a high yield rate of interviews to offers--showing that position is aligned with your goals and interests, and that you are familiar with the company can only help. (It's true that not all employers read cover letters, but do you want to take that risk?)

Things You Should "Absolutely Avoid"
1. Restating your resume (especially since you'll be including it, anyway). The cover letter should highlight your fit for the position, not serve as a second summary of all your skills and interests. (Again, the key is to make it easy for your employer to read.)
2. Using language that you wouldn't use in everyday speech. I'm skeptical, for example, of using words such as "liase" or "ameliorate"
3. Saying the position is a perfect fit for you--wait until you learn more about the company and the nature of the position within the organization
4. Raise ANY red flags (relocation/salary/benefits requirements or demands/Why you left other job/Personal life issues -relations,housing, income, health/Religious, political, race, gender, sexual, financial, lifestyle beliefs, etc, etc, etc!!!)
5. Forget to include a call to action - ask for the interview.


A basic style should include:

Paragraph 1: State why you're writing the letter. (position you're applying for, and an overview of the contents of the rest of your letter)

Paragraph 2: Describe why you're qualified. (Give an overview of the highlights from your resume, and explain how these have prepared you for the job you're applying for.)

Paragraph 3: Provide supplemental information. (Make it interesting. Examples of topics- why you want the job, why you chose this career, your philosophy relating to that profession, how you would go about doing a certain aspect of the job, etc.)

Paragraph 4: Sum it all up. (Conclude, express your interest in an interview, thank them for their time and consideration.)

Job searching is a process of mutual selection - what appears great on paper may not be perfect in person. The interview will be a chance for you and the employer to assess a potential match; the goal of the cover letter and resume is to land you the interview.

Patents in CV/Resume - how?

Brent asks: I've recently learned that a patent filed several years ago while working for a previous employer has finally been assigned a number (United States Patent 7305709) . How do you list a patent belonging to an employer with you as a co-author on your resume?

In Answer:
You can list it in two ways...
(1) As an accomplishment under a specific job
(2) Under its own heading for PATENT - using one of the styles (such as Chicago Manual of Style or APA - depending on your field) to list it properly

It does not matter that it was assigned to another company - most patents are and it is generally assumed to be that.

Is there a preference for two page resumes over three page resumes?

Troy asks: Like many people in the workforce, I've accumulated many titles and accomplishments over the years. As a result, my current resume is about 2 1/2 pages. At one point it was 3 full pages but I editted it to 2 1/2 pages. I don't know how I could get the resume to 2 pages without dramatically diluting my work history and qualifications summary. Is there strong opinion that 2 page resumes are significantly better than 3 page resumes? I'm assuming that the quality, format, and content are the not the issue here...just the length.

In Answer:
Simply - LESS IS MORE (relevant!) While I can appreciate candidates looking to keep all their skills and accomplishments, too much information allows the viewer to get distracted and lost within the resume. Keep in mind that a resume is only a quick summary of a candidates skillset, not a novel. 1-2 pages is plenty of information to offer. Rule of thumb, go back 10 years, or 3 positions ago only. If you need to delete information to make it shorter, then choose positions that aren't as relevant to getting your next job. I guarantee that if you shorten a resume to 1-2 pages, and streamline the information, you'll get more activity.

Presently, you are thinking about the CV/Resume representing you - so you are thinking how can I compress all that I have got down to 2pages? In actual fact, the CV/Resume sells you to the Recruiter/HR person for an interview - nothing more, nothing less, no greater. Only a call centre operative ever got a job thanks to a great CV/Resume - and even then they were telephone interviewed. No one will employ on the back of a CV/Resume - but they will interview

Now, accepting that - think about it from the Recruiter/HR person's point of view. I got a place that needs filling, and I have a pile of CV/Resume's - which one 's are you going to put in the call pile, and which in the thank you letter pile? Right, the one's which answer the questions and needs posed in the original advert! Are you actually going to on first review go past page1, and read all about the fact the applicant likes boating and wine, and 10years ago did something inside a company in the Mid-West: ah, nope!

Here's another thought: a 2page CV/Resume plus a cover letter is three pages - adding another page is four pages, and as they won't read past page1 of the resume on first past, what's the point of adding it? If you have to send in a 3page CV/Resume, write a great 1page cover letter which addresses all the skills and experience requirements in the advert, and makes you stand out - then they won't even read your CV/Resume, they will call you - the whole purpose of sending in a response.

I know this can get confusing, and I know this can get annoying, and I know this can hurt at a very personal level. But, all the CV/Resume does is get you an interview - a career portfolio is a whole different story, and should be taken personally: but both require honesty and accuracy.

If I can help you in any way, drop me a message - and Good Luck!

CV/Resume writing - house v an individual designer

Amanda asks: It seems like every online job site offers some kind of résumé-writing service to subscribers (for a fee, of course). What are your thoughts about going with one of those sites vs. using a smaller, direct writing/design service? Recruiters - have you seen any difference in quality? Job-seekers - do you have a preference?

In answer:
Firstly, its your CV/Resume - who ever writes it, its yours.

Secondly, depends on which job you are applying for and what your route is to that job. If the job is direct, then you need a CV/Resume prepared for that job; if its via an agency or head hunter, then they will write/rewrite it for you, under the explaination they can improve your chances because they know what the client is looking for.

Thirdly, depends on how long you have been in your last position. If you have been there a long time, then a review with an independent professional will get your CV/Resume in the right shape quicker (you may not recognise your own skills; you probably won't know what's required in the marketplace), than you could on your own.

Finally - depends on how well you can write!

Personally, as a business owner who has a CV/Resume writing service and who runs a separate Agency, I would always carry a general CV which fairly in your own view reflects your skills, capabilities and what you want to do next. The original question was posed as where would you get your CV/Resume written - the better question would be how do you manage your career, and that then answers where you get your CV/Resume written

Cover letter do's and don'ts

Mohammed asks: What are the most important 3 things that you need to cover in a cover letter? which ones you should absolutely avoid?

Answer:
If I were to break a cover letter down into 3 things, here's what I came up with:
1. name/contact methods
2. what you are looking for and why, briefly!
3. how you can help solve the hiring managers problem and the qualifications to show that, briefly!

Don't to cover:
1. why you left other job
2. personal life issues -relations,housing, income, health
3. religious, political, race, gender, sexual, financial, lifestyle beliefs

BUT, the biggest mistake people make on cover letters: Sending one as a formality! Think about it this way- you're writing a LETTER to a PERSON explaining to them why you're interested in a job, and why they should be interested in you. If you think about it this way, you're letter will automatically be more interesting. You also have to know what your letter will be used for. Most busy hiring managers won't even look at your letter until after they've at least skimmed your CV/Resume (they don't have time). If they look at your resume and are still interested in you, they might read your letter for more information, or to answer questions they have about you, like "Why does he want this job?" A basic cover letter style should address:

Paragraph 1: State why you're writing the letter. (position you're applying for, and an overview of the contents of the rest of your letter)

Paragraph 2: Describe why you're qualified. (Give an overview of the highlights from your resume, and explain how these have prepared you for the job you're applying for.)

Paragraph 3: Provide supplemental information. (Make it interesting. Examples of topics- why you want the job, why you chose this career, your philosophy relating to that profession, how you would go about doing a certain aspect of the job, etc.)

Paragraph 4: Sum it all up. (Conclude, express your interest in an interview, thank them for their time and consideration.)

Five reasons why you don't need a recruiter…..

Many employers, particularly in these days of the well connected internet and Monster, Jobsite, etc; wonder why they need to employ a recruitment company? The answer is - you don't. It's a free market, and you just don't need to - its really your choice. So here are five reasons why employers and candidates don't need to go via a recruitment company

Employers:

1. All the CV's are on the market via the internet - true, that's the theory by about 2012. But even if that were true, only about 1/3 of the target audience who could fit your requirements will actually be on the internet advertising themselves. One third will be happily employed because they are good at what they do (but could leave if the right offer came along - problem is, they work for your competitor); and one third will be looking but not shouting about it from the internet because of the reaction from their presently happy employer

2. Everyone knows about and respects my company - your customers must do: they pay you money. Your employee's are a far more fickle bunch, and if the wage cheque didn't turn up next month, would happily join the third with their CV's on the internet! Also, do you tell your competitors everything about what you are doing? Thought not - so how do you expect to attract people to your wonderful new project that requires new skills?

3. I pay great wages - probably true, particularly if you take note of one or more of the many surveys that are regularly posted by various employment or industry organisations. But, does the size of the wage packet wholly sum up your organisation? And when you pay a better basic and have nicer offices, a better car package and include health care - over your nearest competitor - is that taken into account in those surveys?

4. I know what people fit into my organisation - yes, you wholly do: you and you alone can make that decision - it's the most important decision to be made around your business and its ability to survive. And we all know that beneath that gruff and hard business like exterior you are a really nice person. But - now, rather than selling your business to your customers, you need to sell you and your businesses future to your potential employee's - that a different sell, and a far softer one of getting to know people over a period of time. Where as, you need someone next month who will perform from day1

5. Recruiters charge huge fee's - yes, so always choose one if you must use one who specialises in your sector, is REC registered, and who's fee's are NOT wholly payable before the new employee starts, and are fully refundable if the employee leaves within a reasonable period. Mind you, if you do decide to DIY and make the wrong decision, then chances are you will have trebled the chances of the new employee leaving, and hence incurring total costs equivalent to around three times their basic wage costs.

Here are the same five concerns from the candidates position:

1. I don't want to put my CV on the internet because I don't want to upset my current and very reasonable employer

2. I don't know about that company whose advert I saw in the Sunday Newspapers/on the internet

3. The package looks reasonable, but I need to know if they cover other issues like healthcare - plus I have a holiday coming up

4. I have heard some bad things about them in the past, so not sure I will fit in there. Plus, where are they going at present?

5. Recruiters charge huge fee's and just leave you once their fee's are paid - a REC registered recruiter should negotiate for you, and check you are making the agreed targets. Hence, a reasonable question to ask any recruiter when they approach you is "And if I take the job, how will you get paid?"

Want that job? Don't rely on your lucky but unwashed pants.....

This survey from employment law specialists Peninsula came across my desk this morning - oh, what a laugh!

Of the 3024 workers interviewed, the survey found that......84% of respondents wear what they believe is, something lucky to get them through a job interview with 6 in 10 of these wearing lucky underwear. Additionally 73% of respondents admit to checking their horoscope immediately before an interview believing it will be an indicator of whether they get the job or not.

The top 10 lucky charms candidates take with them to a job interview were.......

Lucky Underwear (sometimes unwashed!)

Lucky Jewellery

Brooch

Lucky shoes (polished, one hopes...)

An object from Childhood, i.e. blanket/teddy

4 leaf clover

Key ring

Lucky stone

Lucky Pen/Pencil

Lucky photograph of someone i.e. boyfriend/relative

So, if you don't want to rely on lucky (but unwashed - Yuck) pants, here are some thoughts on how to get that job......

1. Luck doesn't start with your pants on the day of the interview. Employment starts with reading adverts, which results in (perceived) luck!

2. Pick jobs in which you meet the basic skills requirements, which is more true for Government posts over commercial work. NEVER LIE from this point forward in an application, to your potential future employer or yourself - NOTE: 70% of applicants do: wonder if that's the same 70% wearing unwashed "lucky" pants???

3. Read their website, and make some notes on where the company is going/what it has acheived

4. If there is a telephone number to ask questions before applying - call it! Do some preparation first, and make sure to have three questions which can't be answered by reading the advert or their website alone

5. Now, specifically adjust your CV to bring out the skills you have for that job, ie - pull certain points forward which the job asks for; if it asks for Xyears experience of Y, show you have X+ of Y+

6. Write a cover letter which shows you have those skills. Pull them out specifically as bullet points if necessary (max of three core skills)

7. Two days before your interview, prepare by re-reading the job advert, their website and your CV/Resume. Prepare five questions for them. Check your travel plans and timings - including scheduled road works - and allow an extra 30mins

8. The day before the interview, make sure your clothes are prepared and clean - Ladies: no overt cleavage showing; Gents - clean shirt and tie, and polish those shoes. Re-check those travel plans

9. On the day of the interview - shower thoroughly! Read the advert, your website notes and your CV on the way there

10. After the interview, what ever the result, ask for feedback - it makes you more prepared for the next interview, or know what they like/expect of you in post