I can not count the number of articles, and advice columns I have read about customizing your cover letter. They typically say the same thing: do your research and find a way to match your skills and abilities to the job and environment.
This is easier said than done, but it is sound advice. Here is an example of this type of advice article. It is written for a college student audience, but the tips are relevant for us all.
I know that this is very valuable advice, and yet most of my cover letters are just picking out things from my resume and past work history that match something from the job ad. This is a good first step, and has landed me plenty of interviews, but do these really WOW the hiring manager or committee?
Do any of you have letters that you are proud of? Or that you know were not the right fit?
28 February, 2012
23 February, 2012
What to do about lenghty gaps in unemployment during a job search?
Have you been searching for a job for a long (one year or more) time? Do you think this work gap is causing you to miss out on job opportunities? Here is an article form the New York Times with some suggestions. Most of the advice seems to be written for professionals, but I think it can be applied to all types of employees. This article from CareeRealism has a very similar list to the first, but is slightly less focused on professional careers.
Use the time to improve your skills or acquire new skills. This will keep you current in your field, so that during your next interview you can talk about the latest trends or things you have learned that will help the interviewer and her company.
Continue to develop your network, most career experts still maintain that 70 - 80% of jobs are acquired buy knowing the right people. Using sites like LinkedIn and Facebook to maintain your connections with people you know in your field will help you learn about new opportunities.
Personally I have been looking for a new job now for almost three years. The first year and a half I maintained my job, but knowing the contract would not be renewed due to the economy I began looking that far in advance. The past year and a half I have been unemployed. I have been volunteering to help maintain some connection to my field. I have begun to research jobs that are outside of traditional librarianship (my field) but use the skills I have mastered during my ten years in the profession. I have been reading to keep up with my field, but for me I think that this blog has been the best connection.
How have some of you managed lengthy periods of unemployment?
Use the time to improve your skills or acquire new skills. This will keep you current in your field, so that during your next interview you can talk about the latest trends or things you have learned that will help the interviewer and her company.
Continue to develop your network, most career experts still maintain that 70 - 80% of jobs are acquired buy knowing the right people. Using sites like LinkedIn and Facebook to maintain your connections with people you know in your field will help you learn about new opportunities.
Personally I have been looking for a new job now for almost three years. The first year and a half I maintained my job, but knowing the contract would not be renewed due to the economy I began looking that far in advance. The past year and a half I have been unemployed. I have been volunteering to help maintain some connection to my field. I have begun to research jobs that are outside of traditional librarianship (my field) but use the skills I have mastered during my ten years in the profession. I have been reading to keep up with my field, but for me I think that this blog has been the best connection.
How have some of you managed lengthy periods of unemployment?
21 February, 2012
Simplifying Social Media and the job search.
In part one on using Social Media I detailed a study on the use of these tools by HR staff at companies to learn about perspective employees. In part two I referenced two books I have been reviewing about how to use various social median tools more effectively. I have just seen a blog post over on SocialMedia Examiner about tips to simplifying the use of your social media tools. I knew about several of the tools/tips they were describing, but some were new to me. Reviewing these tips may help some of you in your use of social media tools for your job search.
Have you used any of these or other tools for organizing your social media presence for the job search?
Have you used any of these or other tools for organizing your social media presence for the job search?
13 February, 2012
Social Media & jobs (part 2)
LinkedIn just hit 150 million users. Yet another reason to use it for job searching and more importantly networking. But in case you are still skeptical, I am reading through a few books that might interest some of you:
Schepp, Bard & Debra. How to find a job on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and other Social Networks. McGraw-Hill. New York. 2010.
Crompton, Diane & Ellen Sautter. Find a Job Through Social Networking: Use LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Blogs and More to Advance Your Career. Jist Works. Indianapolis. 2011.
As I say, I am still reviewing these, but my initial assessment is that the first does a good job of walking through the process of setting up accounts on LinkedIn and other social media tools, the second book covers a wider variety of tools. This creates a larger breadth but of course the side effect is less depth on each tool.
Do any of you have a favorite social media tool? How are you highlighting your skills?
Schepp, Bard & Debra. How to find a job on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and other Social Networks. McGraw-Hill. New York. 2010.
Crompton, Diane & Ellen Sautter. Find a Job Through Social Networking: Use LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Blogs and More to Advance Your Career. Jist Works. Indianapolis. 2011.
As I say, I am still reviewing these, but my initial assessment is that the first does a good job of walking through the process of setting up accounts on LinkedIn and other social media tools, the second book covers a wider variety of tools. This creates a larger breadth but of course the side effect is less depth on each tool.
Do any of you have a favorite social media tool? How are you highlighting your skills?
09 February, 2012
Career Wisdom in just 6 words...
I have just seen this piece about on a new book(Six Words About Work) about career wisdom. I have not yet seen the book, but when I learn more I'll let everyone know.
07 February, 2012
The Elevator Pitch!
I found this tool for helping craft an elevator pitch. It comes from the Harvard Business School, and once you have entered your pitch it analyzes it for you. Basically you are asked to enter your pitch in four sections; who, what, why, and goal. The system them gives you a word count, time estimate, and number of repeated words. There are tips and suggestions of strong words along the way. It is an interesting site, but if you don't have a cohesive pitch in mind going in I am not sure it helps craft or build a pitch.
Other than general advice to keep your pitch short and engaging, and to avoid jargon specific to your field... I have found little consensus about how best to craft an elevator pitch. What do others think? Do you have a strong pitch that you would be willing to share?
Other than general advice to keep your pitch short and engaging, and to avoid jargon specific to your field... I have found little consensus about how best to craft an elevator pitch. What do others think? Do you have a strong pitch that you would be willing to share?
06 February, 2012
College Majors & Employement
I just saw this today.... interesting graphic of the 15 highest and lowest college majors by unemployment. The web site in general seems to have some interesting reading about training, employment and career information.
01 February, 2012
Cover Letter advice
I just read an interesting perspective about cover letters written by Adam Dachis at lifehacker. I think that this piece illustrates the point I have made in past posts (company research and business news) about performing research about the company you are applying to. Keep this advice in mind as you conduct your research and how you can use the information you are finding in both a cover letter and an interview situation.
To be honest most of my cover letters over the past year and a half have been closer to the generic style Mr. Dachis describes. I always write custom cover letters for each position, and try to incorporate some facet of the employers mission or vision I have learned in my research. Perhaps that is why I have gotten interview offers from around 50% of my applications... but if I was being less formulaic would I have gotten an even better return on my investment?
Have any of you used unique cover letters to either success or failure?
To be honest most of my cover letters over the past year and a half have been closer to the generic style Mr. Dachis describes. I always write custom cover letters for each position, and try to incorporate some facet of the employers mission or vision I have learned in my research. Perhaps that is why I have gotten interview offers from around 50% of my applications... but if I was being less formulaic would I have gotten an even better return on my investment?
Have any of you used unique cover letters to either success or failure?
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