Archive for August, 2012
Insights to an Effective Cover Letter
Aug 31st
The debate of whether or not cover letters are relevant has been a topic of discussion for years. Can you go without or are they necessary? A recent study by Zip Recruiter indicates that 50% of hiring managers require a cover letter, and that of those, two thirds of them reject an applicant because of something included in the cover letter.
Best practice is to have a solid cover letter. That being said, what makes for an acceptable cover letter? What is the purpose of a cover letter? What should you include and exclude? These are all valid questions that have been answered differently.
Here are 3 myths recently covered by AOL about cover letters that you should be aware of for future cover letters.
- Keep it short.
- Use formal language.
- Explain what experience you have that proves you can do the job.
Hiring managers don’t believe all they read on a resume anymore. According to a study by Hire Right, 80% are all resume are misleading. A longer resume is a great way to show your personality on paper. Also, you should write your cover letter in the same language that you speak in to avoid coming across too formal. Your cover letter should be customized to the company and position you are applying to and explain how you understand the importance of the role to the company. This shows you have an understanding of what the company does and how you’d be a perfect fit.
You should focus on high points from your resume, but keep them brief. When writing about your understanding of the company, tie it in to your experiences and skills through an example. If you remember to stick to the facts and make it about them you’ll be on the right path to writing an effective cover letter.
| Print article | This entry was posted by pyramid-admin on August 31, 2012 at 9:29 am, and is filed under Chronicles For Candidates. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
Weekly Inspiration
Aug 29th
| Print article | This entry was posted by pyramid-admin on August 29, 2012 at 12:34 pm, and is filed under Inspiration. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
Not Hearing Back For Interviews?
Aug 27th
Are you submitting your resume for countless positions only to receive few or no call backs? Are you having trouble moving past the preliminary interviews? If you are answering yes to either of these questions you need to sit back and re-evaluate your resume. You must ask yourself if you are you applying for jobs that you’re qualified for to find the root of the problem. If you answer yes, then are you customizing your resume each time you apply for jobs?
50 percent of people applying for a given job simply aren’t qualified. Most companies use talent-management software to screen resumes, weeding out up to 50 percent of applicants before a human even looks at a resume or cover letter providing another obstacle a resume must overcome.
Here are 5 reasons you’re not hearing back after applying for a job.
- You really aren’t qualified.
- You haven’t keyword-optimized your resume or application.
- Your resume isn’t formatted properly.
- Your resume is substantially different from your online profile.
- The company received 500 resumes for one job posting, and yours was 499th in.
Click here for 5 suggestions for ways to counter these reasons.
So how do you rise up against these challenges and stand out? First, follow the above the above suggestions. Next, be sure you are networking and reach out to people you know at a company. Personal referrals go a long way. You should always research and follow companies of interest through social media. This way you can learn about the most recent job openings and even sometimes learn when they are filled. Lastly, asking others to review your resume can prove to be a huge help. You never know what feedback you may receive that you might have overlooked.
| Print article | This entry was posted by pyramid-admin on August 27, 2012 at 9:47 am, and is filed under Right Your Resume. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
The Importance of an Honest Resume
Aug 24th
Your resume is a reflection of who you are and what you write on your resume matters. You want to be sure to highlight your qualifications, accomplishments, education and professional effectively without losing yourself or over exaggerating.
80% of all resumes are misleading. This is an alarmingly high rate and can only hurt you if you’re caught in an unnecessary embellishment. In addition to embarrassment you should keep your resume honest for the sake of background employment checks. More and more companies issue background checks as part of their hiring process. Inaccuracies caught by a background check company can cost you your potential new job. It is a reflection of your character.
Here are some guidelines to follow when writing your resume.
- List your exact title under professional experience.
- When it doubt, do not guess.
- Do not cover up your employment gap.
- Be honest about your accomplishments.
- Revise your resume until you feel comfortable that all the information included is truthful and will not raise any red flags.
If you make it past these steps and begin a job a dishonest resume can still come back to haunt you, especially with regards to technical or specialized skills. Simply having experience with a software program doesn’t mean your proficient in it, and claiming to be so could cause employers to have different expectations of your skills.
Just remember to have confidence in the resume you have and be honest and truthful.
| Print article | This entry was posted by pyramid-admin on August 24, 2012 at 11:23 am, and is filed under Right Your Resume. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
Weekly Inspiration
Aug 23rd
| Print article | This entry was posted by pyramid-admin on August 23, 2012 at 10:01 am, and is filed under Inspiration. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
Key Characteristics to Depict for Getting Hired
Aug 20th
When you secure an interview the employer generally sees potential in you; whether it’s because of a skill set you hold, your educational background or prior work experiences. You still have to prove you are the best candidate for the position when you interview with hiring managers though. They are looking for someone who also fits with the corporate culture of the company.
There are 4 general characteristic traits that stand out to hiring managers.
- Hard Work Ethic
- Playing Well With Others
- Showing Initiative
- Strong Communication Skills
It is important to show you are willing to make sacrifices to complete a job/task. Tell about a time you made a personal sacrifice for work. Employers want a team player and someone they can count on when they are up against a pressing deadline. They want someone who can work well with others and communicate effectively. Providing the hiring manager with a time when you and a team worked together on a successful project is always a great way to show your teamwork skills.
The best way to show initiative is to research the company prior to your interview. Don’t just stop there – research the hiring managers that you will be meeting. If you can find commonality between you and the interviewer you will have a leg up against other potential candidates. This ties back in with fitting with the culture and having great communication skills. At the end of the day, if you have excellent technical skills, but poor communication skills you are at risk of losing the job to a candidate which has both skill sets.
If you are positive, energetic and follow up without being asked to then you are setting yourself up to rise above the competition. For examples of how you can be resourceful, click here.
Remember – always stay alert, responsive and proactive.
| Print article | This entry was posted by pyramid-admin on August 20, 2012 at 10:38 am, and is filed under Interview With The Interviewer. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
Networking: Online and Local Events
Aug 17th
U.S. unemployment and underemployment statistics are still a major issue effecting job seekers in our economy. Fortunately with the rise of social media as a job searching tool in recent years, sites such as Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter make the job hunt more accessible.
Make a list of target companies that offer roles on your projected career path. Follow them on Twitter and LinkedIn, and “like” their Facebook pages. This is a great way to stay up to date on the latest highlights, job openings and fillings. You should also check to see if you are connected to current employees at a company of interest. You may surprise yourself and discover you have a strong 3rd party connection somewhere.
It may also prove beneficial to reach out to individuals on already on your desired career path – perhaps friends of friends, college alumni, etc. Ask questions about how they arrived where they are now and advice you can follow to get there. You can also ask if they can refer you to another professional, but do not be straightforward and ask for a job on the spot. Remember, social networking is here to provide you some extra ease for connecting with business professionals and finding you a career – use it wisely.
Don’t rule out attending events in your area because you have an online presence. One on one interaction is always an added plus when networking. You have the ability to leave someone with a more memorable impression of you.
Here are some great rules when networking at an event:
- Try to avoid idle chatter. Sincere interest in the other person is the objective.
- If you want a successful event, talk your server staff, the event manager, the valet, not just the attendees.
- Try to speak positively—whether about other people, the event you’re at, or even the conversations you’re in.
- If the conversation has run its course, graciously exit. Then be the first with a follow-up email, a thank-you note, or an appreciative call.
For more rules to follow when networking, click here.
| Print article | This entry was posted by pyramid-admin on August 17, 2012 at 11:45 am, and is filed under Networking, Social Media. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
Weekly Inspiration: Choices
Aug 15th
| Print article | This entry was posted by pyramid-admin on August 15, 2012 at 1:29 pm, and is filed under Inspiration. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
Are You Taking Chances to Find Your Dream Career?
Aug 13th
Many of us are searching for our dream career and some of us aren’t sure what that is yet. If you haven’t found it you should continue working while you discover what this job is for you. The best way to go about this search is to work various jobs to find out what you enjoy and best suits your skills. A great suggestion from Careerealism.com is to make a list of your five favorite jobs, and alongside each one, list its attributes and benefits. There should be patterns that you can draw from to move forward in your search.
You want to be careful your resume doesn’t look too job hoppy though. You should be genuinely interested in jobs you take on your search for your career and give them a good amount of time before dismissing it as not a good fit for you. If this tends to be a problem you experience then a career coach might be a reasonable option to consider. A coach can help you look for a new direction within a career and help you work through those boring aspects of a job.
Fear is a huge factor that intimidates us from going after of dream career. Fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of networking – these are all valid fears that can limit of growth. You shouldn’t let fear rule you. Do not allow fear of the unknown prevent you from going for what you truly want in life. In the end you will only come out stronger, regardless of the outcome. The more you overcome your fears the easier it will become.
| Print article | This entry was posted by pyramid-admin on August 13, 2012 at 10:37 am, and is filed under Job Search. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
Tips for Securing Your Next Job
Aug 10th
It is no surprise that even the best candidates can get lost in the shuffle of incoming applicants. Aside from being qualified you need to STAND OUT amongst the competition. You might be reading this and wondering how you can make a lasting impression.
Below are some techniques to stand out to an employer.
- Show – Don’t Just Tell
- Leverage Your References
- Consider a Video Resume
- Know Things About the Company
Applications that embody the nature of the work prove to be very impressive to the hiring manager. The best way to impress an employer is to actually do the job, and do it well. Rather than employers asking you to do the job, be proactive and show them ahead of time what you are capable of accomplishing for them. Providing references is fairly common on an application nowadays. You can take this piece a step further by asking your references to contact the employer. Video resumes are an excellent way to show who you are and stand out of the crowd. Just consider the company and position you are applying to before sending this resume format as it may not be compatible with the company’s culture.
Other techniques for landing your next job are:
- Invest Time Up Front in Finding Your Focus.
- Know Your Values
- Manage Your Time Well
- Invest in Activities with the Greatest Return on Investment (ROI)
- Assess What is Working and What is Not
Most importantly, be genuine in your interview. Study up on the company and show you are truly interested in them. This is a standard job searching routine that can go a long way!
| Print article | This entry was posted by pyramid-admin on August 10, 2012 at 2:02 pm, and is filed under Job Search. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
