10 Rules to Writing Compelling Cover Letters

10 Rules to Writing Compelling Cover Letters Does your resume go better with a cover letter? Some people say no, because nobody reads them. I agree to a point. Not all recruiters read resume cover letters. But I think many recruiters don’t because so many they see are a bit “blah blah blah.” That’s when the resume cover letter says nothing new or exciting, nor does it say anything about why the candidate wants the job. In a sea of such banality, one way to make your resume cover letter stand out, is just to do a good one. You can do more than that, though. Here are 10 rules to help you. Cover Letter Rule # 1 Do your research, part 1. Even if the job is advertised through a recruitment consultant you can still do your research. Call them and connect with them. They will probably not give you their client’s name but they may give you an outline of the challenges of the role as they see them. Your resume cover letter becomes far more engaging if you can tell the recruiter how they’ve inspired you to want to take this opportunity further. Cover Letter Rule # 2 Do your research, part 2. If you know who the company is, then there is no excuse for not looking up the website, doing a thorough google and reading the linked in profile of their company executives. And that’s just as a start. The aim of this research is for you to find some compelling reasons to want to work for that organisation and some ways that you can add value. So many people forget to say this on their cover letters. Cover Letter Rule # 3 You cover letter should clearly show you have read the job advertisement. The way you do this is to pick the key criteria in the advertisement and point out how you meet this in your letter. Also use key words from the advertisement, throughout your resume cover letter. That way it has a better chance of being picked up in screening software. Cover Letter Rule # 4 Try to keep your cover letter to one page and three or four paragraphs. The only real exception to this rule is if you are asked to respond to an “expression of interest.” An expression of interest is a mini government selection criteria where you outline how you meet job criteria. Then your letter may run to two to three pages. Cover Letter Rule # 5 Don’t be boring. Try to keep your own voice. Cover Letter Rule # 6 Keep a logical format. I use “hook,” “book,” and “took.” “hook” :- specific and memorable reasons as to why you want the role “book” :- a coherent argument as to why you should be hired “took” :- what you want to happen as a result of an employer reading your letter Cover Letter Rule # 7 Be personal. If you have someone’s name use it. Ideally a cover letter should start with a title Ms, Mr or Mrs. The exception to this is when informality is invited. A first name is more acceptable in an informal email, perhaps if you already have had a conversation with the contact person. Cover Letter Rule # 8 Type it. This sounds so basic. But I have to say this next bit because I have been asked this question. Yes. An application in writing generally means typed. Cover Letter Rule # 9 Plain white paper please. Pretty pink perfumed pages or something similar are never a good idea. Your letter will be unique, but for the wrong reasons. Cover Letter Rule # 10 OK I’ve crammed a few things here into one rule. A cover letter should not be: a repeat of your resume a standard letter that you send out to everyone hard to read full of spelling and grammar mistakes

6 Of The Best Countries To Work In Construction - CareerMetis.com

6 Of The Best Countries To Work In Construction The construction sector is a very lucrative industry and contrary to popular belief, it has the happiest workforce. That’s thanks to the industry’s focus on fostering strong working relationships amongst colleagues and stakeholders.In addition, the construction sector plays a pivotal role to the growth of a nation’s economy. Think of the industry as the building blocks of either a community, a culture or a business.evalAll the popular cities that brings in tourism, jobs and enterprise would not exist if it weren’t for the construction sector.That’s why the sector is so important to us. If you choose to work in the construction sector, there are plenty of opportunities out there around the world.And if you’re brilliant networker and an extremely talented individual who can bring your expertise and value to any project, then you will be in demand from right across the globe.This article aims to share six countries where you can prosper in the construction sector. The countr ies mentioned in this list are in no particular order. But they should give you a brief insight into each country.1) U.K.evalSource: PexelsDespite what you hear in the news about the UK concerning Brexit and the shaky economy, the UK has a construction industry which has a future. The UK government recently announced plans to create more than 300,000 new homesover the next decade.evalAnd thanks to the introduction of the CSCS card back in 1995, the UK is actually one of the safest construction working environments across the whole of Europe. The sector in the UK is in high demand for staff, whether they are construction labourers, site managers and civil engineers. The UK is definitely suffering from a skills shortage. And because of this, a lot of construction projects that have not started.This is an excellent time for you to join the trade in the UK.2) CanadaPhoto Credit- Pixabay.comIf you’ve ever been to Toronto and visit the surrounding suburbs such as Woodbridge or Brampton, then you will immediately notice that they have a lot of construction projects going on.evalSome economic experts say that Canada is undergoinga housing bubble that is in a risk of bursting. But then again, there are someexperts that would disagree.Canada has many natural resources that have remained untouched and would add to their economy in the near future. And with their recent intake of immigrants, those newly built houses will definitely come into use.It is not hard to deny that Canada is steadily on the rise, and many people are looking emigrate to this country. 3) New Zealand Photo Credit â€" Pixabay.comNew Zealand has been popular destination in attracting foreign talent. And theconstruction sector in this country is growing. And that’s down to two factors. The first factor is that Auckland, one of the major cities in New Zealand, has been a seeing a great deal of growth.And the second factor is that the earthquakes which hit Christchurch in 2010 and 2011 have damaged ma ny homes and commercial buildings. This has generated many significant construction projects, including rebuilding and development of a new infrastructure.With the population increasing thanks to the appeal of a better quality of life New Zealand offers, it definitely worth having a look at what the Kiwi’s have to offer. 4) Australia Photo Credit â€" Pixabay.comNot too far from the previous country mentioned in this post is Australia. Now, Australia has seen a dramatic recovery in the construction sector.According to a report written inBusiness Insider, the estimated value of construction projects entering the pipeline back in July 2017 was $21.7 billion.Australia has seen major civil engineering projects being proposed and successfully approved. In June this year, an $8 billion wind farm was proposed off the south-east coast. In August, a new airport was proposed near Koo Wee Rup The land down under is showing a lot of promise for the construction industry, so do look out for opp ortunities there.5) U.A.E.When we think of United Arab Emirates Photo Credit -Pexel.comThe last country on this list is Malaysia. Like Dubai, there is a famous building that is associated with Malaysia and that is The Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur With Malaysia, their country’s construction sector has gone from strength to strength. A whole host of new construction projects are currently underway.Back in 2015, theMalaysian government announced a 5 year plan. This plans aim to improve the sector in terms of safety and professionalism, environmental sustainability, quality control and productivity. In making improvement in these areas, sector will see an improvement foreign investment and build global business ties.Malaysia’s capital, KL, already gives us a glimpse their hyper-modern architecture and infrastructure. As well as their huge number of grand shopping centres. Just imagine when this vision is implemented throughout the country.Conclusion I am sure there are more count ries that have also have a strong construction sector. But these six countries at this time of writing are the ones to look out for.The important thing to keep in mind when it comes to identifying countries that have a strong or a booming construction sector is to look at the entire economy itself.Since the construction sector represent the building blocks of an economy, things like foreign investment and government initiative helps spur the sector.So keep your pulse on the latest news that is happening across the globe and do your best to build contacts as you never know where you might be in the world.

You Have Two Choices

You Have Two Choices As I see it, if you are unemployed you have two choiceswork or dont work. It may sound overly simple, it may even sound cruel. Take all the emotion, unfairness, the economy sucks and other excuses/reasons out of the equation and thats what you have, right? Why isnt it as simple as this? Not long ago, I received some comments asking for me to provide insight, advice, help for the 99ers (99ers are those people who have been unemployed for 99 weeks or longer and exhausted their unemployment) and for those people who are living on the edge of homelessness. The readers suggested that my advice on networking over coffee and attending professional association meetings/conferences which both require spending money (which these folks dont have) are not realistic.   I agree. Starting Your Job Search Right I primarily address the needs of those new to job search.   My belief is that if I can catch them early and get them on the right trail, it is sort of a form of preventative medicine.   The longer someone is out of work without appropriate treatment, the more severe the disease gets, so to speak. Living Below or Within Your Means I have never been on the edge of losing my home.   I HAVE lived through my husbands 18 months of job search. We had always lived meagerly, but we had to cut back even more.   We canceled our cable. We ate a lot of spaghetti. We played the shell game with our bill paying.   We got depressed.   It was horrible and I NEVER want to go back there. We did learn some valuable lessons and still strive to live within our means and pay off our credit cards (when we seldom use them). We hadnt had a lot of money coming in before this either.   I remember crying over the phone with my sister-in-law as I told her I hadnt bought any new underwear in over 5 years. The few I had left were either torn or the elastic was shot.   No- this isnt the same as almost losing our home, but I remember how helpless and hopeless I felt.   This is my point.   The longer this went on, the more we both spiraled into despair. Coping When you have to worry about basic needs, food and shelter, all our energy goes into figuring out how to survive and there is little energy left for anything else. I have heard that those who live in poverty have adopted coping strategies to help them through this.   For many of the long-term unemployed, this is their first experience, and most may not have developed their coping skills, which makes their situations even more overwhelming. Work or dont work. So, back to the 2 choices. There are jobs out there. Maybe not good ones or the ones you may want or ones that will pay all the bills. Think short-term, survival.   Some money coming in is better than no money coming in. The other option is to create a jobthere are lots of problems that need solving, services that need to be provided.   Think simple.   Think short term. Child care, dog walking, office cleaning, elder care, data entry, lawn care, handy personlook around.   I am suggesting simple, word of mouth advertising. Nothing complicated.   (Shhh, maybe under the table). Finding customers/clients requires hustle, sales, positive attitude. I know, this isnt easy, but it is a solution. (Read Are You in Survival Mode Yet) Barter for services you need such as a babysitter.   Call in a favor. Dont tell me you dont know anyonebecause thats not true.   I think what is closer to the truth is that you dont feel comfortable asking anyone.   Thats different. Dont be embarrassed or afraid to ask for help.   Moving forward, I hope youll see that building relationships is sort of important. So, for all those long-term unemployed, ask yourself this. Are you saying I cant, because.. or I will, because

Do You Staple a Resume? A Few Tips

Do You Staple a Resume? A Few TipsDo you staple a resume? Staple a resume is to tape the paper document in a specific order and put it away. The reason why most people don't staple their resumes, is that they are unsure of what their order should be.Your resume will look very unprofessional if you staple it. If you are not sure of your resume's structure, here are some tips to help you with it. Here is a look at the best way to staple a resume.First, we want to put together the first part of the resume in the right order. Start from the top. If you start your resume on the bottom of the page, you will find that the headings will come off the top and therefore, you won't have any headings. Make sure to make your headings come in the right order so that it looks great.If you have family members that you know well, go ahead and put them in their last name. If you don't have family in your last name, use initials instead. If you are putting together your resume with an employment agency, get their client number and put that in the document. It will help out when the resume is being typed up for printing.After you've created your resume, be sure to check out how much white space you have left in the document. It's a good idea to make sure there is plenty of white space because the main body of the resume will appear on the page. If you have a lot of blank space, it will be hard to fill in the information.One more tip when you're taping your resume is to get into the best grammar and formatting. Don't go for the trendy types of sentence structures. Stick to the plainer type of sentences that have an even rhythm to them.Another tip is to get your resume into the best form so that it can stand the test of time. There is nothing worse than making a job application and it looks like it was hand-crafted by a child. If you ever take a look at an old resume and find it too plain, you may want to give it another try.Your resume is your only chance to let potential employers know that you are interested in the position that you're applying for. It is your first impression of you. Before you apply for any job, you must make sure that you have it neat and professional. That way, the potential employer won't have to worry about being rejected.

Get Your Dream Job With a Chicago Resume Writing Service

Get Your Dream Job With a Chicago Resume Writing ServiceThere are many things to consider when you start thinking about how to get a job in Chicago, the best is to get a Chicago resume writing service. It will save you time and effort when you know that they are right there with you. And the chances of getting hired will go up, just as long as you are really good at what you do.A Chicago resume writing service has the advantage of being able to get your resume written and forwarded to the employers in Chicago who will be the ones who are really looking for a job. They can also have your resume professionally look over and edited before it gets sent out. So what do you need to know about them?First, they know how to meet the specific needs of someone who wants to be hired in Chicago. They are not going to only copy someone else's resume; you can talk to them about what you want them to see on yours. Also, they have the ability to get the job you want if you get what you want, so that' s really important. Besides, you can work with them and get exactly what you want without having to work with another person.Second, the resume they put on your behalf is going to be much better than you ever could by yourself. This is because they know exactly what to write about so that you will look like a professional. You won't have to worry about embarrassing yourself, which you would otherwise have to deal with if you worked alone.Third, you will work with a company that is very experienced in Chicago and knows what the area needs. They have been in the job market for a while now, so they know what people are looking for and how to go about it. They also have some really good contacts in the field, so they will know what the potential employers are looking for.Fourth, when you use a Chicago resume writing service, they will get everything done for you in an efficient manner. They will keep all your important information all together and organized, so it is easier for you to r emember them. They will also throw in some extra details and more of a personal touch, which is very important to someone who wants to get hired in Chicago. So it is important to have a good one.Finally, the resume that you get written by a Chicago resume writing service is going to have an edge over the resumes you would get by yourself. These are all things that will give you an edge when you get hired, so make sure you know what you are getting.

Up in Arms About 2017 Resume Samples?

Up in Arms About 2017 Resume Samples? Hearsay, Deception and 2017 Resume Samples Now you know about the best resume samples, you should begin writing one today so you can further enhance it by the moment you submit it to a potential employer. Studies demonstrate that tailoring your resume for a particular position is considerably more powerful than sending a generic application. Most receive on-the-job training, which normally lasts a couple of days to a month or two. Education ought to be included too, because most customer service representatives typically require a high school diploma. Facts, Fiction and 2017 Resume Samples Not only are you going to look bad, but it will haunt you down the line with other future possible employers. Highly relevant knowledge in a field is the very first thing employers search for. You can begin making a list of all of the responsibilities you had. Just make sure, whichever format you pick, which you're targeting it for the job that you'r e applying to. Hiring managers are busy people and you've got a limited time to pull their focus to your candidacy. Your resume needs to address an issue for employers (which is the reason why they're hiring). Employers know you're searching for work, and therefore you don't need to waste valuable space on your resume stating the obvious. They know your objective is to get the job. Moreover, you must see that it's concise and neatly done so they do not become bored reading your resume. You're able to create new sections, add in unusual info, or think of creative strategies to present your qualifications. When you've reviewed resumes in your field, peruse resumes across fields to learn how to vary the usage of action verbs and receive a feel for what makes a potent accomplishment statement. Instead, you've got two options. Ruthless Resume Samples Strategies Exploited If a hiring manager is simply likely to skim your resume for a couple of seconds, you will need to ensure e ach word conveys valuable details. The very first thing you ought to do is make sure a prospective employer knows whose resume they're taking a look at! Before you commence writing your resume 2017, you should make certain that all the resume section you want to include are formatted proper way and will be simple to read by a hiring manager. It is crucial to know just which skills the employer is searching for so you know what things to concentrate on when tailoring your resume. The Lost Secret of 2017 Resume Samples You are able to find sample resumes on the internet in the occasion that you are prepared to obtain a simple method to prepare your own resume. It's improbable that you would ever will need to use your elementary vocabulary to earn a significant contribution at the job. You ought to understand that.

Old School Job Search Tactics That Make You Stand Out - Work It Daily

Old School Job Search Tactics That Make You Stand Out - Work It Daily Congratulations! You’re officially a graduate. While you may be inexperienced in the corporate world, you’re fresh with life experiences, an unbreakable spirit, and an unwavering determination to make a difference. You’re still on a high from receiving that diploma, but your excitement is starting to wane - you can navigate the job boards with the best of them, but you’re still having trouble compiling a resume that reflects the schooling you just finished and the somewhat limited professional experience you may have. Related: 7 Tips For Finding A Job After College Well, have no fear. You’re not alone and there’s hope for you yet. Says who? Says us. When it comes to finding your footing in the working world, the best place to look for help may be right under your nose â€" and no, we’re not talking about your iPhone. We’re talking about your parents, your grandparents, or your older sibling(s). Look to those who have come before you and have managed to make their way down the path you want to take. Think about it: generations of workers have all found jobs without the help of LinkedIn and Indeed. In this day and age, we are so connected and tend to use that virtual, social connection as a crutch. But the working world doesn’t always work that way. There are tried and true benefits to the old school way of doing business, and they don't involve “liking” or “friending” someone to get a job. The great news is, in the year 2014, there are benefits from both paths â€" leaning on the new and learning from the old. So, how do you navigate the balance? Here are some job strategy tips from generations past: The Benefits Of Face-To-Face Interviews When interviewing for new hires, companies look for two main things: technical fit and cultural fit. It’s not enough to have a degree or experience in XYZ, you also need to be able to have a conversation and get along with your future colleagues. People make first impressions within seven seconds of meeting someone so you want to ensure that yours is a positive one. When you go on an interview, prove that you’re more than just your resume â€" you can work in teams, you have a sense of humor (that is, if you do) and you can polish up well. Someone may look really good on paper, but may be denied a second interview based on their lack of social skills, cultural fit, or professionalism. Say ‘Thank You’ In A Written Note There’s no better feeling than receiving a genuine ‘thank you’ note. To feel recognized, and to know that someone put in extra time to let you know that they’re thankful is priceless. In the working world, it’s just the same. If you go on an interview, send a written ‘thank you’ afterward. If a family friend meets you for lunch to talk about his career and regale you with stories about his industry, let him know how much you appreciated it. These days, it’s so easy to send a quick email or text. Going out of your way to send a written note can really make an impression. Networking: Get Out And Mingle As they say in the biz, it’s all about who you know. Our company gets a multitude of referrals on a monthly basis and roughly 75% are people we end up hiring. So, let the people in your life know that you’re job hunting. Tell them what industries and specialties you’re interested in. Maybe they know a guy, or they work with a guy who knows a guy. If you put the conversation out there, people are going to listen and be receptive. Everyone’s been there at one time or another and most people want to pay it forward and help when/if they can. Surround yourself with people who are already doing what you want to be doing. Take advantage of opportunities to network in your city. Join a meet-up group, start volunteering, and find out where the young professionals hang out. And if you’re worried about small talk â€" check out these 18 easy conversation starters for networking events. You’re not going to get that face-to-face time and charm the right people while hiding behind job boards. Turn To The Job Market Experts Though you may not have used one before, high quality recruiters are the best people to go to for local job, industry and growth information. They have their pulse on the job market and know who is hiring and what they’re looking for at any moment. They can help you navigate your job search and even better, help you reach your end goal â€" a job. If you’re interested in learning more job strategy tips from some of our top-notch recruiters, visit one of our Adecco branches on April 30th for our Street Day careerathon. We’ll be hosting open houses all across the country and offering tips on everything from creating a solid resume to acing an interview. Check out our Way to Work site to find the Street Day event closest to you. Related Posts Top 10 Job Search Trends Of 2014 3 Ways To Avoid A Minimum Wage Job After College 11 Job Search Commandments For College Grads   Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!