How to Write the Perfect Cover Letter

How to Write the Perfect Cover Letter Your cover letter is often the very first contact you will have with a recruiter or employer, so it needs  to make a great impression.  A poorly-worded and sloppy introduction will make you look unprofessional, and could even mean that  your CV doesn’t actually get opened.  However, a professional and persuasive cover letter will greatly increase your chances of getting  shortlisted for roles.  In order to ensure that you make it over this first hurdle of the job application process; CV writing  service StandOut CV has put together an  infographic  showcasing  a winning cover note. Endeavour to send via email When possible, you should always send your cover letter via email to give yourself maximum control  over the look and feel of the message.  When you send a cover letter through a job website messaging system, the resulting message will be  converted into a plain text email that won’t look very professional.  So always attempt to seek out the recruiter’s email address and send them a direct email. If you  cannot find their details on the job advert, try searching on LinkedIn or the company website.  To make access easy for the reader, write your cover letter in the body of the email as opposed to  attaching as a separate document.  Be mindful of how you name the file of your CV as it will be clearly displayed when the email is  opened. Make your subject line stand out The best way to ensure that your emails are opened, is with an eye-catching subject line. If your subject line is boring or irrelevant to the role, then it may go unnoticed by recruiters.  Recruiters want to see highly suitable candidates when they look into their inboxes; so give that to  them in your subject line.  Outline your most relevant experience in your subject line, in order show that your email is worth  reading. Address the recruiter personally Building relationships with recruiters is crucial when job hunting, so start building connections early  by addressing recruiters by name in your cover letters.  If you are able to build a rapport with recruiters, then they are much more likely to put faith in you  as a candidate and recommend your CV to hiring managers.  If the recruiter name is not clear from the advert, then some digging around on LinkedIn or the  company website can often reveal it.  At the very least you should open with a friendly greeting such as “Hi, hope you’re well” Balance professionalism with personality Cover letters should obviously be well written with perfect grammar, but that doesn’t mean that you  can’t inject some personality.  Being overly formal in the modern job search landscape can actually be a huge turn off for some  employers.  The phrase “people buy people” holds very true in recruitment so write in a friendly tone to show  that your business-social skills are up to scratch.  The writing style of your cover letter should demonstrate your professionalism, but also your ability  to connect with people on a personal level. Keep your cover letter brief The days of cover letters taking up a whole page of A4 are thankfully over. Unless an employer  specifically requests otherwise, you should always keep your cover letter short and sharp.  Some recruiters will receive hundreds of applications per week, so there is no point in trying to make  them read a lengthy cover letter â€" they just don’t have the time.  Keep your cover letter to around 2-4 sentence to ensure that you get your point across quickly  without boring readers.  Breaking the text up into short simple lines, will ensure ease of reading and make the information  quickly digestible. Focus on the value you can add In order to persuade recruiters to consider your CV, you simply have to indicate that the experience  contained within it, is suitable enough to perform the role you are applying for.  A very high level summary of your experience that doesn’t go into too much detail should be enough  to tempt recruiters in.  In particular you should determine the most essential requirements from the job advert and make  sure that your cover letter reflects those abilities.  At this early stage, you should avoid mentioning demands such a salary and holidays to avoid  appearing pushy. You can always discuss these points during your initial telephone conversation with  the recruiter. Add a professional signature Always end your cover note with a friendly salutation such as “kind regards” and a well formatted  professional signature that includes your mobile number.  This will add to the professional appearance of your cover letter and show that you are well versed  in business-email etiquette.  It also means that the recruiter will have a direct method of contacting you, even if they cannot  open your CV for any reason. Image: Shutterstock

An Unconventional CV Template Giveaway - Avant-Garde

An Unconventional CV Template Giveaway - Avant-Garde An Unconventional CV Template Giveaway Avant-Garde If your CV isn’t getting the response you expect, it may be time for an overhaul. Too many people believe that the only acceptable resumes are boring black on white backgrounds. This couldn’t be further from the truth. It is absolutely acceptable to use color, fonts, and other design elements to make your application stand out. In fact, it’s practically a necessity in the modern competitive world!   Are you a creative professional? If so, your CV should reflect that. We have created the Avant garde CV template just for you. It’s based on fairly traditional formatting. This makes it ideal for business or academic purposes as well. However, it also incorporates bold use of color and geometric design giving it a modern look and a unique flair. The result is a CV that is undeniably eye-catching.So why hire an expensive design service or spend hours creating your own template? This one is available to you for free. File size: 26 KB Format: .doc Downloaded 6,877 times License: Free, personal use only. Please read the license terms for resources. Download previous article How not to Craft a Cringe-Worthy Resume! next article 10 Brilliant Passive Income Ideas for a Financial Freedom you might also likeThe Freelancers Resume Creative Resume Template for Independent Workers

MyPillow Mattress Topper Review - Is It Worth It

MyPillow Mattress Topper Review - Is It Worth It My Pillow is well-known for its infomercials and cheerful TV advertising, and with its success with its original pillow product, it has expanded its offering into other bedding products mainly the famous mattress topper. This product has been widely discussed by many famous sleeping blogs such as Bedding Pal which claims that MyPillow mattress topper is one of the premium mattress toppers in the market. In this article, we will go through if this mattress topper lives up to the claims made. The My Pillow mattress top is designed not to be too hot or too cold and have a medium-firm feel so that it doesnt contour too much underneath sleepers. But does it ‘turn every bed into the most comfortable bed youll ever own’, as My Pillows founder puts it? We arent so sure. The MyPillow Mattress Topper Claims Mattress toppers are often needed by those who feel their mattress surface is too soft or too hard. They can help extend the life of their mattress as well, serving as both protection and additional support. This particular product comes in a wide variety of sizes to fit any bed, is made with a quality foam layered design, and helps more evenly distribute body weight. The MyPillow comes with a simple design, it does not have any bells and whistles but depends upon the material used and quality of the design to provide the comfort where needed. It also is supposed to help with heat regulation without the use of wires or tubes. My Pillow Mattress Topper Details My Pillows Topper has two layers of foam, they are neither too cool or too warm. Overall, customers describe it as keeping cool and not retaining much heat. However, there are some complaints about the firmness level. Some reviewers mentioned about receiving very firm toppers and some describe theirs as very soft, quickly sagging toppers. Due to this, there may be some quality control issues and lack of standardization at times. Customers can get lucky, but others can receive uncomfortable products. 3 Inch, 3 Layer Comfort Design The three-inch topper is made from a patented 3 layer design that incorporates two different types of foam as well as a temperature regulating cover. The top foam layer is thin, dense foam designed to evenly distribute body weight and specifically helps relieve pressure point. The bottom foam layer is a solid support foam that provides gentle contouring and distribution of weight from the top layer. This is designed to help you get the rest you need for your overall health. Zippered, Phase Change Temperature Regulating Cover Material The zippered, phase change temperature regulating cover is an integral part of the 3 layer design. This material is designed to help pull heat from your body to dissipate it away, as well as allow for excellent airflow- providing breathability and an additional cooling effect. Furthermore, it has a nice, hidden zipper to provide removal for easy laundering. The material is considered machine washable and dryable- although with any temperature phase materials it is best to tumble dry on low or allow to hang dry. 4 Corner Straps Rather than create a casing with a no-skid plasticized bottom that can interrupt airflow, or simply expecting you to use your bedding to keep the topper in place, this product has 4 corner straps that fits tightly beneath your mattress to keep the pad from moving. These straps are sewn securely to the sides of each cover to avoid being stretched out or pulling free- especially when used with an adjustable bed. Multiple Sizes The company offers a wide variety of sizes to fit almost any bed you may have a need to use a topper with. Currently, the topper is offered in the following sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, RV Queen, King, and California King. Easy to Transport Like most toppers, this one comes vacuum sealed and rolled â€" upon which it expands when released. Getting it rolled as tight as it came is pretty much an impossibility, but due to the simple design- it is made to easily fold to move out to a camper, or placed in a trunk to take when travelling if sleeping comfort is a concern elsewhere. Many toppers have added details that make them hard to fold or roll, but this one is made to be portable is needed. Prices In terms of price, MyPillow is known to provide variable, ever-changing prices on their products due to sales and special offers. In relation to similar products, their cost falls within an acceptable range for the quality of what is being offered- but customers should closely watch the sales and specials to get the best deal possible. Conclusion A mattress topper can be an excellent comfort solution for a wide variety of needs. Whether you need more support for your body shape and size, are looking to relieve pressure and joint pain, or need to renew your mattress surface, the MyPillow Mattress Topper is well worth considering. Made with quality foam and a 3 layered design that includes a cooling, easily washable cover, weight distribution and comfort is considered superb by many consumers who use it on a daily basis.

Announcing the 2010 Personal Brand Award Winners - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Announcing the 2010 Personal Brand Award Winners - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Each year, Millennial Branding rewards some of the standout brands by recognizing them with Personal Brand Awards. Last year, Gary Vaynerchuk was the standout brand of the year, receiving the coveted gold award. In 2008, Jeremiah Owyang received the gold award, and in 2007, Rohit Bhargava received the first one. A panel of judges were chosen this year and people were graded based on a few factors, such as value proposition, differentiation, and marketability. Its important that all contenders have a lot of media attention, a strong web presence (including social network profiles), and a unique value proposition. Below is a celebration for all the winners and they will be recognized in the February 2011 issue of Personal Branding Magazine. The judges This years Personal Brand Awards was judged by some of my core blogging team, both past and present. The judges include Nance Rosen, Pete Kistler, Kyle Lacy, Jacob Share, Chad Levitt, Emily Bennington, Heather Huhman, Roger Parker, David Trahan, and Maria Elena Duron. I was the head judge this year in order to break any ties in the voting. Gold Award: Personal Brand of the Year Tony Robbins is the worlds leading self-help guru, with a massive personal branding platform. His company name is his own name, and hes been involved with all types of media, ranging from his TV show (earlier this year), to his social media presence, to his bestselling books. He has 1.8 million followers on Twitter, and over 175,000 fans on Facebook, that he interacts with every day. He shares quotes, advice, and inspiration to his many fans. As a master brand builder, Robbins has aligned himself with mega celebrity brands including Bill Clinton, Quincy Jones, and Pamela Anderson. Aside from his many TV appearances, including Larry King Live!, Robbins has been in several blockbuster movies, including Shallow Hal. We are proud to award this years gold award to Mr. Tony Robbins! Silver Awards Dr. Oz, whose real name is Mehmet Cengiz Oz, is an American cardiothoracic surgeon, author, and host and commentator for the syndicated daily television program focusing on medical issues/personal health, The Dr. Oz Show. Recently, hes been able to take his reoccurring presence on the Oprah Winfrey Show and start his own show, continuing is personal branding domination on TV. Aside from TV, his platform includes his columns in O Magazine and Esquire, and his multiple New York Times bestselling books. Dr. Oz has twice the amount of Facebook fans (880,000) than Twitter followers (440,00). Tory Johnson is an entrepreneur, author, contributor to Good Morning America, and a leader in the conversion of technology and career management. She has inspired women across the world, helping them get jobs, and teaching them how to be more successful in the workplace. She has published five books, including her mega bestseller Will Work From Home. Torys branding platform ranges from her appearances on GMA, to ABC News NOW, to her articles on ABCNews.com, and throughout the rest of her web presence. She is both very engaging on Facebook, and Twitter, and teaches her audience how to use the tools for career success. Bronze Awards Keith Ferrazzi is the king of networking and relationship building. He has crafted a remarkable story, from graduating Yale to becoming the CMO of both Deloitte Consulting and the Starwood Hotels Resorts, and then a #1 New York Times bestselling author. Out of all his press and contributions to the networking space, his book, Never Eat Alone, has become a business book classic on the shelves of bookstores worldwide. With Ferrazzis second book, Whose Got Your Back, he has helped individuals understand that to be successful today, you have to surround yourself with the right people that can support you. His platform consists of his brand new Relationship Masters Academy, his social network following, his popular blog, his appearances on major TV shows, including Larry King Live! and Dr. Oz. Guy Kawasaki is one of the most well-known independent voices in the technology space. After being one of the of the original product marketers for Apple, he became a venture capitalist, founder of Alltop.com, and is still a world-class blogger. Guy is the author of many books, including his latest book called Enchantment, which is due out in 2011. Guy has built a tremendous social networking presence, with almost 300,000 followers on Twitter. Although sometimes criticized for his use of social networks, he has maintained a directly one-on-one connection to his followers, and a promise to help others succeed, which has made him successful. Jessica Lee is a Senior Employment Manager for APCO Worldwide, a global PR firm headquartered in D.C. Like most upscale HR pros, she spends half of her time on recruiting, the other half on ER, Training and OD. Jessica has become one of the primary thought leaders in the HR field, and a voice to be reckoned with. Shes also the editor for one of the leading, and most respected, HR blogs Fistful of Talent. she is also very active on social networking sites, such as Twitter, and speaks at many HR conferences. She also has her own blog.

Finding the Best Way to Write a Resume Employment History

Finding the Best Way to Write a Resume Employment HistoryThe basic idea of writing a resume employment history is to set the record straight about your background and, with it, your present working circumstances. The good news is that this should be a short document.Writing a resume employment history is essential for a variety of reasons, including the fact that this provides the potential employer with a first and best overview of the candidate's abilities. As a side-note, this writing will provide the prospective employer with a clear overview of your entire employment background. Not only that, but your current working conditions will likely be included.No matter how long you have been employed at a specific period in time, you can still make the most of this writing by doing so with each and every detail that you can recall. This helps to ensure that you do not leave out any information and that your employer will have the benefit of a complete and accurate overview of the past years of your employment.When preparing a resume employment history, you may have some sort of introduction about the employee's past employment. This typically describes the character of the person in question. A more comprehensive introduction about the applicant's past employment can be included in the professional section, detailing specific employment experiences and details.Another way that you can use the available space of a resume employment history to describe a time in your life when you have most definitely made use of some or all of the business opportunities that have presented themselves to you. It is helpful to indicate these events in an appropriate manner, noting that this was not an easy road for you, but that you were able to get out of it with a reasonable amount of effort.Generally speaking, writing a resume employment history is more apt to produce a positive response from your potential employer if you talk about the most important things in your life. Any ev ent in your life that was especially good, regardless of whether it was good at that moment in time or not, will add to the overall impression that the potential employer gets about you.Your specific employment background also needs to be noted in the resume. Since this section will detail your employment situation, you will need to consider it the first part of the document, as it is the most important and the one that should be the most emphasized.Remember that any major difference in your resume writing a resume employment history would be insignificant, since the important thing is to ensure that all of the details about your past employment are contained within the document. To this end, you should make sure that you include all of the important details that are necessary. With the potential employers getting an impression about you, it is also important to make certain that this impression is one that is true.

Excellent Career Options For Extroverts - CareerAlley

Excellent Career Options For Extroverts - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. To begin, lets agree on the definition of extrovert. The general usage of the term has tended to mean people who are loud, outgoing and gregarious but this is a modern definition quite separate from the basic of what extroversion is. For the purpose of this article, well use the classic definition of an extrovert: someone who feels energized by the presence of other people. Its the opposite of introversion; where being around people saps your energy. If youre an extrovert, the other people are a constant blessing. You feel good when youre surrounded by others, and you dont do too well when youre by yourself. Careers for extroverts should focus on this capacity, the endless willingness to engage with others and share a space with them. There are plenty of options, of course, and some of the best choices should come as no surprise. However, there might be a few unexpected curveballs in there, so why not consider your options for a fulfilling career when you love being around others? 1. Holiday Rep Source Theres no doubt that a holiday rep has a big task ahead of them. Its their role to ensure that people enjoy their time abroad, so they have to be on the ball at all times. Always waking up with a smile on your face, willing to throw yourself into whatever activity is in store. As an added bonus, you get to live and experience all kinds of different destinations what could be better? 2. Counseling Source Psychology is one of the most varied and fascinating fields of scientific study. It has a major impact on the world around us, making it both vital and necessary. Its also perfect if you like to be around people, as its major focus is on the human mind perfect for an extrovert. You might need an extra qualification such as an online masters in applied psychology, but its well worth doing if you want to know more about the mind and then use that knowledge to help others. 3. Customer Service Source It often seems that customer service is the career that people consider when they dont have the ability to do much else. Its also no coincidence that this is why customer service, in general, isnt the best companies are hiring people who are doing it for the wage alone, not the job itself. If you truly love being around people and helping to resolve their issues though, there is no better role for you. While you might have the occasional bad customer, overall, it should be a satisfying way to make a living. 4. Caregiving Source The care professions are often grouped in with the medical profession, but theyre not always the same thing. Training as a caregiver to the elderly or those with disabilities is much simpler than medical training required for nursing, so it makes a good mid-life career switch. Youll be helping people and engaging with them on a daily basis, so there wont be much time left to your own devices. We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey Google+

3 strategies to help your job search - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

3 strategies to help your job search Want a new job or a career this year?   Follow my three simple tips to help you make a career change faster… As a lead recruiter and Interview Coach,  I’m seeing that many professionals make the mistake of posting their resume/CV online, or sending their resume to recruiters â€" and then sitting back and waiting for something to happen.   In today’s tough job market, you need to be smarter, more strategic and  much more assertive. My clients are having remarkable success  by applying  these three simple strategies… 1. Create a Strategic Job Search Plan. It’s easier to get hired when you know which companies are hiring. Find out where your potential employers are by reading job boards as well as industry news, business journals and company websites. *On-line job boards â€" some job search sites are notorious for listing outdated jobs, or low paying jobs.   Why waste your time?   Instead, research job boards by job title and location to find those with the most updated job listings.   Bookmark those sites a review them weekly. *Company websites â€" create a list of targeted companies where you WANT to work, and then check their job sites weekly. Also, talk to your network  and search LinkedIn to find people who are currently working, or worked in the past, at each of your targeted companies. 2. Build Relationships. The #1 way professionals are getting hired in today’s job market is by getting a referral within the hiring organization.   That means, you need to make it a priority to get connected, and stay connected to those who could hire you, or introduce you to others who could potentially hire you. Get re-connected with past employers, colleagues and customers.   Meet new contacts by attending conferences, trade shows, business networking events and association meetings that target the industry or job role that you want. Also, you never want to give the impression that you’re hungry for a job.   Send out personal emails with information that you think would interest them such as links to videos, press releases, case studies or websites.   Invite them to networking events.   Introduce them to others in your network.   The goal is to create a relationship with your network so that they are drawn towards you (and not running away from you!:-) 3. Think Up, Down and Sideways. One of the biggest mistakes job hunting professionals make is looking for a position with the exact same job title as the one they had in their last job.   Instead, consider looking at smaller companies and going one level up, as well as larger companies and going one level down. Additionally, some companies don’t require you to have industry experience, only expertise in a specific job function.   This means that you can double your opportunities by applying for jobs in a variety of industries. When you’re searching for a new job remember to stay focused on what you want, stay positive and believe in yourself.     It takes persistence and patience, but you WILL find those companies who jump at the chance to hire you!:-) If you need help with your job search strategy/personal branding or interviewing skill, let’s have a quick chat over the phone or Skype if you are abroad, and see if we can transform your job search experience. The call costs nothing click on the link below and let the technology fix a time for us to speak: http://my.vcita.com/daba43a1/scheduler   If none of the times suggested work for you, please respond to this email with your availability. Warm regards Margaret Buj Interview and Career Coach 3 strategies to help your job search Want a new job or a career this year?   Follow my three simple tips to help you make a career change faster As a lead recruiter and Interview Coach,  I’m seeing that many professionals make the mistake of posting their resume/CV online, or sending their resume to recruiters and then sitting back and waiting for something to happen.   In todays tough job market, you need to be smarter, more strategic and  much more assertive. My clients are having remarkable success  by applying  these three simple strategies 1. Create a Strategic Job Search Plan. Its easier to get hired when you know which companies are hiring. Find out where your potential employers are by reading job boards as well as industry news, business journals and company websites. *On-line job boards some job search sites are notorious for listing outdated jobs, or low paying jobs.   Why waste your time?   Instead, research job boards by job title and location to find those with the most updated job listings.   Bookmark those sites a review them weekly. *Company websites create a list of targeted companies where you WANT to work, and then check their job sites weekly. Also, talk to your network  and search LinkedIn to find people who are currently working, or worked in the past, at each of your targeted companies. 2. Build Relationships. The #1 way professionals are getting hired in todays job market is by getting a referral within the hiring organization.   That means, you need to make it a priority to get connected, and stay connected to those who could hire you, or introduce you to others who could potentially hire you. Get re-connected with past employers, colleagues and customers.   Meet new contacts by attending conferences, trade shows, business networking events and association meetings that target the industry or job role that you want. Also, you never want to give the impression that youre hungry for a job.   Send out personal emails with information that you think would interest them such as links to videos, press releases, case studies or websites.   Invite them to networking events.   Introduce them to others in your network.   The goal is to create a relationship with your network so that they are drawn towards you (and not running away from you!:-) 3. Think Up, Down and Sideways. One of the biggest mistakes job hunting professionals make is looking for a position with the exact same job title as the one they had in their last job.   Instead, consider looking at smaller companies and going one level up, as well as larger companies and going one level down. Additionally, some companies dont require you to have industry experience, only expertise in a specific job function.   This means that you can double your opportunities by applying for jobs in a variety of industries. When youre searching for a new job remember to stay focused on what you want, stay positive and believe in yourself.     It takes persistence and patience, but you WILL find those companies who jump at the chance to hire you!:-) If you need help with your job search strategy/personal branding or interviewing skill, lets have a quick chat over the phone or Skype if you are abroad, and see if we can transform your job search experience. The call costs nothing click on the link below and let the technology fix a time for us to speak: http://my.vcita.com/daba43a1/scheduler   If none of the times suggested work for you, please respond to this email with your availability. Warm regards Margaret Buj Interview and Career Coach