Applications: Fitting yourself to the form
Many jobs require jobseekers to complete an application instead of submitting a résumé. But an application is a résumé in disguise: Its purpose is to show your qualifications.
Assembling the following information about yourself in advance will make it easier to complete applications:
• Identification. Be prepared to give your name, address, phone number, and social security number. You may also need to bring proof of identification when you pick up and drop off the application.
• Employment history. List the month and year you started and ended each job; your supervisor's name, address, and phone number; your job title, location, salary, and major duties; and your reason for leaving.
• Education and certification. Know the name and city of the schools you attended and the year you received your degrees and the name, level, and award and renewal dates of certification.
• Special skills. List any special skills you have that are closely related to the job, such as computer applications, typing speed, or equipment operation.
• References. Provide the names, phone numbers, and addresses of three or four people who have agreed to recommend you.
When you pick up an application, don’t miss an opportunity to make a good first impression. Dress as you would for the job. Politely request two copies of the form, or make your own copies of the original before you start filling it out. Read the entire application before you begin. Then, use one copy as a rough draft and the other as the final product. Use a typewriter or write neatly with black ink.
Answer every question on the application. Write "not applicable" or "none" if a question does not apply to you. Some reviewers suggest answering "will discuss in interview" if asked for information that might disqualify you.
Make a copy of your completed application. If you go back for an interview, take this record with you. Having a completed form will also make it easier to fill out the next one.
Although forms do not offer the same flexibility as a résumé, you can still find ways to highlight your best qualifications. For example, you can use strong action verbs to describe your duties. If you do not have paid experience, you can give job titles to your volunteer work or list relevant academic experience, substituting student for job titles.
Computer applications. If you are filling out an application for a computer database, you will want to use keywords and simple formatting— no boldface or bullets. Put the most important information first. Include as much information as you can for each question without becoming wordy or repetitive. The more relevant details you provide, the better your chances of using a keyword that matches an employer's requirements. Before submitting the form, copy and paste your answers into a word- processing program so you can check the spelling.
Information gathered from:
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/employ/resumes/resumes.htm
Brought to you by: Professional Job Search
Senin, 22 Februari 2010
Senin, 15 Februari 2010
Cover Letters for Sales Representatives
Why are cover letters so important? They provide the prospective employer with a brief review of your skills and abilities in the form of a letter. These types of letters are written much differently than resumes and can have a strong impact on the reader.
The best news is that writing one it isn't that hard. An excellent Sales Representative is always going to be in demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for Sales Reps through 2014 will grow somewhere between 9 and 14% per year.
What does that mean? It means there will be continued growth in the field. If you are good at selling, you should not encounter difficulties in obtaining work.
What about that awesome position with the top salary that you have your eye on, though? Do you think the competition for that position will be greater? You bet it will. That means your credentials will have to be presented in the best light possible if you are to get the job offer.
So, how do you write a great cover letter?
The cover letter builds on the resume and leads the employer toward it. Its goal is to get the employer excited about the resume. It is a sales tool, just like the resume is. Sell yourself in a compelling and exciting way. You know how to sell, so put it to good use by highlighting your accomplishments. The employer will naturally want to know more about what you have to offer.
Something else you must consider is how to inject energy in your cover letter. Most hiring managers are looking for sales representatives who offer enthusiasm, determination and vigor. Why? If a job candidate brings all of that into a cover letter (and a resume), then it leads the employer to believe that the candidate will be like that in person (and on the job).
What makes the best impression on employers? The wise use of accomplishments with anecdotes will win over a hiring manager much faster than simply stating what you did and who you worked for. Let your best qualities reach the employer through carefully written examples and stories. Don't just state what you are capable of, show the employer what you have done in the past with vibrant language that attracts and invites the employer to want to know more. Whenever possible, quantify your results using verifiable sales data from your past record. Numbers take on a new meaning when mixed in with your accomplishments.
You are a part of a significant sector of the labor market. You have to be your very best to get the great jobs. What skills and abilities do you have that you can offer the employer – and – how can you do so in a way that makes the employer pick up the phone and call you for an interview?
Let your cover letter generate interest in your resume, then let your resume grab the employer's attention so that you are invited in for a face to face meeting.
A cover letter isn't likely to persuade an employer to grant you an interview on its own, but it is part of the whole package that WILL encourage an employer to want to get to know you better. Make it an exciting and enjoyable read and you will find yourself being offered the next Sales position you apply for.
Brought to you by: Professional-Resume-Example.com
The best news is that writing one it isn't that hard. An excellent Sales Representative is always going to be in demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for Sales Reps through 2014 will grow somewhere between 9 and 14% per year.
What does that mean? It means there will be continued growth in the field. If you are good at selling, you should not encounter difficulties in obtaining work.
What about that awesome position with the top salary that you have your eye on, though? Do you think the competition for that position will be greater? You bet it will. That means your credentials will have to be presented in the best light possible if you are to get the job offer.
So, how do you write a great cover letter?
The cover letter builds on the resume and leads the employer toward it. Its goal is to get the employer excited about the resume. It is a sales tool, just like the resume is. Sell yourself in a compelling and exciting way. You know how to sell, so put it to good use by highlighting your accomplishments. The employer will naturally want to know more about what you have to offer.
Something else you must consider is how to inject energy in your cover letter. Most hiring managers are looking for sales representatives who offer enthusiasm, determination and vigor. Why? If a job candidate brings all of that into a cover letter (and a resume), then it leads the employer to believe that the candidate will be like that in person (and on the job).
What makes the best impression on employers? The wise use of accomplishments with anecdotes will win over a hiring manager much faster than simply stating what you did and who you worked for. Let your best qualities reach the employer through carefully written examples and stories. Don't just state what you are capable of, show the employer what you have done in the past with vibrant language that attracts and invites the employer to want to know more. Whenever possible, quantify your results using verifiable sales data from your past record. Numbers take on a new meaning when mixed in with your accomplishments.
You are a part of a significant sector of the labor market. You have to be your very best to get the great jobs. What skills and abilities do you have that you can offer the employer – and – how can you do so in a way that makes the employer pick up the phone and call you for an interview?
Let your cover letter generate interest in your resume, then let your resume grab the employer's attention so that you are invited in for a face to face meeting.
A cover letter isn't likely to persuade an employer to grant you an interview on its own, but it is part of the whole package that WILL encourage an employer to want to get to know you better. Make it an exciting and enjoyable read and you will find yourself being offered the next Sales position you apply for.
Brought to you by: Professional-Resume-Example.com
Selasa, 09 Februari 2010
Interview Tips
Are you ready for these Interview Tips?
An employment interview is simply a meeting between you and a potential employer to discuss your qualifications and see if there is a "fit." The employer wants to verify what they know about you and talk about your qualifications. If you have been called for an interview, you can assume that the employer is interested in you. The employer has a need that you may be able to meet. It is your goal to identify that need and convince the employer that you are the one for the job and that you can add value to their bottom line.
Preparation is the key to success in a calculated job search campaign. Preparation will help win the interview and will improve interview success. Begin by gathering all the information and documents you may need for the interview. Bring extra copies of your resume, a typed list of references and letter(s) of recommendation. You may also want to bring school transcripts, licenses and certifications. Work samples are also powerful tools (e.g., designs, drawings, writ¬ings). Finally, bring a pen and pad of paper for taking notes.
•Maintain good eye contact throughout the interview.
•Do not be a clock watcher.
•Do not discuss illegal or discriminatory subjects such as race, religion, age, national origin, equal rights or gender.
•Dress a step above what you would wear on the job.
•Be aware of nonverbal body language; do not:
-put your hands in your pockets
-chew a pencil or other object
-clench or wring your hands
-tap a pen or pencil
-fiddle with jewelry
-jingle keys or coins in your pocket
http://jobs.utah.gov/jobseeker/guides/07_34.pdf
Interview Tips
Brought to you by: Professional-Job-Search.com
An employment interview is simply a meeting between you and a potential employer to discuss your qualifications and see if there is a "fit." The employer wants to verify what they know about you and talk about your qualifications. If you have been called for an interview, you can assume that the employer is interested in you. The employer has a need that you may be able to meet. It is your goal to identify that need and convince the employer that you are the one for the job and that you can add value to their bottom line.
Preparation is the key to success in a calculated job search campaign. Preparation will help win the interview and will improve interview success. Begin by gathering all the information and documents you may need for the interview. Bring extra copies of your resume, a typed list of references and letter(s) of recommendation. You may also want to bring school transcripts, licenses and certifications. Work samples are also powerful tools (e.g., designs, drawings, writ¬ings). Finally, bring a pen and pad of paper for taking notes.
•Maintain good eye contact throughout the interview.
•Do not be a clock watcher.
•Do not discuss illegal or discriminatory subjects such as race, religion, age, national origin, equal rights or gender.
•Dress a step above what you would wear on the job.
•Be aware of nonverbal body language; do not:
-put your hands in your pockets
-chew a pencil or other object
-clench or wring your hands
-tap a pen or pencil
-fiddle with jewelry
-jingle keys or coins in your pocket
http://jobs.utah.gov/jobseeker/guides/07_34.pdf
Interview Tips
Brought to you by: Professional-Job-Search.com
Kamis, 04 Februari 2010
How to Write a Resume - Resume Guidelines
How to Write a Resume - Resume Guidelines
Contact Information
The header of your résumé should include your name, address, phone number, and email address, if you regularly use it. When submitting a paper version of your résumé, it is visually appealing to use a large font for your name. Include both a local and permanent address and a phone number so that an employer can easily reach you. This is especially important for graduating students.
Job Objective
Although optional, a job objective statement shows employers the direction you want to go, your work preferences, and serves as a focal point for employers to review and analyze your résumé. It allows employers to immediately identify the kind of position you want. If you are looking for jobs in a number of different fields, you need to have a different job objective for each position. To address this, prepare some résumés without objective statements. Or tailor each résumé to the specific job you seek. Do not write an objective that is vague and meaningless-if is isn't specific, don't include one. It may contain up to four parts:
The level of the position. This can be anything from an internship, to full time, entry level, experienced, supervisory, or executive.
Skills you hope to bring to the position. Look to the list of action verbs included in this toolkit to identify which skills you have experience using.
Position. If you are responding to a job listing, look in the text of the listing to find out what the employer calls the position. This is the actual title, such as consultant, investment banker or field or industry in which you hope to work. Such as telecommunications, health care, and banking.
Education
In this section, include any information about your degree(s), including where and when you graduated; date(s); major, minor, or concentration; certification; and academic awards and honors. Make sure you use the official names for schools, degrees and majors/minors.
Include all honors, special awards, and recognitions. While commonly known awards, such as Phi Beta Kappa, do not need an explanation, less known awards should be briefly explained.
Include your GPA if it is an asset. If your GPA is not strong, focus your résumé on non-academic strengths and skills. A general rule of thumb is that if your GPA is a 3.0 or higher, include it. If the GPA for your major is strong, you can just put that down but make sure you specify that it is only for classes in your major.
If you are calculating a major GPA, make sure that if employers ask for your transcript, they will be able to follow your calculations. If not, they will assume you falsified your résumé! GPA is calculated as follows: 3.15 can be rounded up to 3.2. However, 3.14 cannot be rounded up. If you do not have a lot of relevant experience for the position you are applying for, it is a good idea to list courses and class projects of interest to the employer.
Employment History
The way you structure the "experience" section will depend on what you are looking for and what you have done. This section lists in chronological order the positions you have help, names and locations of employers, and dates employed. You should also list responsibilities, achievements, significant contributions and demonstrated skills.
Try to describe your experience in the most interesting and brief way possible. However, don't sacrifice clarifying details about important accomplishments for the sake of brevity. Remember to use active verbs to describe your work experience. Be hard on yourself, and, if necessary, discard "good" material that will have no meaning for an employer. To assist you in writing this section, refer to the list of action words in this toolkit.
Descriptions such as "responsibilities included developing course material" can be phrased more persuasively as "developed course materials." Descriptions do not need to be phrased in full sentences. The questions in an employer's mind are "Why should I speak with this person? How are they different from all the other applicants?" Try to answer these questions in each of your descriptions.
You should also include independent study or volunteer work if it is relevant to the job you want and provided you with significant skills and experiences. If you do include your volunteer work, do not describe if under a heading which implies you were paid.
In some instances, you may want to divide your experience into sub-sections. For example, if you are seeking a teaching job, and have both a teaching and business background, two separate headings-one "Teaching Experience" and "Additional Experience" may have more impact than a single heading.
Skills and Abilities
This is the place to put important and/or interesting information that does not fit anywhere else. With the advance of technology, it is increasingly important to include a section on computer skills. This should include any of your knowledge of computer programs, hardware, software, database knowledge, and/or Internet functions. If you have any other notable skills, such as foreign languages, musical talents, or writing skills include these here.
Activities and Honors
If you have received any awards or honors, or been involved in campus or community organizations, such as athletics, clubs or student government, you should mention them in this section. Identify any leadership roles that you had in these organizations. If you have too many organizations to list, choose the ones that have the strongest connection to the type of job you seek, don't pad this section with organizations you joined "in name only." Employers may ask you about your involvement during an interview.
References
Simply indicate that references are "available upon request" in a paper version of your résumé. You should know at least 3 people who can serve as your references. Ask in advance for permission to use them as references. Use faculty and employers as references, not personal acquaintances. Do not include their names, address, or phone numbers on the résumé. You may send a separate sheet with this information along with your résumé, or wait until the employer requests references.
http://www.wa.gov/esd/guides/resume/write/write_components.htm
Brought to you by: Professional Job Search.com
Contact Information
The header of your résumé should include your name, address, phone number, and email address, if you regularly use it. When submitting a paper version of your résumé, it is visually appealing to use a large font for your name. Include both a local and permanent address and a phone number so that an employer can easily reach you. This is especially important for graduating students.
Job Objective
Although optional, a job objective statement shows employers the direction you want to go, your work preferences, and serves as a focal point for employers to review and analyze your résumé. It allows employers to immediately identify the kind of position you want. If you are looking for jobs in a number of different fields, you need to have a different job objective for each position. To address this, prepare some résumés without objective statements. Or tailor each résumé to the specific job you seek. Do not write an objective that is vague and meaningless-if is isn't specific, don't include one. It may contain up to four parts:
The level of the position. This can be anything from an internship, to full time, entry level, experienced, supervisory, or executive.
Skills you hope to bring to the position. Look to the list of action verbs included in this toolkit to identify which skills you have experience using.
Position. If you are responding to a job listing, look in the text of the listing to find out what the employer calls the position. This is the actual title, such as consultant, investment banker or field or industry in which you hope to work. Such as telecommunications, health care, and banking.
Education
In this section, include any information about your degree(s), including where and when you graduated; date(s); major, minor, or concentration; certification; and academic awards and honors. Make sure you use the official names for schools, degrees and majors/minors.
Include all honors, special awards, and recognitions. While commonly known awards, such as Phi Beta Kappa, do not need an explanation, less known awards should be briefly explained.
Include your GPA if it is an asset. If your GPA is not strong, focus your résumé on non-academic strengths and skills. A general rule of thumb is that if your GPA is a 3.0 or higher, include it. If the GPA for your major is strong, you can just put that down but make sure you specify that it is only for classes in your major.
If you are calculating a major GPA, make sure that if employers ask for your transcript, they will be able to follow your calculations. If not, they will assume you falsified your résumé! GPA is calculated as follows: 3.15 can be rounded up to 3.2. However, 3.14 cannot be rounded up. If you do not have a lot of relevant experience for the position you are applying for, it is a good idea to list courses and class projects of interest to the employer.
Employment History
The way you structure the "experience" section will depend on what you are looking for and what you have done. This section lists in chronological order the positions you have help, names and locations of employers, and dates employed. You should also list responsibilities, achievements, significant contributions and demonstrated skills.
Try to describe your experience in the most interesting and brief way possible. However, don't sacrifice clarifying details about important accomplishments for the sake of brevity. Remember to use active verbs to describe your work experience. Be hard on yourself, and, if necessary, discard "good" material that will have no meaning for an employer. To assist you in writing this section, refer to the list of action words in this toolkit.
Descriptions such as "responsibilities included developing course material" can be phrased more persuasively as "developed course materials." Descriptions do not need to be phrased in full sentences. The questions in an employer's mind are "Why should I speak with this person? How are they different from all the other applicants?" Try to answer these questions in each of your descriptions.
You should also include independent study or volunteer work if it is relevant to the job you want and provided you with significant skills and experiences. If you do include your volunteer work, do not describe if under a heading which implies you were paid.
In some instances, you may want to divide your experience into sub-sections. For example, if you are seeking a teaching job, and have both a teaching and business background, two separate headings-one "Teaching Experience" and "Additional Experience" may have more impact than a single heading.
Skills and Abilities
This is the place to put important and/or interesting information that does not fit anywhere else. With the advance of technology, it is increasingly important to include a section on computer skills. This should include any of your knowledge of computer programs, hardware, software, database knowledge, and/or Internet functions. If you have any other notable skills, such as foreign languages, musical talents, or writing skills include these here.
Activities and Honors
If you have received any awards or honors, or been involved in campus or community organizations, such as athletics, clubs or student government, you should mention them in this section. Identify any leadership roles that you had in these organizations. If you have too many organizations to list, choose the ones that have the strongest connection to the type of job you seek, don't pad this section with organizations you joined "in name only." Employers may ask you about your involvement during an interview.
References
Simply indicate that references are "available upon request" in a paper version of your résumé. You should know at least 3 people who can serve as your references. Ask in advance for permission to use them as references. Use faculty and employers as references, not personal acquaintances. Do not include their names, address, or phone numbers on the résumé. You may send a separate sheet with this information along with your résumé, or wait until the employer requests references.
http://www.wa.gov/esd/guides/resume/write/write_components.htm
Brought to you by: Professional Job Search.com
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