I love it when I find reinforcements on the Web. Sometimes it seems that I am swimming against the tide when it comes to my requirements for cover letters and resumes. I try to be clear about my expectations in this blog site and on the Hire Well Company Profile page on www.jobsinme.com/.
Recently I was directed to a delightfully fun post by the Salad Sisters on You Tube. Their musical tirade was directed to people who respond to and critique on You Tube and other sites. Hopefully some of the things that bother the Salad Sisters would never show up on a resume, cover letter, or email note to an employer -- but it is distressingly surprising how many of these errors have appeared in emails and cover letters sent to me by candidates.
There is a lot of competition out here and you only have one chance to make a first impression. You should be putting your best self forward when you are applying for a job.
More recently, Calvin Gilbert, a Graphic and Web Designer from Portland, posted a blog advising potential interns about resumes and cover letters.
So, I am not alone. Intelligent people -- who have the power to hire you or not -- have requirements and expectations regarding how you present your materials. Take heed and put your best self forward. Good luck!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Validation!
Just when I am beginning to feel as though I am a nasty person regarding my strenuous requirements for cover letters and resumes,there is validation in the Redfin CEO's recent blog.
This is an excellent blog post and one that I can't top. Everything of importance is mentioned from typos to cover letters. The only caveat for those applying through Hire Well: You can't get to the hiring CEO, but please feel free to consider me as a very acceptable stand-in and address your letters to me, not To Whom It May Concern.
The Redfin blog post is a must read for hiring managers and CEO's. Implicit in the message is that you must evaluate the cover letters and resumes you receive to make sure that every key position is filled by someone who has risen to the highest standards of your company. Hire Well and get it right the first time!
This is an excellent blog post and one that I can't top. Everything of importance is mentioned from typos to cover letters. The only caveat for those applying through Hire Well: You can't get to the hiring CEO, but please feel free to consider me as a very acceptable stand-in and address your letters to me, not To Whom It May Concern.
The Redfin blog post is a must read for hiring managers and CEO's. Implicit in the message is that you must evaluate the cover letters and resumes you receive to make sure that every key position is filled by someone who has risen to the highest standards of your company. Hire Well and get it right the first time!
Friday, January 2, 2009
A Message to Candidates
In this market, searching for a new position can be a daunting, nerve-wracking task. I have heard from candidates who are scared, angry, and depressed and have tried to provide advice that could help them. Unfortunately, that is not my job. Since Hire Well is not a recruiting firm, we don't keep a pool of candidates and don't have candidates that we aid or promote. Because of the way we work and the reasonable, flat fee we charge clients, we simply can't spend a lot of time helping candidates.
Here's is the truth: It is not the job of any hiring manager to help you get hired. It is your job to do whatever you can to present yourself the best way possible. If you don't know how to do that in this market, then get some qualified help. If you are in Maine and have some resources or outplacement support, I can recommend Rhoda Mitchell of New Leaves Consulting. If you don't have resources, talk with friends, or contact state and other agencies.
In the meantime, here are just three tips that may help:
1. Decide what you want to do and what type of company would be best for you. Just as I tell my clients to take the time to figure out the type of person they need, those looking for a career position should create a description of the perfect next job. Include things such as duties, required skills, opportunity for growth, location, size of company, culture -- everything that is important to you and everything that you can provide to the company. Eight years ago I had no idea what career I wanted to move towards, but I did write down the type of things that appealed to me, the things that were essential to my prosperity and happiness, and the type of company and specific location where I wanted to work. When my future employer approached me, I knew nothing of his industry -- but that position met every factor on my list. I stayed there happily and successfully for 6 years.
2. Read the ad carefully. It is very easy to have job boards notify you when a posted job contains your key words. Too many candidates simply apply to those positions without apparently reading the ad. One key example is that three of my current clients have "Account Manager" positions. Each of these clients consider that to be a support role. I understand that other companies consider that to be a sales position. If you simply apply to all Account Manager positions, you may only actually be interested in and at least marginally qualified for half of them. Read the ad to find out if this is the right Account Manager job for you.
3. Read the ad carefully and apply in the manner requested. If a cover letter is required, then write one. If a name is given, then address the letter to that person, not "To Whom it May Concern". If certain requirements are mentioned in the ad, use the letter to show how your experiences make you qualified. If the position is in sales and marketing -- then sell and market yourself and your communication skills. If the ad is placed by the potential employer, then check out their web site to find out more about them and use that information in the cover letter. I can assure you that the majority of candidates do not take the time to write a proper cover letter. If you are not a good fit for the position, the right letter won't change that. But if you are qualified and don't write a letter, or use a generic cover, or send one with typos - I will not schedule an interview with you.
Yes, all of this requires you to do some homework and to take more time when you email your resume. The competition is tough out there. Not everyone is going to get an interview, including some people who could actually succeed in the position. If you are looking for work, your job is to present yourself as a top candidate so that you get an interview. You do that by showing us why you are a top candidate and you do that by taking your time and doing your homework first.
I wish everyone a Happy New Year. May this be a year where companies find the best candidates for the position, and where each candidate finds the position that best suits them. That can only happen if we all do our homework first, and take the time to get it right.
I've been searching the web for other good advice and found the following article and blog that both speak to the truth:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/jobs/02career.html
http://blogs.jobdig.com/wwds/2009/01/07/dig-your-job-how-to-find-a-new-one/
Here's is the truth: It is not the job of any hiring manager to help you get hired. It is your job to do whatever you can to present yourself the best way possible. If you don't know how to do that in this market, then get some qualified help. If you are in Maine and have some resources or outplacement support, I can recommend Rhoda Mitchell of New Leaves Consulting. If you don't have resources, talk with friends, or contact state and other agencies.
In the meantime, here are just three tips that may help:
1. Decide what you want to do and what type of company would be best for you. Just as I tell my clients to take the time to figure out the type of person they need, those looking for a career position should create a description of the perfect next job. Include things such as duties, required skills, opportunity for growth, location, size of company, culture -- everything that is important to you and everything that you can provide to the company. Eight years ago I had no idea what career I wanted to move towards, but I did write down the type of things that appealed to me, the things that were essential to my prosperity and happiness, and the type of company and specific location where I wanted to work. When my future employer approached me, I knew nothing of his industry -- but that position met every factor on my list. I stayed there happily and successfully for 6 years.
2. Read the ad carefully. It is very easy to have job boards notify you when a posted job contains your key words. Too many candidates simply apply to those positions without apparently reading the ad. One key example is that three of my current clients have "Account Manager" positions. Each of these clients consider that to be a support role. I understand that other companies consider that to be a sales position. If you simply apply to all Account Manager positions, you may only actually be interested in and at least marginally qualified for half of them. Read the ad to find out if this is the right Account Manager job for you.
3. Read the ad carefully and apply in the manner requested. If a cover letter is required, then write one. If a name is given, then address the letter to that person, not "To Whom it May Concern". If certain requirements are mentioned in the ad, use the letter to show how your experiences make you qualified. If the position is in sales and marketing -- then sell and market yourself and your communication skills. If the ad is placed by the potential employer, then check out their web site to find out more about them and use that information in the cover letter. I can assure you that the majority of candidates do not take the time to write a proper cover letter. If you are not a good fit for the position, the right letter won't change that. But if you are qualified and don't write a letter, or use a generic cover, or send one with typos - I will not schedule an interview with you.
Yes, all of this requires you to do some homework and to take more time when you email your resume. The competition is tough out there. Not everyone is going to get an interview, including some people who could actually succeed in the position. If you are looking for work, your job is to present yourself as a top candidate so that you get an interview. You do that by showing us why you are a top candidate and you do that by taking your time and doing your homework first.
I wish everyone a Happy New Year. May this be a year where companies find the best candidates for the position, and where each candidate finds the position that best suits them. That can only happen if we all do our homework first, and take the time to get it right.
I've been searching the web for other good advice and found the following article and blog that both speak to the truth:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/jobs/02career.html
http://blogs.jobdig.com/wwds/2009/01/07/dig-your-job-how-to-find-a-new-one/
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