How To Write A Cover Letter

Writing a cover letter might be the hardest part when it comes to applying for a new job. Here are tips to help you create a standout cover letter!

1. Begin your letter with which position you are applying for and the company’s name. Also, if you have a mutual contact or were referred by someone, include that person’s name in the first sentence.

2. If you can, try to tell a short story of how this position relates to your life. Summarize your career and your work experience in a couple sentences.

3. List your work-related achievements starting with your biggest accomplishments. Give examples of how your previous experience will help the company you are applying to.

4. End your cover letter by saying when and how you will get in touch.

5. One last tip—try to keep your cover letter to one page or less or about four short paragraphs!

How to Choose a Career That’s Best for You

Are you having trouble finding the right career for your skill set? It’s important to find a career that utilizes your talents and fits your lifestyle. Here are some questions to ask yourself that will help narrow your job search!

What are your natural talents?
When we use our natural talents, time moves fast and we tend to live up to our highest potential.

What’s your work style?
Each of us has a preferred work style. It is helpful to choose a career that will allow you to work in your preferred style. For example, a flexible work environment might allow you to deliver projects on various dates, while a structured environment would require specific deadlines and strict guidelines.

How social are you?
Would you rather deliver value behind the scenes or do you thrive on human interaction? Know your social needs so you can choose a career that matches them.

How To Stay Motivated

Everyone can fall into a mental rut from time to time, especially in during the winter months. Here are some tips on how to stay on task and accomplish your goals!

Stay positive – have an optimistic mindset and surround yourself with others who keep you on-task.

Have a goal – write down a goal and plan steps to how you will achieve that goal. Track your progress so you can see your hard work paying off!

Reward yourself – when you reach a big goal, treat yourself to something you enjoy! Be careful not to make rewards a habit though, otherwise it will hurt your self-motivation.

Focus – in order to accomplish anything, you need to get rid of distractions. Focus on your tasks to get them done faster. This will help motivate you to move on to the next goal!

4 Skills That Will Get You Hired In 2013

Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Complex Problem Solving
Identifying problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Judgment and Decision-Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to make decisions that will lead to success.

Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate and not interrupting.

How to Respond to “Tell me about yourself”

Often times, the most puzzling part of an interview is the broad icebreaker: “Tell me about yourself.” When employers say “tell me about yourself”, they really mean what can you do for this business. Prepare yourself before an interview using these helpful tips as guidance.

1. Make a list of your top qualities that apply to the position you are being interviewed for. Practice a dialogue in the mirror of what you will say about yourself during the interview.

2. Be confident. Don’t be afraid to talk about your accomplishments and traits that you are proud of. The interviewer wants to know why you make a better fit to the position than other candidates.

3. Begin with your most impressive accomplishments and try to relate them to how these experiences will help you in your future career.

Practice, practice, practice! And don’t forget to make eye contact!

How to Follow Up On a Job Interview

Here are some tips on how to properly communicate with a future employer to increase your chances of getting hired.

After submitting your application:

Once you send in your application, the next step is to wait to hear back from the employer. You do not want to pester the hiring manager with phone calls or emails because you never know how many hundreds of applications they have to sift through before beginning the interview process.

Post interview:

After your interview, be sure to send a “thank you” note to express gratitude for the interview and your continued interest in the position.

After a week:

Review your notes from the interview and send a thoughtful email or short phone call reflecting on points from the interview. State something memorable from the interview or try to show your value to the company.

Prep Yourself For The Future

Words of wisdom for preparing for a successful future:

1. Be willing to step outside of your comfort zone. The greatest barrier to achieving your potential is your comfort zone.

2. Develop a professional network to get a better understanding of the industry and for advice on how to create a successful career path of your own.

3. Be open to new opportunities. You will never know what is behind closed doors unless you open them.

4. Spend time creating a great resume and edit it to target the industry and job qualifications of where you send it.

5. Never quit when you experience a setback or frustration. Success could be right around the corner.

6. Think big, empowering thoughts and keep an open mind.