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Writing A Compelling Cover Letter

The importance of a cover letter in a recruiter’s hiring decision is quickly dwindling. Do I really need to use a cover letter? It’s a question I hear from job-seekers every day. The role a cover letter plays in a hiring decision pales in comparison to job experience and culture fit.  However, when you throw out the “traditional” cover letter that so many recruiters are used to and instead, use a brief pointed e-note that touches on both experience and culture fit. it’s a winning combination.

However, let’s start by clarifying that the “traditional cover letter” as you may know it, has gone.  Here are five key cover letter writing strategies you need to know now—before you sit down to pen your next cover letter.

IT’S TIME FOR CHANGE…… GIVE UP THE OLD.

The cover letter as you’re probably visualizing it in your head is gone. Long-winded, life-storytelling, boring cover letters are doing your job search NO FAVORS.  Keep it really short and simple.  In fact, you need to aim for 150 words or less.  Recruiters are short on time and attention—and the chances are VERY high that they’re going to be reading those introductory words on their mobile devices.  It can be a challenge to write so lean, clean, and concise, but start writing and then as many times as you need to until you’ve cut it down to 150 words.

DITCH THE WORN-OUT OPENING LINE.

Get rid of “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Hiring Manager”. Guess what? If technology has advanced enough that I can look someone up on the Internet and find their home address and telephone number, you can spend a couple of minutes finding out the name of the person in charge of hiring, interviewing, or making the decisions about the position that you want to pursue.

LOOK FOR FIT

Make the connection on your cover letter between what you do (your personal brand) and how that fits into the organization, culture, and the position you want.  Research the company’s culture, the department you would like to work in, the company’s mission and more—to make sure it’s a good fit for you.

BE THE SOLUTION

What is its biggest need or pain point right now? Then tie their problem into how you are the solution.  Find out about a problem the company has or is trying to solve.  YOU are the solution.  Provide proof of how you’ve solved problems—and do so with quantifiable statements.

CLOSE WITH A COMPELLING CALL TO ACTION

End with a compelling call to action. Customize your call to action in any way you want. Get them to take action—whether that action is to call you, e-mail, view your LinkedIn profile, or visit your online resume. Don’t let them stop after reading your e-note; you want them to be compelled to contact you. Mine might say:

 

Ready for results like these? Let’s chat!

Or:

Want to learn more? Visit my website http://www.lohiconsulting.com

Or:

Interested? Let’s talk! Call me on 01-632210.

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Ready For That Interview?

Earlier, we discussed important tips that is necessary for an interview to turn into a successful employment; whilst demonstrating your true interest in the position as a candidate. This concluding part highlights what is required for that next interview.

You were not ready to talk about yourself

You weren’t prepared to tell them why you want to work at this company at this time in this position. Many interviewers will ask you to tell them something about yourself, but you don’t know what to say. It is a sign that you are not ready for the interview.

How to Fix It

This is your opportunity to explain why you are a great match and what you have to offer. Without bragging, be prepared to answer questions about yourself in advance and tell them about your previous experience, what it has taught you, and how it can help you in the role for which you are applying. Discuss how you are best suited to the organization’s corporate culture, use real examples of relevant challenges you’ve faced, how you addressed them, and the results. This tells employers you know what you’re talking about and that you can do the job.

You did not prepare any questions.

At the end of the interview, when the hiring manager asks if you have any questions, you say NO. It implies that you have no interest in the organization you are hoping to work for. A candidate should always prepare questions in advance that demonstrate an interest in the job.

How to Fix It

Excitement about the position is a major factor in the hiring decision. Express enthusiasm during the interview and have several questions prepared in advance! Prepare thoughtful questions to ask at the end of your interview. By asking questions about the company, its mission, or why employees love working there, you’re showing a genuine interest in learning about the company that you want to work for. Stay away from asking questions that can be found on the website or that shows ignorance, such as “what does the company do?”

Quick Note

Make sure, during the interview, that you address cultural fit. According to a 2016 Recruiter National survey, 60% of recruiters reported that culture fit was a key part of their hiring decision.interview

Get Ready! Get Set!! Go Get The Job!!!

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Personal Branding!

HOW PERSONAL BRANDING CAN ENHANCE YOUR CAREER

We think of personal branding mostly from a professional or career standpoint, but it spans across your career and personal life. It is an ongoing process where you establish a professional image, leaving an impression on others about who you are, what you can do, and why they should want to work with you.

Personal branding can have long-term effects on your career path as well as your earning potential.  Personal branding is a vital part of a successful job search.  Before you can build your own personal brand, you must understand what it is and how to wield it to your benefit in today’s career market.  It cannot be emphasized enough the importance of positive personal branding in your career pursuit.

Personal Branding, What’s that??

Personal branding is about what people know you for professionally, how people view you, and the value you bring to others. It is the practice of people marketing themselves, their talents, and their careers as a Brand.

Personal Branding, How??

It is recommended to start off by sitting down and mapping out what you believe you’re best known for and what you feel like your best brand attributes are, also think about why you absolutely love doing what you do.  Your personal brand is in the minds of those who know you best and they can help you uncover what does and does not resonate with those around you so you can make appropriate adjustments to your own personal branding. So, you can send out to your network/colleagues/friends/family to gather insights into your own brand image.

Avoid the following;

Keep the following in mind when building your personal brand.

  • Don’t stagnate. Keep learning, growing, and getting better at what you do.
  • Keep it positive. Negativity will hurt you more than a lack of experience.
  • Culture fit is king. People report higher levels of career satisfaction when there is a culture fit.
  • People want to hire employees with a great attitude and terrific character. Prove you have those two qualities plus the experience and you have a golden ticket to success.personal branding

Figure out your personal brand now if you haven’t already.

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Work Etiquette

business-1869266_640Work/Business Etiquette You Need To Know.

Admittedly, we all slip up occasionally. After all, Etiquette is just a code of conduct that allows us to live and work together with relative ease, foster good relationships, and reduces the social frictions that impede our happiness and even our professional success but “Poor manners hurt your career because the little things matter”.  Very often, reputations are built on the basis of a first impression that takes someone approximately 3 seconds to formulate,” says Alexandra Levit, a career expert. Truly, office etiquette can be tricky in these days of in-house exercising, informal digital communication and open-plan workspaces. Here are some work/etiquettes you should know.

    1. Stand: You should lean forward to indicate that you would stand, if you could, if you are caught off guard and cannot rise. Always stand when you’re being introduced to someone. Standing helps establish your presence so you make it easy for others to ignore you if you don’t stand.
    2. Handshake:  in today’s workplace, handshake is the business greeting. You want to be taken seriously? Then you must shake hands, especially in a correct way. Regardless of gender, the lower-ranking person should extend his or her hand without missing more than a beat if the higher rank person fails to do so either way, handshake must be exchanged.
    3. Full Name: Meeting someone for the first time, you must say your full name. If you are the one doing the introduction, always introduce people the way they want they want to be introduced.  If your name is too long or difficult to pronounce, then give your business card to others or company a short name.
    4. Don’t Cross Your Legs: Remember the health implication “crossing your legs is bad for your circulation because it increases the pressure on your veins”.  In today’s workplace, especially in a business meeting, crossing your legs is distracting and even too sexy for a professional setting. Sit with your back straight.
    5. Dress Appropriately: You want to send a professional message through your clothing choices, clothing enhances a person’s professional reputation or detract from his or her credibility.  Always find out what the dress code is at the event meeting you’re going to and ensure that your clothing is within the dress code.  Save the see-through dresses, sandals with socks, Lycra bike shorts, muscle shirts, and plunging necklines for other occasions.
    6. Ubiquity of Smartphones: this is a major change in the 21st century work place, wearing an earpiece in a work environment puts a “Do not disturb” sign on you. It sends a message to colleagues that you want to be left alone, an unfriendly gesture at best. Also, take care to respect someone’s space while receiving a phone call, don’t be loud.  Listening to your voice message via speakerphone is improper in a work environment.
    7. Be Polite: Interrupting when someone is speaking and texting during a meeting are all signs that you’re not giving someone your full time and attention, and that’s off-putting. It is casual rudeness.  Also, remember “knock, knock” when entering someone’s cubicle or office space.
    8. Thank you: Within a conversation, only say thank you once or twice else, there will be a possibility that you will appear helpless or needy.

Conclusively, if you’re not using proper office/business etiquette, chances increase that you’re likely to pull a bone-headed move outside the office that also can hurt your career.  Be wise!