How To Start Your Cover Letter
Cover letters generally have a beginning, middle and an end. Your first paragraph should be your opening statement and reason for the letter. The reason may be in response to an employment advertisement or in anticipation of a future opening. The first paragraph should include your job or career objective in title form.

The Middle Of Your Cover Letter
The middle of your letter should include your value proposition. Your value proposition is the reason or all of the reasons that you believe the employer should consider hiring you. You should briefly describe your strengths, your background and your accomplishments. This can be done in bullet form to add more impact.

The Call To Action In Your Cover Letter
The last paragraph of your cover letter should summarize your career aspirations, the value you can bring to the organization and request a follow up meeting. You may also want to state that you will be in contact with the employer yourself to arrange for a face to face discussion so that you’ll have more control over the process.

Other Things To Consider
You need to make sure that all of your contact information is included in your cover letter including your name, address, phone number, email address and alternate contact numbers. While resumes are generally written in the third person, cover letters are written in the first person and are more personalized.

Your cover letter will be more effective if you can include something directly related to the employer’s business. So, for example, you can include in your letter that you have experience in their industry or an interest in their industry or you can reference their advertisements, reputation and any press releases you’ve seen regarding the company.

A cover letter is an important piece of the job search process and supports the resume in marketing your skills. Take the time to craft a cover letter which adequately conveys your interest in the company, your career objectives, related experience, education, your unique selling proposition and request for a meeting and it will help to increase the number of phone calls you receive from your efforts.

If This Information Has Helped You…
Then visit Resume Writing Strategies Revealed. Inside you’ll uncover a wide array of tips, including:
- Selecting the resume format that’s right for you
- How to sell yourself and your skills in a resume
- What sections need to be included on a resume
- What you should avoid so that you’ll beat your competition and be selected for the interview!
- Examples of actual resumes created by me that have been effective at landing interviews for my clients.
- And, you’ll get sample cover letters as well!

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If you live in the Kitchener/Waterloo area, please take note of this upcoming live seminar that I am hosting with my colleague and friend, Stephanie Clarke of New Leaf Resumes.  This is an event you won’t want to miss. 

When:  Saturday, May 23rd, 2009 from 10 am to 12 pm
Where:  Sobeys Community Room at 450 Columbia St West in Waterloo (corner of Columbia St & Fischer Hallman)

Come and learn the KEYS to an effective job search strategy from two local Professional Career Consultants:

• Get your phone ringing for interviews with an attention grabbing resume

• Conduct an effective job search that leaves your competition behind

• Handle those tough interview questions with answers that position you as the best candidate

Come prepared with a pen and notebook.  This is an event that you don’t want to miss!

Space is limited so you must register by calling Laura at 519-342-8276 or Stephanie at 519-505-5627.

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Write a Targeted Resume
A resume should be concise, to the point, and easy to read. Most job postings receive hundreds or even thousands of replies so that you have very little opportunity to attract an employer’s attention. The most effective resumes are clearly focused on a specific job title and address the employer’s stated requirements for the position. If you feel that you can perform more than one type job and resist the idea or having a targeted resume, create a second version of your resume to use.

Create a Unique Marketing Document
That’s right, your resume is a marketing document - an advertisement about you. You need to make it unique so that you’ll stand out from your competition. One of the most common mistakes that people make in resume writing is to create a laundry list of job duties. Take the time to spruce up your job descriptions by using active verbs at the start of each sentence and making them accomplishment focused. In other words, think of how your performance positively impacted the employer. Also, avoid using resume templates because everyone does and you’ll want to avoid looking like a clone. Get used to using your word processing program on your computer and spruce up your resume by using bold type, bullet points and a nice and legible font.

Don’t Use Personal Pronouns
Many job seekers use personal pronouns in writing their resumes. It is not wrong to do so but it is not a professional way to present yourself and your qualifications. It is best to reserve the use personal pronouns for your cover letter. You can better convey your interest in the specific position by using personal pronouns in your cover letter.

If This Information Has Helped You…
Then visit Resume Writing Strategies Revealed. Inside you’ll uncover a wide array of tips, including:
- Selecting the resume format that’s right for you
- How to sell yourself and your skills in a resume
- What sections need to be included on a resume
- What you should avoid so that you’ll beat your competition and be selected for the interview!
- Examples of actual resumes created by me that have been effective at landing interviews for my clients.
- And, you’ll get sample cover letters as well!

Laura Whitelaw, owner of Best Choice 4 Resumes, offers solid credentials as a Certified Resume Strategist as conferred by Career Professionals of Canada. From industry-honed expertise, Laura further offers her clients an insider’s knowledge of recruitment practices.

Best Choice 4 Resumes’ clients reap the benefits of Laura’s recruitment expertise developed over her several years as an employment agent, corporate trainer, and resume writer. During her career, she has reviewed thousands of resumes and cover letters, and coached many jobseekers on interviewing and job search skills.

Her unique perspective of the employer’s needs allows Laura to expertly position her clients by preparing attention-grabbing resumes, and effective cover letters. She further boosts her clients’ job search efforts by sharing her insider’s knowledge, and coaching clients on job search and interview techniques.

Laura enjoys strategizing all categories of resumes, and particularly specializes in sales, IT, administrative, customer service, and low to mid-level management. Follow her on twitter at ResumeGal.

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Sample Job Interview Question #1: What do you know about our company?
This question is usually asked in the beginning stages of the interview process. To prepare for this question, you’ll want to research as much as you can about the company beforehand. You can search for information in the most obvious place - the web or call the company ahead of time and request a company brochure. The things that you’ll want to zero in may include; the industry, their length of time in business, their annual sales figures (if it’s a public company) and, their corporate culture.

Sample Job Interview Question #2: What are your strengths?
Many people have trouble with this question because we’re trained from way back in elementary school to work on our weaknesses and so they find it hard to even identify their strengths. Also, many of us grew up being told that it’s not proper to boast about ourselves. So for this question, be prepared with at least 3 key strengths that relate back to the job posting. An example would be the following, “I have many strengths that I think you’ll find valuable, however I will highlight 3 specific strengths that relate to what I believe you are looking for. First, I have excellent rapport building skills and during the last 3 years I have developed a number of key accounts to the point where I am now their exclusive supplier. Second, I grew my territory by 30% in the last twelve months, etc.”

Sample Job Interview Question #3: What are your weaknesses?
This question can be a tricky one but you can answer it honestly so long as you are able to describe how you counter your weakness and keep it from being a barrier to your success and the success of the company. Your answer may include that you ask for input or feedback from other colleagues or staff members. It’s really important to be prepared for this question, many people are stumped by it. Think it through before hand and imagine how the interview might perceive your answer. Make sure it is positive and ultimately demonstrates your value to the organization.

If you’ve found this information helpful…
You’ll love this very useful product that I found called the Job Interview Success System. The fact is that most job seekers are not prepared when they go into a job interview. With this system you’ll feel confident and prepared and will blow the employer’s socks off! Imagine hearing, “Congratulations - You’re Hired!” Isn’t your future worth it?
The The Job Interview Success System includes:
1. Step-By-Step Guide To Simple Strategies That Will Get You Hired
2. How to Give Job-Winning Answers to Interview Questions
3. 5 Simple Secrets of Selling Yourself
4. How to Follow Up Without Freaking Out
5. The Job Interview Success Checklist

Laura Whitelaw, owner of BestChoice4Resumes, offers solid credentials as a Certified Resume Strategist through Career Professionals of Canada. Laura offers her clients recruitment expertise honed over several years as an employment agent, corporate trainer, and over four years as a resume writer.

Her unique perspective of the other side – that of the employer — allows Laura to position her job seekers by preparing attention-grabbing resumes, and effective cover letters. She further boosts her clients’ insider knowledge with job search and interview coaching.

She specializes in writing resumes for salespeople, managers, supervisors, administrative assistants, customer service personnel and IT.

You can find out about having your resume professionally written with Laura’s by visiting the Services page.

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Take Stock of your Accomplishments
When we take the time to notice our successes and celebrate them, our self confidence is boosted. Many of us were taught not to boast or brag and so, many times we ignore our own strengths. Give yourself permission to celebrate what you’ve achieved and forgive yourself for any perceived failures. Many successful people have failed their way to success. Remember Thomas Edison? He failed approximately 1,000 times in his quest to invent the light bulb but he didn’t see it that way.

Set Small Goals and Achieve Them
Goal setting is a wonderful way to build self confidence. With each goal achieved, you can celebrate your success and give yourself a pat on the back. You’ll begin to feel like a winner. If you begin with small goals, then you are much more likely to achieve them and gradually build your self confidence and develop the courage to move on to bigger and bolder achievements.

Manage Your Thinking
So much of a person’s self image is based on how they view themselves. And their view of themselves stems from their thinking. Our thinking is often repetitive from day to day and therefore, if our thinking is negative, it is very destructive. Begin by noticing when you’re thinking negatively and see if you can flip that thought to something else. Flip that thought to a recent accomplishment from one of the small goals that you’ve achieved. Positive thinking is a habit and as you practice, more and more you’ll begin to have more positive thoughts running naturally through your mind.

If this information has helped you….
Then check out this great resource for help Unstoppable Confidence. With this course and using Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), you’ll be more confident, attract better relationships, promotions at work, a higher salary, greater opportunities and more!

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Preparation Helps to Ease Public Speaking Fears
Knowledge about your topic and preparation helps greatly in easing a person’s public speaking fears. In Toastmasters, your first speech (known as the Icebreaker) is always about yourself, a topic that hopefully - you know a lot about. This helps people new to public speaking relax and get used to standing and presenting in front of an audience. Once you get your first speech under your belt, you begin to choose more difficult topics where you may have to do some research and preparation. It helps to practice your speech in front of family or friends or even in front of the mirror.

Use Humor in Public Speaking to Relate to Your Audience
If you’re comfortable, you can use humor to relate better to your audience and draw them into your speech. It will make you feel more relaxed as well. Another technique for successful public speaking is the use of anecdotes or stories to get your point across. Anecdotes and stories are also easier to remember when delivering your speech and will help you to relate to your audience.

Speak to Your Audience the Way You Would To One Person
In public speaking, you need not be overly formal. If you deliver your speech as if you are talking to just one person, it will help to calm your public speaking nerves. Imagine that you are talking to a trusted and loving friend. Confident public speaking takes practice and a great way to get that practice is to join a local Toastmasters group.

If you’ve found this information helpful…
Then you’ll love this very useful product that I found called the Public Speaking Sensation Home Study Course. In this program, you’ll discover:
1. The 3 fears of Public Speaking and how to banish them forever
2. The Golden Rule of Relaxation
3. The 7 most common mannerisms and why you should avoid them
4. How to build a speech correctly and painlessly
5. The 4 essential sections in a speech
6. The 10 ‘Wants’ that every audience has regardless of subject
And much, much more!
Your life will be transformed by this program and you’ll have more confidence, poise, respect, expertise and skills.

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Career Advancement Requires Making Better Decisions
Decisions begin with an end in mind or a purpose for making the decision which is usually to solve a problem. Making better decisions stems from considering every possible option and their impact on the situation at hand and then choosing the best alternative. Action steps are determined and different tasks may be assigned to other members of an organization. Successful people are decisive and action oriented in their approach to their work and the job they’ve been hired to do.

Rising Stars are Able to Influence People
Successful people are able to influence others to support a cause, complete projects, or become their champion. They are able to engage people to get their buy-in and build relationships that help to move things along. Good influencers make things happen and others like to be around them. It’s not about being a bully or forcing others to do as you would like. It has to do with showing others the respect they are due while being assertive about your ideas and goals. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills play a big role in a person’s ability to influence others.

Developing the Right Relationships is Key in Successful Career Management
Developing relationships is another key component to successful career management. In order to develop relationships that will move a person forward in their career, they will need to identify who the other influencers are in the organization. Investing time in developing those influential relationships is crucial. A way to do this is by adding value to those relationships so that it becomes a win-win situation. This requires clarifying what the other person needs in order to meet their own objectives and helping them to get it. Maintaining regular contact with key relationships keeps you top of mind as well.

How To Become A Rising Star in Your Career
If you’ve found this information helpful…
You’ll love this very useful product that I found called How To Become A Rising Star. In this program, you’ll discover how to:
Influence others more effectively - both individually and in groups
Develop executive presence - an image that positions you as a leader
Get people to listen willingly to your ideas
Gain support and resources more easily
Turn your boss into a cheerleader for your future success
Get along with anyone, even the most difficult types
Make people like you and want to help you out
Make people happy to let you win
Turn failures into success
Attract promotions and rewards instead of chasing them

And, when others see you as A Rising Star you will:
Attract raises, bonuses and promotions, instead of chasing after them
Win recognition and respect
Develop a network of supporters
Make a name for yourself in your company - and your industry
Make yourself a highly sought after prospect for leadership
And more!

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Learn To Meditate to Manage Stress
Meditation has long been touted as a stress reliever and can help you to be more effective in your daily activities. With practice, meditation can help to think more clearly and have better focus and concentration. You don’t have to sit cross legged and chant mantras either - although it may help to quiet the internal mind chatter by giving your brain something to focus on. You can quiet your mind just as easily by paying close attention to your breathing. To start a meditation practice, commit to spending just 10 minutes per day. Sit in a comfortable chair in a quiet room and close your eyes. Allow your breath to slow down and your lungs and abdomen to expand fully. If any thoughts enter your mind, simply observe them and then let them go. You can also listen to a relaxation CD, one that has the sounds of ocean waves crashing against the shore or birds chirping and a babbling brook in the background. Your practice can be either in the morning or in the evening. The morning is often a better choice for people because then you can start your day on the “right foot” and have that calm carry you through the rest of your day.

Two Great Stress Management Techniques: Yoga and Tai Chi
Yoga and Tai Chi have become very popular exercise choices in the last several years for a reason. Both are excellent ways to connect with your inner calm. You may find that at the beginning you have a hard time enjoying a Yoga or Tai Chi class especially if you’re used to strenuous exercise such as running or aerobics classes. With continued practice though, you will learn to slow down your busy mind and just be in the moment. It is better to join a Yoga Centre or Martial Arts Centre to learn these practices but you can supplement your class time with a home practice by purchasing a Yoga or Tai Chi DVD routine.

Relieve Stress by Keeping a Journal
Lastly, journaling is a great way to relieve stress. It helps to calm a busy mind and allows you to get your thoughts down on paper. If something is bothering you, start by writing about your feelings and you’ll find that after a certain amount of time, perhaps 20 minutes or so, that the issue isn’t bothering you as much. You might also come up with some different insights from journaling. One type of journal that might help to get you started is a gratitude journal. Simply write five or ten things a day in your journal that you are thankful for and pretty soon you will find that your outlook has changed. It only takes about 5 or 10 minutes per day to keep a gratitude journal and it has a profound affect on your overall feeling of well-being.

If you’ve found this information helpful…Then, you’ll love this very useful product that I found called the Conquer Stress and Anxiety. Over time, stress can lead to serious health problems. Stress can raise your blood pressure, affect your immune system and, increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. Over time, stress can cause you to be more vulnerable to anxiety, phobias, panic attacks and depression. But you can get your life back and enjoy happiness again with Conquer Stress and Anxiety.
You’ll sleep better, enjoy more energy, have greater self confidence and regain your passion for life! Inside Conquer Stress and Anxiety, you’ll discover:

1. Find out how a five step loop keeps your suffering ongoing and deepens the torment. You’ll learn some fantastic, easy-to-do techniques so you can break out of the loop and stop stress, depression and anxiety in their tracks.
2. Recognize how routine daily behaviors and habits common to each and every sufferer of stress, depression and anxiety can actually fuel your nightmare.
3. Know how to effectively deal with the highly-destructive emotion that fuels stress, anxiety and depression.
4. Know how to gain greater control over all aspects of your life. Feeling you have control over your life is so important.
And more!

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Job Search Tip 1: Know What You Want
You’ve heard the saying, “Failing to plan is planning to fail” and the same holds true for a job search. Many people are too general in their job search approach thinking that if they apply for every job out there, they’ll eventually land something. While that may be true, you’re better off targeting a specific type of job and/or industry. If you’ve got experience in that job or industry, then you’re off to the races and you’ll want to ensure that your resume positions you as an expert in your chosen field. If you don’t then you’ll want to address the type of position you’re looking for in the objective statement on your resume.

Job Search Tip 2: Prepare a Targeted Professional Resume
Preparing a targeted professional resume is essential. I liken it to niche marketing. You’re more likely to get called for interviews if you resume is targeted. This can be accomplished by inserting an objective statement into your resume or by creating a professional profile section at the start of your resume that describes the number of year’s experience you have related to that type of work and industry; your educational background and achievements.

Job Search Tip 3: Diversify Your Job Search Methods
You need to diversify your job search methods. If you stick only to searching for jobs through online job boards, you’ll be faced with a lot of competition. Try doing a google search on companies within your chosen industry and click on the company websites and check their careers section. They may have an advertisement on their website that does not appear on any job boards. Even if they don’t have any advertised positions on their website, you can check to see if there are any names of executives or hiring managers on their website and email them directly with a polite request for an informational interview to discuss any future job possibilities. The point is that there are many ways to skin a cat so just make sure that you are not sticking to only one method of searching for a job.

If you’ve found this information helpful…
Then, you’ll love this very useful product that I found called The Simple Job Search System. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median income was $48,200 in 2006. That means half of Americans make more and half make less than $48,200. If you’re reading this on your computer at home or work, you are likely at or above the median income. Which means that every week you go without a job likely costs you $926.92 — or more — in lost wages. That’s no small amount of money.

Inside The Simple Job Search System you’ll discover:
1. How one man found a job paying $130,000 after writing one simple thing on a piece of paper. It takes less than 2 minutes. And if you passed 5th grade English, you can do this!
2. What happened to 8 hospital patients as they sat in front of a mirror that can “cure” your employment worries, almost instantly?
3. Why you should call an employer when the job posting says, “No phone calls.” Learn the 22 words to say so that nobody is offended … and your chances of getting the interview will skyrocket!
4. The email you can send out today … with a message that can make the phone ring tomorrow with job leads. Best part: It takes just 11 minutes!
5. Why almost everything you know about networking is wrong, and 4 ways to fix it -fast. You’ve heard that networking is how 50-80% of people get hired … yet you’re still looking for a job. What’s wrong?
6. The strange letter you can mail to just 20% of the people you know — it’s only about 185 words long — that turns a 41-cent stamp into thousands of dollars in new salary. It’s that powerful!
7. The simple, fun exercise that lets you ace your next job interview. You can do it while you shave or brush your teeth. It takes just minutes a day, and you can expect a 23% — or more — improvement in your communication skills. Amazing!
And more!

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Job Interview Question #1: Why Are You Leaving Your Current Position?

The above question is one that sometimes trips people up. If the reason you’re leaving is because you are unhappy with your current job - try and keep your answers positive. Otherwise, you’ll only come off as someone who is negative or difficult to deal with. An example of something positive would be to say that you are looking for a new challenge and that after researching different opportunities, you feel that the interviewer’s company offers you the challenge that you are looking for. Discuss how you can add value to the organization. Some other “safe” answers to this question are that you want to find a position closer to your home or that your current company is small and there is no room for advancement.

Job Interview Question #2: What qualities do you look for in a manager/supervisor?

This question is designed for finding out if you are manageable. It also allows you the opportunity to let them know how you expect to be treated. Keep your answer positive and state the behaviours you want from your boss, not what you don’t want. For example, “I like a manager who allows me to make my own decisions, respects my point of view, values open communication and acts as a coach and mentor.”

Job Interview Question #3: How do you think you will be able to contribute to the success of this organization?

For this question, be prepared with some examples of what you have been able to do for previous employers. If possible, talk in numbers. An example would be, “I anticipate being able to make a significant contribution to this company as I have done in the past. At XYZ Company, I was able to reduce production downtime by over 15% with the new procedures I implemented. This resulted in an estimated savings of about $500,000 per year for the company.”

If you’ve found this information helpful…

Then sign up for my free newsletter for more tips on resume creation, job search strategy and interview preparation. And, you’ll love this very useful product that I found called the Job Interview Success System. The fact is that most job seekers are not prepared when they go into a job interview. This system will help you with preparing for your next interview so that you’ll blow the employer’s socks off! Imagine hearing, “Congratulations - You’re Hired!” Isn’t your future worth it? Visit here for the The Job Interview Success System.

Other Resources To Help You:

Job Interview Techniques
Job Interview Tips
Sample Job Interview Questions
Job Interview Questions & Answers
Preparing for a Job Interview

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