Tips to do and not to do in a cover letter
1. Tips TO DO:
• In the first paragraph, address the name of the recruitment job and the information source you have known about the job from.
• Try to find out the name and position of the recruiter.
• Write the cover letter based on recruitment information on the recruitment ad; try to give specific examples of your relevant experiences to the recruitment job.
• Sign at the end of the cover letter.
• After finishing writing, read the letter again to check for any spelling or grammatical errors. You may also have others check this out for you.
• Write a brief cover letter – within 01 A4 page only. Each paragraph consists of only 2 – 4 sentences.
• Specify in the letter that you attach with the letter a resume or other necessary documents.
• In the last paragraph, write your contact number.
• Prepare a clean and nice envelope.
2. Tips NOT TO DO:
• Send a cover letter without a resume or CV.
Continue reading at: Cover letter do's and don'ts
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Simply a Better Procurement Resume - Brand Yourself Better
A great resume is a powerful tool yet woefully misused and a major obstacle preventing many highly qualified candidates from getting the job they really want.
"It's marketing, marketing, marketing" Bronwen Hann says, Senior Partner of Argentus Search Group, a Specialty Search Firm in Procurement & Supply Chain. "People just don't market themselves properly". Quote, MM&D Magazine October 2008
That starts with a really strong resume. So as soon as you start your search, the first thing you must do is take a close and critical look at your resume - its likely time for a complete re-write. Read your resume as if you were looking to hire yourself. Most resumes are tired and boring and if that's the case, heed these words.
It's time to brand yourself, toot your own horn, and tell the world your true value. A resume is no longer a job description. It just isn't enough to get yourself noticed, especially the more senior you are. A great resume is a bullet pointed, punchy, achievement based document (three pages), packed with MEASURABLE PROOF of what you have achieved in your career. Which will get your resume to the top of the 'to be interviewed' pile. This marketing approach will guarantee to get you noticed. After all in the procurement game it's all about results. If you're putting your procurement resume out there, you had better be sure that you can easily demonstrate you can bring fast results to a perspective employer in showing specific category expertise as well as being able to come up with examples of your success.
Employers are no longer interested in resumes that all look the same - they are looking for that something that differentiates. If you can't put a document in front of an employer that is refreshingly different that everyone else, you are putting yourself at a decided disadvantage. A Procurement resume must be chockablock full of succinct industry speak and clearly emphasise performance metrics which jump off the page at the reader.
Bring a strong Return On Investment perspective to your resume. It's very powerful. Sell yourself and the benefits you bring to a company - put them in the picture because people don't have time to do it for themselves these days - you have thirty seconds to grab them, make good use of it. What you have to offer an employer means you exponentially increase your chances of getting noticed ahead of everyone else applying for the same position.
Soft economy - NO WAY. Not for Procurement professionals. Times have never been better for you to be moving your career forward. Group Purchasing Organizations for example are seriously cranking the pump right now for Strategic Sourcing talent.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/
"It's marketing, marketing, marketing" Bronwen Hann says, Senior Partner of Argentus Search Group, a Specialty Search Firm in Procurement & Supply Chain. "People just don't market themselves properly". Quote, MM&D Magazine October 2008
That starts with a really strong resume. So as soon as you start your search, the first thing you must do is take a close and critical look at your resume - its likely time for a complete re-write. Read your resume as if you were looking to hire yourself. Most resumes are tired and boring and if that's the case, heed these words.
It's time to brand yourself, toot your own horn, and tell the world your true value. A resume is no longer a job description. It just isn't enough to get yourself noticed, especially the more senior you are. A great resume is a bullet pointed, punchy, achievement based document (three pages), packed with MEASURABLE PROOF of what you have achieved in your career. Which will get your resume to the top of the 'to be interviewed' pile. This marketing approach will guarantee to get you noticed. After all in the procurement game it's all about results. If you're putting your procurement resume out there, you had better be sure that you can easily demonstrate you can bring fast results to a perspective employer in showing specific category expertise as well as being able to come up with examples of your success.
Employers are no longer interested in resumes that all look the same - they are looking for that something that differentiates. If you can't put a document in front of an employer that is refreshingly different that everyone else, you are putting yourself at a decided disadvantage. A Procurement resume must be chockablock full of succinct industry speak and clearly emphasise performance metrics which jump off the page at the reader.
Bring a strong Return On Investment perspective to your resume. It's very powerful. Sell yourself and the benefits you bring to a company - put them in the picture because people don't have time to do it for themselves these days - you have thirty seconds to grab them, make good use of it. What you have to offer an employer means you exponentially increase your chances of getting noticed ahead of everyone else applying for the same position.
Soft economy - NO WAY. Not for Procurement professionals. Times have never been better for you to be moving your career forward. Group Purchasing Organizations for example are seriously cranking the pump right now for Strategic Sourcing talent.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Branding Your Resume - Three Tips to Brand Your Resume the Right Way
Have you heard all the buzz about branding yourself? Are you wondering how to make sure your resume is reflecting your brand? Here are three quick tips to brand your resume so it really reflects you at your very best.
Tip Number One: Understand Your Brand
What is your brand? I believe your brand is simply the promise of an experience that a company will have by hiring you. That promise shows itself through the tone and content of your resume - which your reader garners their impressions of you from.
Tip Number Two: Define Your Brand
A couple ways to define your unique brand is first to think about what you are doing when you are at your best. Brainstorm on keywords and phrases. You are going to want these in your resume!
Another powerful technique is to ask three different people (let's say your spouse, your co-worker and a friend) to describe you using only three words. As them to be boldly honest and say the first three words that come into their mind!
Tip Number Three: Sell Your Brand
Your brand should weave throughout your resume in words and phrases that best reflect you "doing what you love." Are you struggling with what information to include in your resume? If you are having trouble with a particular area, just compare it to your branding statements. Does it illustrate you in action using your branding keywords? Is it an important component to the position you are seeking? If the answer is no, delete it!
As you build your brand here's one additional tip: always track your accomplishments. It's really hard to go back and remember the goals you've reached and the challenges you have overcome, especially if it's been over a twelve month span of time. Make an effort to track your accomplishments as they occur.
Follow these three tips and you will be on your way to a crystal clear, compelling and unique brand.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/
Tip Number One: Understand Your Brand
What is your brand? I believe your brand is simply the promise of an experience that a company will have by hiring you. That promise shows itself through the tone and content of your resume - which your reader garners their impressions of you from.
Tip Number Two: Define Your Brand
A couple ways to define your unique brand is first to think about what you are doing when you are at your best. Brainstorm on keywords and phrases. You are going to want these in your resume!
Another powerful technique is to ask three different people (let's say your spouse, your co-worker and a friend) to describe you using only three words. As them to be boldly honest and say the first three words that come into their mind!
Tip Number Three: Sell Your Brand
Your brand should weave throughout your resume in words and phrases that best reflect you "doing what you love." Are you struggling with what information to include in your resume? If you are having trouble with a particular area, just compare it to your branding statements. Does it illustrate you in action using your branding keywords? Is it an important component to the position you are seeking? If the answer is no, delete it!
As you build your brand here's one additional tip: always track your accomplishments. It's really hard to go back and remember the goals you've reached and the challenges you have overcome, especially if it's been over a twelve month span of time. Make an effort to track your accomplishments as they occur.
Follow these three tips and you will be on your way to a crystal clear, compelling and unique brand.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Must Know Similarities Between Celebrities and Cover Letters
The Success of an endorsement is related to its credibility.
An endorsement from a friend or family member is a powerful driver because of the underlying credibility of the person making the statement. This credibility is the same reason why celebrities are paid monstrous amounts of money to promote a product. A celebrity is the next best thing to a friend or loved one, we feel like we know them and there is a degree of trust stemming from our background knowledge of their lives - staged as it may be. But when that trust is lost, so are the sponsorship payouts. The Tiger Woods story is an example of such a sequence of events.
Research shows that more than half of shoppers purchase their preferred brand even when a less-expensive alternative is available. Brand names, for example, are generally more expensive than generic brands but department stores still report that brand names have an excellent take up from consumers. Why? Because we trust that the brand name will deliver the outcome we desire. If it is a piece of clothing we trust that it will be fashionable, when we buy well known food products we trust that it has been handled hygienically and treated to the correct standards.
So what does this have to do with Cover Letters?
Cover letters promote a product that is close and dear to your heart...yourself. Since you don't have a celebrity promoting your cause, nor do you have a brand name to inspire confidence, the burden of credibility lies solely on the content of the cover letter.
If I told you that my tuna is the best tasting tuna in the world, would you believe me? I may well be telling you the truth but given my credibility, or lack thereof, as a fisherman it is unlikely that my tuna product would make it further than my own dinner table.
So if I told you that I was an outstanding manager, would you believe me? How is it that some people are able to land high level, well paid positions that quite clearly seek the best talent in the field?
Credibility is the key. The reaction from an employer upon hearing that you will 'improve ROI (Return On Investment) by 20%' varies depending on whether the employer actually believes you. And when it comes to magnificent claims there is no greater source of credibility than a well-written clear account of your related experiences and triumphs. One of the main reasons that executives are able to move between high paying roles is because they are able to make statements that provide a clear relationship between previous success and the offered role.
Lets put it all together - Example Cover Letter Response
As an example lets attempt to convince the reader that we can indeed 'improve ROI (Return On Investment) by 20%';
Sample Response: 'By delivering clear and complete information policy at an enterprise level we were able to identify and group common service delivery teams throughout the infrastructure management branch. The consolidation of service delivery functions led to a decrease in administration overhead and travel which in turn translated to a 20% increase in ROI for my existing employer. This outcome, together with similar successes in previous positions leads me to confidently declare that I can deliver a similar result again as an Infrastructure Manager in CompanyX.'
As you can see, the implication in this response is that this executive is confident of delivering a 20% increase in ROI. In order to establish credibility he names the process and outcome of a previous experience that was relevant to the statement. He establishes a brief history and makes a tight connection to the offered role.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/
An endorsement from a friend or family member is a powerful driver because of the underlying credibility of the person making the statement. This credibility is the same reason why celebrities are paid monstrous amounts of money to promote a product. A celebrity is the next best thing to a friend or loved one, we feel like we know them and there is a degree of trust stemming from our background knowledge of their lives - staged as it may be. But when that trust is lost, so are the sponsorship payouts. The Tiger Woods story is an example of such a sequence of events.
Research shows that more than half of shoppers purchase their preferred brand even when a less-expensive alternative is available. Brand names, for example, are generally more expensive than generic brands but department stores still report that brand names have an excellent take up from consumers. Why? Because we trust that the brand name will deliver the outcome we desire. If it is a piece of clothing we trust that it will be fashionable, when we buy well known food products we trust that it has been handled hygienically and treated to the correct standards.
So what does this have to do with Cover Letters?
Cover letters promote a product that is close and dear to your heart...yourself. Since you don't have a celebrity promoting your cause, nor do you have a brand name to inspire confidence, the burden of credibility lies solely on the content of the cover letter.
If I told you that my tuna is the best tasting tuna in the world, would you believe me? I may well be telling you the truth but given my credibility, or lack thereof, as a fisherman it is unlikely that my tuna product would make it further than my own dinner table.
So if I told you that I was an outstanding manager, would you believe me? How is it that some people are able to land high level, well paid positions that quite clearly seek the best talent in the field?
Credibility is the key. The reaction from an employer upon hearing that you will 'improve ROI (Return On Investment) by 20%' varies depending on whether the employer actually believes you. And when it comes to magnificent claims there is no greater source of credibility than a well-written clear account of your related experiences and triumphs. One of the main reasons that executives are able to move between high paying roles is because they are able to make statements that provide a clear relationship between previous success and the offered role.
Lets put it all together - Example Cover Letter Response
As an example lets attempt to convince the reader that we can indeed 'improve ROI (Return On Investment) by 20%';
Sample Response: 'By delivering clear and complete information policy at an enterprise level we were able to identify and group common service delivery teams throughout the infrastructure management branch. The consolidation of service delivery functions led to a decrease in administration overhead and travel which in turn translated to a 20% increase in ROI for my existing employer. This outcome, together with similar successes in previous positions leads me to confidently declare that I can deliver a similar result again as an Infrastructure Manager in CompanyX.'
As you can see, the implication in this response is that this executive is confident of delivering a 20% increase in ROI. In order to establish credibility he names the process and outcome of a previous experience that was relevant to the statement. He establishes a brief history and makes a tight connection to the offered role.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Personal Branding - Writing a Brand Focused Resume
With so many companies cutting marketing budgets and personnel, an overwhelming number of marketing executives are updating their resumes, either through preparation or by necessity. The shortage of jobs and overabundance of talent has fueled the surge in personal branding. As many of our friends and clients have come to us for help in this matter, we thought we'd shed a little light on the subject.
Personal branding is really nothing more than applying the same techniques used to differentiate an organization's products/services to differentiate yourself as an individual. When viewed through this lens, it becomes apparent that the goal of your resume is to capture and express the value that only you will bring to an organization. Make the case for why you're different and how this difference makes you better and your resume should find its way towards the job and the career that best suits your abilities.
Simple enough? Then why do so many sabotage their own success? The problem is that too many marketing executives fail to properly frame what makes them the better candidate. Instead of focusing on the transferable skills that allowed them to achieve results, they choose to focus on career milestones.
The purpose of stating responsibilities is to give context to your skills. Your accomplishments validate those skills. This gives an employer confidence in an otherwise subjective and often exaggerated work history. Focus on the singular benefit that you will provide. The rest of your brand story will fall into place, and you will fall into the right position at the right company.
Have a Singular benefit
Many unemployed marketing professionals are highly talented and qualified, yet are willing to trade a pay-cut for a paycheck. Potential employers know this. Rather than focusing on advanced academic degrees or lofty job titles, provide a clear reason to choose you. If you're pursuing a job that you may be "overqualified" for, explain your willingness to take a "lesser position" in a way that makes sense, such as changing fields to pursue your passion, or having the time to see your kids grow up.
Objective
Your "objective" statement is perhaps the single most important item on your resume. This is your value proposition. Its only purpose is to clearly and concisely outline the value you'll bring to the company. Don't focus on large achievements that might scare an employer away. You're outlining your future by drafting a map from past to present. This may require that you play down your "experience" to play up what transferable skills you bring to an employer.
People Don't Read, They Scan
Make your resume clear and simple. Figure out what will make you stand out within your chosen field and place that simple fact front and center. Then measure everything from content to layout against this fact and start making cuts. But don't cut so deep as to reduce your resume to a skeleton. Trim the fat and loose the buzz words.
Just the Facts Mam
Very few people will care if you like to cook, ski, golf, or simply enjoy Vermont, unless it adds value to the position and the company. Your extracurricular activities should illustrate dedication and expertise. Otherwise, less is more. The same can be stated for skills. There is no need to state the obvious such as proficient in MS Word and Excel. State only that which provides you with an advantage over other candidates.
Whenever Possible, Be Quantifiable
As Ted Levitt famously said, "People don't buy a quarter-inch drill bit, they buy a quarter-inch hole." It's one thing to say "dedicated marketing professional," it's quite another to say "increased market share by 10% in a down economy." If you can back it up with facts, do so? Communicate your skill set and stress what you will bring to the company. Everything else are just footnotes in your career's history.
Look the Part
It's difficult, if not impossible to balance white-space and create stunning typography in MS Word. Call in a favor and ask a designer to layout your resume. A well laid out resume is a signal that you understand marketing and see the value in conveying a positive brand image.
Armed with a simple and sophisticated resume, you will be better able to convey your value. Your expertise is marketing. Start marketing yourself. You should be speaking, publishing articles and papers and be active in social media. Pretend you're a product. Target your audience, create a differentiated position and provide a compelling reason to buy. It's your career.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/
Personal branding is really nothing more than applying the same techniques used to differentiate an organization's products/services to differentiate yourself as an individual. When viewed through this lens, it becomes apparent that the goal of your resume is to capture and express the value that only you will bring to an organization. Make the case for why you're different and how this difference makes you better and your resume should find its way towards the job and the career that best suits your abilities.
Simple enough? Then why do so many sabotage their own success? The problem is that too many marketing executives fail to properly frame what makes them the better candidate. Instead of focusing on the transferable skills that allowed them to achieve results, they choose to focus on career milestones.
The purpose of stating responsibilities is to give context to your skills. Your accomplishments validate those skills. This gives an employer confidence in an otherwise subjective and often exaggerated work history. Focus on the singular benefit that you will provide. The rest of your brand story will fall into place, and you will fall into the right position at the right company.
Have a Singular benefit
Many unemployed marketing professionals are highly talented and qualified, yet are willing to trade a pay-cut for a paycheck. Potential employers know this. Rather than focusing on advanced academic degrees or lofty job titles, provide a clear reason to choose you. If you're pursuing a job that you may be "overqualified" for, explain your willingness to take a "lesser position" in a way that makes sense, such as changing fields to pursue your passion, or having the time to see your kids grow up.
Objective
Your "objective" statement is perhaps the single most important item on your resume. This is your value proposition. Its only purpose is to clearly and concisely outline the value you'll bring to the company. Don't focus on large achievements that might scare an employer away. You're outlining your future by drafting a map from past to present. This may require that you play down your "experience" to play up what transferable skills you bring to an employer.
People Don't Read, They Scan
Make your resume clear and simple. Figure out what will make you stand out within your chosen field and place that simple fact front and center. Then measure everything from content to layout against this fact and start making cuts. But don't cut so deep as to reduce your resume to a skeleton. Trim the fat and loose the buzz words.
Just the Facts Mam
Very few people will care if you like to cook, ski, golf, or simply enjoy Vermont, unless it adds value to the position and the company. Your extracurricular activities should illustrate dedication and expertise. Otherwise, less is more. The same can be stated for skills. There is no need to state the obvious such as proficient in MS Word and Excel. State only that which provides you with an advantage over other candidates.
Whenever Possible, Be Quantifiable
As Ted Levitt famously said, "People don't buy a quarter-inch drill bit, they buy a quarter-inch hole." It's one thing to say "dedicated marketing professional," it's quite another to say "increased market share by 10% in a down economy." If you can back it up with facts, do so? Communicate your skill set and stress what you will bring to the company. Everything else are just footnotes in your career's history.
Look the Part
It's difficult, if not impossible to balance white-space and create stunning typography in MS Word. Call in a favor and ask a designer to layout your resume. A well laid out resume is a signal that you understand marketing and see the value in conveying a positive brand image.
Armed with a simple and sophisticated resume, you will be better able to convey your value. Your expertise is marketing. Start marketing yourself. You should be speaking, publishing articles and papers and be active in social media. Pretend you're a product. Target your audience, create a differentiated position and provide a compelling reason to buy. It's your career.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/
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