Career Planning: Do What You Love and Love What You Do!

You can learn a lot about how to write a powerful cover letter, not by reading books on cover letters written by employment experts, but by reading your junk mail.
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That's right: Start reading the sales letters you get in the mail if you want to write cover letters that produce job interviews.

That's because, as far as is known, nobody ever got rich writing books on cover letters.

But there are plenty of copywriters who earn more than $500,000 per year and $50,000 per letter.

They get this kind of money for writing sales letters that sell in the millions of dollars.

And, since your job search is ultimately a sales and marketing campaign, why not take your cover letter cues from the letters written by highly paid copywriters?

Here are four ways to do it ...

1) Begin with a Name

When's the last time you bought something from a sales letter that began, "Dear Occupant"?

I thought so.

Why not?

Because, if the writer doesn't even know your name, how are they going to understand your situation enough to deserve getting your hard-earned money?

Employers think the same way.

Why should they give you their money -- in the form of salary -- if you start your cover letter, "Dear Sir or Madam"?

So, it behooves you to start every cover letter with the name of the hiring authority. Make as many phone calls as it takes to find that person's name.

Here's a script to use when you call: "I'm writing a letter to the head of your Accounting/Customer Service/Warehousing Department. Could I have the correct spelling for that person's name please?"

2) Know Your Reader, Then Prove It

Your cover letter should show that you researched the employer. The more relevant, specific facts you can include in your letter, the better your odds that at least one of them will connect with the reader.

Every company hiring has problems to solve and opportunities to capitalize on.

Find them by asking the people you know personally and professionally. Good places to start are your email address book, followed by Linkedin.com. You can also try Facebook, MySpace and Zoominfo.com.

Google can provide a mountain of intelligence. Your main task will be to prioritize which facts to include and which to leave out of your cover letter.

In fact, if you don't have room for everything, that can be good!

In your cover letter, include two or three relevant bits of information from your research, then language to this effect: "There isn't room here to discuss all the ways I can contribute to ABC Corp., so please call me today to learn four more areas I can help you with, including the $750,000 opportunity mentioned in yesterday's New York Times."

3) Turn I, Me, My into You, You, You

Read any good sales letter and one of the most common words will always be YOU.

That's because good copywriters understand human nature, and how natural it is to be selfish. We care about ourselves first and foremost.

And, because hiring managers are human, they care more about themselves and their problems than about you and yours.

With that in mind, you can instantly improve any cover letters by making one, simple change: Turn all the mentions of "I, me, mine" into "you, You, YOU."

Example: Don't write, "I'm applying for a job where my skills will be rewarded with the opportunity for me to advance."

17 Surefire Ways to Annoy Potential Employers

(1) Being unprepared for the interview. Prepare, plan, and practice! In today's tough job market, you MUST do everything you can to give yourself an edge... preparation is the key. 

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(2) Not being able to communicate clearly and effectively. This is important during the interview and on the job. Being nervous can really mess up your communication skills, so being well prepared and practicing what you're going to say are always your best bet.

(3) Being aggressive, arrogant, or acting in a superior way. No one wants to hire or work with people who think they're better than everyone else. Be careful with your attitude, even if you think you're surrounded by incompetent fools. Being confident is good. Being an arrogant jerk is bad.

(4) Making excuses for failings. Your teacher never bought "The dog ate my homework!" and your boss isn't going to buy "The finance department gave me the wrong figures!" In the grown-up world, you have to take responsibility for what you are responsible for! You'll never earn respect by blaming others when things go wrong.

(5) Saying unfavorable things about previous employers. Even if you left a job because the boss was an egomaniac who took credit for all of your hard work, verbally abused you in front of others, and poisoned the plant on your desk, don't say anything bad about him/her during an interview. When asked "Why did you leave your last job?" say something like "My manager and I both agreed that my advancement opportunities were limited there and obtaining another position was the best option for me and my career goals."

(6) Having a poor/limp handshake. Why do people think you'll be a lousy employee if you have a lousy handshake? That's not really logical, is it? Doesn't matter. It just turns people off and gives them a bad impression of you. So make your handshake firm and confident but not bone-crushing. (It's not a competition to see who winces first!)

17 Surefire Ways to Annoy Potential Employers

Despite the President's encouraging words, the job market is still in sorry shape. There are more job seekers than job openings, so do NOT make things harder on yourself by doing any of the things on this list! Never, ever do these!

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1. Apply for jobs you are not qualified for.
2. Send a generic cover letter that doesn't identify the position you're interested in, or match your qualifications to the job.
3. Put a useless, seen-it-a-million-times Objective on your resume that says you want a "challenging opportunity with a forward-looking company where I can utilize my knowledge, experience and skills to our mutual advantage."
4. Make your resume a list of past duties instead of accomplishments.
5. Lie, brag or exaggerate about ANYTHING.
6. Keep making repetitive "notice-me" calls to ask if your resume was received.
7. Fail to respond quickly to messages left on your answering machine or voicemail.
8. Expect them to schedule your phone-screening interview after normal business hours.
9. Refuse to give your salary requirements when requested prior to the interview.
10. Fail to research the company prior to the interview.

How to Give Job-Winning Answers to Interview Questions

How to Answer Questions

First, know these important facts:

1. There is no way to predict every question you will be asked during a job interview. In other words, expect unexpected questions--they'll come up no matter how much preparation you do.

2. Treat any sample answers you find, such as in discussion forums, books or on Internet job sites, as guides only. Do not use any sample answers word for word! Interviewers can spot "canned" answers a mile away, and if they suspect you are regurgitating answers that are not your own, you can kiss that job goodbye. You must apply your own experiences, personality and style to answer the questions in your own way. This is crucial, and it will give you a big advantage over candidates who simply recite sample answers.

3. Job interview questions are not things to fear, they are opportunities to excel. They allow you to show why you are the best person for the job, so instead of dreading them, look forward to them! The key is to give better answers than anyone else, and that's where your preparation comes in. 

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Now, take these actions:

1. Make a list of your best "selling points" for the position. What qualifications, skills, experience, knowledge, background, personality traits do you possess that would apply to this particular job? Write them down and look for opportunities to work them into your answers.

2. In addition to any sample job interview questions you find through various resources, you absolutely must develop your own list of probable questions based specifically on the job for which you are applying. Put yourself in the hiring manager's shoes… what kinds of questions would you ask to find the best person for this job?

3. Write down your answers to likely questions. Study the job announcement carefully. (If you don't have one, get one!) Note the phrases they use when describing the desired qualifications. You'll want to target these as much as possible when developing your answers. For example, if the announcement says they want someone with "strong customer service skills," make sure you include "strong customer service skills" in at least one of your answers. That will make a better impression than saying "I helped customers."

4. Review and edit your answers until you feel they are "just right." Read them over and over until you are comfortable that you know them fairly well. Don't try to memorize them; don't worry about remembering every word. Practice saying them out loud. If possible, have a friend help you rehearse for the interview.

Here are some more very important tips:

1. Be a (Short) Story Teller

Make use of this old marketing tip: "Facts tell but stories sell." During a job interview, you are selling yourself. Whenever possible, answer questions with a short story that gives specific examples of your experiences. Notice I said "short." You don't want to ramble or take up too much time; you want to be brief but still make your point.

For example, imagine two people interviewing for a job as a dog groomer are asked, "Have you ever dealt with aggressive dogs?" Candidate Joe answers, "Yes, about 10% of the dogs I've groomed had aggressive tendencies." Candidate Mary answers, "Oh yes, quite often. I remember one situation where a client brought in his Pit Bull, Chomper. He started growling at me the moment his owner left, and I could tell from his stance he wasn't about to let me get near his nails with my clippers. I think he would've torn my arm off if I hadn't used the Schweitzer Maneuver on him. That calmed him down right away and I didn't have any problems after that." (I know nothing about dog grooming; I made the Schweitzer Maneuver up for illustrative purposes.)

Don't you agree that Mary's answer is better? Sure, Joe answered the question, but Mary did more than that--she gave a specific example and told a quick story that will be remembered by the interviewers.

In today's job market where there are dozens of highly qualified candidates for each opening, anything you do that will make you stand out and be remembered will greatly increase your odds of getting hired.

2. Keep the Interviewer's Perspective in Mind; Answer His "What's in it for Me?" Question

While many questions asked during job interviews appear to focus on your past accomplishments, here's an important tip: they may be asking about what you did, but what they really want to know is what you can do now, for them.

The key is to talk about your past accomplishments in a way that shows how they are relevant to the specific job for which you are interviewing. Doing advance research about the company (such as at their website or at www.hoovers.com) and the position will be extremely helpful.

Here's another example with Joe and Mary. The interviewer asks, "What is the most difficult challenge you've faced, and how did you overcome it?" Joe answers with, "In one job I was delivering pizzas and I kept getting lost. By the time I'd find the address, the pizza would be cold, the customer would be unhappy, and my boss was ready to fire me. I overcame this problem by purchasing a GPS navigation device and installing it in my car. Now I never get lost!" Mary answers, "In my current job at Stylish Hounds, management ran a special promotion to increase the number of customers who use the dog-grooming service. It was a bit too successful because we suddenly had more customers than we could handle. Management would not hire additional groomers to help with the workload. Instead of turning customers away or significantly delaying their appointments, I devised a new grooming method that was twice as fast. Then I developed a new work schedule. Both efforts maximized productivity and we were able to handle the increased workload effectively without upsetting our customers." 

Clever Ways to Get a Raise: Perks you Might Not Have Thought About

"Lean and mean"... "Tight budget."

You hear those phrases a lot nowadays, and they discourage people from thinking there's any way to increase their income at work. It seems the best people can hope for is a cost-of-living adjustment.

However, many ways to sweeten the pot don't cost employers money out of their pockets. Those ways are easier for them to "swallow," and can provide real extra income to you.

Chapter Five of Negotiating Your Salary: How to Make $1000 a Minute covers benefits and perks that, when added to a base salary, can turn a low offer into a lucrative one. These same "bennies and perks" aren't limited to initial negotiations, they're at your service whenever you want a raise. 

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The biggest one, and often sweetest one of all, is time. Things have not turned out the way they were predicted years ago. When I was growing up in the 1950s, there was concern about the coming "leisure society." How we were going to cope with all the leisure time generated by all the labor-saving devices that were coming down the line? As it turns out: No problem! The four-day work week never came to pass. We're more efficient now, yes, but we work longer anyway -- we're just expected to produce twice as much.

So time is a really valuable commodity. If you can't get a cash raise, why not ask for more vacation? One week more of vacation can mean a 2 percent raise. Two weeks is 4 percent. If you arrange it all correctly, you can still do the work you need to do, and take the time off, too!

An interesting example of time negotiation happened with a client of mine who wanted to earn $40,000 a year doing library work. She was interviewed for a position that paid $20,000 a year. Instead of turning down the interview, she spent time finding out the specialty library's needs and found a way to be paid the full $20,000 but work only 20 hours a week. She discovered that they needed total reorganization, computerization, security, and better access for their patrons. She noted that they needed more than 40-hour/week coverage and planned to handle that need by having a librarian there 40 hours and using $8/hour clerks for the balance of the time and some routine work.

She proposed that she take on the project and
1) work only 20 hours a week on the higher-skilled tasks, and
2) train the two clerks to do higher-level library work besides just clerical tasks.

Once these clerks were trained, the library would have 100 person-hours of skilled coverage instead of the 40 hours skilled plus 80 hours clerical that they had been using originally.

Net result? She got paid the equivalent of $40,000: working for $20,000, but only half time. The library was happy, too, because with the team of three, they had better coverage all-in-all than even a full-time librarian could give them in a week.

Of course, it's unlikely you can cut down to half-time for full pay, but consider this example: I worked with a client who was putting in 10-14 hour days on the job. It was stressful, but it took that long to complete a day's work.

Since he was putting in those days already, I coached him to go to his supervisors and propose this 40-hour week: four-day week of 10 hours each (knowing he'd put in 11-12, but no matter). They agreed! So he was able to take something he was doing already (long days) and negotiate a day off he never would otherwise have had. It also forced him to up-grade the competence of his assistant who now handled things on his own on Fridays. This arrangement also made his work easier.

There are plenty of other ways to negotiate time, too. There's flextime; there are personal days; there's payment for unused vacation time. Many people don't negotiate "comp time" for days they spend at conventions, trade shows, late with customers, etc. By paying attention to getting compensated for that time (either by money, or more likely with comp time) you can increase your income dollars/per/hour.

Another clever way to make more money on the job is to gamble. Now, I don't mean running a poker game in the cafeteria; I mean betting your boss that you will meet or exceed a target. Construction deadlines, production deadlines, sales quotas, customer satisfaction survey results, cleanliness awards, employee productivity measures, accident-free days, newsletter excellence award recognition -- these are just a few of the things bosses like and will pay for.

These are called bonuses!

Discuss these compensation items with your boss at review time, or any time there is a change in your company's operating procedures. Bosses like to reward excellence. Your job is to tie the excellence in to a measurable quantity and link some dollar compensation to it, not just a "nice going" letter. You want a specific dollar bonus for this type of work.

Sometimes these things can even get you a raise outside the normal channels. For instance, I worked with a client who had a boss who was receiving criticism from the board for the high turnover in the company. The boss's compensation was tied to the overall profitability of the organization. High turnover wreaked havoc on profitability because the organization was constantly training new people and cleaning up messes from people who dropped the ball when they left in the middle of a project.

Because she knew this mattered to him personally -- not just as a company goal -- my client was able to get a bonus for lowered turnover: she got a seminar in "employee retention" and some "play time" along with it. She was able to turn the training into three days' work and seven days' vacation. And all this when the board had declared that the top raise would be 3 percent that year. 

Are You a S.M.A.R.T. Worker? Career Strategies to Make You More Valuable at Work

Are you concerned about your job? Do you wonder if you'll be downsized? If you are, you're not alone; the talk of the weak economy is a daily occurrence.

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In today's tumultuous workplace, no surefire strategies can guarantee that your job won't land on the chopping block. And if you choose self-employment, each day is a roller-coaster ride, to be sure. On the other hand, whether you work for someone, or for yourself, here are some S.M.A.R.T. career strategies to make yourself more valuable, in or out of recession:

Seize the Moment

Don't dwell on last year's successes or failures. "Yesterday is history," said Babatunde Olatunji. "Tomorrow is a mystery. And today? Today is a gift. That's why we call it the present." Whatever you didn't accomplish last year, now's your chance to do so in this one. And if you had a stellar year last year, don't bask in your success. (You know the drill: Those who snooze, lose). What specific ways can you help your employer (or yourself) become more productive, efficient, profitable, or competitive? Write it down! Do it!

Make Yourself Do the Uncomfortable Thing Until You Do It!

Take public speaking, for example. Maybe you are uncomfortable addressing the management team, customers, suppliers, or even your colleagues. Stretch yourself. Take a class. Practice. Learn. Or how about technology? Instead of saying I don't know much about computers, check out your local community college or enroll in an adult-education class. Have a friend tutor you; ask your 12-year-old nephew to show you some computer tips. Help is yours for the asking if you decide to take charge and do the uncomfortable until you get to a more comfortable place.

Act with a Good Attitude and Gratitude in All Things

Does your voice sound energetic, up, and on? What message does your body language send? Are you a problem-solver or a problem? Are you a complainer and a whiner? Do you act with confidence and conviction, or do you drag yourself around day after day? Are you excited about going to work? When you walk through your employer's door, are you happy about being there? Or, do you let yourself, and everyone around you, know how miserable and unhappy you are? Just for fun, keep track of your attitude for 21 days. Rate yourself on a scale of 1 (unsatisfactory) to 5 (exceeds expectations). Track your performance. What does it reveal to you? What, if anything, needs to change?

Reject the Rear-View Mirror Syndrome

Years ago, a chaplain I was taking a class with shared these words: "Don't live your life looking in the rear view mirror." And there's no better time than today to start in, start up, and start over. Do the something extra for yourself, your employer, or someone else. Do more than is required. Be willing to help out without being asked. Be the first to volunteer for the new project or assignment. Step up. Don't worry about whether it's in your job description! (It probably isn't.) And don't dwell in the past. The past has passed.

Take Time to Make Someone Matter; Make a Difference

Make it a point each day to contribute to someone's happiness, well-being or sense of self-worth. Look beyond yourself. Look around. Any ideas emerge? Maybe it's as simple as saying good morning to someone. Or perhaps listening instead of talking. Or promptly returning your phone calls. Or responding to e-mails in a timely manner. Or being courteous and thoughtful instead of abrupt and rude in your interactions. How about a random act of kindness?

Are You Sabotaging Your Career? A Quintessential Careers Quiz

We all know someone like my father. A great man with good intentions -- maybe even a star contributor, someone who takes on extra work and even ventures to the office on the weekend to test out some new ideas -- someone who can definitely list many revenue-enhancing accomplishments on your resume. 
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Yet, even with all these positives, you know something is not quite right because it's the other folks in your office who get the promotions, big bonuses, or high-profile assignments while you sit by quietly (or not so quietly) steaming.

What gives? An easy target is your boss – maybe s/he is envious of your successes, or maybe s/he is just a bad boss. If you honestly decide it is all about your boss -- then read our article on dealing with a bad boss, Dealing With a Bad Boss: Strategies for Coping.

Maybe it's your co-workers. Perhaps they are envious of you and stabbing you in the back -- or perhaps you have a bit too inflated view of yourself.

The solution? Take a step backwards away from the situation. Is it really your boss or co-workers -- or are you sabotaging your own career? Take our Quintessential Careers Quiz and find out!

Just complete this form. Click on Submit button when ready to send. 

Tips for selecting days and assessment centers

Selection and assessment
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You were invited and the organization decides you and two other candidates to be tested for suitability for the position. To avoid that you will later tongue-tied state, you must prepare yourself whenever possible on the different selection methods. For the psychological test and assessment center, you can prepare yourself. This can yield a significantly higher rating compared to candidates without any preparation that undergo selection methods.

Preparation

1. Ask for the job (or write one yourself) and 'vertaal'dit the tests and interview with the psychologist / selector.
2. Prepare for the interview. (What questions are 'painful'? What answers can you 'score'?)
3. Practice with the main components of IQ tests: analogies, number series and (static and dynamic) sets of figures.
4. Clothing, care and presentation are important. Bring it into line with the level of the job.
5. Be physically and mentally fit. Go to bed. Is not "your day" (sick, headache, etc.) then make a new appointment.

During the test

6. 'm Not about to dwell on a difficult task, the following may be easier.
7. IQ tests: a guess is better than no answer.
8. Personality Tests: be aware of negative reactions.
9. Stay calm and collected - even when you less expect to perform.
10. The conversation: the psychologist is not looking through you (but listens and observes sharp).

Psychological test

In a psychological test, you are tested:

   1. Intelligence: verbal and numerical construction, abstract reasoning and analytical skills
   2. Skills: organizational and technical knowledge, leadership skills, commercial acumen and persuasiveness
   3. Behavior: stability, social skills, perseverance, flexibility and stress resistance.

Research shows that a good preparation especially the scores on intelligence tests significantly. To avoid any surprises are to come, it is useful prior to practice making various tests.

Assessments

Assessment literally means 'assessment'. So it is estimated how you will work in your future position. The organization establishes a profile of the different requirements to meet the candidate in terms of skills, personality and professionalism. Following this profile, and your position in the organization develop their assignment, exercises and simulations, you must perform or to which you must participate in the assessment.
The examples below give you an indication of what happens during an assessment can be addressed.

 

 

Tips for applying via email

Recruitment is no longer only through letters, more people apply directly online. But where do you think of when you are applying via email? Here are some tips to apply via email and the online application.

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Tips for applying via email

   1. Put in the subject line the job title of the job you are applying. This tells the reader exactly where the mail is about.
   2. Turbo language and emoticons you see in the private context is often used for applications excluded.
   3. Make e-mail not too long, sufficient structure to apply, just as you would in a cover letter.
   4. Use your private mail address to send to unpleasant situations at work to avoid.
   5. Use an email address that professionalism.
   6. Put your name in the file name you give of your resume. This can be useful for companies that store and archive the CVs.
   7. Before that you always send the attachment to the e-mail you have saved.
   8. If a company offers an online application form, make sure you use it.
At job sites you usually need an account or create a resume for online job applications. If you do not have an online resume, you certainly worth the trouble to make. It takes time, but it is also interesting for future applications on the same site.
Even if you eventually get a negative response to your application through a business site, completing the form is not for nothing. You can often choose to have your data stored in the database of the company.
You can often complete the online application or add a cover letter indicating your motivation. Do that, this is the opportunity to differentiate yourself from other candidates.Applying online is quick and easy. Certainly paid enough attention to this type of application. Read the form carefully before you send it.
Keep an overview of the features and the companies where you have applied an application. On job sites that are often kept for you automatically.

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Four strategies for finding work

There are four strategies for finding work:
1. Apply via an ad2. The direct approach3. Apply using recruitment agencies4. Finding work through temporary employment

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1. Apply via an ad
When you respond to an ad, you're at least sure that a vacancy exists in that company. Subject to the ad in a thorough analysis. So you'll often know about the company and function. Your goal for this strategy:
"I can an advertising analysis and know how the results of this analysis can be used as support in my decision whether or not this vacancy."
In order to achieve this goal, imagine the following objectives:

    * I know where I can find advertisements.
    * I know how the ad could use when writing my letter, or preparing for my interview.
Where can I find job ads?InternetNewspapersJournalsInternal magazinesArticles about business
How can I use the job ad?Analyze the ad in the following six elements:

    *
      description of the organization
    *
      description of the function
    *
      job requirements
    *
      training
    *
      what the company offers
    *
      procedure
Often there is a telephone number where more information about the position can get. Call if possible. You have a good chance that the call and maybe we remember you still consider your letter arrives. Make sure that you have good, relevant and thoughtful questions to know, otherwise you can call it work better.Before you decide to respond to the job, you have to answer the following questions:

    *
      the company applies to me and I only joined the company?
    *
      up to the minimum requirements?
    *
      what seems the real needs of the company?
    *
      what does the company offer?
    *
      I can the goals of the organization subscribe?
    *
      The company is easily accessible for me?
This analysis helps you to write your letter.