Writing a Cover Letter

There is a format for writing a cover letter. Below is a guideline for writing a good looking and a well organized cover letter.

First paragraph
In the first paragraph mention the following things:

- Why you are writing (include which position you are applying for)
- How you learned of the position
- Your current status (student or employed)
- If you have completed your degree or when you expect to graduate
- Make a preliminary assertion as to your strength as a candidate

Middle paragraphs
This paragraph is important from the point of view of detailing

- Present specific examples highlighting how your background, experience, achievements, and/or qualifications meet the needs of the position description, department and/or organization
- Explain your interest in the organization
- Discuss your knowledge of and interest in some of the specific characteristics of the job, organization, and/or department
- Address if your profile differs from the job description

Final paragraph
Here you can indicate:
- How you can best be reached
- What is enclosed with the letter
- Your availability for and interest in an interview
- Follow up action on your part
- Thank the reader for his or her consideration

Structure and Details
Appropriately address the salutation to a specific person, not job title (spell their name correctly). Organize your letter well. Before giving your cover letter check for any spelling or grammar errors. Use an appropriate font type and size – Not to big or not to small. Don’t forget to leave contact information in the letter. Write in the tone of a confident (but not arrogant) professional. Be direct.

A cover letter is your opportunity to tell the employer what you are applying for and why you are a good match for the position and the organization. You should submit a cover letter with every resume, whether for an internship or job. While a resume provides a summary of your skills and experience, a cover letter takes it a step further by allowing you to highlight your specific qualifications.

What is a Cover Letter?

A cover letter is a letter to an employer that says which position you're applying for and includes an overview of your skills. You should always include a cover letter when you mail or E-mail your resume to an employer, even if they don't ask for one. Cover letters are actually a great way to set yourself apart from the rest if you write it correctly.

Cover letters allow you to actually get your personalized message across to the hiring manager or possible interviewer. The key is to be brief and direct...just like a resume...the person on the other end will want to quickly read your cover letter...so make sure you don't write a short story.
Use the cover letter to peak the interest of the reader. The purpose here is to get the reader interested so that he/she will want to examine your resume.

Everyone who sends out a resume does need a Cover Letter! Even if the cover letter never "came up" in conversation or wasn't mentioned in an advertisement, it's expected that you will write one.

Your cover letter can be A Hard Copy or in Email format. The main difference between e-mail and hard copy cover letter is format: your signature block (address, etc.) goes below your name in e-mail, while it goes at the top of the page on hard copy. Of course you won't have a handwritten signature on e-mail, but don't forget this on hard copy.

Here are some of the things that one should never forget to include in the Cover Letter:

- The contact name and company name are correct.
- Letter mentions the position you are applying for and where it was listed.
- Your personal information (name, address, home phone, cell phone, email) is all included and correct.
- If you have a contact at the company, you have mentioned him or her in the first paragraph.
- Font is 10 or 12 points and easy to read (Times New Roman or Arial, for example).
- You have read the cover letter out loud to make sure there are no missing words.
- Cover Letter is printed on good quality bond paper that matches your resume.
- You have kept a copy for your records.
- Letter is signed if you are mailing it.

Things to Avoid During an Interview

When appearing for a job interview, always keep in mind that the first impression is the last impression. Even the smallest mistake on your part can prove to be very costly.

It is a known fact that everyone tries to be on their best behavior while appearing for an interview. However, in our efforts to do everything right and answer questions correctly; we sometimes forget to watch out for the smallest and perhaps the most important things that should never be underestimated.

Here are a few things you must watch out for while appearing for a job interview -

Being Late – Don’t be late for the interview. It is OK to show up early.

Cribbing & Complaining - Refrain from saying badly about your previous employer and colleagues. No one wants to listen to someone who only knows how to complain.

Being Nervous and Excessively Negative - The way you conduct yourself says a lot about your personality. Make sure that you are physically as well as mentally present while appearing for your interview. Keep your cool and give it your best shot. And most important - be positive.

Not stating the Facts - In your efforts to make a good impression, never give in to temptations of lying. Answer questions truthfully and be honest about your work experience and qualifications. Don’t give false facts.

Going On and On - When the interviewer gives you the chance to speak, stick to what is important. Being over talkative and opinionated can adversely affect your interview. Be a good listener.

Uselessly Trying to be Funny - You might be a funny person and you might enjoy cracking jokes every now and then. Don't do it during your interview. Remember - there is a place and time for everything. Refrain from cracking silly jokes and testing your interviewer's patience.

Being Unaware - Before appearing for any interview, it is good practice to research the Company background and other details. Prepare yourself for obvious questions and do not forget to carry your latest, updated resume and other important papers.

Bad Manners - Don’t smoke, don’t chew gum and don’t pick your nose during an interview. Don’t smoke and go for the interview. Don’t sit unless you are asked for. Don’t make faces during an interview even if you don’t like the questions or the place.

Asking About Salary and Benefits - The appropriate time to discuss issues of compensation is when a firm offer is on the table. Don’t bring up the topic prematurely. (Some people don't consider this as a bad interview habit.)

Keep in mind the above mentioned thing which are to be avoided during the interview and I am sure it will all go nicely and in your favour. Best of luck for the interview and perform well.

Main Points of Resume

Personal Information
Name - your full name, typed in title case.
Address - your address, written out in full, without abbreviations. In fact, it's better to avoid abbreviations anywhere in your resume.
Telephone - your home phone number with area code, also give your mobile number if you have one.

Job Goal
In one sentence, describe your job goal. This tells the employer exactly what type of work you're looking for. Try to link your job goal to the job you're applying for.
Related Skills - List the special abilities and skills that relate to the job you're applying for. They can be from paid or unpaid work, volunteer experience, and even hobbies.

Education
List your education, starting with the most recent diploma or training course and working backwards. Include the name and city or town of each school you attended (secondary and beyond), the type of programmes you took, your areas of interest, and the years you completed. Certificates or diplomas should also be listed, including those for mini courses like a computer or software course, first-aid, small engine repair, or any other training that might be useful to the job you want.

Additional Knowledge
Use this section to include such things as the languages you speak, software programmes you know, and other abilities that relate to the job. If there is a lot of information, break it into separate sections with specific headings. The point is to get everything into your resume that shows why you are the right person for the job.
List all the skills you have in a bulleted format.

Interests / Activities
Briefly outline a few of your interests and activities that demonstrate something about you. Be sure to mention achievements or awards you may have received. If you have volunteer experience that is relevant to the job, make sure you put it in, transferable skills are important. Do not mention all the hobbies you have over here. This might do a bit more to the resume. List only main hobbies or hobbies related to the job applied for.

References
References are not included in your resume, but you should have them ready. Think about who could be your references and get their permission before you pass the names and numbers. Type the names, addresses, and phone numbers of up to three references on a separate piece of paper, which matches your resume. Keep your reference list as up-to date as possible. If you can, give your reference an idea of the type of job you are applying for, and whenever possible, let them know when you think an employer will be calling them, so they can be available and will have some time to think about what to say.

Whom can you ask to be a reference?

• Someone from your school (teacher, guidance counsellor, coach)
  
• Someone you've worked for (summer, part- time employer)
  
• Someone you've worked for on a casual basis
  
• Someone you've helped (as a volunteer or as a friend)
  
• Someone whose opinion is respected (elder, minister, community leader)
  

Writing a Perfect Resume

Your resume is the first step towards corporate stardom, so it is imperative that it looks good and reads right. Your resume is your first reflection. People who haven't met you form a mental impression about you just by going through your resume. A company official asks for a resume so that he/she can frame questions according to the facts mentioned in the resume. This makes it imperative that you have an organized and impressive resume. It should be clear yet descriptive and should portray your best qualities. So, how to go about preparing your resume?

Write it in an order: Be careful about what you write. For example, all your personal details like name, address, etc must be clubbed together in one column. Similarly, all your academic details should be grouped together. There should be a logical sequence of putting down things. You should follow a logical track which will be appropriate.

Presentation is important: As the saying goes, "First impression is the last impression." Remember to focus on the way in which you present your data. The font and the size of the font should be taken care of. Try and keep the colour of the font either black or blue and do not add colours to your resume as that makes it looks childish. Leave a line or two between important points and maybe you could make the important data bold. In case you are mentioning a couple of points, for example, your achievements, then you could use bullets.

Do not be too elaborate: Mention things in brief but do mention all that you feel is important for the panel to make note of. Do not elaborate too much about something. For example, if you are mentioning about any training which you have undertaken, then mention the purpose of the training, its duration, location and what you learnt from it. Keep it to a maximum of four lines. For instance if, you have trained in a software company, then maybe you could put it down as – Trained on databases in xyz company for a period of three months. Leant how to work on Oracle. I also gained a lot of exposure about the workings of the software industry. Freshers must keep their resume restricted to two pages, preferably.

Your selling points: Summarize your top 2 to 5 selling points right under your name. For example, if you are a Game Producer what do you think are the most important selling points to a potential hiring manager? Answer: type of games you have created, size of budgets managed, whether you managed internal or external teams, and the number of titles you brought to market.

Be honest: Write only what is true to the best of your knowledge for it can be verified at any point of time. Carry your certificates along with you for the interview.

Last, but not the least, keep your resume in a folders or a file. Do not fold your resume if you are handing it over to the employer. In case of posting the resume, make a 3 folded paper not more then that.

Resume Writing

Resume is a self-promotional document that presents you in the best possible light, for the purpose of getting invited to a job interview. It's not an official personnel document. It's not a job application. It's not a "career obituary"! And it's not a confessional.

It's not just about past jobs! It's about YOU, and how you performed and what you accomplished in those past jobs--especially those accomplishments that are most relevant to the work you want to do next. A good resume predicts how you might perform in that desired future job.

While writing your resume there are few points that you should remember. Don’t ever leave out your Job Objective! If you don't show a sense of direction, employers won't be interested. Have a clearly stated goal. Decide on a job target (or "job objective") that can be stated in about 5 or 6 words. Don’t use more then 5 to 8 words, because telling more indicates lack of clarity.

There are times when you have gaps in your work experience. Don’t be afraid about the gaps. Include everything you did in those days rather than saying that, you took a gap. For example, you can include all the work done even if unpaid or charity. Or Maternity leave, Study leave, etc. Students can make their resume look neater by listing seasonal jobs very simply, such as "Spring 1996" or "Summer 1996" rather than 6/96 to 9/96. This adds lots of freshness to the resume. Add every small detail like promotions activities, etc. But it is also to be remembered that over doing or writing may led to rejection. Just go around 6-7 years back not more than that unless its very big or important activity that you have done.

The best way to impress an employer is the “Problem – Action – Result” Method. First you state the problem that existed in your workplace, then you describe what you did about it, and finally you point out the beneficial results. This adds lots of importance to your resume.

Including hobbies in a resume is a nice idea. But don't include hobbies on a resume unless the activity is somehow relevant to your job objective, or clearly reveals a characteristic that supports your job objective. For example, a hobby of Book Reading (vocabulary, grammatical skills) might seem relevant to some job objectives (Secretary) but not to others.

Now some minute detailing that needs to be remembered while making that very important resume. Always mention the prefix “Mr.” or “Mrs.” or “Miss” before your name. If your name is Kiran or a name which is common in both sexes, the employer might get confused while addressing you. Mentioning all the degrees you have is not enough! You must also mention the extra activities done by you. It will add to the treat if the activity is related to the work you are applying for.

Use simple while or ivory paper for your resume. Using a fancy or think paper out does the content of the resume making it look like a brochure with only design and no content (unless you are applying for a designers post)

Fairing in an Interview

A success interview is very essential in order for you to close in an offer. You’ve just got a call for interview for a seemingly wonderful job! Now what? Here are some tips and strategies for effective interviewing from preparation through follow up.

Do a bit for research before going for the interview. Gathering background information on employers is a crucial element in successful interview preparation. Know the interviewer's name and use it during the interview. You will need to be prepared to answer the questions "What do your know about our company"? & "Why do you want to work with us?" Knowing as much as possible about the company's past performance and future plans can make your interview more interactive. Before the interview review the company's web site, on the website look out for recent awards won by the company or some other media involvement by the company.

Practice with a friend or relative or record your responses so you can replay the interview and see how well you did. Practice makes perfect (or at least leads to improvement). Prepare answers to commonly asked interview questions. Questions like “What are you hobbies?”, “What are your ambitions?” etc. Also the most important question that many interviewer’s ask is “Why did you leave (or are you seeking to leave) your company?” The answer to this question must be short and clear. Calmly describe the reason for your departure, and don't go into details unless asked. Stay with the facts of what happened, what you did, how you felt and what you learned. Then describe how you will handle things differently in the future.

Being on time is another major aspect of a good interview. It is very important to be on time for the interview. On time means ten to fifteen minutes early. Remember to bring an extra copy of your resume and a list of references. During the interview try to remain as calm as possible. Ask for clarification if you're not sure what's been asked and remember that it is perfectly acceptable to take a moment or two to frame your responses so you can be sure too fully answer the question.

And remember it’s not always you who have to answer all the questions. There are some questions which you must ask in an interview like "What are you most hoping to find in the person you hire?" and "What would be my first priorities on the job?" The earlier you can ask these questions, the sooner you can start tailoring your answers to the employer's priorities. At the end of the interview, ask, "Based on what we've talked about today, I feel good about the position. Do you have any concerns about my ability to do the job?" Often, that gives you a chance to counter any objections.

End the interview with a thank you to the interviewer and restate your interest in the position. Then follow-up with a personal Thank You note restating your interest. You can send follow-up letters through email if this is the way you and the potential employer have been communicating all along.

What should you expect in an Interview?

Once you have sent in your résumé and the interviewer likes what they see, they will set up an interview with you. If you have never been on an interview before, let’s just say a lot depends on it. Your résumé counts for a lot but an interviewer wants to hear from you what experience you have and what you have to offer their company.

First off, when you go for an interview no matter what type of job it is, you want to make a great impression. Make sure you dress the part, for women, you can wear a pants suit or a skirt with a nice top and a blazer and a small pair of heels. Never wear sandals to an interview. Don’t wear over powering colors; keep it simple with black, brown, blue or tan. For men, wear a suit or dress pants and a nice, neat button down shirt. Wear a pair of dress shoes, never wear sneakers.

Now you are dressed for success, always bring an additional copy of your résumé with you. They have a copy but you want to bring them another so it can serve as a reminder of who you are and your skills. Remember to keep calm; don’t be nervous it is only an interview. Don’t throw your arms over the back of the chair but don’t appear to be too uptight.

What to expect, the interviewer will ask you what skills you have and to review your job function at your last place of employment. Then they will ask you why you are leaving or why you have left. Keep your answers short. Be as personable as you can. Not only do they want someone with experience and can handle the job but they want someone who they feel will get along and fit in with their other employees.

Don’t lie on your résumé, if you do and they ask you about the one thing you may have embellished then it will show when you try to answer the question because you maybe caught off guard with that question. Keep it real and keep in honest. Answer all questions with answers not other questions. If you have the experience they want, if you didn’t you wouldn’t get an interview. They are looking now to see how you would fit in to their company.

What jobs to apply for

Some people when they are unemployed will figure, if I apply for every job I see I am bound to get one. Sounds good in theory but it really is a waste of your time. If you sent your résumé to every classified ad in the paper, it will cost you a lot of money. Write down what jobs you have had in the past and then make a list of what functions you performed and then a list of the skills you have. Once you have done that, you can begin looking through the paper for a job.

There are many ads in the paper that may have no experience necessary. Only if those ads are legit then apply. Some jobs with that type of description are jobs that have you selling products door to door or in parking lots. Make sure it is an actual job, call and ask a lot of questions.

Apply for jobs you know you can do, don’t apply for a job you think you can do and figure if you get the job they have to teach you anyway. Don’t embarrass yourself; if you can’t do the job don’t apply. When you get there don’t assume they are going to train you as if you don’t anything. Most companies will ask you what you know and begin training you from that point.

Apply for jobs that you know you can reach by any means of transportation. If your cars breaks down you have to make sure you can get there by bus or train. Apply for jobs within a 20 mile radius, don’t take a job with over an hour of travel time because you run the risk of being late. Most likely it will happen often.

Apply for a job that accommodates your home life, especially if you have kids. You don’t want a job where you are constantly leaving early to pick up the kids from school or if they have a school holiday. Make all of those arrangements in case you get the job and not after it.

Apply for a job that you would be comfortable doing. If you have the skills and the situations at home are perfect then you will be more relaxed looking for work if you know everything is settled. Looking for the perfect job is not always easy but it is not impossible.

Things you should do in an interview

If you have scheduled an interview with a company you sent a résumé to, there are some things that you need to do in order to get this job. The first rule of thumb is always dress to impress. Women should wear a skirt with a pump heel, nothing too high, a nice blouse and a blazer of cover jacket. Pant suits are acceptable as well. Never wear jeans or sandals to an interview. Men should wear a suit of a pair of dress slacks, a button down shirt and a tie. Always wear dress shoes, never sneakers.

Make sure right before you go in that your hair is in place and you look presentable. Make sure you have a copy of your résumé with you. A copy of the cover letter is not necessary, just the résumé will do. Keep it in a manila envelope of folder, don’t carry it in, it may get damaged some how on the way in.

When you go in, always shake the interviewers hand; make sure it is a firm handshake. It shows a kind of confidence. That is the key in an interview, confidence. If you know your résumé matches the company’s criteria, then all you need to do to get the job is show the interviewer you can do they job and yet fit in well with their company.

Keep your answers short and to the point. Always think about your answers but do not take too long in figuring them out. Do not discuss money, if the interviewer brings it up it is ok but don’t broach the subject yourself. An interviewer no matter what type of job it is is looking for the best person qualified and the best person to fit in.

Don’t brag about your experience, it is a turn off and don’t belittle your boss or co workers from your previous job either. A potential employer doesn’t want a selfish person and they do not want someone who can’t get along with others, even if you make it the other person’s fault.

Be personable but professional, be respectful and courteous. The ball is in your court, they need someone for a job and you need one. Try to remember you can help each other out and you may have a good chance of getting the job.