A Cover Letter By Any Other Name

One of the most common questions we receive is whether to send a cover letter or not. There's a simple answer. Anytime you send your resume you should include a cover letter. Even if you're sending your resume via an online application, e-mail or through the mail (yes, believe it or not, that still happens from time to time).

No matter what name the potential employer gives it: letter of introduction, letter of intent, and others; it's still a cover letter.

The purpose of the cover letter is to make an introduction and to entice the reader to read your resume. You can also use the cover letter to address any potential red flags, such as a gap in employment or a drastic change in your career path.

Always make an effort to identify the person that will be receiving your resume - stay away from "To Whom It May Concern:" when possible.

Express your interest in learning more about the company or position.

Reiterate a specific success you've had in your career that matches something the employer is looking for.

Lastly, be sure to include your phone number and e-mail address, and that it matches what is on your resume.

job search

How To Be Successful At A Job Fair

A job fair can be an effective way to meet hiring managers and recruiters in your community and learn about many job opportunities in one day. If you are prepared and use your time wisely, you can walk away with many strong job leads. Many job seekers make careless mistakes that can hurt their chances of success at a job fair. Here are 16 simple tips to make your next job fair a success.

my job story

My Job Story - Jenny-Faye Klooster

In this week's My Job Story, we hear from Jenny-Faye Klooster, a Photo Stylist who runs the photography department for Gibson Overseas, a large kitchenware company, a job she has held for almost four years.

career, communication

How To Be A Better Public Speaker

Do you want to differentiate yourself from your peers at work? I have a simple suggestion. All you have to do is speak up! That's right. It's time to work on your public speaking skills.

defense, job search

Stop Networking!

Networking is a terrible verb to describe human interactions. For some people, networking still has that cheesy sounding ring to it. I've spent countless hours reading newspaper and magazine articles, blogs, tweets and Facebook posts from recruiters from all over the country and nearly all of them say that one of the most important job search strategies is networking.

How To Introduce Yourself Once You're Referred

Asking for a referral is important. How you handle that referral is even more important. If you want to work at XYZ Company and you know someone that works there, you should ask them to refer you to a hiring manager. Ideally, your contact will make a personal introduction, or copy you on an e-mail introduction. Sometimes, you'll just get a phone number or e-mail address of the hiring manager.

Know Your Risks, Don't Settle

Even if you've been without a job for some time, it is generally best not to settle for a job that you may not enjoy. Having said that, there are a couple of questions you should ask yourself when evaluating a job, or when determining what companies to target.

High Demand, Low Supply Blog

Welcome to High Demand, Low Supply, a career and job-search blog written by Matt and Dawn Beckwith.

Finding a job can be stressful. Here, you'll find tips to increase your odds of success with finding a new job.

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