How to Write a Cover Letter That Gets You Noticed

How to Write a Cover Letter That Gets You NoticedThe best resume in the world may leid do you any good if youre missing one critical element a deckblatt letter. But notlage just any cover letter will do. As the first impression youll make with an employer in todays extremely competitive job market, an effective cover letter becomes a critical selling point. Heres what you need to know to write a cover letter than not only gets noticed, but earns a spot atop the pile. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) More Than a FormalityMany job applicants think of cover letters as obligatory fluff a meaningless, archaic precursor to the resume. This couldnt be further from the truth. When crafting your cover letter, think of it not as a necessary evil, but as an opportunity to enhance your resume and engage its readers.Your cover letter sets the tone for everything that follows in the relationship between applicant and befhigung employer. The underlying theme of the most successful cover letters answers the question, Why am I the right candidate for this job?Practice Your Matchmaking SkillsSo now you understand why youre writing a cover letter, but what should it include? The answer is simple that depends on the job. While a resume may be designed to show off your experience at large, a cover letter has a different intent to make the case for why a company should hire you.Creating a standard cover letter with a broad overview of your qualifications misses the point. The trick is to match the skills set forth in the job description with your own background and talents. Take a minute to identify specific experiences and achievements which demonstrate how you fulfill the job requirements. These are the bread and butter of your cover letter.Remember, the job application process is ultimately a matchmaking game between you and prospective companies. The best way to make a match? Do your research to gain a better understanding of each co mpanys needs, goals and values. Todays retention-minded companies arent just looking for candidates who fit the job, but also who fit the overall corporate culture.Doing your research also means getting all of the seemingly small things right from the title of the position to the contact persons name and title. This demonstrates both initiative and attention to detail.Beyond KeywordsKeywords matter, but only to a degree. Why? Because anyone can throw words onto a piece of paper.What really matters is using unterstellung words to showcase why youre the right candidate for the position. Include keywords and key phrases, but be sure to link them to your experience and offerings in a meaningful way.While your temptation may be to pack your cover letter with words and phrases lifted directly from the job description, practice restraint. After all, hiring managers see hundreds and thousands of resumes every year and can easily distinguish the generic from the great.Also, keep in mind tha t your cover letter isnt meant to tell the whole story. Rather, it serves as an important introduction to what follows. Include only what truly matters, avoid bragging about unrelated abilities, and keep it to a concise one page. The best cover letters are not so much about showcasing a candidates accomplishments, but about identifying a companys particular need and demonstrating your potential to fill it.In an era in which 13 percent of recent college grads are unemployed, and 44 percent are underemployed meaning they are overqualified for the jobs they accept making a standout impression with employers can mean the difference between getting the job of your dreams and ending up as a troubling statistic. While a smart and comprehensive resume is a vital part of landing a job, a well-crafted cover letter is an equally valuable part of the equation.

Heres the Key to Forging a Career That Fits Your Lifestyle

Heres the Key to Forging a Career That Fits Your Lifestyle For some, the ideal career is about mora than a job its a lifestyle. This is clearly the case for Kavita Jaswal, a manager of systems design and strategy atT-Mobile, who calls joining the company the career move shes most proud of.Jaswal, who describes zu sichself as passionate about technology, authenticity, and helping other women, says she could find all three aspects in her role at T-Mobile.T-Mobile is Hiring Browse opportunities.T-Mobile has a fun, inclusive environment that lets you be you, she said, adding that her love of T-Mobile isnt something she leaves behind at the office each day. Rather, its something she carries with her literally as she loves using the technology shes helped build in her daily life. This includes unlimited online access to restaurant reviews using the T-Mobile ONE plan while traveling abroad or binge-watching her favorite show, 3%, using the T-Mobile Netflix on Us program.Recently, Jaswal shared with Fairygodboss the importance of having passion in your career and her No. 1 piece of career advice to women. Check it out belowHow long have you been in your current role, and what were you doing previously?I have been in my role for 3.5 years. Previously, I was a Principal Engineer and Senior Engineer on the same team (working as an individual contributor).Whats the first (and/or last) thing you do at work every day?I start my day off with purpose, picking five critical things to be tackled in the day. At the end of the day, I check my calendar and plan for the next day.Whats the most unique or interesting aspect of your job or company?As part of the Device Certification team, I get to work on new, unreleased devices and technologies Like 1.2GB speeds, Licensed Assisted Access, NB-IoT (Narrow Band - world wide web of things). Right now, our biggest focus is bringing 5G to the world, making sure we are providing our customers with the best possible wireless experience. I love how we are always rewriting the rules of wireless and pushing the envelope on new technology.Whats something you think most people (perhaps even current employees) dont know about the technology you work on that you think they should?1. Digits It frees your number from your phone so you can port multiple numbers onto a single phone, or you can configure your number on multiple phones. You can even access your messages and calls through the web interface called Web Digits. I have left my phone at home many times and have not had to worry, as I could access all my calls and messages from my computer This is one of my all-time favorite features.2. T-Mobiles incredible international roaming plan, Simple Global, which we provide to our customers for free. I have travelled in India, Japan, Europe and Ecuador and it is so much easier to travel when you have access to data, maps, restaurant/hotel reviews, etc., on the fly and can stay connected to family through WhatsApp and Skype.W hat is the best skill you bring to the table in your role at T-Mobile?I am passionate about making connections with people within our organization, as well as on other teams. By networking within the company, I am able to broaden my perspective, and bring mora creative ideas to my own work.What skill are you trying to improve at work? While I know I have a talent for networking within the organization, I am constantly trying to work more actively on my peer relationships. Between managing up to your boss and managing down to your team, it is easy to forget to nurture the peer relationships that are also so important.What do you enjoy doing outside of work?I love to volunteer whether it be at STEM events or as a weekly volunteer teacher of Hindi. I also love creative pursuits planning elaborate birthday theme parties with my kids or an End of Year drama performance with the kids from my Hindi class.Whats your most impactful hurdle, and how did you move forward from it?Getting laid off from my job as a software engineer at a failing startup 10 years ago. Of course, the news at first was scary, knowing my career was going to take a different direction than planned. In addition to making me rethink my priorities, it also made me unafraid that something like this might happen again. It really wasnt the end of the world and I loved being able to spend a couple of years at home with my kid before entering the workforce again. It made me much more open to taking risks.Whats the one career move youve made that youre most proud of?Joining T-Mobile 8 years ago. I joined after around 2 years of taking a break from work. At T-Mobile, I could get the support to ease into work, as well as be a part of an exciting work environment in which I have thrived and grown in my career.What do you love most about your job or your company?T-Mobile has a fun, inclusive environment that lets you be you. In addition to my day-to-day role, I am a member of the Women in Technology employ ee network group, which gives me the ability to bring a new passion to my job. At T-Mobile, I am able to be a corporate responsibility champion and contribute to multiple causes, such as getting women into STEM careers. T-Mobile is aware that there is a life outside of our role on paper, and provides us with the support and opportunities to make everyone feel like they belong.What are you currently reading/watching/listening to?Reading Rise by Patty Azzarello. I love her straight-from-the-heart advice.Watching 3% on Netflix. (By the way, did you know that T-Mobiles plans come bundled with free Netflix?)Whats your 1 piece of advice for women who are looking for jobs right now?Dont downplay your achievements in your resume or during the interview. Be confident and own your success.Who is/was the most influential person in your life and why?My father. He is the inspiration for my career choices being an engineer, and being in telecommunications. In addition, hes my undying champion in anything that I do.Whats the most memorable piece of career advice youve received?My best career advice was about how to handle difficult conversations, whether related to my own career or my teams performance. Practice the conversations prior and speak in a normal tone of voice. While practicing, say It is raining outside in a normal tone three times and then repeat the difficult message in the same tone.What was the best quality of the best boss youve ever had?They provided me with unfiltered feedback about myself and how to improve on my areas of opportunity.--Fairygodboss is proud to partner with T-Mobile.Find a job there today

The Demise of Writing a Resume for Corrections Officer

The Demise of Writing a Resume for Corrections Officer The Fight Against Writing a Resume for Corrections Officer Nonetheless, the job does open up several opportunities. If you wish to customize professional, pre-formatted resumes, have a look at our for completely free downloadable templates. If youre searching to customize professional, pre-formatted resumes, have a peek at our for completely free downloadable templates. Writing an increasing paper consists of many essential factors regardless of what type of educational work you need to finish. Corrections is a singular and distinctive profession that demands a resume tailored to the character of that profession. The candidate should have excellent surveillance abilities and be an exact detail-oriented individual. The Key to Successful Writing a Resume for Corrections Officer Whenever you make an application for a particular job, the resume is usually to be directed intended for a particular intent. At any time you mak e an application for a particular job, the resume is to be directed for a particular intent. The very last thing you would love to do is usually get a job which you just cant do. Locating the perfect job can be demanding, but polishing your work application doesnt need to be. What is Truly Going on with Writing a Resume for Corrections Officer Correctional Officer Careers Basics Correctional Officers have the main function of maintaining order in a detention facility, including a neighborhood jail or federal prison. Guidelines and minimum requirements for promotion will be different from state to state, so you are going to want to understand what promotion resembles in your specific location. The Downside Risk of Writing a Resume for Corrections Officer At the same time, reading some leadership books will also enable you with the sort of language you wish to use on your resume to describe yourself. If youre searching for a task and dont want your present workplace to compre hend, its certainly not among the most discreet choice. Good if youre seeking a task linked to artwork or maybe graphic design wherever your creativeness would be regarded as a plus. There are quite a lot of way of creating resumes. The Writing a Resume for Corrections Officer Trap Searching for a new correctional officer job is frequently a long and stressful approach. To take advantage of the objective section, you should appeal right to the employers major needs for a correctional officer. To find out more on what it requires to be a Correctional Officer, have a look at our complete Correctional Officer Job Description. If you would like a thriving job search, you are in need of a remarkable resume. In case you find out youre likely to be laid off shortly, a current resume will allow you to commence trying to find a new work during the time that youre still employed. If youre short on experience and searching for an entry-level position, you may choose to highlight thi ngs like grades, awards, etc. Youll receive awesomely optimized resumes and youre going to make your everyday life simpler Youll receive perfectly optimized resumes and youre likely to make your day-to-day life simpler

The Profession of Ghostwriting

The Profession of GhostwritingThe Profession of GhostwritingGhostwriting books, blogs, newsletters, and articles for other people can help a writer add to their bottom line, even if they cant claim credit to the written words. The ghostwriting may include working on their own creative projects or it can be a writing profession unto itself. The Association of Ghostwriters According to writer Marcia Layton Turner, founder and executive director of the Association of Ghostwriters, time-starved entrepreneurs, speakers, consultants, doctors, and corporate executives who want to blog, or develop a white paper, or write a book to raise their profile are relying more and more on behind-the-scenes writers, creating more opportunities in the marketplace for those whod like to ghostwrite. But aspiring ghostwriters should also understand that being paid to write under someone elses personenname is very different than authoring your own book or even writing a magazine article or blog post fro m an idea you came up with. Ghostwriting is all about helping others convey their message in their own voice. If youre a seasoned scribe who is considering expanding your repertoire to include ghosting, or youre new to freelancing and youre interested in becoming a ghostwriter, heres what Turner says you should know about being a ghostwriter. Ghostwriting Is Not an Entry-Level Writing Position You need to have a strong track record as a successful writer managing multiple (and often large) projects before you can succeed at managing someone elses project, all while writing in their voice. You should be prepared to show clients a sample of your work, ideally including ghosted projects. Ghostwriting Is Not About You Being a good writer or author isnt good enough- you also need to capture your clients voice and tell the story as he or she would. Sure, you can write, but can you match a clients vocabulary, pace, and style of speech as you craft a document as if you were him or h er? Heres the real test Can you do that even if you think your style/creative vision/prose is better? While you can advise your clients, ultimately, they are paying you to write what and how they want you to. You have to be comfortable doing that. You Need Knowledge of Book Publishing Massive changes in the book publishing world have raised the bar for getting book deals with major publishing houses at the same time, market forces (like online distribution through Amazon.com and other online book retailers, and the democratization of marketing via social media) have increased the credibility and audience potential of self-published books, making DIY an option for more authors. With so many variables, in plus-rechnen to advising clients on how to structure their writing project, if you can also help them weigh the pros and cons of their various publishing options, including the self-publishing arena, you will be in even higher demand. Think of Yourself as the Owner of a Ghostw riting Firm You may get a genuine thrill from writing and structuring a book, but you need to act like an entrepreneur, not a hobbyist. Invest in marketing tools, spend time networking, build an online presence, and present yourself as the business owner you are. Strong Project Management Skills Can Help You Stand Out Meeting deadlines, organizing reams of notes and research so you can find it immediately, and juggling multiple projects will help you exceed client expectations and earn more money. Price Yourself According to Your Level of Experience While novice ghostwriters should price themselves lower than their more experienced editorial services colleagues. Then, once you get a few solid credentials, increase your fees so youre more competitive with ghostwriting veterans. This will help keep you from being overwhelmed with lower-paying work. Networking Is Key Named book authors occasionally get to have readings or do a signing or have friends and their high school English teachers email them when they see their name in a review. Ghostwriters, not so much. So its important that you have a support system. Hang out with other ghostwriters, at least virtually, though in person is ideal. Freelance website FreelanceSuccess.com is a good start, as is the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA), where experienced writers congregate, or the Association of Ghostwriters (AOG), which is specifically for the anonymous-minded help keep you in the know about developments in the marketplace, as well as keep you in good ghost-ly company. Ghostwriters Unite is a conference that brings together ghostwriters to discuss shared experiences and the many facets of the industry. Take the opportunity to ask questions, pick up tips for landing and managing new projects, and make friends with people who know exactly what a ghostwriters day is like before you take on the potentially profitable cloak of the invisible author. Marcia Layton Turner has authored, c o-authored, or ghosted nearly 30 non-fiction books as well as articles like this one. She currently earns the bulk of her income from ghostwriting books for entrepreneurs and senior executives. She is also the founder and executive director of the Association of Ghostwriters.

How to keep your hands off your emergency savings

How to keep your hands off your emergency savingsHow to keep your hands off your emergency savingsAnemergency feststellungis one of the most important financial accounts you can have. It is there for you during the worst times in your life. It protects you from things like eviction, default, or bankruptcy. It has your back if you lose your job, end a relationship, or get sick or injured. If you havent yet started to build your emergency fund, you should start today.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreEven if youre only putting $10 a month into it, thats better than nothing, and itll grow faster than you think. But as youre able to contribute more, you should increase your contribution until youre able to fully fund it. You should have at least three to six months worth of expenses in this fund for it to be fully funded.However, its one thing to build your emergency fund, and its ano ther thing to leave it alone. The point of an emergency fund is to use it for emergencies. If you use it for other things, like vacation or shopping, youll run out of money and it wont be there when you actually need it.Put Your Savings In a Separate BankIts always important to know and understand yourself and your habits, but its especially true when it comes to money. If you know that you tend to transfer your savings into your checking when youre running low on money, you have to put some barriers into place.I recommend using high-yield verbunden savings account for this. Not only will it be separate from your checking account, but youll earn more money on it too Most brick and mortar banks have less than a percentage in interest on savings accounts, but online banks are currently offering more than two percent interest Depending on how much you have in your emergency fund, that can be a lot of money over the course of a year.There are lots of online banks out there now, but chec k outAlly,Synchrony,Barclays, orAmerican Express.Automate Your SavingsThe key to most things related to money is to automate. Thats why auto pay exists It takes forgetfulness out of the equation. It also takes human nature out of the equation. As humans, we love instant gratification, and spending money feels better immediately than saving money does. If the money moves automatically from your paycheck into your savings account, you wont be able to spend it before saving it. Set up direct deposit with your employer, or have your bank move the money for you whenever a check hits your account.Nickname Your Savings AccountsDid you know that in most online banking platforms, you can rename your accounts? My current savings accounts (both individual and joint) are named thusly Emergency Fund, Fun Spending, Annual Expenses, Home Improvement, Dog Savings, Travel Savings, and Airbnb Taxes. Yes, I may have more savings accounts than you would like to have, and thats okay I just like to keep all my savings goals separate so that I can easily track them. It also makes me feel more prepared and comfortable to see that Im saving for all of the things that are important to me.Nicknaming your savings accounts can also remind you what theyre for if youre tempted to withdraw from them. If you name your emergency fund your freedom fund or fuck off fund, maybe youll be less likely to spend the money on non-emergencies.Create Savings Accounts for Other GoalsIts easy to dip into your emergency savings if youre keeping it in the same account as savings for other things like travel or fun. Its important to separate your emergency savings from all of your other money. That way, youll always know what its there for and wont be tempted to dip into it if youre pulling out money for another reason.Have you built up your emergency savings yet?This article first appeared on Maggie Germano.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your soc ial class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

How to Get Through a Demotion Transition

How to Get Through a Demotion TransitionHow to Get Through a Demotion TransitionGoing through a demotion can be a traumatic experience. Whether the demotion is voluntary or involuntary, demoted employees often feel embarrassment and some sense of failure. This is natural. No matter what the true reasons for a particular demotion are, many of the demoted employees co-workers see a demotion as inherently negative, so the employees embarrassment is somewhat justified. Not succeeding at a higher position brings the sense of failure. In time, the employee may see the demotion as the best career move he or she ever made, but at the moment, it is a challenge. Making a smooth demotion transition is key to long-term success. Assess What Caused the Demotion Demotions are caused by many things. Some of those causes relate to an employees actions. Others are completely outside an employees control. Some demotions are caused by several contributing factors. Employees are often demoted for poo r performance. This tends to happen after an employee is promoted within the organization. The employee would notlage have merited the promotion had that employee not had outstanding performance in the previous position. Once assuming the higher-level role, the employees performance slips. The employee turns from a productive lower-level employee to an unproductive higher-level one. A demotion reverses this, but the demotion is a blow to the employee. The pre-promotion situation can never be completely replicated. Demotions can also happen because of situational factors. Budget cuts and reductions in full-time equivalent positions compel organizations to shuffle their staff around. Government organizations have strict policies on carrying out these management-directed demotions. Employees tenure and documented performance evaluations often come into play. Knowing what happened is the first step in the learning process. When schwimmbad things happen, the least you can do is learn fro m them. Lessons learned can be implemented to prevent future mistakes. Process Your Emotions Once youve gained an intellectual understanding of what happened, the next thing to do is process your emotions. Depending on just how emotionally impacted you are, you might have to address is partly before moving onto intellectual understanding. Processing your emotions allows you to be strategic when you communicate your version of the events leading up to your demotion. Be Tactfully Honest About the Demotion Whenever people are hired, fired, promoted, demoted or transferred, others in the organization speculate about what went into those decisions. As a demoted employee, youre the only one who can set the record straight. Your manager is limited in what he or she can say, and people will be skeptical because the manager has a duty to protect confidentiality. The demoted employee has an obvious bias, and intelligent people recognize that, but this persons story is the closest thin g to the truth others can reasonably expect to get. Even if the demotion was a horrible experience, you can play up the positive aspects. Instead of saying, for example, that your manager had unrealistic expectation that no one could have lived up to, you could say that you felt like you could not meet the expectations of the position. The latter statement deflects blame from your manager and shows you recognize why the demotion happened. Tact and honesty show maturity. You show the organization that you can be disappointed yet refrain from insubordination and subversion. Honesty helps you retain credibility with your colleagues. Be careful not to go overboard with the honesty. Brutal honesty is tactless and shows a lack of discretion. Keep a Positive Attitude You dont have to like the demotion, but you do have to maintain a positive attitude. No one expects a demoted employee to be whistling through the halls the day after the demotion is announced. On the other hand, no one wa nts Oscar the Grouch or Debbie Downer permeating the office culture. A positive attitude in a bad situation shows grace and gratitude. Like with honesty, you can go overboard. Others perceive unrealistic positivity as phony and evasive. Head off Gossip People are going to talk. They are going to speculate, and those speculations will become rumors. You may not hear the rumors since they are about you. Tactful honesty and a positive attitude go a long way in squelching rumors. If you find out about a rumor, address it head-on. You dont have to address it in front of everyone. If you address it with one person, that story will spread as fast as the rumor. End the Transition People expect a transition when someone is demoted. What they dont expect is for the hurt feelings and awkwardness to last forever. Make sure the transition actually ends. Put an end to your old role and embrace your new one.

How to Reconnect with Old Contacts During a Job Search

How to Reconnect with Old Contacts During a Job SearchHow to Reconnect with Old Contacts During a Job Search2We can all relate to wanting to rekindle relationships when you truly need to grow and find a new job. But how do you reconnect without making the other person feel awkward, or worse, like youre just using them?Here are threeways you can put yourself out there and reconnect with old contacts1. Get social on social media.You dont need to become a social media expert to use LinkedIn or Facebook. These two platforms do most of the work for you. Both will help you reconnect with people of your past. Like magic, these two platforms will suggest people you probably know and give you the option to connect with them. But before you start sending requests to connect, you need an updated profile.Be sure you have a picture of yourself uploaded. Next, write a little bit about yourself. When your old friend goes to check out your profile, theyll remember who you are and get an idea of what youre up to. Most people approach online interactionsby focusing on what they can get out of it for themselves. If youre using LinkedIn, be sure to list your strengths and accomplishments to position yourself as an asset.2. Attend networking veranstaltungs.Getting out from behind your computer will take courage but the reward is often worth it. In-person networking is extremely valuable because it gives you the chance to connect on a more personal level.Look up when the next alumni event is taking place in your city. (You may bump into an old classmate) Check out any industry events in your area. (You may run into old colleagues)Before you attend these events, be prepared to answer the question, So what have you been up to? If people havent seen you in a while they are going to be curious. When filling in the gap be sure to keep it short and simple. Then leave them a bit curious so that when you follow up you have more to talk about.3. Reach outthe old-fashioned way.Theres always t he straightforward approach reaching out directly.If you totenstill have your old contacts email address or phone number, get in touch. But the worst thing you can do is immediately ask for their help in your job search or career. That will send the wrong message and can be extremely off-putting.To avoid making things feel awkward, find areason to reach out. Maybe you heard your old pal recently got married. Reach out to say congratulations.Perhaps yousaw on LinkedIn that your former boss switched jobs. Send her a note with your well wishes, and to ask how things are going. Once a few weeks or months go by,you can start exploring ways in which you might be able to help one another out professionally.Job searching? Check out the top companies for part-time telecommuting jobs.