Career Advice

What are we actually doing wrong as job seekers

A Second Opportunity With a Great Cover Letter

Clients often ask if they should include a cover letter with their resume when submitting an application for an advertised vacancy. I believe a good cover letter provides another opportunity for you to convince the recruiter that you are the type of person they should interview.

You need to write a new cover letter for every position that you apply for, and in order to write a good cover letter you need to find out as much as you can about the vacancy and the company. Looking at the company website is a good start, but many vacancies listed by recruiting agencies do not disclose the name of the company. However, they show the name and contact details of a person, and you should make a point of calling the contact person before you start your application. Write down a list of questions before you make the call, and choose a quiet location where you will not be interrupted to make the call.

  1. Your cover letter should be no longer than one A4 page, using 10-12 point font, and if at all possible it should be personally addressed. At the head of the letter you should provide your name and contact details, together with the name of the employer or contact person, the job title and reference number (if provided), the company name and address.

    2. There will be a short opening paragraph indicating that you wish to apply for the advertised vacancy, and a concluding paragraph indicating that you are keen to discuss your suitability for employment in the position. This leaves two or three paragraphs for you to sell yourself. There is no point in summarising your resume in the letter. If you can’t think of something different or special about you and your experience then there is no reason to interview you. Think of your cover letter as an opportunity to write down your elevator pitch.

  2. I suggest that in your second paragraph you should indicate why you want the job. Your discussion with the contact person should have given you a more detailed knowledge of the role and responsibilities associated with the position, so you can show the depth of your interest.
  3. The third paragraph should highlight how your specialist skills and experience match the requirements for the job. As you are talking about specialist or technical skills, make sure that this paragraph includes key words or phrases relevant to your area of expertise.  Try to use this paragraph to show what makes you better than, or different from other applicants.

If you need to include another paragraph before your conclusion, use this to emphasise the personal qualities you have demonstrated. You can indicate how you have demonstrated your excellent written and verbal communication skills; how well you have worked as a member of successful teams; and nominate tasks that required highly developed organisational and time management skills.

The letter is now ready to attach to your application, but before you take that step please check for spelling or grammatical errors and that you don't have lots of sentences staring with "I". Make sure that everything you have mentioned is factual, and does not conflict with the contents of your resume or your Linkedin profile. Finally, get someone else to check the letter before you send it off.

By Noel Logan Principal, Successful Resumes Melbourne CBD- visit Noel at www.successfulresumes.com.au/victoria/melbourne/melbourne_cbd.html

6 Tips to writing an achievement based resume

Many people construct their résumé based on everyday job duties, failing to stand out or create impact. As a result, recruiters or HR Managers get the impression they are dealing with someone who can only do the basics. Although résumés need to include day-to-day job responsibilities, the way to make a résumé truly stand out is through unique, quantifiable achievements. Achievements are activities you have completed that have made a lasting impact to the company or client. Typically they are initiatives you have created, built and designed. They are absolute gold on your résumé. Keep your key duties concise and focus instead on unique accomplishments and you'll remain ahead of your competitors. Achievement based résumés help you stand out from the crowd as they give concrete examples of your capabilities in the workplace. I have itemised some tips below on how to write an achievement-based résumé.

Step 1: Create a list of your accomplishments

Recruiters and HR Managers want to see that you produce results in a competitive marketplace. This can be undertaken in several ways including providing examples where you increased revenue, saved the company money or enhanced team productivity. Just remember to ensure you don’t use stories or paragraphs on the résumé and use easy to read bullet points.

In order to spark ideas of workplace accomplishments, consider times when you have….

  • Exceeded targets or key performance indicators
  • Re-organised a system to make it work more efficiently
  • Achieved measurable outcomes that add value to the company
  • Trained, inducted or coached new staff members
  • Saved time or money for the company
  • Actively contributed on team projects
  • Contributed to outstanding customer service
  • Identified a problem and resolved it
  • Received awards or commendations from your supervisor
  • Substantially increased revenue for the company

Step 2: Use the PAR Process to expend your achievements

Problem:           What was the problem or situation or challenge?
Action:              What did you do to solve the problem or improve the situation?
Result:              What was the outcome? Where possible, include percentages, dollar figures or other metrics.

For example:
Problem:           A disorganised and inefficient warehouse
Action:              Redesigned the layout to improve organisation
Result:              Saved the company $175,000 in recovered stock

Once you have completed your P-A-Rs, confirm the statements into bullet points. The most effective approach is to phrase each point as "action and result" with some slight integration of the "problem" and rephrasing of verb tenses as necessary.

Step 3: Add numbers to your results

Using quantitative examples that include numbers helps to portray a clear picture for the person reading your résumé.  A key question to ask yourself when considering how you yield results is "By how much?" For example, perhaps you increased company revenue. This is an excellent achievement to highlight, however you need to outline the quantity or volume, including numbers/figures that verify your achievement.

Step 4: Embrace the use of verbs.

Often people fail to use specific verbs in a résumé, which leads to a basic depiction of what tasks they actually perform in their job. Anyone can say "worked in accounting" but that doesn't really say anything about what your job entailed. Consider using verbs that stand out such as "spearheaded" or "streamlined."

Step 5: Be confident about highlighting your accomplishments

Many people don't give themselves sufficient credit because they believe it will make them sound arrogant or conceited. The truth is that a résumé doesn't require humility as recruiters want you to tell them why you're the right fit for the job - in essence it's a marketing document. Hence it is imperative that you highlight your accomplishments in your résumé. You can start by including any awards and recognitions you have received, then list any other achievements that perhaps you didn't get public recognition for then start narrowing down the best choices and writing them in bullet form.

Step 6: Highlight something you initiated voluntarily.

Recruiters or HR Managers always have an eye out for innovators and self-starters. In short they seek employees that go "over and above," thus bringing value to the employing company. Once you get to a certain level, the last thing employers want is someone who needs to be micro-managed which is why you should highlight projects that you initiated yourself. Did you get secure new business independently? Have you mentored other team members out of the goodness of your heart? These are all great examples of how you set out to achieve results on your own.

Writing an achievement-based résumé is a fantastic way to highlight your cultural fit and suitability as a potential asset to the organisation. If you are seeking expert advice or document preparation services from accomplished Résumé Writers, Career &; Interview Coaches and are keen to get the edge over other applicants, partner with 1300 Resume to progress your career today! Call us on 1300 RESUME or send an email to info@1300resume.com for a no obligation project critique or quotation. Having assisted 5000+ clients since 1995 to achieve promotions and job offers, we look forward to adding you to our success stories.

 For more information visit www.1300resume.com.
 

Resumes & Cover Letter Samples

It doesn't matter what level you're at in your career to get noticed by potential employers, your resume needs to knock their socks off. Your resume is much more than a compilation of your work history; it's a tool that lets hiring managers know that you're the candidate they've been hoping for.

For maximum wow-factor, your resume must highlight your industry-specific experience, accomplishments and credentials. If you need help customizing your resume to your field, check out these examples of resumes and cover letters for various careers and career levels in the following industries:

 

Administrative/Support

Art/Design/Media

Automotive

Education

Engineering

Finance/Accounting

Healthcare

Human Resources

Insurance

Law Enforcement

Manufacturing

Marketing/PR

Nursing

Real Estate

Restaurant & Hospitality

Retail

Sales

Science

Technology

Trades

Transportation & Warehousing

Do you need to wear a suit to a job interview?

UP & COMING
Craig Sneesby, Managing Director, U&U, Executive Recruitment Partners
If you are applying for an office-based role you should always overdress rather than underdress. For trade or field-based roles you should dress appropriately. If you are unsure you should ask the question when scheduling the interview. When visiting a recruitment agency for white collar appointments I would always encourage wearing a suit. First impressions count and all agencies will want to see ultimately how well you present yourself prior to them referring you on to their clients.

MID-CAREER
Nicole Underwood, Managing Director, Nicoleunderwood
In most instances, the answer is yes, however the most important thing is that you need to take pride in your appearance by being professional and well groomed. Bottom line first impressions count and what you wear is part of the whole package and an opportunity to stand out from the crowd.

EXPERIENCED
Peter Noblet, Senior Regional Director, Hays
At a job interview you should always dress for success! Apart from what your wearing, a firm handshake with a big smile will do wonders when you first meet your interviewer. Some small chit chat from the reception area to the interview room will also help. These are the vital seconds (not minutes) in making your first impression.

THE EXPERT
Michelle Bentley, General Manager, Donington (Sa), Transition And Outplacement
Suitable attire will depend on the nature of the role and organisation. Go on the company website and find what image the organisation espouses. Is it very white collar, technical, tradie or retail etc? Is it a management role or a front of house client or customer facing role? These will often require a keener eye for physical presentation. If in doubt, ask the contact who arranged the interview with you.

Is Starting Your Own Business the Answer?

Scott Stropkay decided to start his own business soon after leaving a good position for what seemed to be an even better one. After rumors that the division he was hired into would be sold, Stropkay was laid off, and his career path was left at a crossroads.

Having always been interested in pursuing his own business, Stropkay took the entrepreneurial plunge and started Essential Creativity, a Boston product design and consulting company. "The way I see it, the best chance at job security I can have is to work for myself," he says.

Whether starting your own business is something you've always dreamed of or it's one option after an unexpected layoff, there are several points to consider before striking out on your own. Jan Norman, small-business newspaper columnist and author of What No One Ever Tells You About Starting Your Own Business, offers wisdom gathered from the 101 successful entrepreneurs she's interviewed.

A New Business Is Like a New Baby

If you're a parent, you know how your baby changed your life in ways you never anticipated. You may have envisioned parenthood one way, only to learn how different reality can be. The same principle applies to your startup. Your new "baby" needs constant attention and will keep you up at night. But with your commitment, time and energy, it will grow and hopefully make you proud.

Entrepreneurial Interests Don't Equal Success

You may be absolutely passionate about your professional interest, but if the rest of the world yawns at your proposition, your business should probably remain a hobby, not an income source.

Do people want your service or product? Do you have the interest and ability to constantly market it to new consumers? Your passion and skill form the foundation of your startup, and your business skills must carry it to success.

Not Everyone Is an Entrepreneur

Can you live with uncertainty? Can you delay gratification? Are you persistent? Can you bounce back after disappointment? Can you find creative solutions to problems? Are you in good health? Starting your own business is, quite literally, not for the weak of heart. Entrepreneurs need stamina to persevere in the face of the setbacks and failures they will inevitably face. Be honest about your desire to live the life of a not-yet-successful businessperson.

Even the Boss Takes Out the Trash

Working for yourself can be liberating -- no boss to answer to or office gossip to listen to. But there's also no receptionist to screen your calls, no cleaning service to tidy up your office and no technical support staff to solve your computer glitches. New entrepreneurs often neglect to prepare mentally for the unwanted roles they must take on to keep their businesses up and running. If your ego can't handle the small stuff, you may have problems adjusting to this new identity.

It's Going to Cost You

Starting a business can be a huge financial drain until you become profitable. Think seriously about whether you have enough money saved to survive without an income for one or two years. If you have a spouse or partner, discuss how you will handle this financial change. Not only will you be spending a great deal of money on this new venture, but you will also be spending a great deal of time on it. If you don't have support and encouragement from the important people in your life, your startup may be a lonely, uphill battle.

Despite such challenges, Stropkay's company is doing well. His client list is growing, he's added staff, and most importantly, he's making money.

And the company's future growth? "Actually, if we can make it now when times are tough, there's no stopping us when the economy inevitably recovers," Stropkay says, illustrating the most important entrepreneurial trait of all -- optimism.

5 ways you can make the most of your internship

1.     Do not bite off more than you can chew
An internship should be a rewarding experience for you to apply what you have learned in your studies in a real life setting. If at any point you feel like you cannot handle your workload, then it is time to prioritise and seek advice from your supervisor and/or coworkers.

2.     Do not compare yourself to others
Internships are about learning, so make sure you work at your own pace and achieve your personal learning goals. Others in the workplace will have more experience than you, so itÂ’s best not to compare your achievements and tasks to what others are doing.

3.     Remember you do not have to love the internship to succeed
What you may initially think you want to do in your career is not necessarily what you will end up doing or enjoying. You will never know until you try and it is better to find out sooner than later in your career! Know that you will still gain great work experience no matter what internship you have.

4.     Network, network, network!
When you are in your internship, please do not stay glued to your desk. Networking helps you build up your list of professional references that can help you later in your job search.

5.     Ask for a concrete project
Talk to your boss about setting a concrete project deliverable for the duration of your internship so that you can claim ownership and personal contribution in your resume. This also prevents you from being limited to the more basic tasks. 

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