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As a resource to all current and prospective students, Allied Schools, Inc. has developed this blog to bring relevant information into your lives. Use this blog as your "career guide," turning to Allied Schools Career News for industry updates, career trends, and job search advice. We thank you for visiting!
You've completed a successful job interview. What's the next step? You send a "thank you" letter thanking the interviewer for his or her time. This simple act can give you an edge over other interviewees. It's a common courtesy that allows you the opportunity to reiterate your interest in the job and keep your name in front of an interviewer.
Some tips for creating an effective "thank you" letter:
* Make sure to send your note within 24 hours of your interview.
* You can either handwrite or type your thank you letter. Tailor it to fit the company's culture. Decide if it's more appropriate to send a formal typed letter or a personal handwritten note.
* If you choose to e-mail your letter, you should send a hardcopy too. E-mail is a fast way to get your letter in front of the right people, but a mailed letter is the best choice.
* Your writing reflects you - make sure it is error free. Check the letter for grammar, spelling and punctuation.
* Make the note personal. Don't just copy your note from an old letter you have on file. Reference specific things you talked about in the interview.
* If you interview with a few people, send a note to each one. Although you can use the same letter for each, try to tailor a sentence or two to that specific person
* If you expect a decision soon, find a way to get your note in the interviewer's hands fast - consider using e-mail, fax, or hand-delivery.
A "thank you" letter can send an important message about you. It shows that you are truly interested in the job and want to project a positive image. It is the perfect opportunity to remind your potential employer of your qualifications and how you would fit in with the company. It also gives you the chance to correct any mistakes you might have made or add anything you might have missed.Labels: Career Guide, Job Success, Resume
A resume is the first thing a potential employer sees when you apply for a job. This simple piece of paper represents you and your employment history. It can determine if you get called for an interview or overlooked for another candidate. Considering this importance, you should make sure that your resume makes a good impression. You've created a resume before, but there might be additional tips that you didn't know. Use this helpful advice to get your foot in the door:
-Include a clear and concise job objective. Make sure to highlight this at the top of your resume. Give potential employers a clear idea of your professional goals.
-Modify your resume for the role you are applying for. You should tailor your resume to match the type of job you want. Change the objective and emphasize relevant skills. You don't want the main focus of your resume to be on experience that has nothing to do with the type of job you want.
-Make sure you have relevant job experience. You need to have experience in the type of job you are applying for. Volunteer to get the skills you need, or highlight your existing skills and illustrate how they apply to the new position.
-Include 10 to 15 years of work experience. This can help shorten the length of your resume and provide the most relevant work experience. If you have important experience beyond those years, you can mention it in your cover letter.
-Don't include hobbies or personal information. Unless the hobby or information is relevant to the type of job you are seeking, you shouldn't include it on your resume.
-Use action words to describe your duties. Pick strong verbs to explain your work history. Words such as "managed, maintained, budgeted, performed, and exceeded" are good ones to use to describe your duties.
Make sure you get the interview you want. Review your existing resume and make sure it adheres to the guidelines above. It might make the difference of receiving a phone call or getting passed over in favor of a candidate with a better resume. Even if you are the best choice, you are only as good as your resume.Labels: Career Counseling, Resume
The Internet seems to be everywhere. You shop for gifts online, download your favorite music online and communicate with friends online. What about finding a job online? It is estimated that as many as 70-80% of job vacancies are never advertised through traditional means. Posting your resume online can increase your exposure to potential employers.
When you post your resume online, you can use it to easily apply for jobs. Even if you're not actively looking for a new job, having a current resume online means employers looking to hire candidates can find you. You might find yourself faced with an exciting new opportunity.
It's usually very easy to post your resume online. Oftentimes it's just a matter of cutting and pasting your existing resume content onto a job search site. You can also create a resume from scratch. You will have the tools to create an effective resume and make the necessary changes to your resume as your job or experience changes. See how many times your resume has been searched and viewed!
Most job search sites will allow you to conduct a confidential job search. You can post a resume and market your skills and experience to employers, while withholding your identity. Those that are interested will still be able to contact you by email or phone in a confidential manner.
Tips for an Effective Online Job Search
- Search all job postings, even older ones - You might miss out on a job opportunity if you stick to only new postings.
- Don't search for a job while at work - Companies can monitor your activity.
- Don't just focus on big job boards - Keep in mind that smaller industry-specific sites can be helpful too.
- Don't submit your resume for more than one position with the same employer.
- Be patient.
The Internet provides job seekers with options. If you are in the job market, you should consider posting your resume. It gets your resume in front of potential employers and makes it easier to apply to a lot of jobs within your field. Labels: Career Builder, Resume
Your cover letter can convey a lot about you. Think of it as a first impression. It lets an employer know what your skills are and why you'd be a good fit for a company. It offers a sampling of your most relevant experience and gets the employer interested in learning more about you.
Your goal: to create a well-written letter. This will get an employer's attention and let them know that you are serious about your job search. Make sure to highlight your skills or accomplishments that indicate you are the perfect candidate for the job.
Follow these tips to create an effective cover letter:
1. Keep it concise and to the point - Your cover letter should be no longer than one page. Choose to include only relevant information. It should introduce yourself and explain why you're interested in the position.
2. Personalize the letter - Make sure you know who to address, such as Mr. Green or Mrs. Smith. Try to avoid using "To Whom it May Concern." And always double check that you have the correct spelling.
3. Sell yourself - List your key skills and accomplishments. Explain how you think you'd be a good fit for a company. Show how past experience will help you succeed in this new company.
4. Include a "call to action" at the end - Make your intentions known to the reader. Ask him to contact you or say that you will call him in a few days to follow up. Don't leave the letter open-ended. Make sure it ends with an action or request for an action.
5. Review the letter - Take the time to look over your letter. Even one mistake can cost you a job opportunity. Have a friend or family member review your letter too. Sometimes two eyes can be better than one.
Think of a cover letter as a preview of your resume. It's representing you, so make sure it says the right thing. Get your foot in the door with a winning cover letter.Labels: Career Guide, Resume
It is important to update your resume on a regular basis. By keeping it current, you will be ready to send your resume to a prospective employer on a moment's notice. You will also have the assurance that your resume reflects your current accomplishments. Even if you are not planning to look for a new job, you should take the effort to keep your resume up to date. Think of your resume as a work in progress. As your job evolves, your resume should also change to reflect new experience. Follow these steps to keep your resume fresh and up to date: - Take notes – You should always keep a detailed list of specific duties that you perform and projects that you complete at your job. This will ensure that you know exactly what to include on your resume. Don't overlook critical achievements and contributions! It might be difficult to remember what you did a few months ago. A list will help guide you when you update your resume.
- Evaluate your resume – Take a long, hard look at your resume. Is there something that is not relevant? Do you need to provide additional details about a project? Has your objective changed? A resume that you wrote right out of college might not fit your needs when you are a professional with ten years of experience.
- Update or rewrite – After you've evaluated your resume, decide whether it requires a simple update or complete rewrite. Your resume might be too long or have outdated information. Decide the direction your resume should take. If you are simply updating your resume, make the necessary changes. If you need to rewrite it, devise a plan and include only the most relevant information. Create a resume that will generate results.
You never know when you will need an up-to-date resume. There might be a layoff, you might decide that you want a change, or an amazing job opportunity might come your way. You should always have your resume ready. You will have the confidence that your resume highlights all of your important accomplishments and accurately represents your work history. Remember that resumes should be one-of-a-kind. There are no cookie cutter formats. Make it your own and create a winning resume! Labels: Resume
When you mail, fax or e-mail your resume, it might be number 58 out of 108 resumes that the Human Resources Director sees that week. So how can you make your resume stand out from the rest?
We don't advocate anything wacky like sending your resume along with an extra-large pepperoni pizza. (Believe it or not, desperate candidates have done this!) However, we are saying that if you make your resume "dynamic" enough, it can land you the interview!
NOTE: All of the following methods will work regardless of whether you create a chronological resume (organized by job titles, starting from the most recent) or a functional resume (with less emphasis on work history, greater emphasis on skills and accomplishments).
SECRET #1: Add Plenty of Action Verbs - Action verbs are the strongest way to describe your previous job responsibilities and accomplishments. Dynamic words like achieved, streamlined, created, managed, or implemented can make your resume come alive. Just remember to use present tense verb phrases for the job you currently hold and past tense for former jobs.
SECRET # 2: Quantify Your Experiences - This one takes a little bit of effort, but it's worth it! Instead of listing just your duties or responsibilities, list your actual accomplishments. This includes adding details, facts, data or numbers. Employers are interested in discovering how you saved money, increased sales, or solved a problem.Examples:Supervised four employees. Created a 120 page report outlining the company's marketing and sales plan. Implemented a new cost-cutting plan that saved the company $20K annually.
SECRET #3: List Your Transferable Skills - You have more skills than you realize! Transferable skills are really "life skills" acquired either on the job or through any other activity, like parenting, volunteer projects, classes and so on. Employers in every industry are searching for candidates who possess excellent organizational, communication and problem-solving skills.
Labels: Career Guide, Resume
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