Is Your Life Story Boring

Is Your Life Story BoringIs Your Life Story BoringYour story needs to be sticky. Recruiters dont say, Remember Paul, the innovative thinker that had a strong track record at Fortune 500 companies. Find out how to craft a story with a good hook.Job seekers think they need to be salesman, never storytellers. Nevertheless, storytelling is part of every job search. How well you tell your story in cover letters, resumes, networking meetings, interviews - even negotiations - will directly affect your success in the job market.Storytelling doesnt mean telling tall tales Its amazing how many people ask for help with their resumes by saying, Ive got to find a way to make this look better than it really is. Exaggerating accomplishments and misrepresenting facts is never an acceptable approach. Nor is it necessary. Instead, when people take the time to remember the actual details, a more compelling and truthful story almost always emerges.The problem is that people dont naturally think about telling their story.Your challenge is to find a way to describe your involvement so potential employers clearly see the before and after. In other words, how did you make a situation better because you were there?You cant get there simply by rattling off a list of accomplishments by themselves, accomplishments rarely tell the story. Knowing how much time you saved or how much money you made for the company is of limited use if it isnt presented in context. To appreciate the importance of your work, the scope of what you did must be clear. Here are a few questions to get you startedWhat problem were you solving?How long had it been a problem?How many people were affected by the issue?What welches the cost of not solving the problem? (e.g., lost revenue, frustrated customers, low morale)What, specifically, did you do to address the issue?How did you get involved?Were you asked to address the issue? If so, by whom?Or welches your involvement the result of your own initiative?Did solvin g the problem require an investment of time, money or resources by the company?Were you the person who convinced management to invest in the solution?If so, how did you sell them on the idea?How long did it take to solve the problem?Were there any unexpected results?Good stories surprise youOnce you have answered these questions, be sure to include the most surprising and memorable details when you tell the stories behind your accomplishments. This is the key to being remembered at the right time for the right reason.Sadly, few people manage to include these crucial details.Rather than tell memorable stories that might get people interested in their backgrounds, they rattle off job titles, responsibilities and other unrevealing aspects of their past.For example, I vividly remember Eric (not his real name), a client who had a long-winded, fluffy summary statement that could literally apply to anyone. In it, Eric described himself as an innovative problem solver. Unfortunately, this w as not supported anywhere in his resume or cover letter. Nor did he spontaneously offer any examples during the course of our mock interview.Only when I probed extensively did Eric reveal a fantastic example to support his claimIn his most recent position, Eric worked at a data center that handled transactions for financial institutions. At the time, the company was actively acquiring other data centers. Erics job was to help merge the operations of the various data centers the company acquired.Throughout the process, Erics company relied on several highly paid consultants from a well-known firm to evaluate the acquisitions and make recommendations regarding the best ways to merge the technologies. In one case, the consultants concluded that the technology of a recently acquired company was incompatible with the firms operations and recommended running the data center separately. Eric didnt accept that as an answer. Instead, he spent the next month researching and examining alternat ives on his own, outside regular working hours.Being quite resourceful, Eric networked his way to a person overseas who had successfully solved a similar challenge. By taking the time to learn how the other person solved the problem, Eric devised a way to implement a workable solution. Within a few weeks, Eric successfully converted the new data center to the companys technology.This is a great example of innovative problem-solving. It wasnt one Eric had ever thought to share on his resume, in interviews or in any of his networking efforts. Nevertheless, it remains among his most memorable and compelling experiences. Thats the goal of storytelling. You want people to think of you and make the connection between what you have done and what they might need you to do. Potential employers and networking contacts should look at you and thinkI remember her Shes the person who _________.(Fill in the blank with whatever experience powerfully demonstrates your ability to excel in a particula r area.)People will only remember you this way if you have great stories to support your abilities. After all, no one will ever sayI remember him Hes the guy who spent 10 years working at Fortune 500 companies where he developed a strong track record of leadership, strategic thinking and a proven ability to solve problems and exceed client expectations.As you may have noticed, this says absolutely nothing. Not coincidentally, it is exactly what job hunters convey in writing and in person everyday. Its also one of the reasons far too many people remain under- or unemployed.

What to Include in a Letter of Recommendation

What to Include in a Letter of RecommendationWhat to Include in a Letter of RecommendationIf you have been asked to write aletter of recommendation for employment or for academic reasons, you may be struggling to know what information to include - and what to leave out. This recommendation letter schablone shows the format of a typicalletter of recommendation, with details on what to include in each paragraph of your letter. What to Include in a Letter of Recommendation A recommendation letter should include information on who you are, your connection with the person you are recommending, why they are qualified, and thespecificskillsthey have. Whenever possible, its helpful to provide specific anecdotes and examples that illustrate your support. For example, rather than simply stating that a candidate is a strong writer, mention that they wrote a prize-winning essay. If someone has achieved awards or special recognition for their accomplishments, mention it. Your goal is to writ e a strong recommendation that will help the person youre recommending get hired or accepted. When writing aspecific letter referring a candidate for a particular job opening, the recommendation lettershould include information on how the candidates skills match the position they are applying for. Ask for a copy of the job posting and a copy of the persons resume, so you can target your recommendation letter accordingly. Try to usekeywordsfrom the job listing in your recommendation. In addition, the lettershould include your contact information for follow-up. Be prepared to answer questions about your endorsement of the candidate. The following template can be usedfor an employment reference, as wellas areference for graduate school. Letter of Recommendation Format Below is a template with an example of the format for a letter of recommendation. A template can help you with the layout of your letter. It shows you what information to includeand how to organize your letter. Whilel etter templatesare great starting points for your own katechese, you should always edit a letter to fit your situation. You can alsoreview samplesof recommendation letters to help you write your own. Writer AddressYour NameJob TitleCompanyStreet AddressCity, State Zip Code Date SalutationIf you are writing apersonal recommendation letter,include a salutation (Dear Dr. Williams, Dear Ms. Miller, etc.). If you are writing a general letter, say ToWhom it May Concern or simply dont include a salutation. Paragraph 1 IntroductionThe first paragraph of the recommendation letter explains the purpose of the letter, as well as your connection to the person you are recommending, including how you know them, and for how long. Paragraph 2 DetailsThe second paragraph of the recommendation letter contains specific information on the person you are writing about, including why they are qualified, and what they can contribute. If necessary, use more than one paragraph to provide details. Include s pecific examples attesting to the persons qualifications whenever possible. Paragraph 3 SummaryThis section of the recommendation letter contains a brief summary of why are you are recommending the person. State that you highly recommend the person or that you recommend without reservation or something similar. Paragraph 4 ConclusionThe concluding paragraph of the recommendation letter contains an offer to provide more information. You can include a phone number within this paragraph. Another option is to include a phone number and email address in the return address section or signature of the letter. Letter ClosingFinish up your letter with aformal letter closingand your name and title. If you are mailing a hard copy of the letter, include your signature underneath your typed name Sincerely, Signature(for hard copy) Writer NameJob Title Review a Sample Letter of Recommendation George McAdamsCoach / Biology TeacherThomas Jefferson High School8740 Highland Avenue Hillside, Illinoi s 60162(000) 123-1234gmcadamsemail.comMay 21, 2018To Whom It May ConcernIt is with much enthusiasm that I am writing this personal recommendation for my student, Keeshan Williams. Keeshan has been an indispensable member of the Thomas Jefferson High School football team that I coach since his freshman year in 2015-2016.Keeshan is truly one of our star students at Thomas Jefferson High School. Not only has he twice been recognized as MVP for our football team, but he also is an honors student, maintaining a 3.85 GPA as he completes a full schedule of AP classes in English, Biology, Chemistry, and Calculus. He is an acclaimed student leader, holding offices in student government and Beta Club, and also volunteers as a Biology tutor in our peer mentoring program.Keeshan possesses a maturity and focus that far exceeds those of fruchtwein students his age. Determined to eventually go to college and medical school (to pursue a career in sports medicine), he has worked various part-time jo bs in retail to help fund his education, and understands how to provide attentive customer service, operate point-of-sale systems, and build team morale and project ownership.I thus highly recommend Keeshan Williams, confident that he will bring the same drive and dedication to your organization that he brings to the classroom and the football field.Please contact me at the email or phone number listed here if there is any other information I can provide.Sincerely,George McAdams Expand What to Include in an Email Recommendation Message When youre sending your recommendation letter by email, you can eliminate the Writers Address section and include your name, address, title, email address, and telephone number in the signature section of your message Best regards,Writer NameJob TitleEmailPhoneCompanyStreet AddressCity, State Zip Code ExpandThe subject of your message should include the candidates name Subject Recommendation - Applicant Name What Not to Include in a Letter of R ecommendation If you do not feel comfortable recommending someone - whether its for a job or graduate school or for something else - its best to let the person requesting the recommendation know thatyou cannot write it, rather than writing a negative letter. This will give them an opportunity to seek out someone who can wholeheartedly write a positive recommendation. Keep in mind that your own reputation is in play when you write a letter of recommendation you do not want to endorse someone in a letter who you do not think will perform well since it could cast a negative light on your own judgment. You also do not want to lie in the letter Dont exaggerate accomplishments. Overblown praise can diminish the impact of your recommendation. But be aware that since fruchtwein recommendation letters skew very positive, any criticism will be very noticeable.

Entry-Level Cover Letter with No Experience Example Writing Guide

Entry-Level titel Letter with No Experience Example Writing GuideEntry Writing GuideIn just a moment, youll have a topComputer Science titel LetterIf an internship is what youre after, read How to Write a Cover Letter For an Internship +20 ExamplesJust graduated college? See Recent Graduate Cover Letter ExamplesAnd if you want to make aya elendhing slips your mind when writing a titel letter, get our handy free checklist 37 Things You Need to Do Before You Send Your Cover Letter.1Whats the Best Structure for Entry-Level Cover Letters?Cover letters allow you to write with flexibility, creativity and style. This can be quite refreshing, especially if youre coming straight from writing a robotic-sounding resume with no experience.However, your titelblatt letter for entry-level positions is sgeschiebemergel a formal letter, so there is a layout we recommend you follow.But whats that structure look like, and what should you include on a first-time cover letter?Heres what you should incl ude on a no-experience cover letteryour contact details,the companys details,a greeting/salutation (e.g., Dear Mr. Steinhoff,),an opening statement that grabs their attention,short paragraph on why youre perfect for the company,short paragraph on why the entry-level position is perfect for you,closing statement that seals the deal,complimentary close (e.g., Regards,) and your name,a postscript (P.S.).Here, were following our recommended structure on the elements of the perfect entry-level jobs cover letter. To understand the reasoning behind this particular structural endorsement, see this article What to Include in a Cover LetterPro Tip Though you should follow our formal cover letter structure, youll have some leeway in your writing style. On the resume, youd use fragmented sentences and clipped phrases, but here you can flex a bit.Didnt get an opportunity to use our guide for making a resume without work experience to ensure thats done right? Nows your chance Resume with No Work Experience2How to Address Your Cover Letter for First JobsWhen putting together a cover letter for entry-level jobs, youll first put your personal information and theirs in the header area. Its look and design varies depending on the template you use.Your Contact DetailsFirst, add your contact info at the top of the cover letter. Must-haves include your name, email address, and phone number. Optionally, you may choose to include your mailing address and a LinkedIn URL.Your address can be aligned to the left, center, or right. However, stick to the saatkorn layout as you chose for your resume, and youll be fine.Pro Tip Dont add other social media links, website URLs, and portfolio information here as you did on your resume, unless the entry-level cover letter template you choose includes an area for them.The DateAny formal letter such as a cover letter should include a date of writing.The Companys DetailsNext, add the addressee, which is the company or agency youre applying at. Try t o find the specific name of the HR director to insert at the top of the company address. This will make it feel more personalized and will be much more compelling.Put the specific persons name (if you found it) then the organizations name and address.Heres what the finished cover letter address area could look likeNot addressing your cover letter with no work experience correctly is just as bad as not including one at all Make sure you get it right How to Address a Cover LetterPro Tip Just how important is a cover letter? Super important Over 45% of HR managers say theyll reject your application if you dont include one3Starting Off on the Right FootIts crucial to get the opening area of a cover letter for any entry-level position just right. The top location gets the most eye time, after allSucceed, and youll get actual eye time at the interview.Greeting / SalutationFinding the name of the hiring manager or recruiter is important. It makes the difference between your first cover let ter feeling personalized and it seeming like it was spammed out to everyone.Something like Dear Mr. Steinhoff, works perfectly. You can also skip the formal tone by calling them by their first name Dear Marcel,.Now, about that Dear partDear is one of the best salutations, but if you cant find a name or want to change it up, weve got other options How to Start a Cover LetterIntroductory StatementYou know that elusive, perfect pickup line youd want to use when you see The One across the bar? Well, the opening paragraph should grab the employers attention the same way. Make them want to talk to you.Lets look at an example of a great entry-level cover letter openingAs a longtime user and fan of SmogTechs peerless cloud services, I was thrilled to see the opening for an entry-level IT researcher. With my IT university background as well as a dedicated consumer of your cloud offerings, I know I can use my skill set and knowledge to quickly become a valuable member of the SmogTech team.How bout that? This intro is written specifically about the company, and it gives them an enticing taste of how you would be a perfect addition to their team. This makes a great cover letter opening paragraph, and it will make them want to read on.Pro Tip As we did above, mention the firms name in the beginning paragraph, as well. It feels more personalized, and it assures the hiring manager that theyre reading a dedicated cover letter.When making a resume in our builder, drag drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building your resume here.Create my resume nowWhen youre done, Zetys resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.4You + Company = A Picture-Perfect PartnershipNow we get down to the fundamentalsits time to sell them on why youre the best candidate out of that stack of 200+ others.The odds seem against youunless you get this core section right.Though opposites, these next two cover letter of interest sections have a symbiotic relationship. We suggest a paragraph for each, which will allot you plenty of room to make your case.Why Youre Perfect for ThemYouve hooked them with that great introduction statementway to goNow, start reeling them in by showing how youre the perfect fit for their company.Heres what a fresh graduate or first-time applicant might say on a sample entry-level cover letter for a job applicationIn my former role in my universitys IT laboratory, I had numerous responsibilities and achievements which would serve me well in this entry-level role at SmogTech. Im proud to have been on a team which pioneered some innovative new IT best practices. On top of that, my diverse set of projects there have often maintained an enviable position as public-sector winners, and Im sure that I could garner similar results at SmogTech, such asNew method for documenting bugs which reduced operational downtime by 52%Initiated system for merging data streams into single outp ut which led to a 26% increase in productivity.See that? With that paragraph, you show that your acquired skills and experience would make you the ideal new hire for the job offered. You also add specific numbers so they get a taste as to what you could bring to their table, rather than just vague words.Even though you have no on-the-job experience, you look supremely competent, nonetheless.Why Theyre Perfect for YouA healthy relationship should be a two-way street, and that holds true for entry-level positions, as well.Youve told them why youre the best possible future employee. Now, show them that this company and the entry-level position on offer is the finest choice for youObtaining the IT research position at SmogTech would be a digital dream come true. You see, SmogTechs user-friendly cloud development platform is what inspired my fondness for tech. As such, there is no other firm that would make me as happy to work for. I know that, should I be granted the researcher position , Id be the envy of my circle of friendsHow about that? You praised the company and explained how no other company could make you as happy to work for. Who can resist that?Pro Tip Remember using keywords on your resume to ensure that its tailored? Add them on your no-experience letter of interest, as well. Oh, and make sure you use the best cover letter fonts so they can read itWeve got a wealth of tips on writing a cover letter that will let you stand out above the rest 35+ Successful Cover Letter Tips, Advice Guidelines5A Compelling Strong FinishYou started off strong, and youve kept that momentum going this far.Now, dont give up just yetUse a powerful closing statement, a concluding sentence or paragraph, to briefly sum upI would welcome the chance to discuss your current tech and research objectives and show you how my successes at university can translate into growth for SmogTech.See that? You bring it to a satisfying end by summarizing your entry-level cover letter and then leaving the decision in their hands.Complimentary CloseAdd a closing sentiment and your name, and then you can let out a sigh of relief at your impressive application letter accomplishment.Heres how painless that isSincerely,Siobhan KeenanThat closing sentiment is called a complimentary close (or complimentary closing). Thats followed by your name to end the cover letter.Pro Tip Just as with the formal header area where you addressed the company, keep the complimentary close formal, as well.Having a solid closing on a cover letter is just as critical as an attention-grabbing beginning. Read this for more examples How to End a Cover Letter6A Postscript to Seal the DealBefore you berate me for saying youre done and then giving you one more, hear me out just a sec, if you will.Adding a P.S. (postscript) is a great cover letter writing hack. All the best cover letters include one.Let me show you what I meanP.S. - Id love the opportunity to sit down with you and go over how I can bring s imilar results (26% productivity increase) to your office, as well.What do you think? A P.S. at the bottom of your cover letter with no working experience always draws the attention of the reader, even if they didnt care to read the rest of it. Its a clever way to get one final word in before they finish reading.Key TakeawayAs you can see, writing your first-time or no-experience cover letter is certainly not as complicated as you thoughtand definitely nowhere near as tough as the wizardry youll perform once you get that job.Remember to follow these key points to write a successful cover letter for entry-level jobsStart with a bang. Your opening statement on your cover letter is important because itll determine if the hiring manager reads on.Show you belong together. Use the majority of the entry-level cover letters body area to show that youre a perfect fit for the company and theyre the ideal workplace for you.Finish strong. You held their attention till the end, now use a powerfu l ending so theyll be sure to move on to your enclosed resume and an interview.