Monday, April 20, 2020

Tips For Writing a Resume and Cover Letter - Use a Free Resume and Cover Letter Generator

Tips For Writing a Resume and Cover Letter - Use a Free Resume and Cover Letter GeneratorYou can get tips for writing a resume and cover letter from using one of the many free resume and cover letter generators that are available online. While this may seem like the best approach, I recommend you use one of these applications to get your resume written. Using a free one is a great way to create a resume without spending money, but it does not provide you with valuable information on the topics that you need to address in your resume.If you do decide to use a free resume generator, I would like to offer you one tip for writing a resume that you will definitely appreciate. You should not start writing your resume until you have read the entire first page. There are five pages in your resume, so make sure you read the entire first page first before you write anything else.The first paragraph of your resume gives you a solid basis for what you can expect in your career. You can include a ny of the following in this paragraph. You can choose to include any of the following. I believe you will find one of the following tips helpful.Position Title - This part is important because it gives you an idea of what you are going to be doing at your new company. Position titles should include the job title. You can include the salary range or the industry that you are in. You should also mention any hobbies or interests that you have when it comes to your new employer.Experience - You should include the years of experience you have worked in the company, and this information should be included in the last three lines of your resume. Also be sure to list any education you have received in this area as well.Skills - You should include skills that you are best suited for. For example, if you are best suited for sales, you should include how many sales you have handled, and the number of customers you have handled. You should also include any projects that you have helped with dur ing your career. Always be sure to include something that is relevant to your goals in your cover letter.Using one of the tips for writing a resume and cover letter is one of the most useful ways to prepare for the interview. Use the free resume and cover letter generator to create a resume or cover letter and you will get a professional look for your resume and cover letter.

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Layoff Plan How to Prepare In Advance

Layoff Plan How to Prepare In Advance Very few of us are immune from the specter of receiving a pink slip. In fact, I know of one married couple who both got laid off on the same day. I’ve seen lots of advice on the web centered around the theme “You’re laid off, now what?” But that is a pitifully reactive response that doesn’t offer the maximum protection to you, your family and your household finances. A competent household CEO doesn’t wait before figuring out what to do next â€" especially if they’re the lone bread-winner in the family. The fact is, it’s your duty to ensure that you take an offensive posture on potential layoffs in order to minimize any disruptions and impacts. Of course, everybody’s circumstances are different, so no two action plans will be exactly alike. Here is my action plan: Step 1: Make Your Emergency Fund the Top Priority Serious household CEOs who run their household like a business ensure they have at least three, and preferably six, months of living expenses in a rainy day savings account. Just keep in mind that, for many people, that may require scaling back vacation plans, cooking every meal at home, and putting off those home renovations and other big-ticket ideas until that account is fully funded. Step 2: Expand Your Network When you look at all the factors responsible for getting a new job, 90% of it is attributable to who you know. Expand business and social contacts at every opportunity. If you haven’t already, sign up for social networking sites like Facebook and business networking sites like LinkedIn; it may not help, but it certainly can’t hurt. Step 3: Apply for Unemployment Insurance Benefits I know. It sounds crazy, but some people forget to do this â€" so it’s officially in my plan. Step 4: Take a Step Back Take a week or two off to put aside emotions and think rationally about practical questions that need to be answered regarding your future such as: Should I try to get employment with another company or become self-employed? Am I willing/prepared to uproot my family and relocate? Should I go into business as a consultant, or maybe look into new business opportunities? While you’re enjoying the time off, don’t forget to also: Step 5: Reassess and Reprioritize Reassess where your money is being spent and determine how long you can make ends meet on your severance package, unemployment insurance and rainy day savings funds. If you’re the sole bread winner like I am, you may need to have your spouse take on a temporary job to help supplement the household income until you can find a new job. In the meantime, ensure that the use of credit cards to make up any slack in income is also strictly prohibited. As for what to do with your 401k if you lose your job, you should avoid tapping that too, if only to avoid the onerous tax penalties that come with making early withdrawals. Step 6: Consider Delaying Your COBRA Decision COBRA is a federal law that allows you to continue your health care coverage after you are laid off. You’re responsible for paying the cost of the coverage, which tends to be expensive. The law gives you 60 days to decide on whether or not you want COBRA coverage â€" so you may not want to rush. After all, you may get a job before the 60-day time period has elapsed, so why commit up front for expensive coverage you may not need? Step 7: Treat Your Job Search Like a Job After your one- or two-week rest period is over, start your new temporary job of finding new employment. Get up at the same time you did with your old job and wear business attire. Then concentrate the bulk of your work day on finding a new job. Most importantly, don’t dwell on the past. Instead, commit to focus on the new opportunities that surely lie ahead. By taking an offensive approach and implementing an action plan before you’re laid off, you’ll be in a much better position than if you wait to do something until you get that dreaded pink slip. More From Len Penzo dot Com: How to Protect Your Financial Info During the Holiday Shopping Hustle 6 Questions Your Insurer Will Ask Before Giving a Car Insurance Quote The Handy Dandy Gift Guide of Practical Presents Under $25

Friday, April 10, 2020

4 Inside Secrets To Writing A Great Cover Letter - Work It Daily

4 Inside Secrets To Writing A Great Cover Letter - Work It Daily Let’s agree you should always send a cover letter, it’s just the professional thing to do. Nonetheless, statistics show 50% of employers don’t read them and the others scan it in 5-10 seconds. That being said, how do you craft a cover letter that quickly captures their attention? Related: Does Your Cover Letter Make These 5 Critical Mistakes? First of all, let’s agree the ONLY purpose of the cover letter is to get someone to want to read your resume. It is NOT a recap of your resume or a short story of how you moved from job to job. Since employers spend only a few seconds glancing at your cover letter, it should be short, easy to read (using bullets) and compelling. Here’s a typical scenario: An employer has over 700 resumes to weed through, each with a cover letter. They pick up the next letter and it says, “I am writing in response to your advertisement #5444 regarding your Project Manager position.” Pretty boring... and you just missed your chance to grab their attention. So, let’s look at how you can instantly make them want to know more. Trick #1 A great trick is to start by thinking what the best candidate in the world would deliver. For example, for sales people, employers want to hear about setting sales records (overachieving quota), expanding the customer base, and earning customer loyalty. For project managers, employers want to see a consistent track record of delivering projects on time and with a high level of quality. For manufacturing, the key metrics are productivity, safety, quality, and cost improvements. So, tell them in your first sentence you can deliver these things. I have over 15 years of experience leading manufacturing operations to new heights in productivity, profitability, and safety. Setting new sales records, growing market share and turning mediocre performers into superstars briefly describes what I can do for your firm. I have over 10 years of experience leading highly visible, complex projects and have earned a solid reputation for meeting aggressive deadlines and bringing internal/external customer satisfaction to new heights. Get the idea? You just told them you can deliver exactly the results they are looking for. Trick #2 Most people send the same basic cover letter to all firms. Employers are really impressed when you show that you know something about their organization. So, demonstrate your knowledge and put in a line that shows you’ve done your homework. Example: I’ve followed your company for a number of years and I imagine that with your opening a new plant in Atlanta, you will need someone who is experienced in plant startups. With your recent acquisition of XYZ, I’m sure you can benefit from someone who has extensive HR experience managing the integration of new personnel and corporate cultures. Wow! So far, you’ve told them you are a star performer who can deliver exactly what they want and that you are experienced in meeting some of the specific challenges their organization faces. Now prove it. Trick #3 This is where you put in two to five bullets that prove you can deliver results. Bullets make the letter easy to read and simple for you to customize by swapping some bullets in for others depending on what they want. Here, you’ll want to quantify your accomplishments as much as possible. Example: I have been assigned to numerous turnarounds and surpassed expectations in each instance. As Plant Manager at 1 of the largest component manufacturers in the United States, I reduced overtime 30%, increased productivity 18%, grew quality 11% and slashed accidents by 33%. I have 12+ years of solid sales experience at such firms as IBM, Oracle and Sun Microsystems, and achieved top ranked performance in every position. My achievements include delivering as much as 440% of sales targets and ranking in the Top 5 every year for the past 8 years. Trick #4 You’ve proved you are a superstar (and even if you’re not, you should think like one), so now is the time to bring it home. Your closing paragraph should indicate that they should read your resume, that there is a lot more to know, and you will be calling them in a few days to find out more about the position. There are a lot of important concepts here â€" yes, you will call them, and no, you will not just ask them if they got your resume, but instead will demonstrate your strengths and knowledge by asking insightful questions that indicate you are truly interested in this position. Employers notice people who call and this is your opportunity to build rapport with the decision makers who hold the key to your dream job. Follow these simple tips and you will definitely make yourself stand out with your cover letter. Want to work with the #1 Rated Resume Writing Service in 2013? If you want to cut your job search time and make sure your resume is noticed, then check out our Resume Writing Service. Get a Free Resume Evaluation or call me at 800.909.0109 for more information. Related Posts 5 Cover Letter Techniques = Spellbound Hiring Managers Addressing Salary Requirements In Cover Letter 7 Examples Of Fresh New Ways To Start Your Cover Letter Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!