Email, snail mail, phone, social media: rules for connecting with a potential employer.

Carrie Holler, a former HR executive for Rodale Inc. in Emmaus, PA, remembers a woman “who wanted to work for us in the worst way. She sent her resume to everyone from Mrs. Rodale on down, and she called us all several times a week.” On paper, the woman wasn’t a good fit for the family-owned publishing firm. “Her resume didn’t have enough horsepower,” says Holler. Just...

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Before and After - Improving a Real-life Cover Letter

Before Version Here’s the before version. It reads like 95% of the cover letters out there. Like those other 95%, it basically says, “I know I need a cover letter, so here are some paragraphs of blah.” You can imagine multiple candidates for this position submitting this letter; there’s nothing especially personalized about it. Dear Hiring Manager: Your posting on LinkedIn...

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Objective Statements Out, Executive Summary's In

Are you “looking to obtain a challenging position that will facilitate your work ethic”? “Seeking to obtain this challenging position in,” oh, let’s say the music industry? Perhaps you want to win “this challenging position that will utilize your expertise and education.” In other words, your objective is to get a job. The recruiters and hiring managers who received your...

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Avoid These Words When Drafting Your Resume

When it comes to looking for a job, what you don't say can be just as important as what you do say. Here are nine phrases and words to leave off your résumé. Try    Try simply shows a lack of belief, passion, commitment, and confidence — all the qualities you need to succeed in today's tight job market. While try is the most dangerous word that an employee or...

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Should You Call That Potential Employer?

I often hear people say that you should always call after you send your resume to ask if it was received, to build rapport and get noticed; this post recommends that you follow up once a week for a month before moving on (which is a lot, I think). On the other side of the argument, HR expert Susan Heathfield calls these phone calls ‘Fishing for attention’ calls and resents...

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