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6 Steps To Creating The Perfect Cover Letter

Posted June 23, 2015 by Victor Andres

Cover Letter Word Cloud Concept with great terms such as interview, resume, summary and more. It’s always important to make a good first impression. And, most often, when you are looking to secure a new job opportunity, your cover letter to your resume represents your first impression. It’s a good idea to remember that your hiring manager is looking to find out more about you, not just what you’re capable of doing on the job. So creating a cover letter that is as personable as it is professional is a wise choice.

Of course, writing a cover letter can be considered a tough task if you haven’t done one in a while. This is especially true for those who have experienced long layoffs from work due to illnesses or injuries. For more information about Independence Incorporated’s Resume Preparation services that assist with both resume development and appropriate cover letter creation, please don’t hesitate to call us at 204-478-6644 or email info@indep.ca.

Here are six steps to creating the perfect cover letter:

1. Address the hiring manager directly. Showing that you’ve done your research about the company you are applying to demonstrates your attention to detail and your dedication to securing the job. Be sure to find out the hiring manager’s name in order to properly address that person in your letter. “If this person’s name isn’t in the job listing, take the extra effort to call or email the company and find out,” suggests Vivian Giang on BusinessInsider.com.

2. Get to the point. Telling your life story isn’t necessary. Your best bet is covering all of the necessary details that relate to the reason you are applying for the job. On Monster.com, Caroline M.L. Potter recommends that you also include where you saw the ad for the position and who recommended you to apply for it. Keep in mind that recruiters have many cover letters to read. Cutting to the chase will help you to gain favour.

3. Don’t go overboard. Remember that the purpose of your cover letter is to pinpoint reasons why you should be considered for the job. It is your personal request for consideration. So you don’t need to go over the details that are already listed on your resume. “It’s a professional document, so don’t go too over-the-top,” reminds Giang, “Yes, trying to figure out ways to be creative may be difficult, but don’t go overboard out of desperation.”

4. Be complimentary. Naturally, your cover letter should endear its reader to you. But you’ll also want to include reasons why you’re interested in the company you’re applying to work for. “Compliment the organization on what they have done right and what you admire about them,” advises Potter. That way, you will prove that you’ve taken the time to look into and get to know the company.

5. Stick to the “one page rule”. You don’t need to make your cover letter any longer than one page. To reiterate, its intent is not to tell your life story. Sticking to the important facts and highlighting your strengths are what is necessary. “Your cover letter is an introduction to yourself,” says Giang, “It’s supposed to show that you have strong communication skills. Be brief and concise.”

6. Include a call to action. Of course, you can assume that your hiring manager wants to meet you in person. But, it’s best that you state your intention of doing so. Potter advises that you express your enthusiasm for the job position and the interview. Giang agrees that you should be proactive. “Tell the reader what you’re planning on doing next — for example, calling in a week or two to follow up,” she advises.

Good luck!

Committed To Helping Clients With Their Returns To Work

Posted May 12, 2015 by Victor Andres

When you’ve been away from the work force for a considerable amount of time, returning to work is not often the first thing on your mind. Suffering an injury or enduring an illness comes with many physical limitations. Naturally, returning to a state of better health and strength is the primary concern. However, once a full recovery has been successfully achieved, an individual generally needs to begin thinking about returning to work.

In many cases, this entails looking for an entirely new job. And, as you can imagine, for those that have not been working for a long time, the entire process can be a harrowing one. One of the first steps, of course, entails refurbishing a resumé. And although there is often nothing new to add to a resumé once a person is able to return to the workforce following a long layoff, it’s important that all relevant information is updated.

Then comes the job search! This too, can be a difficult process. Determining the line of work one is interested in and discovering if there are available positions in that field can also be an arduous task. And, of course, once a person has selected the jobs that he or she wishes to apply for, preparation for those all important job interviews is necessary. Independence Incorporated is committed to helping clients throughout the entire process.

Firstly, we offer Resumé Preparation services that assist clients with completing accurate, up-to-date and interest-worthy resumés. Our experienced vocational staff works diligently to provide both thorough resumé development skills and appropriate cover letter creation. In many cases, a cover letter is read before a resumé, so it needs just as much attention. Our team is well aware that impressing a would-be employer requires a great first impression.

Secondly, our Job Search Assistance Program serves those who have settled on some realistic occupational choices. The program takes into account the specific needs and talents of each individual client. It may include regular client meetings to establish responsibilities during the job search process and a daily review of classified employment ads in newspapers, employment centres and on the internet.

Finally, we offer Interview Coaching. For those who have experienced long layoffs from work, it is often difficult to recall the best ways to conduct one’s self during a job interview. Taking into account such details as dress code, knowing what questions to ask, showing up early and doing research on the employer is all very important. Our team provides a review of effective interview strategies to help to diminish the anxiety that many job seekers may have.

It can be argued that the job interview process is the most important step in securing new employment. This step, of course, puts a person face-to-face with his or her would-be employer. Making a strong impression is imperative in landing the position. On Monster.com, Doug Hardy writes that “even if you have less than a day before your job interview, you can outshine the competition with a little interview preparation.”

Finding a new job after a long layoff from work doesn’t have to feel like Mission: Impossible. As mentioned, Independence Incorporated is committed to helping its clients with every step necessary to both locate and secure ideal career opportunities. For more information about our Resumé Preparation services, Job Search Assistance Program and Interview Coaching, please don’t hesitate to call Independence Incorporated at 204-478-6644 or email info@indep.ca.

6 Tips For Finding The Right Job For You

Posted March 31, 2015 by Victor Andres

There was once a time when a person would begin a career and retire from it approximately 40 or 50 years later. Today, we live in a world where career changes happen a whole lot more often. In some cases, career transitions become necessities in order to address the changes that may be occurring in our personal lives. A long term illness or injury is certainly a reason that many people use to consider moving from one career to another.

If the time for change becomes necessary due to one’s physical limitations, it’s important to consider what they are before looking for a new job. At Independence Incorporated, we offer a Job Search Assistance Program that is tailored to the needs of each individual client. The program includes regular client meetings to establish responsibilities and obligations, résumé preparation and a daily review of offline and online classified employment ads.

Here are six tips for finding the right job for you:

1. Focus your job search. Locating the ideal job for you begins with knowing exactly what it is you are interested in doing. With online listings being so prevalent these days, narrowing your search by using specific key words in search engines should help you to locate the opportunities that best suit your needs and skill set. “Narrowing your search criteria will help you focus your job search and will give you more relevant job listings to review and less non-relevant job listings to weed through,” writes Alison Doyle on About.com.

2. Seek to develop new skills. Perhaps, you’re looking to completely change your career path. If so, some new training may be in order. You’re never too old to learn new tricks! Mary Eileen Williams of The Huffington Post recommends that you take a class at a community college or senior centre. “You will not only gain the necessary knowledge (you can add this to your résumé),” she writes, but “you will also be able to network with your fellow students and the instructor.”

3. Do some volunteer work. There are few things on a résumé that seem to impress employers more than the experience you have in a related work field. Especially if you are entering into an unfamiliar industry, it will pay dividends to get some experience through volunteer work. “The very act of serving others will raise your feelings of wellbeing,” believes Williams, “Even more, because you will be volunteering in a field associated with your own, your new connections are likely to lead to unexpected opportunities and liaisons.”

4. Join a job search group. It certainly can’t hurt you to be around other people who are going through the same situation as you are. This is especially true if the entire job search process is bringing you some anxiety. Joining a job search group “will go a long way to lesson any feelings of isolation you may be experiencing,” says Williams, “In addition, you will have opportunities to share job search tips, exchange leads, and provide emotional support.”

5. Target your résumé and cover letter. Once you’ve narrowed your search to the job opportunities that you feel you are best suited for, be sure to prepare a résumé that speaks to that industry. “It’s important to take the time to write targeted résumés and cover letters that specifically link your qualifications to the hiring criteria for the jobs you are applying for,” insists Doyle, “The hiring manager will be able to see, at a glance, why, and how, you are qualified for the job.” Generic résumés, she believes, aren’t likely to impress.

6. Nail the job interview. Of course, your résumé and cover letter should help you get your foot through the door. But once that happens, you don’t want to put your foot in your mouth! It’s important to research the company that is interviewing you before you meet its hiring manager. As well, “dress appropriately, practice answering and asking interview questions, and make a concerted effort to impress the interviewer with your skills, experience, confidence, and expertise,” advises Doyle.

Good luck!