5 Secrets to Landing Your Next Job
March 2nd, 2010As a leading job placement agency in Seattle (and an employer ourselves), we see the same kinds of tired cover letters and resumes over and over again. But in order to land a job you love, you have to set yourself apart from the masses. Here’s how:
1. Stand out.
Rather than submitting the same form cover letter that everyone else is sending in, write something that is uniquely you. Be professional, but at the same time, be bold. Don’t try to blend in or you’ll get lost in the crowd.
2. Look to advertising.
Not sure how to make yourself stand out? Then flip through magazine ads and read your junk mail. What kinds of statements and information grab your attention? Use these power words and power phrases in your cover letter.
3. Use “you,” not “I”.
Unfortunately, many job seekers tend to focus too much on their experience and accomplishments, instead of taking it a step further and discussing how those attributes can help a potential employer. For instance, “My 10 years of experience as a bookkeeper will help to eliminate accounting headaches for you.”
4. Keep it simple.
In today’s day and age, everyone’s on information overload, including potential employers. So, to make life easier for them, keep your cover letter and resume simple. Don’t use words that they’re going to need to look up in a dictionary. Also, keeping it simple means keeping it short. So say what you want to say in the clearest, most concise manner possible.
5. Be passionate.
Oftentimes, cover letters can seem too distant, like the candidate doesn’t really care too much whether they get the job or not. So put some enthusiasm in your letter. You don’t want to go overboard and seem desperate, but at the same time, you want to make an impact.
If you’re trying to refine your resume and cover letter before sending it out, or if you’re already searching for a job opportunity in the Seattle area, Provisional can help. As job placement experts, we can match you with a rewarding opportunity in a field such as healthcare, accounting, legal, office, or technical.
