90 Day Action Plan When to Follow Up

Reader Question 30/60/90 Day Action Plan When to Follow Up I got an email from Lana Hayes, a Proposal Manager in Maryland.  Its a great question and she said I could share my response with you  She writes: The week before the holidays I met with a Regional Manager and Project Manager for an interview.   It seemed to have gone well. Before I went to the interview I was unaware about a 30/60/90 action plan to take until I went to a job seminar.   Over the past week I have been working on said action plan.   Now my question is, should I forward it to the gentlemen?   I have already sent both a thank you email.   If so, how would you word the email about why are you submitting it late? Have you heard of the 30/60/90 day action plan?  I have heard of it, as a job search strategy. I think its a good idea, not necessarily critical in every interview, but it could be a great differentiating tool.  Lana blogs about it here. Lanas question she already interviewed when does she send the action plan to them?  Should she do it via email? I would recommend she NOT email them the action plan. What she could do is send a followup communication (email, letter, card, fax, etc.) with the normal stuff (thank you, etc.) and let the interviewer(s) know she developed the 30/60/90 day action plan.  She might have to educate them a little on what that means (see my post on Connecting The Dots here) she might even include a snippet of it, but I would not include the entire thing. Instead, Id say something like I would love to share my plan with you in the next round of interviews. Quick note: Im on a list of PR professionals and they complain that when they share an awesome plan, sometimes they dont get the job but the company uses their plan anyway.  There is always the danger of this.  Are you okay with that? I am my thoughts: showing a plan is one thing (and yes, quite valuable) the value YOU bring to the table is that you can EXECUTE on the plan. What do you think?  When should Lana show them the plan?  Am I right or wrong?  What would you do? Reader Question 30/60/90 Day Action Plan When to Follow Up I got an email from Lana Hayes, a Proposal Manager in Maryland.  Its a great question and she said I could share my response with you  She writes: The week before the holidays I met with a Regional Manager and Project Manager for an interview.   It seemed to have gone well. Before I went to the interview I was unaware about a 30/60/90 action plan to take until I went to a job seminar.   Over the past week I have been working on said action plan.   Now my question is, should I forward it to the gentlemen?   I have already sent both a thank you email.   If so, how would you word the email about why are you submitting it late? Have you heard of the 30/60/90 day action plan?  I have heard of it, as a job search strategy. I think its a good idea, not necessarily critical in every interview, but it could be a great differentiating tool.  Lana blogs about it here. Lanas question she already interviewed when does she send the action plan to them?  Should she do it via email? I would recommend she NOT email them the action plan. What she could do is send a followup communication (email, letter, card, fax, etc.) with the normal stuff (thank you, etc.) and let the interviewer(s) know she developed the 30/60/90 day action plan.  She might have to educate them a little on what that means (see my post on Connecting The Dots here) she might even include a snippet of it, but I would not include the entire thing. Instead, Id say something like I would love to share my plan with you in the next round of interviews. Quick note: Im on a list of PR professionals and they complain that when they share an awesome plan, sometimes they dont get the job but the company uses their plan anyway.  There is always the danger of this.  Are you okay with that? I am my thoughts: showing a plan is one thing (and yes, quite valuable) the value YOU bring to the table is that you can EXECUTE on the plan. What do you think?  When should Lana show them the plan?  Am I right or wrong?  What would you do? Reader Question 30/60/90 Day Action Plan When to Follow Up I got an email from Lana Hayes, a Proposal Manager in Maryland.  Its a great question and she said I could share my response with you  She writes: The week before the holidays I met with a Regional Manager and Project Manager for an interview.   It seemed to have gone well. Before I went to the interview I was unaware about a 30/60/90 action plan to take until I went to a job seminar.   Over the past week I have been working on said action plan.   Now my question is, should I forward it to the gentlemen?   I have already sent both a thank you email.   If so, how would you word the email about why are you submitting it late? Have you heard of the 30/60/90 day action plan?  I have heard of it, as a job search strategy. I think its a good idea, not necessarily critical in every interview, but it could be a great differentiating tool.  Lana blogs about it here. Lanas question she already interviewed when does she send the action plan to them?  Should she do it via email? I would recommend she NOT email them the action plan. What she could do is send a followup communication (email, letter, card, fax, etc.) with the normal stuff (thank you, etc.) and let the interviewer(s) know she developed the 30/60/90 day action plan.  She might have to educate them a little on what that means (see my post on Connecting The Dots here) she might even include a snippet of it, but I would not include the entire thing. Instead, Id say something like I would love to share my plan with you in the next round of interviews. Quick note: Im on a list of PR professionals and they complain that when they share an awesome plan, sometimes they dont get the job but the company uses their plan anyway.  There is always the danger of this.  Are you okay with that? I am my thoughts: showing a plan is one thing (and yes, quite valuable) the value YOU bring to the table is that you can EXECUTE on the plan. What do you think?  When should Lana show them the plan?  Am I right or wrong?  What would you do?

Tips For Resume Writing Year Round

Tips For Resume Writing Year RoundThe amount of skills and knowledge that you possess can vary depending on the type of job you are seeking. And, if you happen to be looking for a particular job, the degree of information in your resume is going to need to reflect the nature of the position you are seeking.When it comes to resume writing, the year usually calls for a more detailed, longer document than what you need to do in the summertime or the end of the school year. Unfortunately, resumes are usually constrained by both time and budget, so you must take into account the effects this will have on the quality of the finished product. So, before you get started, read on.As you age, your actual physical traits are one thing that will increase in relevance as the years pass. Whether you are a business owner or a student, your resume will inevitably evolve in this way, especially when you are searching for employment. For this reason, the information in your resume should reflect this. If you choose to include this in your resume, make sure that the resumes you choose to include this information in reflect your true age.When it comes to resume writing, the writing style can also be altered in order to reflect your personality and your unique tastes. This can make a big difference to the outcome of your resume. So, before you start writing your resume, be sure that the content matches your own personality and that it sounds well-written and polished enough to be considered a professional presentation.One of the most interesting tips for resume writing is the use of the 'How to' phrase. Sometimes, your 'how to' skills are quite valuable in that they help you steer clear of the project that you are not interested in completing. So, by eliminating projects that you are not ready to do, you will ensure that your resume stands out from the rest.By using a different method for writing your resume, you may be able to make more connections with potential employers. Many p eople believe that this will be best accomplished by using the different service or program that you offer. Even if you are offering several different services, this will give the impression that you are always prepared to take on new work.The length of the resume should also be taken into consideration. Whether you are looking for employment, a raise or promotion, or a transfer, the amount of space you leave on the page is going to influence the outcome of your resume. You will find that most people who fail to fill up the section in which they state their education and previous jobs find that the person actually receives a lower salary than they anticipated.Finally, whenever you are writing your resume, try to remember that there is no substitute for practice. In fact, even an experienced resume writer can benefit from creating samples of resume after resume. This way, you will know exactly how to rewrite your resume without having to do it over again.

Nurturing Your Networking Skills - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Nurturing Your Networking Skills - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career One of the benefits of networking is that it’s a great way of improving your interviewing skills. The logic is simple. If you want to become a better actor, act. To become a better writer, write. And to become better at interviewing, interview. Networking conversations are like low-stress, high-impact, self-initiated interviews. By having lots of these mini-conversations when you aren’t under pressure, you get better at explaining what you want people to know about you. And the more you do it, the more skilled and focused you become. “But I hate small talk,” people sometimes protest. Then don’t engage in small talk. Talk about things of interest to you and others. One sure-fire way of feeding a conversation is to try to discover what’s of keen interest to the other person, then talk more about that. Offer some helpful ideas. Don’t assume, “Oh, she’s probably already thought of that.” Maybe not. And of course you can steer the course of the conversation by inserting information about your own interests also. Pay attention to what people say. Care about what they say. Listen hard, and practice reading between the lines. As management guru Peter Drucker says, “The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn’t said.” Another secret of effective networking is to give at least as much as you take. If you only take, youll get a reputation for that, and in time people will avoid you. If you give â€" especially if you give first, without knowing whether or not youll receive â€" people will be attracted to you. “An offer of reciprocity gets my attention,” says Alan Grafman, CEO of Modelwire. “It’s my personal secret to always ask the person I’m networking with, ‘How can I help you?’” Why not try this technique right now? Think of a couple of people that you know who might benefit from knowing each other. Call them up, and explain that you think so-and-so would be beneficial for him or her to meet. I recently wanted to use the professional services of an artist I know. I didn’t feel I could afford his top-drawer price, but I wanted his top-drawer work. So I explained that to him. I added, “I know you’re worth it, I just can’t afford it at this time.” Then I volunteered, “I know someone who could use your services. When we finish talking, I’ll call him and suggest that you two meet.” And I did. The second person then called and made an appointment with the artist to discuss some business. Later, the artist called me and said, “Thanks for the introduction. We’re meeting next week. And don’t worry about the price for your project, I’m going to give you what you need for a price you can afford.” The more you do to help someone else’s career, the more willing that person will be to help yours. You know the expression, “What goes around comes around.” With technology, what goes around comes around even faster. By the way, if youre a “gray” â€" older than forty â€" make an extra effort to get to know and network with young people, who tend to be more in tune with new trends. In return you can make the relationship mutually beneficial by providing insights and advice based on your years of experience in the business world. What if you find your efforts to network stymied by intense shyness or anxiety? Most of the time, you can reshape your behavior and thought patterns to control and overcome shyness. Everyone has some degree of social phobia; most people feel nervous meeting and talking to strangers. If you are excessively shy, you have to deal with it. The truest and best way is to understand that others experience it, too. Other people feel just as nervous as you do at times, maybe more so. So if you bravely act first and help those around you relax, youll get more out of your time together. This doesn’t mean you need to become a social butterfly to network successfully; it does mean that you can’t be lazy about making strong, diverse connections on an ongoing basis. Sometimes it’s necessary to draw limits on your networking activities. As you get better known, you will be the person with whom others will want to network. You may have to guard your time. A simple statement such as, “If you have any other questions, just send a note,” can be a helpful way of ending a conversation and giving yourself a chance to move on. If youre pressed for face-to-face time, you can say, “I’ll be happy to spend a few minutes on the phone with you.” Larry Feld, president of Human Performance Strategies, has developed his own techniques for controlling his networking time. “I qualify [people] up front and then determine how to best manage the situation,” he explains. “I inquire about the subject, assess how much time is required to deal with it, whether on the spot or whether to schedule amore convenient time. If someone wants me as a source but I don’t want to be, I’ll say, ‘I am not comfortable in making such a recommendation because I’m not that familiar with your work.’” Keith Johnson, a vice president with ThinkArena, adds this advice: “If people are blatantly trying to me to get themselves somewhere, sometimes I’ll still direct them to the right people. But I won’t give the kind of introduction that they would get if they had at least faked some friendship or mutual respect… And when people send others to me, I’ll almost always talk to them. You just never know.”

Rule Number 6

Rule Number 6 Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'tUkqKb5oSFxF5paD0HA3_Q',sig:'7xaZxF-rfxBDu3S6lP2NnOohdY1CbFmAO832Haua5dQ=',w:'509px',h:'339px',items:'922207550',caption: false ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); Among the great stories and life lessons in The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life by Benjamin Zander and Rosamund Stone Zander is this: Two prime ministers are sitting in a room discussing affairs of state. Suddenly a man bursts in, apoplectic with fury, shouting and stamping and banging his fist on the desk. The resident prime minister admonishes him: “Peter,” he says, “kindly remember Rule Number 6,” whereupon Peter is instantly restored to complete calm, apologizes, and withdraws. The politicians return to their conversation, only to be interrupted yet again twenty minutes later by an hysterical woman gesticulating wildly, her hair flying. Again the intruder is greeted with the words: “Marie, please remember Rule Number 6.” Complete calm descends once more, and she too withdraws with a bow and an apology. When the scene is repeated for a third time, the visiting prime minister addresses his colleague: “My dear friend, I’ve seen many things in my life, but never anything as remarkable as this. Would you be willing to share with me the secret of Rule Number 6?” “Very simple,” replies the resident prime minister. “Rule Number 6 is ‘Don’t take yourself so gâ€"damn seriously.’” “Ah,” says his visitor, “that is a fine rule.” After a moment of pondering, he inquires, “And what, may I ask, are the other rules?” “There aren’t any.” Benjamin Zander is the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic, and has been since its formation in 1979. He frequently gives talks on leadership and opening up to possibilities.   When he told this story to a group of corporate executives, he learned later that the company’s leader installed a sign at every manager’s desk in the company that simply said: Remember Rule 6. Zander writes: “The president then informed me that a similar plaque now stood on the desks of every manager in the company, with the inscription facing both ways. He said that the climate of cooperation and collegiality that had resulted from this one simple act had transformed the corporate culture.” I’m a big fan of humor in the workplace. If we’re not having fun (most of the time), it’s our own fault. Sure, the work can be difficult, challenging, even tedious. But fun is well within our control, and it provides a break that makes us more effective and more likely to stay on the job. The key to success is to take the work seriously, but not to take yourself seriously. Zander says: “Humor can bring us together around our inescapable foibles, confusions, and miscommunications, and especially over the ways in which we find ourselves acting entitled and demanding, or putting other people down, or flying at each other’s throats.” Being serious is a survival tool; it helps us focus and helps signal our intentions and our status to other people in the room (who may be a threat.) But being deadly serious also signals that the work, the conversation, or the moment itself, is Hard. HARD, in capital letters. Humor signals that the work is manageable and that you still have personal bandwidth available. You still have oxygen left in your system.   Your ease signals to the rest of the team that we will be all right; we’ll get through this together. Everyone can take a breath. They’ll have to, in fact, to laugh. Here’s a note Zander received from a young woman in his youth orchestra: [During rehearsal for a very difficult piece] “I know that I was mentally exhausted, and we all kept missing notes and entrances. “Take it straight through the second movement,” you said to us, “and NO MISTAKES.” I don’t know about anyone else, but all my muscles tensed, and I wanted nothing more than to run away and crawl into a hole. You must have sensed this, because you thought a moment and then said, “If you make a mistake  .  .  .  a five-hundred-pound cow will fall on your head.” Partly from the image, and partly from the complete surprise of hearing that word out of your mouth, we all began to laugh, and everything was better, including the Bartok. I don’t think anything could have relaxed or empowered me more at that moment than the word “cow.” I agree â€" the word cow is inherently hilarious. I resolve to use it more often. When the work gets heavy, lighten up. Remember Rule 6.

Free Functional Resume Template

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How to Negotiate Your Way to Your Dream Job CareerMetis.com

How to Negotiate Your Way to Your Dream Job Landing your dream job is an exciting prospect. Once you gain the right combination of skills and training, it’s time to approach the right employer.Negotiating for the job of your dreams requires the right mindset. Think of yourself as a skilled expert, and companies are bidding for your specialized skillsets. The following eight tips work great in winning a favorable contract for your dream job.Research the Job MarketevalFocus on the idea that the employer needs your skills as much as you need the job. Approach recruiters and interviewers on an equal footing by first realizing your worth.Start by finding out what options exist in your desired field. Are other companies hiring people with similar talents as you? Research other job descriptions for similar roles. Use your research to position yourself as an ideal candidate for the role you want. Know what skills and values employers in your field are looking for. Ensure you reflect those skills and values in your resume and job app lication.For example, if your dream job is in sales, don’t merely list that you’ve taken the best sales training. Highlight why any other previous training and experience gives you transferable skills that make you a great fit for the role. Be sure to point out any valuable industry connections you may have.Apply for Alternative PositionsYour dream job may be available in more than one company. Apply to positions in other companies that fit the bill. There is power in having alternative job prospects and offers.If you succeed in receiving many offers, you will be less likely to act desperate and jump to accept the first offer. Having alternatives lined up makes it easier to consider your options and reject what doesn’t appeal to you.If you go in without alternatives, you may feel the pressure and accept a low-ball offer to secure the job. Once hired, you may harbor regrets and lose focus, as you keep looking for your next dream job.In negotiations, having the best alternative to a negotiated agreement Negotiation is rarely a winner versus loser competition. Meaningful employment, being a long-term relationship, works better when the contract offers mutual benefits. The employer gains from your service while you enjoy the salary, perks, and great experience in the job of your dreams.When negotiating the job contract, offer insights into how your service can provide value over and above other candidates. For example, maybe your experience in the industry brings in high-value sales connections. Perhaps your specialized training is a level above what most other candidates studied.Find Motivation in More than MoneyOften, your dream job attracts you for more than the earning potential. Maybe it’s in a field you’re passionate about. Perhaps the attraction lies in the job letting you work toward making the world a better place. Whatever motivates you, make your passion for the job clear to your prospective employer.Employers like to see passionate and motiva ted employees. When your motivation goes beyond money, it sends a clear message that you will go over and above your call of duty in the role. Motivation shows you are a go-getter who needs little supervision to perform well.evalMotivation beyond money applies even in how you perform your duties. For instance, a sales rep motivated by money will usually seek a hard sell for one-off sales. In contrast, a rep motivated by long-term performance focuses on building relationships with buyers who may deliver more long-term value.Managers will likely be looking for a self-motivated employee who gels well with their existing team. Self-motivated employees often bring in new energy and innovative ideas that can improve existing systems. Position yourself as the self-driven candidate, and the employer may be more inclined to improve their contract offer.Understand Employer ValuesYour dream job works best if the company values align with your values. Company values inform the company’s cultu re and internal decision-making. The company’s culture holds employees and managers accountable and reflects the company’s image outside the organization.During negotiations, show that you understand the company’s values. Understanding the company’s vision, mission, and values guides employees to achieve the company’s goals. Ultimately, no matter how skilled you are, the company wants to work with someone who understands the company’s purpose and can achieve set goals.Also, you are less likely to leave if the company’s values align with your moral direction. The company is most likely seeking a candidate they can retain and retrain, rather than one who will continuously object to the guidelines or leave the company.Prepare for Possible ObjectionsThe job interview is a negotiation platform. The employer wants to ensure the candidate being interviewed fits the role. At the same time, the employer wants to maximize the value they receive on acquiring your talents. It’s not so much about limiting how much the employer spends, but getting the most out of the expenditure.As such, the interviewer may raise objections on your salary and perk expectations. Prepare for possible objections by conducting research to back up your requests. Sales negotiation training can guide a candidate in finding ways to justify job reward expectations and offer an agreeable value exchange.For instance, you may want tenure, but the employer insists on a limited-time contract. Showing how you have delivered long-term value to a previous employer could persuade your prospective employer to offer a longer-term contract.Some other common objections and possible responses include:Skills and experience: If you lack work experience, demonstrating your specialized knowledge may make up for it.Vacation: You may justify more extended vacations by picking off-peak seasons when the employer least needs your input.Salary: Compare your salary expectation with industry standards for the position and present these figures to the employer. The same goes for perks such as 401Negotiation is about relationship-building. You may not arrive at an agreement this time, but you may cross paths with the company again in your career. Take care not to burn bridges, even if the prospective employer makes a hard stand on terms you may not agree with.Remain positive and show interest in the company’s plans, even if you end up taking another job. If the employer wants to hire you but can’t meet your terms, be honest about why you have taken the other job, but let the employer know you would be open to future opportunities. Your positivity is an asset, making recruiters and managers more likely to remember you and perhaps also offer you a role with improved terms.If you lose your enthusiasm upon rejection, it may signal you as a less attractive investment. The company may not feel as positive about considering you for future engagement. Think beyond today’s offer and keep doo rs open for future possibilities.Be FlexibleWhen negotiating your employee contract, focus on value exchange. While you shouldn’t accept less than your value, it pays to not take a hard stance on each contract term either.Find a balance between your needs and the company’s needs. For example, if the number you ask for is high, then quoting an absolute number may kill negotiations. Quoting a range instead provides you and the employee wiggle room for more value exchange.evalHowever, even as you present yourself as being flexible, don’t provide concessions without gaining extra value. Remember, it’s a value exchange. For example, you may quote a salary range. The employer may make a counteroffer based on the low end of your salary range. You can negotiate to accept the low figure if the company increases your paid leave days.Flexibility during negotiations shows that you are not greedy. Flexible people tend to be nice to work with, while a hard stance may signal that you’re difficult to work with.Negotiating Your Next Job OfferNegotiation may seem daunting, but you never know what more you can get unless you are proactive. Focus on value exchange to guide your negotiations. The interview is the beginning of an employer-employee relationship that may last the rest of your career.With some sales negotiation training, you can hone your skills to prepare for your next job offer. The negotiation process starts with research. Know your industry and your job requirements. Know the company culture of your prospective employers and apply it to those companies that fit your needs. If you have many offers, you stand a better chance of securing a favorable employment contract.Be flexible and keep the door open. Whether or not you get the job this time, negotiations now may set the pace for any future engagements with the employer.

Breaking Into Sports Tips From Old Pros - CareerAlley

Breaking Into Sports Tips From Old Pros - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. A career in sports is what dreams are made of for a lot of people. The thought of playing, or coaching, or just being in the environment always warms the blood. But, the red stuff cools down again when you realise how hard it is to break down the barrier. Unfortunately, the sports industry is one that is exclusive and insular, which means it isnt open to the public. The good news is that the tricks of the trade always get out in the end. With that in mind, the following tips are from old pros who have worked throughout the industry. If these dont open doors, nothing will. #1: Start Young Lets face it everyone wants to be a player before they are a coach or a journalist. No one grows up and aspires to be watching from the sidelines. You are desperate to be in the thick of the action instead. Although you will have to count on luck, there are ways to get ahead. One thing that sports scouts say among them is that the younger the kids start, the better. Why? Its because it gives the machine the chance to mould kids into something different. Children dont always perform well under pressure, which isnt great in a pressure environment. The longer the kids have to impress, the greater the chances of success. Plus, there is the fact that the likelihood of being scouted after 16 falls dramatically. #2: Sacrifice It isnt a nice thought, but even children at a young age have to sacrifice a lot if they want to succeed. The truth is that sports franchises dont have the time to babysit individuals. They want people to act a certain way from the beginning to give everyone the best chance of progression. That means training hard, cutting off friends, and avoiding girls and alcohol. While the rest of the group do everything that a kid dreams of, you will have to put it off until later. Whether you look at Lionel Messi or Kobe Bryant, they all went through the same thing. File #3: Work Weekends Maybe your playing days are behind you? If they are, you need to find a new avenue. Coaching is an excellent way to get your foot in the door as long as you are ready to commit. The reality is that coaches dont get a lot of money, and they work long hours. But, its the long hours that pay off in the end. Working weekends not only shows your dedication, but it also helps you keep up with the trends. Sports dont run off gut feel anymore. Thanks to techniques like Moneyball, organisations understand the importance of qualifications. In 2017, they want people with the right skill set because sports always change. That means there is no time for a day off. File #4: Go Back To School Experience is one of the best ways to gain the knowledge you need to succeed. But, it isnt the only option. Going back to school isnt a luxury; its a necessity. Adelphi offers a sports management degree online which is worth considering. A university doesnt seem like the best place to learn more about an industry that is scared of the outside world. But, the world is changing, and so is the industry. A degree is as good a way as any to learn about how the sector works, and how to break down the door. Plus, it stands out a mile on a resume. Certain roles in sports wont accept you without one anyway. Sports journalists or management positions, for example, only hire university graduates. #5: Make Contacts Sports are boys clubs. Anyone that doesnt understand this wont get very far. But, if you can wrap your head around the concept, its possible to use it to your advantage. Think about it rationally for a minute, and youll see the big picture. Sports rely on recommendations from trustworthy sources, so you need a referral. How do you get one? You can start by networking. Making contacts is the best way to keep your ear close to the ground and snap up an opportunity that comes along. You might have to do them a favour in the process, but that is part and parcel of being apart of the industry. Who knows? Once you break into the industry, maybe you can change the way it works. After all, you have to play the game before you can change the game. We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey Google+

What Should You Always Incorporate Into Your Cover Letter

What Should You Always Incorporate Into Your Cover Letter Cover letters are and have always been one of the trickiest parts of the job hunting process. Cover letters are a great way to show potential employers how your skills can benefit the company before they even look at your resume. Many experts wonder just how to approach writing a cover letter, and where the differences between resumes and cover letters really lie. In this blog, we’ll cover exactly how to format your cover letter and what’s worth including to boost your chances of success. Conciseness One of the most important things to remember when writing cover letters for resume is that the two shouldn’t be identical! Yes, your cover letter will contain some of the same information found in your resume, but you don’t need or have to include every single facet. Remember: hiring executives only have a few seconds to read your information. It’s best to keep your cover letter short and to the point, so you don’t waste the recruiter’s time and have a higher chance of getting called back. Talk About the Company Before you draft the first sentence of your cover letter, you should do ample research about the company you’re looking to work for. Just like your resume, your cover letter should be targeted to the employer. The best way to research the company is to network! Talk to other executives to see how you could contribute to their business and fit into their office culture. You’ll also want to be sure to look into their work within and contributions to the industry, as well as any other companies they compete with. Showing you know quite a bit about their company will prove you’re invested and worth hiring. You may just find something similar to your own work achievements, which you can tie into your cover letter. Your Strengths One of the primary functions of resumes and cover letters is to illustrate your strengths and what you have to offer to a company. Be sure to go into these qualities in your cover letter. Talk about your skills and accomplishments you’ve gained throughout your career, what these mean and how they’d make you a valuable member of the company. You should be trying to sell yourself as much as possible. Just don’t overdo it! You don’t want to come off as a braggart, though a bit of boasting is okay. Stick to as much factual information as possible by talking about how you’ve affected the industry, any similar or competitive companies you’ve worked for in the past and your experiences within your chosen field. Referrals Knowing someone who may have turned you onto the company will help you immediately catch a hiring executive’s eye. In fact, you may want to point out this fact right away. Networking is and has always been an important part of landing a job. Over your many years of career experience, you’ve undoubtedly amassed a large number of contacts and referrals. Now’s the time to really rely on them! A referral can vouch for you and your ability to be a great addition to the company. You never want to pass up on someone putting in a good word for you. We understand writing cover letters isn’t easy with so much experience under your belt, so we hope this blog will start you off on the right foot. You can always turn to a cover letter writing service for any extra help you may need to get started or sort out any kinks. If you have any questions about your executive cover letter, feel free to get in touch with us!