Experience Overrated?

Written by Jonathan R Taylor


I often hear people who want to transition into another career downplay their chances because of their lack of credentials. They often believe that they have locked themselves into one particular field because of their past work experience. A few years ago, before I made my transition intorepparttar field of sales, I held this same paradigm. With a background in social work, why would any company take a chance on me? I had no business degree and no formal experience in outside sales. I then discovered something very important—what separates success from failure has less to do with your experience and qualification than how you conductrepparttar 107047 job search process itself.

I find that people with experience tend to lean on their credentials a little too much when it comes to seeking a job change. People with little experience in their desired field realize they must market and sell themselves just as if they were selling any other product. This means that instead of focusing on “work experience”, a person should focus more onrepparttar 107048 skills that he or she can offer torepparttar 107049 organization they are targeting.

Beat the Crowd with Winning Resume Cover Letters

Written by Roger G Clark (BSc)


Far too many people underestimaterepparttar importance of resume cover letters. In a sense, a well written cover letter works like an agent on your behalf. It tosses a sales pitch for you torepparttar 107046 employer, explaining why you should be atrepparttar 107047 top ofrepparttar 107048 list for interview calls. Takingrepparttar 107049 time to write a cover letter tellsrepparttar 107050 employer you are willing to go above and beyond; not just simply slap a resume in an envelope and mail it.

Not All Resume Cover Letters Are Created Equal

No two resume cover letters should ever berepparttar 107051 same; each one should be uniquely tailored torepparttar 107052 job for which you are applying. A generic cover letter is insulting to an employer and will quickly find its way intorepparttar 107053 trashcan. When writing cover letters keeprepparttar 107054 following tips in mind:

Address resume cover letters to an actual entity, not just a generic “To Whom it May Concern” or “Personnel Director.” If you are not sure who to address, find out and then make sure you spell their name correctly. Do not just assume.

State who referred you or how you found out aboutrepparttar 107055 job opening. “Linda McCain mentioned that you might be hiring a new computer programmer soon.” or “I learned about your opening for a Sales Associate from your posting inrepparttar 107056 San Francisco Sun and would like to discuss a few ways I can contribute to your team.”

Resume cover letters should discuss how you can helprepparttar 107057 employer, not about why you needrepparttar 107058 job. The employer has posted a job opening because they need that position filled and they needrepparttar 107059 best candidate to fill it. Convince them why you are that person.

Make Yourself Stand Out fromrepparttar 107060 Crowd

Demonstrate you know something about whorepparttar 107061 employer is and what they do. If you don’t know anything aboutrepparttar 107062 company, find out what products or servicesrepparttar 107063 company offers, their competitors; any recent or upcoming changes. Employers will be impressed with your knowledge, especially if their company services a specialty niche that isn’t well known.

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