“I tried it my way and it didn't work. I recalled the old proverb: ‘One who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client.’ For years I resisted spending the money to hire someone to write my resume. I finally decided I needed someone to do the job right. I didn't have the objectivity that you demonstrated during our initial consultation. Your ability to zero in on my key skills and accomplishments was impressive.” Daryl S., Florida

Cover Letters and More

One of the most important steps in your job search is to present a positive first impression, and that starts with your cover letter…

According to a national survey of 600 hiring managers, many employers think cover letters are at least as important as the resume. It is a quick sorting tool they use to gauge your communication skills in the ten seconds or less that they glance at it.

It gives employers that first impression of you and invites them to review your credentials. Your cover letter is a marketing tool and should be designed to compel the reader to read your resume. Does your cover letter have this kind of impact?

You may be well-qualified for a job, but if your cover letter does not impress employers, they may not even look at your resume! Remember, your resume alone cannot capture your personality, your passion or your desire for a particular job. Your cover letter should introduce and add to your resume… but not simply repeat it.

Cover letters have changed over the years, from the simple introductory letters to what today is considered to be a professional marketing document.

We can differentiate you from the competition by highlighting the achievements that make you unique. We use the opening paragraph to get right to the point, make clear the position for which you are applying and briefly state why you are the best candidate for the job. Then we provide one or two of your key achievements, and how those accomplishments could help the company.

The cover letters we provide integrate the same concepts as the powerful resumes we write. They are designed to "sell" you as a candidate and give you that competitive advantage.

OK, now you've landed the interview, but…

Knowing how to interview well will only put you on par with every other candidate. The objective of an interview however, is to WIN. Only the winner gets the job offer, so to really stand out from the crowd - to be the one candidate that shines above everyone else - you need to employ the advanced strategies we recommend.

We can help you focus on interview strategies for executives that will help you prepare and perform above the competition…strategies that position YOU to get the job offer.

• Start with the proper mindset you need before you even walk in the room.
• Practice a simple but powerful preparation exercise that enables you to specifically match your expertise to their needs.
• Ask your own "high yield" questions at the end - the kind that distinguish YOU as the candidate to beat.

The conclusion of the interview is no time to stop promoting yourself. You should continue presenting your unique skills, qualifications, accomplishments and credentials for every potential opportunity that interests you. Immediately sending a thank you note to the person with whom you interviewed is your chance to reinforce your interest in the position and the remind them of the reasons why you are the right person for the job. Remember that many of the other candidates will be doing exactly the same thing, so you must do it better.

If the company has already extended you the opportunity for an interview, they are already interested in you and will read any and all material you forward to them, including a powerful, well worded, sales-directed and competitive thank you letter. Take this opportunity to use the thank you letter to further highlight your specific accomplishments as they relate directly to the company and the position for which you applied. It may be that those items were discussed during the interview. Use the thank you letter to further expand on them and link them directly to the hiring company's operations, current needs and future goals.

Sample thank you and cover letters.