By Pat Kendall

 NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. Looking for a job is stressful, ranking right up there with moving or getting a divorce. The average person doesn't like job searching and avoids doing it as long as possible – even to the point of staying in a non-challenging or low-paying job.

You may already know this from personal experience, but job searching is one of the top stress-producers in the "lifestyle stress quiz." I find this to be true for my own clients as well. During the past 19 years, I've worked with more than 10,000 job seekers, and regardless of their personalities or professions, they have much in common:

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By Pat Kendall

 Post Your Resume on High Traffic Job Sites

If confidentiality and privacy concerns are not issues for you – and if your goal is to get maximum exposure – you can post your ASCII resume on high traffic Web sites like those listed on the right. 

Resume Posting How-to:

• The ABCs of Resume Posting.
• Learn how to handle confidentiality and privacy concerns by reading Confidential Job Search.
• Get tips from the Riley Guide on where to post your resume and how to avoid common problems.
• Compare features of the most popular free job search sites at RileyGuide.com.
• Read Job-Hunt.Org's Guide to Posting Sites.

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By Pat Kendall

 ONE TINY WORD had been left out of Eileen Hanson's resume. Unfortunately, this 3-letter omission (fab – short for fabrication) was on her potential employer's “must have” list. Without it, Eileen failed to qualify for the job she wanted with a leading high-tech manufacturer.

Eileen put a great deal of effort into writing and editing her resume, but she made a classic error. She assumed that employers would read between the lines, interpret the facts, and comprehend the sum total of her experience – a costly assumption in this case.

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By Pat Kendall

 Does your resume do a good job of "selling" your qualifications? Is it up to today's standards? In this highly competitive job market, your resume has to do more than simply outline your work history – it has to function as a personal marketing tool. 

We know that the average employer spends only 15-30 seconds reviewing it, so how do we get their attention? 

Listed below are some specific tips that will get your resume successfully through the screening process and make it more appealing to potential employers.

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By Angie Olson

 A cover letter introduces you and your resume to potential employers or organizations you seek to join (non-profits, educational institutions, etc). It is the first document an employer sees, so it is often the first impression you will make. Take advantage of this important first impression and prepare the reader for your application, stating why you are writing, why you are a good match for the job and the organization, and when you will contact him or her.

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When writing your cover letter keep in mind that the reviewer is only interested in one thing: the facts. Do not think of your cover letter as an autobiography.  It should be brief and to the point. The purpose of the cover letter (and resume) should be one thing – it should demonstrate that you meet or exceed the requirements listed in the job description. It should demonstrate that you’re interested in the position and that you're available to accept the position if offered. Additional information beyond this can be counterproductive as it dilutes the core purpose of the cover letter.

When writing the cover letter avoid negatives. A cover letter is not the place to explain why you left or are leaving an employer, why there are gaps in your employment dates, etc. These "negatives" are best delivered in person during the interview so that your personality can counter them.

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An important point to note when writing your cover letter is to keep it brief, never writing more than one page.

As with resumes very few people enjoy reading cover letters particularly long-winded resumes that smack of disorganization.

Your letter should follow the standard protocol in letter writing, including your name and address, the employers name and address and the date.

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By Nathan Newberger

Aaah...the dreaded cover letter. Or is it? Cover letters are actually a great way to set yourself apart from the rest if you write it correctly.

Cover letters allow you to actually get your personalized message across to the hiring manager or possible interviewer. The key is to be brief and direct...just like a resume...the person on the other end will want to quickly read your cover letter...so make sure you don't write a short story.

Use the cover letter to peak the interest of the reader. The purpose here is to get the reader interested so that he/she will want to examine your resume.

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By Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.

Just as certain secrets can help you write a dynamic cover letter, there are also key strategies for sending email cover letters. Here are those strategies.

Know the rules of a dynamic cover letter. Before you even think of sending an email cover letter, first make sure you understand all the rules and guidelines for writing a dynamic cover letter.

Don't waste your subject line. Don't ever leave the subject line of your email blank, but don't waste it by just inserting the job number. Instead, use the subject line to entice the reader into your cover letter. For example, for a director of nursing position, say something such as: "experienced nurse for director of nursing position."

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Cover Letters are Necessary!

Cover letters are simply a letter of introduction.  In these letters you are explaining who you are and why you are writing to the resume reader.  It is a matter of courtesy that you introduce yourself when you are requesting something of them, in this case an interview.  

What Instances Require a Cover Letter

My rule  is - if you are not shaking hands with the hiring decision maker and introducing yourself, then you need a cover letter to introduce you.  If you are shaking hands with the hiring manager, you are introducing yourself verbally and requesting an interview.  In this case, hand them your resume without a cover letter.

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Top 10 Cover Letter Writing Tips

If you are looking for a new job, you know that writing an effective cover letter for your job application is important but like many people you find it difficult to get the words just right. If you produce a poorly written cover letter you run the very real chance of ruining any prospect your application had of being successful. What you really need is the knowledge of what a cover letter takes to be a great cover letter and take away some of the stress of job hunting.

These Top 10 Cover Letter Writing Tips come from a highly experienced Career Coach and Recruitment Consultant. Before spelling out what these are, just remember that in nearly every case your cover letter is the first document that most prospective employers will look at. They will be looking to understand your reasons for applying, as much as whether you ‘fit the bill’.

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Writing Resume Cover Letters

Far too many people underestimate the 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 to the employer, explaining why you should be at the top of the list for interview calls.

Taking the time to write a cover letter tells the employer you are willing to go above and beyond; not just simply slap a resume in an envelope and mail it

The competition is intense in the job market these days and so it has become very important to have the benefit of an eye catching cover letter.

Not All Resume Cover Letters Are Created Equal

No two resume cover letters should ever be the same; each one should be uniquely tailored to the job for which you are applying.

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