Cover letters can be a great way to get your foot in the door at a company that you want to work for.  A cover letter is usually sent in the body of your email with an attached resume when applying for a job.  They tend to be of great importance in this stage of your job search because it highlights your qualifications, skills, and why you would be an asset for the company.  Career Columnist Eve Tahmincioglu, says that cover letters are even more important for social media and tech job seekers. “Today companies want tech employees who are critical thinkers, well-rounded and do more than just tech speak, these things are hard to convey in a résumé.” 

Hiring managers prefer a customized cover letter for a position, because it shows that you are actually applying for thatposition.  Often, job seekers blindly send their resumes out , so taking the time to write a cover letter specific to the job you are applying for shows that you are truly interested in that position!  Also, a lot of times, the first person to see your application is a human resources manager, who may not know much about the computer programs and technical projects on your résumé.  The cover letter can be an opportunity to draw them in with a personal touch.

Cover letters are more important now than ever before because of all the social media platforms out there.  A study shows that 45% of employers are screening social media profiles, and another 11% plan to do the same in the near future.  According to this study, roughly 35% of candidates have not been hired due to content found on their social networking sites.  Due to these statistics, many career experts think sending a cover letter is a crucial step in landing a job these days. 

Mark O’Connor, staffing manager at oil company Tesoro, says he doesn’t read much into cover letters, particularly for tech jobs — but adds that it doesn’t mean applicants shouldn’t bother to send them. “They should be short functional summaries of their relevant experience,” he says.  O’Connor’s team of recruiters focuses on developing relationships with candidates via social networks.  From there, they’re more concerned about the details that lie within the résumé and try to learn more about their past experience.

Here are a few cover letter tips:

• Make sure it’s brief and to the point
• Tell all about your accomplishments
• Be creative and don’t just summarize your resume
• Your letter should serve as an introduction to your resume

In my opinion for all you job seekers, whether you are looking to get a job doing Social Media, IT, or in any other industry, it is important to set yourself apart from everyone else.  Although it’s not necessary to send a cover letter, I do think that is important that you sell yourself by sending a cover letter and tailor it to the specific job you are applying for.  A cover letter is still valuable and can help you by setting you apart from everyone else trying to get an interview for the same position.  Make sure you take the time to research writing a cover letter and do it the right way! 

 If you are interested in career opportunities, make sure to check out our website.

Sources:  http://mashable.com/2011/02/05/cover-letter-tech-jobs/#

                  http://mashable.com/2009/01/05/job-search-secrets/#

You shined in your interviews and landed a new job!  The interviews you went on were your first and only time to make a great first impression on important people at the company.  Since you were offered the job, they clearly had a great first impression of you!  Now it’s important that you maintain that.

Here are some tips for a successful first day:

-Get a good night’s sleep!  You want to have a clear mind because you are going to be learning a lot of new things and meeting a lot of new people.  You will want to be well rested!

-Make sure you leave your house with plenty of time to spare in case there is heavy traffic or an accident.  Nothing looks worse than showing up late on your very first day.  Here is good piece of advice to live by about being on time: Being early is on time, being on time is late, and being late is unacceptable.  Try to stick to this, not only your first day, but every day.

- Dress professionally and if you are not sure what to wear…ask!  There is nothing worse than walking in on your first day underdressed.  You want to make sure you fit in.  Take that first week or two to notice what everyone else wears and what is acceptable.

-Ask questions and ask for help!  It’s your first day; you’re not going to know how to do everything!  It might seem a bit overwhelming, which is understandable.  Make sure to be patient and take notes on everything.  Your trainer will understand what you are going through and how you feel, they have been in your shoes before.

-Smile, be polite, and make eye contact when you introduce yourself to your co-workers.  Try to remember their names.

-Learn as much as you can and more.  Read up on the industry and topics relating to your position.  It is important to stay on top and gain as much knowledge as much as you can.  There might be something new you learn that you can bring to the table.

The first day of work can be intimidating.  Each day will get easier and hopefully these tips will help you feel more relaxed and prepared for your first day!

Before you read this, I want you to stop and ask yourself the following questions:

-          Where do you want your career to be five years from now?

-          Five years ago, where did you see yourself today?

-          What do you love about your current job? What do you hate about it?

-          What would constitute your perfect job? What tasks would you do, what industry would you be in and what salary would you make (realistically!)?

-          Now, what are your ultimate career goals? If you could envision yourself at the height of your career, what industry, title and salary would you have?

If you’re able to answer most of those questions, congratulations! It seems that you’ve got yourself on track for meeting your career goals – keep on truckin’, my friend! Now, what about those of you out there who couldn’t answer these questions? Yes, I’m talking to you, and you and you… Guess what? It’s time to sit down, contemplate the answers to these questions, focus in on your goals and shape your career to what you want it to be!

At the most basic level, an interview is a conversation to decide if a candidate can be a potential fit within a company, both technically and culturally. Most studies show that 60% of hiring decisions are based on “soft skills” and the perceived notion of “how the fit” would be in the group. This creates a lot of thought provoking considerations, to say the least. Let’s consider this “fit” factor:

- How you dress
- Body language
- How much you’ve prepared
- Smile
- Communication (how questions will be addressed)
- The follow up

Thinking about all the components that go into each of the following can frankly get overwhelming… right? Okay, slow down, don’t start fretting here… let’s think about the biggest, and in my opinion, the most important component: communication!

If we go back to the first part of this post for a minute, we’ll remind ourselves that an interview is basically a conversation. Therefore, how we answer questions and communicate greatly affects the outcome of the interview. So, let’s dig down in the weeds and I’ll give you some helpful tips!

“If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be ‘meetings’” – Pulitzer-Prize winning Humorist Dave Barry

Whether it’s a lunch meeting, a virtual or a face to face, it’s up to you to make the most of your encounter! Meetings are a part of our everyday lives, whether we want them or not. Sometimes it’s for a job interview, a team project, re-visiting an old contact or selling to a new client. There are several tips you can follow, regardless of the kind of meeting, to make sure you get the most out of each and every one!

Here are some quick and easy ways to make the most of your meetings:

-         Prepare before the meeting. Review the information you will or could discuss and if you can, ask the individual or individuals you are meeting with to let you know what’s to be expected.

-         Bring materials. Bring a pen and notepad, no matter what kind of meeting it is. Then, depending on what you’re doing, you may want to bring other materials with you. If it’s a job interview, bring your resume, cover letter, list of references and portfolio, if applicable. If you’re meeting with a potential business partner, bring questions you may have and anything you need to discuss futher. If it’s a potential client, bring marketing materials and other items to help with your pitch.

-         Be physically prepared. This may sound silly, but we mean it in all seriousness! Meetings can last hours and depending on the kind of meeting, they can be truly exhausting. Prepare yourself physically by getting a good night’s rest and eating a good meal beforehand (if it isn’t a breakfast, lunch or dinner meeting, that is).

-         Understand the purpose. What is the true purpose of the meeting? Are you trying to get a job, or are you trying to pitch a new client? Even if it seems that there is a clear purpose for meeting, sometimes it can get lost in all of the other information you’ve got on your plate. Have a clear purpose for your meeting and stick with it.

This year has been quite eventful. We’ve seen the economy plummet, then rise some, then fall and then rise some more. We’ve seen friends and colleagues get hired, then get fired, then get re-hired… or something like that. A tumultuous economic and hiring landscape has left everyone crossing their fingers, but one thing is for certain: it’s going to get better in 2011.

It’s also that time of year where many of us start thinking of New Year’s resolutions… maybe the goal is to lose weight, get involved in the community, make amends with an old enemy or be more compassionate. Whatever the list of resolutions includes, the common factor is usually to improve ourselves and part of that improvement includes considering your professional and career goals as well. Do you want to improve or change your career in 2011?

The first step to making career improvements in the New Year is to set aside some time to do research. Basically, find out who is hiring and who is firing. Look at which companies are seeing growth and which companies are downsizing. Knowing this information can be key to finding professional opportunities and change. A great way to get this kind of inside information would be talking to a recruiter. Part of a recruiter’s job is to do research every day. What kind of research? Recruiters need to understand the economic and hiring landscape better than any candidate out there. With the research and knowledge that they attain, they can then provide their candidates with the best opportunities available. Recruiters also work firsthand with clients and know which organizations and industries are the ones hiring and which aren’t. They also know what hiring managers are looking for and what they aren’t looking for. All of this information is like a recruiter’s bread and butter, so why not go to someone who can provide you expert advice on getting yourself on the better career path?

On Behalf of All StormStaff Employees, We Wish You Happy Holidays and a Safe and Prosperous New Year!

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s that time of the year again…holiday festivities are around the corner! Last year, we gave you several tips for corporate holiday soirées and we’ve got more to share this time around with additional tips for mingling at your holiday parties in 2010. Holiday etiquette at your next office fiesta can make or break you, so this is the time where you’ll want to be on your best behavior. It’s extremely important to make the right impression on your professional peers when celebrating the season at your company’s holiday function and slipping up could cost you respect, professionalism and even worse, your job.

Before you head out the door to your next corporate holiday get-together, here are some tips to help you be at your best as you celebrate the holidays:

Attendance

Do not pass up the holiday party invitation! Holiday parties present a great opportunity to mingle and talk with other individuals who work at your organization, particularly those with whom you don’t normally get a chance to interact with (such as executives). Remember, the office party is a business function and you are expected to attend.  Stay for 30 minutes at the very least, but also avoid staying too long (you don’t want to stick around if it gets too messy). Enjoy the atmosphere and when you have spoken with all of the bosses, coworkers and new people you planned to, graciously give your goodbyes and leave.

Gossip is a big NO during holiday parties.

Conversation

The holidays are a great time to brush up on your networking skills! The first step: don’t talk about work too much! Sure, you may have a common bond with your coworkers that revolves around your workplace (obviously), but it doesn’t mean your entire conversation needs to revolve around that alone.  Use this opportunity to learn more about your coworkers: ask about their interests, favorite hobbies, talk about their family… just keep it lighthearted!

Keep conversation upbeat and complimentary as you mingle, socialize and network. Some conversation tactics include:

-         Avoid gossiping at all costs! You do not want to gossip in the workplace and work parties are no place for it, either (trust me, the walls DO have ears at events like these).

-         Avoid awkward silence with good open-ended questions and you won’t have any trouble with conversations.

-         Limit your conversations to a few minutes to make sure you get a chance to speak with everyone.

Dress Code

If the event is immediately after work, business attire is appropriate. If it is later in the evening, your choices will vary. If you aren’t certain what to wear, check directly with your host or with coworkers whose taste and judgment you trust. Women should avoid revealing too much in their choices and men should consider wearing a button-down shirt and tie. Make sure that what you wear reflects well on you professionally.

Sometimes, there may be a theme. If there is, play along! You don’t want to be the wallflower in the corner who won’t be a team member.

Drinking

Avoid heavily drinking at office events! The biggest mistakes people make at work parties usually involve drinking too much. This could lead you to doing or saying things you’ll regret the next day and that’s the last thing you want to mix with work. Here’s a tried-and-true tip to use: if you must drink, limit your consumption of drinks with alcohol to a maximum of two. Instead of consuming these beverages all night, try drinking coffee, tea, soft drinks and water instead. Being smart about your drinking habits during the holiday party will pay off immensely when you step into the office the next morning.

When you think of the holidays, what comes to mind? How about holiday carols and jingle bells? Snow flakes and hot chocolate? Or… how about presents wrapped in colorful paper, a red suit and a white beard? If you’ve got Santa on your mind, it means that Santa Claus has done his job and done it well! You see, there are certainly some business lessons to be learned from Jolly Ol’ St. Nick. Why is Santa so successful? Well, he’s got the tools he needs all around him! Ranging from a great support staff, to the right marketing tools… he’s got it all.

This week’s blog post follows tradition in our love for lists (check out our previous Behave for Business, Networking Event and Halloween posts) and we’ve created a special edition list in honor of the upcoming holiday!

What is Santa’s secret recipe for success?

Reindeer aka the facilitators – Santa’s reindeer have always been able to get him from place to place quickly and efficiently. They’ve helped Santa spread his holiday cheer, and he’d be lost without them. Well, we may not have our own personal reindeer here in the corporate world, but we certainly have individuals in the workplace whose role is to help expand our reach every day while doing it quickly and efficiently! These individuals help businesses grow and make things easier all around. That’s why they’re the facilitators in any organization and play such a key role.

Image courtesy of mariettaga.gov

Elves aka the assistants - Santa may have millions upon millions of toys to deliver, and he certainly can’t meet this demand all on his own. So, he calls upon his elves to help match these needs. Elves are “do’ers” and basically, they get things done. They are the producers of any organization, and also vital to reaching success.

If your office is anything like mine, you may have noticed a new co-worker has arrived early this holiday season: the cold and flu virus. In the last couple of weeks, we’ve seen a major pickup in the cold and flu season as it has crept its way into our office cubicles, common areas and is sweeping across the air.

The cold and flu season poses a major threat to businesses, big and small. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the flu alone costs U.S. companies $10.4 billion in direct costs including hospitalizations and outpatient visits. The CDC also estimates up to one-fifth of the U.S. population will get the flu in a given flu season, and more than 200,000 Americans will be hospitalized with seasonal, flu-related complications. Annually, it costs the average business about $1,320 per employee for absenteeism.

Image courtesy of allcareservices.ca

Businesses are striving to encourage healthier workplace habits, which include proper hand-washing techniques and the sanitizing of immediate work areas. If successful, businesses can significantly reduce the frequency with which germs are spread throughout the office.

How does the flu spread? Many experts believe that flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with the flu either cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. A person could also get the flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, eyes or nose, but this is less frequently the case.