Get A Job HQ

In this tight job market, with countless candidates vying for the same position, to be called in for an interview is a success not many jobseekers experience.

To make the most of the after-interview stage, always send a personalized thank you letter to the hiring authority. Not only does this indicate unusual and continued interest in the position, but it also shows follow-through and a professionalism that simply can’t be beat.

Make sure that your thank you letter uses the same heading as your resume and initial cover letter, as this maintains consistency. Keep the content brief, mentioning only the highlights of your meeting with the hiring manager. This will serve to remind that person of the skills and qualifications you can bring to the opening.

If there were some matters that you forgot to mention during the interview, such as your ability to work extra hours and take on extra responsibilities, a thank you letter is the perfect way to introduce this.

If you've bought and used Internet marketing courses, tips, tricks, secrets, doodads, and gizmos, then you most likely have enough knowledge to understand how to make at least a few dollars online. In fact, making $5 to $10 a day on the Internet with your own web site is actually really, really easy, even if you're just running a very basic informational site with Adsense ads on it.

If you want to make more, though, you need to do one of two things:

1. Massively increase your web site traffic.
2. Multiply the number of small web sites you have.

Regardless of whether you do one or both, in order to do it effectively, you need to implement and maintain SYSTEMS. In fact, any Internet marketing course that you buy that is worthwhile is going to be a manual describing how to set up and run systems.

What exactly is a system? A system is defined as, "a procedure or process for obtaining an objective." In this case, our objective is to generate income, be it from product sales, ad clicks, new user registrations, etc.

Here's an example of a system: Google Adwords. You create ads, insert keywords, assign bids for clicks, get traffic. Wash, rinse, repeat. You can do the exact same process (system) for each and every web site that you own.

Creating such web sites is, in and of itself, a system. If you have a web hosting account that allows you to host multiple domain names, then you can create a new web site every hour or every day if you want to. For example, you can create a series of "how to" web sites on subjects you are interested in. You can create a template web site that includes your Adsense code, navigation links, etc. On each web site, you place a few articles that you write about the subject. You could cover a whole bunch of subjects, such as "how to clean your house", "how to organize your garage," "how to change your oil," etc.

Once you have a system like this set up, you can work on it when you want to, and replicate the sites AND the traffic model. This is honestly how you make large amounts of money online from what initially sounds like a small idea.

Hiring managers routinely receive responses from hundreds, perhaps thousands, of applicants for any given job. To avoid having your resume sink in this sea of paper, it’s imperative to write a cover letter that stands out from the crowd and makes a good first impression.

A compelling cover letter that follows five essential rules will convince a hiring manager to read an applicant’s resume.

Rule #1 -- Appearance

The resume and cover letter must be aesthetically pleasing and consistent in appearance. This would include using the same heading and fonts in each, both produced on a high-quality printer and paper (if documents are being “snail-mailed"). Save the designer stationery and stylish fonts for writing letters to friends. A professional employment package never sets a casual tone.

Rule #2 – Target Your Audience

Always use the hiring manager’s name in the salutation. If the contact’s name isn’t provided in the job posting, a bit of Internet research or a well-structured phone call can produce results. In using the contact’s name, the cover letter is personalized, while also showing the applicant’s interest in the company. Remember, a letter addressed "Dear Sir or Madam" or worse, "To Whom It May Concern," has the same impact as one addressed "Dear Occupant."

Rule #3 – A Strong Opening

A dynamic opening paragraph is essential to capture and retain a hiring manager’s interest. Pared down to basics, for a quick and effective read, it should include a reference to the position sought and a brief statement as to why the applicant feels qualified to fill the job. Emphasis should always be placed on what the applicant can do for the targeted company, while also providing quantifiable proof as to why this is true.

Rule #4 – Showcasing Accomplishments

Include a bulleted area to emphasize accomplishments pertinent to the targeted job. Not only does this break up large blocks of text that a hiring manager might find daunting, but it also draws the eye towards the most important part of the cover letter -- what the applicant has to offer.

Rule #5 – A Proactive Closing

Always initiate further action at the end of a cover letter. A proactive closing indicates that the applicant will call within a few days to see if a time might be scheduled to meet. To wait for a hiring manager to take that first step is to risk losing the opportunity to another candidate.