Deadly Cover Letter Errors

A cover letter is a crucial career marketing piece. Unfortunately, many job seekers ignore the cover letter or pass it off as “unimportant”. That is so untrue! The cover letter is very important and should accompany your resume whenever possible. “Resume and cover letter” is like “peanut-butter and jelly” – they go together and complement each other.

Often, job seekers struggle with putting together a great cover letter that will support the resume. A cover letter can seem tough to develop because you don’t want to be repetitive of information in the resume, but at the same time, you need to draw attention to the resume. It can be a bit of a balancing act to get the verbiage correct while making it effective. Here are some common errors that occur in cover letters:

Deadly Cover Letter Errors
Alesia Benedict, CPRW, JCTC.

Not Addressed to a Specific Person

“To Whom It May Concern:” is a poor start for a cover letter. Do some research and find out the name of the person to whom the package should be directed. If you absolutely cannot find to whom it should go, aim high. If you send it to the head of the company or head of the department, it will have a better chance of getting to the decision-maker than if you simply send it to the HR department.

It can be difficult to know how to start a cover letter when the resume/cover letter is submitted online and there is no name (and sometimes not even a company name). An alternative to a greeting is to indicate the job posting number or title, and perhaps where the job was posted in a reference line at the beginning of the cover letter; for example: “RE: Marketing Assistant Position – ID# 3456”

Wrong Audience

Depending on the type of recipient, the cover letter will vary in content and approach. A cover letter to a network contact will be somewhat different in content and tone than a cover letter to a blind job advertisement. A cover letter to a recruiter will have some information normally not included in a cover letter that goes directly to the employer such as information about salary, availability, and relocation. A broadcast cover letter will be set up differently than a cover letter going directly to a specific person. Make sure you are aware of the differences and use the right approach for the audience.

“I” Focused

It is much too easy to start every sentence in a cover letter with “I” or “My”, so don’t fall to the temptation. Repetitively saying “I” turns off the reader. Vary your sentence structure and focus on your achievements and results. It makes for better communication all around.

Too Long/Too Short

A cover letter should not run past one page. If you have more than that, you know you are being wordy. Three to four paragraphs is a general rule of thumb. If you will be emailing your cover letter in the body of the email with your resume attached, be briefer than if you were sending it in a more traditional manner or as an attached document. People are accustomed to short, to-the-point email messages so don’t go overboard with detail.

Irrelevant Information

Sometimes people seem to think they can include information in the cover letter that certainly has no place in the resume. A good example would be a reason for leaving an employer. Reason for leaving is irrelevant – focus on the future and how you can make a contribution to a new employer. Health status is another issue that sometimes shows up in a cover letter – “I am in good health, energetic, and ready to get started”. Anything that reveals age, religion, ethnicity, etc. should be withheld from both the cover letter and resume. Employers are very wary of litigation and fair hiring practices. Including information that is not needed/wanted by an employer will hurt, not help.

Poor Appearance

Your cover letter should have a name header at the top that matches the header on your resume – like a letterhead. Make sure your font size is large enough to be easily read. Keep the alignment of your margins clean and even. The balance from the top of the page to the bottom should be appropriate; avoid large white voids above or below the text by balancing the text visually.

Not Signed

When sending by email, make sure you use a business-like signature without personal mottos and slogans. “Save the endangered snail darter” might be part of your email signature to friends and family but it has no place on an emailed cover letter. Create a signature for job search that contains your contact information such as phone numbers and email address. A branding line might also be appropriate; for example, “Joe Smith, Software Developer”. Always be aware of the presentation you provide to prospective employers and recruiters and make sure it is top-shelf.

You wouldn’t wear just one shoe to a job interview so don’t send your resume without an accompanying cover letter. Be professional but speak to the reader in an appropriate manner. Use the cover letter to highlight your best value and experience. Point out what makes you unique out of the hundreds of other applicants and grab the attention of the reader. Just like the resume, make sure you have NO typos. And of course – avoid these deadly cover letter errors!

About the Author:

Alesia Benedict, Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Job and Career Transition Coach (JCTC) is the President of GetInterviews.com, the country’s leading resume writing firm. They provide professionals with customized, branded resumes and career marketing documents. Her and her firm’s credentials include being cited by JIST Publications as one of the "best resume writers in North America," quoted as a career expert in The Wall Street Journal, and published in a whopping 25+ career books. Established in 1994, the firm has aided more than 75,000 job seekers to date. All resume writers are certified writers. GetInterviews.com offers a free resume critique and their services come with a wonderful guarantee -- interviews in 30 days or they'll rewrite for free!

Top 10 Non-Profit Jobs

According to Michael Farr and Laurence Shatkin, Ph.D, if you're looking for a human-oriented career, here are the 10 best-paying and fastest growing jobs in advocacy, grantmaking and civic organizations, according to "40 Best Fields for Your Career," by Michael Farr and Laurence Shatkin, Ph.D.

1. General and operations managers run the day-to-day functions of their organizations and are responsible for the success or failure of the venture.

Median earnings: $76,783
Percent growth: 17.6 percent

2. Public relations specialists handle all of the media and campaigns surrounding the organization, community and consumer and governmental relations.

Median earnings: $44,080
Percent growth: 22 percent

3. Executive secretaries and administrative assistants perform general office functions to keep the higher-ups of the group organized.

Median earnings: $35,085
Percent growth: 10.2 percent

4. Bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks handle the financial affairs of an association, like donations, costs of new fundraising programs and grant proposals.

Median earnings: $28,796
Percent growth: 4.9 percent

5. Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors organize and direct leisure and athletic activities, such as aerobics, arts and crafts, the performing arts, camping and sports.

Median earnings: $21,411
Percent growth: 13.2 percent

6. General office clerks keep the group offices organized, clean and stocked with supplies.

Median earnings: $21,405
Percent growth: 5.6 percent

7. Receptionists and information clerks answer telephones, direct calls and give out information regarding the organization for which they work.

Median earnings: $20,116
Percent growth: 13.7 percent

8. Janitors and cleaners (except maids and housekeeping cleaners) perform a range of duties from cleaning floors to taking out the garbage to painting and carpentry. Cleaners usually work for organizations that specialize in one type of cleaning activity, such as washing windows.

Median earnings: $17,965
Percent growth: 18 percent

9. Recreation workers work at playgrounds and recreation areas, community centers, health clubs and fitness centers run by nonprofit organizations.

Median earnings: $17,404
Percent growth: 13.5 percent

10. Childcare workers look after kids in religious institutions, YMCAs and other social and recreation centers, schools and social service agencies. Within the nonprofit sector, there has been strong growth in providing disadvantaged children with social, educational and health services.

Median earnings: $15,988
Percent growth: 12.4 percent

*Job descriptions, earnings and job growth are based within the advocacy, grantmaking and civic organizations fields.
If you find this website useful in your job search and you use any of the information, please make a donation.

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If you find this website useful in your job search and you use any of the information, please make a donation.

Non-Profit Outsourcing - A Vital Option

Written by Laurance a. Pagnoni, president Laurence A. Pagnoni & Associates

Thirteen years ago, as executive director of a human services organization, I was faced with two problems: I saw hired staff fail and realized that I needed a higher level of thinking than I could afford to bring inside the organization. A friend recommended an outside specialist. At first, it seemed unusual to be reaching outside of the organization. Then I realized that my bookkeeper was only on the premises for two days a week, and my direct mail service had never been on-site. My frame of reference suddenly changed, and I began to explore an option that many nonprofit organizations still do not explore or underutilize.

In fact, while preparing this article, I contacted the Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations at Harvard University, the Aspen Institute, and several other think tanks to inquire about the latest research on nonprofits and outsourcing, and found that it was almost entirely nonexistent!

Outsourcing is now a $450 billion industry. It refers to the practice by which a company delegates certain in-house functions to a third party. In a fast-paced world, it is often used as a synonym for offshoring, which refers to the growing practice of American, Japanese, and European firms to outsource to third-world countries where wages are low, regulations are few, and the costs of doing business are substantially less.

Having become identified with offshoring, outsourcing may perhaps seem an unsavory practice, particularly to members of the helping professions who have a keen sense of social justice. "We don't o utsource," the development director of a downtown youth services agency recently advised a consultant who sought an interview with her. Her tone was dismissive, as if she were being asked to support the death penalty or carry a concealed weapon.

One can even detect something of a "backlash" in the nonprofit world. Blackbaud, a leading software provider and consulting services for nonprofits, is also a major source of information about the nonprofit sector. Its recently released 2006 State of the Nonprofit Industry Survey opens a unique portal on various aspects of nonprofit operations including staffing. Seven hundred and eighty-five nonprofit professionals responded to the survey. Given a list of ten specific tasks ranging from accounting to grant writing, between 84% and 99% said that at their agencies the functions were performed in-house. Roughly a quarter of all respondents indicated that a full-time staff person had been hired to discharge each task. Half of all respondents said the tasks were part of a non-specialist's job description.

Nonprofit executives, however, may want to consider assigning non-core functions to outside specialists, because overlooking this option may be to an organization's increasing disadvantage. The first part of this article presents an overview of outsourcing and assesses its risks and benefits; the second installment looks at the outsourcing option most integral to nonprofit operations.

Outsourcing in Perspective - Read More HERE

jobs in the USA

RN - Nurse Supervisor Job
HCR ManorCare - Columbus, OH

Staff Development Coordinator - RN Job
HCR ManorCare - Walnut Creek, CA

Hospice Administrator - RN Required Job
HCR ManorCare - San Antonio, TX

Commercial − Loraine
Comptoir des Grands Vins (Maison L.Tramier) - Loraine, IL

Führungskräfte−Entwicklungsprogramm im Vertrieb
Allianz Beratungs- und Vertriebs-AG - Mecklenburg, NY - Neuruppin, Brandenburg

Non-Profit Job Links

• The Alliance CareerBank - Designed to assist nonprofit management support professionals (capacity-builders) in locating new jobs.
• Bridgestar A nonprofit organization providing recruiting services, content, and tools designed to help organizations build strong leadership teams and individuals pursue nonprofit careers.
• Careerjet - A job search engine designed to make the process of finding a job on the internet easier for the user.
• Careers United - Brings together employers and job seekers in international development and humanitarian relief.
• Career-Wizard.com - Dedicated to providing information, resources, tools, and programs that will help you build a better career.
• City Limits Job Database - New York City's top resource of for government, non-profit, academic, progressive jobs, and policy professionals pursuing new opportunities.
• Commongood Careers - A nonprofit search firm that connects highly skilled, passionate individuals to organizations that are dedicated to creating positive social change.
• Community Career Center A on-line gathering place where not-for-profit employers and management personnel can meet one another.
• ExecSearches.com offers an easy to navigate interface for recruiters to post jobs and for job seekers and those just browsing to quickly find employment opportunities in their areas of interest.
• Executive Service Corps of New England - Committed to helping nonprofit organizations in New England meet their staffing needs by providing affordable recruitment advertising that targets experienced nonprofit professionals and college graduates.
• Idealist.org - An online meeting place for nonprofit organizations, resources, consultants, job seekers and volunteers.
• Nonprofit Jobs Cooperative - The Nonprofit Jobs Cooperative lists jobs from all over the country.
• NonprofitJOBMARKET.org - A one-stop-shop for searching and posting nonprofit jobs, nonprofit consulting work, nonprofit internships and volunteer opportunities.
• NonProfit Management Solutions - Helps individuals that are considering transitioning your career from the for-profit to the nonprofit sector, or contemplating changing your career focus within the nonprofit sector, consider a class or private coaching environment to help facilitate the process.
• NonprofitOyster.com - Designed to be a user-friendly resource for Employers and Jobseekers.
• Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group is dedicated to building the capacity of nonprofit organizations, associations, institutions of higher education, the public sector and the professionals who make them run smoothly.
• The NonProfit Times is published 22 times a year, always on the 1st and 15th of every month. Since 1987 The NonProfit Times main focus is to bring all the latest news about fundraising, financial management, direct marketing, technology, legal and human resources to the nonprofit executive.
• OpportunityKnocks.org is a source of nonprofit jobs and career opportunities. To find your perfect job, do a quick keyword search using their Advanced Search to see job listings by city, state, organization or position type.
• People & Systems Solutions - seeks to build nonprofit capacity by identifying the RIGHT people and building the RIGHT processes at the most affordable rates possible. Likewise, as a sign of our commitment, we donate a percentage of our fees back to our clients!
• Philanthropy News Network Nonprofit Job Search Page
• Chronicle of Philanthropy Nonprofit Job Search Page
• Chronicle of Higher Education Job openings in and out of academe
• TechSoup Career Corner Nonprofit Job Search Page
• Nonprofit Career Network Nonprofit Job Search Page
• People in Action Nonprofit Job Search Page
• Monster Nonprofit Job Search Page
• MCN Nonprofit Job Search Page
• Jobs at Nonprofits - Nonprofit Job Search Page
• DeepSweep provides job seekers with the largest selection of jobs postings at the country's leading Nonprofit Job Board.
• Human Services Career Network is a national employment website devoted solely to the Social Service/Human Service Professional.
• SocialService.Com is a great place for social workers and other social service professionals.

If you find this website useful in your job search and you use any of the information, please make a donation.

Web job hunting is simpler than ever

Here is a great post from By Scott Stadum and the great folks at Idealist.org He writes; Thanks to the web, job hunting is simpler than ever. But unfortunately, that means more competition.

No worries; you have internet access and probably a bit of time on your hands. Here are some tools you might want to explore (in addition to our Nonprofit Career Guides, of course!):

FreelanceFolder.com has a great approach that will give you a bit of leverage in your job search: you can use iGoogle and rss feeds to create a job search dashboard.

The idea is simple and will help you avoid becoming overwhelmed. After you've set up your iGoogle page, you need to head over to your favorite job search sites like Idealist.org or SimplyHired and filter down opportunities to your specifications. Once you've done that, you'll be able to copy the search rss feed url. In iGoogle, click on the “Add Stuff” link on the upper right hand side to add your rss feed url. Do this for each job site you've used. For more details, follow this link back to freelancefolder.com.

Mashable.com has a few suggestions on how to develop your presence using LinkedIn.com as it has become an integral part of the search equation for both recruiters and job seekers. Making sure your profile is flawless is just the beginning; you'll also want to work on developing your LinkedIn presence, from your brand and network to positioning yourself as a leader.

More >>> HERE

Job Search Resources