Top Cover Letter Trends for 2014

Top Cover Letter Trends for 2014Top Cover Letter Trends for 2014As 2014 approaches Ive been putting together a series of articles on the top tips and trends for resumes, titel letters, job searches, and LinkedIn profiles. In this piece Im shedding light on what I see as the top deckblatt letter trends going into 2014.Evolution of the E-NoteThe Internet and social media are rapidly changing the shape of how we job search. It can be daunting at times to keep up with the ever-changing dynamics of job searching as technology evolves. Even something as simple as the cover letter has succumbed to the digital age and all its advances. So how has the cover letter evolved? Essentially, it has adapted into a mora concise, focused e-note sent via e-mail or uploaded in text format on a job board. The pressure to not be verbose and instead be to the point has never been mora palpableand the e-note is the culmination of that.The e-note is about half the length of a traditional cover letter, writte n so its easy to read on a smartphone, and contains high-value facts drilled down to be as concise as possiblemaking each and every word count.Punchy Subject LinesJob seekers are getting wiser and more strategic in how they approach their job searches. Even down to being creative with the subject lines of the e-mails they send to employers with their resumes and cover letters. Some of the most effective Ive seen personenname drop, contain a branding statement, ask a question, or find some other creative out-of-the-box way to grab the recipients attention. Ill go more in-depth regarding name dropping later in the articleeven name dropping in the subject line. For example, I had a potential writer who was referred to me by a current writer and another by a colleague whom I admire. Both writers included the persons name in a subject line that read like thisJane Smith suggested I contact you OrJohn Smith suggested I reach out to you about the writer opening you have Either way, both cau ght my interest, and I immediately opened their documents to review them. My colleagues reputation precedes her, and the quality of the work my writer produces is so valuable that I was confident the writers referred to me by them would be very high-quality too. I encourage you to use the same effective strategy when applicable in your job search. And if you dont have a name that you can drop, consider a different subject lineone that includes your name and the position titleJohn Smith, CPRW Executive Resume WriterOrLong-term executive resume writer John SmithAttention-Grabbing Opening LinesOpening lines have become increasingly more critical because its imperative that you capture the hiring managers attention. Believe me, their attention spans have shortened they have hundreds of other applicants to review, and theres a good possibility theyre looking at your information on a smartphone. I foresee more candidates moving away from the traditional please accept this in response to and to something that immediately speaks to the employeras it should.Here are two articles that will give you some great examples of how to change up how you start your cover lettershttp//www.careerealism.com/examples-start-cover-letter/http//www.dummies.com/how-to/content/grabbing-attention-with-your-cover-letters-opening.htmlSharing Your StoryEngaging cover letters are the ones that get read. I see job seekers warming up more to sharing the why behind their desire for the position. While inserting accomplishment bullets is great for a quick relay of information, telling the story behind why youre applyingthe common thread between you and the position and the employers needsis more compelling and engaging. On your resume, you dont really get to share your story or explain in more detail the why behind your desire for the position. Without being too focused on yourself, the cover letter affords you the opportunity to make the connection and tell your story in an engaging and inter esting way. Just remember to tie that to the needs of the employer and the position available. Everyone loves a good storybut the employer will still want to know whats in it for them.Quotes and TestimonialsA very powerful way to substantiate expertise and grab the hiring managers attention is through a quote that expresses the value you can offer a potential employer. Former supervisors or clients that can provide a one- or two-line testimonial of your experience and success is a great way to add credibility.Name DroppingWithin the first line of your cover letter or e-note, mentioning the name of your contact is a great way to ensure a connection and that your cover letter will be read. If someone referred you, mention it in your cover letter. Its a very effective tool and since referrals are the number-one way candidates find and secure employment, youre leveraging a very effective method for getting attentionand the interview.E-mail SignatureAdding a personal touch to your cover letter by providing a digital signature is also another growing trend. I think candidates are searching for any way they can find to set themselves apart and give their job search package a personal touch and using a digital signature is one way that candidates are doing just that.ConnectingAnother trend that I see growing in 2014 is including social media profile links at the end of the cover letter where the candidates put their signatures. When you sign a cover letter at the bottom, include a link to your video resume, ansprechbar portfolio, online bio, or other social media profiles such as LinkedIn.com and VisualCV.com its just another great way to control your personal brand and direct the employer to additional information they may find worthwhile when making a decision about whom to interview.For a creative twist on this, try creating a PS at the end of your cover letter that says something likePS I would love to share more with you about my experience as a project manager. Please feel free to view my LinkedIn profile and connect with me at www.LinkedIn.com/bestprojectmanagerxyz or you can view my Video Resume online at www.razume.com/bestprojectmanagerxyz.I wish you all the best in 2014, and may you enjoy a quick and fruitful job searchRELATED ARTICLES25 Best Resume Tips for 201415 Expert Job Search Tips for 2014Top 9 Cover Letter Tips for 201410 Most Overused Words on LinkedIn in 2013

I Was Professionally Ghosted (Yes, Thats A Thing)

I Was Professionally Ghosted (Yes, Thats A Thing) Imagine youve met someone new. Youve become pretty friendly, gotten to know the person relatively well, and started texting or calling one anotherbei regularly. Youve begun to build a relationship with one another and develop a rapport. You feel like everythings going really well, and that maybe this could lead to something great in the near future.Until suddenly nothing.Radio silence.Your regular communications with this person who you thought welches so special are suddenly nonexistent. Youve been completely shut out, and the person isnt answering your emails or texts. Youre being ignored on all fronts.Raise your hand if that sounds familiar. Uh yeah, me too. And probably for most of us.That very awkward situation is commonly known as ghosting, and is usually reserved for interactions with an individual youve been dating. Luckily for us, it can also occur by potential employers In other words, you can be professionally ghosted. Beca use applying for a new job doesnt feel enough like diving into a blackhole as it is.Ghosting adds a whole new layer of stress to the job search, which I know from experience. Around the start of the new year, I welches looking to make a career change to a different industry, and began putting out feelers and applying for roles that sounded interesting. Through the power of networking, I ended up connecting with a recruiter at a particular company whose brand I really identified with and was passionate about, and felt had a mission stellungnahme that resonated with my own.I was beyond excited, given my genuine respect and admiration for the company combined with the fact that the recruiter seemed equally enthusiastic about the idea of me working for them in the near future.We exchanged multiple emails. I sent her my resume. We chatted on the telephone. She connected me with other individuals in the company who were in my area to discuss potential partnerships and collaborations. This recruiter even told me she had written my name in her notebook of future hires and was going to reach out when she saw some soon-to-be-available stelles open up that she imagined me being the perfect fit for.And then, without warning, the recruiter suddenly stopped communicating with me. Stopped emailing me and stopped responding to any messages from me. Like a failed date, I went through all the emotionsWas it me?Did I say something wrong?Was I suddenly less talented or experienced than I thought?Did something change to make me less desirable as a types of future employee that such a company might want on their team?And this happened to me far more times than my ego would care to admit, with other recruiters, at different companies.But what Ive come to learn after chatting with individuals in recruitment and hiring is that its not me. And its likely not you Sometimes a companys situation or hiring needs change, and sometimes the recruiter isnt in a position to tell you that or pl ain ol doesnt want to whether thats because of a jam-packed schedule or due to lack of knowing how to handle a potentially awkward farewell.All we can do is try not to take it personally. Its not personal its business. And sometimes that includes rejection.So, dont let professional ghosting discourage you. Speaking with recruiters or other individuals at companies youre enthusiastic about is still a solid way to get name recognition and help facilitate an eventual career change. Stay true to yourself and seek to make sincere professional connections, and if someone stops answering your email move on. Aint nobody got time for that.--Joelle is a writer, editor, and registered yoga teacher living in southern California with a passion for celebrating the messiness of life through storytelling. She holds a MA in Journalism from New York University and loves a well-written sentence, brunch, and staying active. To read more of her writing, visit her websitewww.joellezarcone.com.