How to nail your Cover Letter

A Cover Letter is a document supporting your CV and it should tell the reader more information about you and why you would be a good fit for the job that you are applying for. Don’t be illiterate on what you said in your CV because the cover letter is where you should promote yourself for the job. 

In your Cover letter, you should state why you would be a good fit for the job and also put some information about the company on the Cover letter as it also shows that you have done some research on the company and shows that you are interested in working for them.

The cover letter should not be more than ¾ pages long and the first paragraph of your cover letter should be why you are interested in applying for the job.

Also on your Cover letter, you should have the following

Address the letter to the specific person

 Addressing the cover letter to the person you are sending it to is very important and you don’t want to address it to the wrong person as that would set off a very bad first impression.

Clearly state the purpose of the cover letter

 In your letter, you should state why you are writing the cover letter. It can be just a few simple words saying “I’m writing to you today to apply for the position of …..”

Change the cover letter for each job application

It can be very easy to use the same Cover Letter for each job application but it is very important to have a cover letter template and use that template for each job application.

Reiterate your enthusiasm and thank the reader

Finish off my re-emphasising your keen interest in the role, welcoming an opportunity to discuss your suitability and further and looking forward to hearing from them and thank the reader for taking the opportunity for reading your cover letter.

At the career coach, we can help you with creating the perfect Cover letter along with many other things that will help you get that dream job. If you would like some help get in contact with some of our career coaches below to find out more.

 

How to sell yourself in an interview

An Interview is usually the last part of the process and is also the most important if you nail your interview then you will be in front running to get the job. Before you even go in for your interview you do need to prepare and have yourselves prepped for it here is just a few tips that we recommend you do before the interview.

Know the company

Make sure that you know as much about the company as you can just simple information like what the company does, where there located, company size etc. Knowing the company will show your interviewers that you are interested in the company.

Research the Job Spec

Researching the Job Spec before the interview is very important because you will be asked questions about your skills and experience based on what your role entail. You will have already looked at the type of role when applying for the job but have a look at it again just to refresh your memory.

Know your Dates

This can be an area where people get caught out. Knowing certain information that is on your CV or the interviewer has found out from your references is important this can be duration of past employment or how long you have been unemployment as this is a very frequent question that is asked during an interview.

Practice makes perfect

The more you practice the more confident you will be on interview day, get your friends or family to ask you questions that might be asked and Click Here to get the most common interview questions. Another great way to prep is to practice in front of the mirror.

Now we are going to move onto interview day, this can be a nerve-racking time and you might feel anxious before it.

Arrive on Time

Arriving on time is very Important and it’s something the interviewers will be looking at as well but make sure you don’t arrive too early as you will be sitting around waiting and that might make you feel more nervous. We recommend that you arrive at least 10 minutes before the interview.

Dress Code

What to wear for an interview can be debatable but what we recommend that you do is dress accordingly for the interview as a lot of people think that you need to have a suit and tie, but that is not the case as you need to dress for the industry that you are been interviewed for. Now that you are prepped and dressed to impress we move onto during the interview which is the most important stage.

Keep Calm

We know is harder said than done but remember to keep calm and breathe during the interview take your time and display confidence throughout. Answer the questions slowly and making sure you don’t over talk and engage in good eye contact throughout so that you can bring out your best self and ace that interview.

Ask Questions

The last question in the interview is usually “Have you any Questions” this is usually where you will be relieved that its nearly over and you will be just excited to get out of there so a lot of people might go “No I don’t have any questions” But you should always ask the interviewers a question as it will show them that you are interested and excited about the job A simple and nice question to ask is “what does success look like in this role over the next 12 months”

 Enjoy the Interview

We know it’s not the most enjoyable experience but try and enjoy it as it is also a great learning curve and experience for you. Treat the interview as a general chat and don’t let it daunt you and remember it’ll be over before you know it!! There is just some of the tips that we have for an interview and here at the career coach we also have a special programmed called the interview preparation where we will give you detailed notes and advise for your interview and give you mock interviews and practice questions to boost that confidence.

Click Here to read more about the programmed.

Top 5 Tips for Changing Careers

Sometimes, a career can just come to a standstill and we don’t have that same drive or passion for it anymore. That’s ok! Switching things up after spending too long in your current industry and wanting to try something new can be the best thing ever. We all love comfort and routine, which is why so many stay in their current career even if they’re not enjoying it. Instead of making that move and going for something new, they stay where they are—and that’s fine but sometimes you just need to change things up and go for it!!

Before you decide on the next steps in your career just think about the next steps that we would recommend you make first.

1. Evaluate your current job satisfaction 

Look at the pros and cons of the job that you are currently in and see whether the pros outweigh the cons or the cons of your job outweigh the pros. Also look at why you are dissatisfied in your job as there may be many reasons why this could be the case it could be because of your job role, the company culture, or who you are working with.

2. Look at your values, interests and skills 

A career is a long and intricate process that takes time to develop and makes you who you are. The reason why people get a job in the first place is because of their values, interests, and skills, but over time when they are working with a company, these attributes can change. If you are looking for a career change then you should evaluate those steps so you can get your dream job. Taking a personality test can be a great way to find out what career is best suited for you here is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test that you can take which assesses the preferences and suitability for the best career for you.

https://bit.ly/3JqlRMi

3. Consider a new job in the same industry 

If you’re looking to change careers, you have a lot of options. But before you take the leap and start looking for a new job in a different industry, consider just changing jobs within the same industry. This could save a lot of time for you in case you need to upskill to make the change work out.

4. Check out Job Options

Checking out some job options that you may be interested in is also an important step to make before you make the change. You can do this by researching careers that you are interested in and that you would love to do but maybe you were afraid to try before. What you should be looking for when researching the career is things like the requirements and you should also be thinking about what maybe you could bring to the company. By doing this there is plenty of websites where you can check out different career options here are just a few.

https://ie.indeed.com/

https://www.jobs.ie/

5. Just go for It!!

Taking risks and going for something that may either go one way or another can be scary sometimes but we think if you are unhappy in your current job then just take the risk and go for it as it could be the best thing that you could ever do in your life. You will never know what would happen if you don’t try. If you are not happy in your current job then why not try something new? There is nothing wrong with taking a risk and trying something else, especially if you see no point in staying where you are now.

So why not give it a go? You have nothing to lose but everything to gain! Here at The Career Coach, we are all about helping you find the next step in your career. Whether that means working with a group of passionate and dedicated professionals or going outside your comfort zone to live a life you’ve always dreamed of, we can help you find it here at The Career Coach. Whether you are unhappy in your current job or feel like you need to make a switch, we can help you! There is no need to struggle with feeling stuck or unhappy if there’s a better option for you out there. Our coaching program will give you the confidence and tools to find that perfect job and live your best life. We have a special program that helps our clients called the Career Changer. The Career changer helps our clients find the perfect job that they have always dreamed of. Here is a link to find out more information about the Career Changer and if you would like more information you can get in contact with any of the coaches through the contact link on our website.

4 Simple steps to getting that Dream Job

Seeking a job can be challenging and stressful sometimes, but if you have just stepped foot into searching for a job or have been working for some time and want a career change, then this blog might help you.

Here at the career coach, we help our clients through the job-seeking process as quickly and smoothly as possible.

Here are some simple steps that you can make first to get that perfect CV and Cover Letter

1. CV

A CV and Cover letter is the first step in the process and is an excellent first impression. Here are just a few small tips to make your CV and Cover letter stand out:

Make sure it’s up to date! You don’t want to send out an old CV with no up-to-date information because it doesn’t reflect your current skills or experience.

Making sure that your CV and Cover Letter are up to date is very important, especially if you have been out of the job search for a while. It’s important always to add your experiences, and you’re up to date skills in date.

Make sure your CV is concise but informative!

A well laid out CV should tell an employer about who you are professionally and personally, where you’ve worked before, what your achievements were there, if any, what you’ve learnt from each role etc… In other words, don’t just write down everything about yourself but also what makes you unique as well.

Proofread carefully!  

Make sure that there are no grammar or spelling mistakes on your CV, as you’ve just stepped foot into the job market, and you are ready to start your career

Seeking a job can be challenging and stressful sometimes, but if you have just stepped foot into searching for a job or have been working for some time and want a career change, then this blog might help you.

Here at the career coach, we help our clients through the job-seeking process as quickly and smoothly as possible.

2. Cover Letter

A cover letter is an introduction that you write to accompany a resume. Its purpose is to introduce yourself and your credentials to a potential employer by describing how your skills and experience match the requirements of the job opportunity. Your cover letter should be targeted towards the position you’re applying for, and be relevant to the company’s needs and culture. A well-written one can help persuade a recruiter or hiring manager to review your CV, so don’t underestimate its importance in securing an interview! There are three main rules for writing a great cover letter:

Steps to a good Cover Letter

  • Address the letter to the specific person
  • Clearly state the purpose of the cover letter
  • Change the cover letter for each job application
  • Be consistent on formatting
  • Reiterate your enthusiasm and thank the reader

3. Online Applications

Apply for jobs online by creating an account with multiple websites such as Indeed, when creating accounts make sure to fill out all fields completely so that hiring managers can review who exactly they are.

3. The perfect LinkedIn Profile

LinkedIn is another great opportunity to boost your career opportunities and is an amazing place to build your professional brand and to connect with colleagues and potential employers.

To get more response on LinkedIn make sure you have a great profile picture, background image and professional headline that is eye-catching. Also be sure to share relevant content from trusted sources. Create a custom URL for your profile so you can find it easily online and make it easy for others to share this as well.

Here is just some of the tips that will help you get that dream job but if you would like more help then get in contact with some of our coaches who will help you find the one.