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Eight Tips for IT Professionals Interested in Pursuing Careers as Independent IT Consultants

I decided to move into IT consulting in January 2007 after my position as a divisional vice president of IT with Pentair, a $3 billion diversified operating company, was eliminated during a restructuring. I knew I could bring my experience as a buyer of IT services to my new career and the service I provided to potential clients. In the 10 months I've been working as a consultant, I've learned a lot of lessons that other IT professionals interested in moving from a corporate job to consulting would find valuable.

Becoming an independent consultant is a popular career choice for IT professionals, especially if they are fatigued of corporate politics or corporate downsizing. IT professionals often view consulting as a relatively simple transition. Though mine has been smooth on the whole, I have made a few missteps as a newcomer to the profession. I share my lessons learned with you so that your transition to consulting goes just as smoothly.

How to Go from CIO to IT Consultant

Questions about Becoming an IT Consultant
1. Don't disclose your rates until you understand the scope of the engagement.

I recently got a call from a client seeking help with an offshore outsourcing project. The client gave me a one-minute overview of her company's needs and asked me to provide my billing rates. I told the client that I was interested in their project but was not ready to discuss rates until I had a better understanding of what she was looking for. It's a good thing I didn't blurt out my fees when she asked; after meeting with her in person to discuss the project, I learned that her starting point for negotiation was half of my going rate. If I had shared my rates during that initial phone conversation, I would have lost the opportunity immediately. Negotiating consulting rates is a lot like negotiating your salary with a new employer. By slowing down the negotiation process and standing my ground on my fee, I secured the engagement and got the rate I wanted. Once I knew the client's needs, I was in a superior position to explain the value I could bring to the engagement, the rate I should be paid and the reasons for it. Let the client know what they're getting for their money. Remember, you are selling your services and you have to convince the buyer to pay your asking price.

2. Don't overbid.

Don't begin with a bid for a prospective client's work that's too high because you could lose the opportunity, not to mention your credibility in the market. Begin with a rate that you think is fair and competitive and stick with it. Clients respect that approach more than when a consultant starts high and comes down to meet their needs. I know I got turned off when I was a full-time IT executive procuring services from consultants whose rates seemed astronomical to me.

If you're not familiar with market rates, you can ask other consultants what to anticipate from a particular type of service. Job sites such as Craigslist, Elance, Monster and CareerBuilder that post consulting opportunities will also give you a sense of market rates. Be aware that rates vary by city. Typically, IT management consulting engagements range from $175 per hour to $200 per hour for independent consultants. Those rates are higher for big consulting firms such as Accenture or IBM.

3. Understand your clients' expectations.

Ask a lot of open-ended questions early on when you're just getting to know the prospective client and before you've even agreed to do business. I always ask the following questions:

1. What is your end goal? How will you know when you've reached that goal?
The client's answer to these questions will help you understand what needs to be done and how you are going to be measured and evaluated.
2. What work has been done so far? What are the roadblocks? What is preventing you from achieving your goals?
If you are brought in to solve a particular problem, it is good to know upfront what has been done and what the challenges are. This will help you assess whether you have the skill set required to overcome those obstacles.
3. What are the deliverables?
Knowing the deliverables will help you focus your efforts and define the scope of your engagement.

On your first day, set up a meeting with your hiring manager to discuss your understanding of the project: how you plan to accomplish your goals, how often you should report back to the client on your progress and whether you should e-mail or arrange a face-to-face meeting to do so. Also review with the hiring manager what you plan to do on your first few days to ensure that you're working on exactly what you should be working on. I've had problems in the past when I worked in IT management with consultants who didn't comprehend the work I needed them to do. On one occasion, I had hired a management consultant to help me assess the structure of my IT organization and recommend alternatives that would improve the business-IT alignment. Unfortunately, the consultant ended up focusing on assessing the skill set of the team and started requesting inappropriate information about staff. He created unnecessary friction within the department. I had to let him go and perform damage control on my own. That's precisely what I try to avoid as a consultant with these meetings with the hiring manager.

The meeting with the hiring manager is a good time to find out if there are any other stakeholders—other people who are interested in the outcome of the project—whose thoughts you should be concerned about. If so, meet with them, too.

If you don't understand your client's expectations, you run the risk of spinning your wheels—and theirs—which could result in your termination. You'll never get repeat business or referrals from a client if they fire you.

4. Don't take on a project you can't handle.

If you doubt you possess the right skill set to do the job, don't take the engagement no matter how desperate you might be for work. Tell the client that the project is not right for you. It's superior to be honest with yourself and say no to a client than to take on a project that's more than you can handle. Biting off more than you can chew will place an enormous amount of stress on you, and the risk of project failure will be high. You don't want to take on a project that you won't be able to complete successfully and that won't result in a good suggestion from the client. If you know somebody who could do the job, recommend that individual. Clients always appreciate honesty and the extra effort you take to help them, and they will keep you in mind for other engagements.

5. Don't anticipate a red carpet on your first day.

When you become a consultant, you have to say goodbye to executive trappings and hello to humility. You can't have any expectations as to how you will be treated within the organization: Some companies will give you a private workspace; others will give you a shared workspace. If you have to share an office or get stuck in a cubicle, don't get hung up on it. Stay focused on what you need to accomplish—not on whether your workspace connotes status.

My first day as a consultant was an eye opener. It was so different from starting a new job as a full-time employee. There was no welcome breakfast with Starbucks coffee and bagels. Nor was I ushered to a new office. Instead, I was brought to a cubicle and left to my own devices. I had to find pens and paper on my own. Fortunately, I did have access to all the systems and applications I needed. If you expect your client to roll out a red carpet, you're going to be let down.

6. Don't pull rank.

Consultants have to convince others to get work done since they lack the organizational power and authority that full-time, onsite managers can use to effect change and motivate people. Pulling rank or acting like a know-it-all won't help your cause. I've found that the most effective way for me to get employees to follow my lead—whether as a consultant or IT executive—is to involve them in decision making. Early on in the engagement, I typically hold a meeting with an open agenda during which I discuss the reasons why I was brought in and what I'm planning to do. I make it clear that the purpose of the meeting is for me to get their input on the best way for me to complete the project I've been hired to work on, and that I'll make a decision based on their input. I find that when I involve people in the decision making, I get more buy-in, and employees become more willing to own the tasks for which they are responsible. If you're not good at involving many stakeholders and building consensus, consulting might not be a good fit for you.

The one time I did accidentally pull rank, I immediately realized the error of my ways. I had printed out an analysis I had done in Excel on 11-by-14-inch paper. The individual to whom I was presenting the analysis asked me if I could print it out on legal-sized paper. Since I was used to having an assistant who handled those kinds of mundane tasks for me when I was an executive, I asked the client if her assistant could print out the analysis. She told me that her assistant didn't have time and that I should do it. I quickly realized in that moment that I was no longer an executive.

7. Avoid practical ideas.

As a consultant, your clients think about you a managerial David Copperfield, pulling rabbits out of a hat just when they think they've exhausted all their options. They anticipate nothing less than great magic from you—that is, game-changing suggestions that will allow them to improve customer service, increase revenue or cut costs. Don't feel you have to come up with realistic suggestions. They're paying you to think outside the box, so let your creativity run wild. Your role is to recommend the best option, and that's not always the most realistic one.

One of my clients was planning to implement a web-based solution to improve real-time communication among sales people. The solution required sales people to log on to the World wide web to pull information about their accounts, such as the status of customers' orders, so that they could incorporate that information into their sales calls. The problem was that the sales people resisted using the system. I challenged the client to think about substitute delivery mechanisms that would make it easier for sales people to access information about customer order status, customer complaints and new products. The client's initial reaction to my suggestion was negative. They didn't want to think about other delivery mechanisms because they had made a significant investment in this web-based solution. Ultimately, they decided to use different technology to push information to sales people in real time because it was a better communications mechanism for the sales force.

8. Brand yourself.

Speak is cheap in the consulting world. You have to begin building a brand. You are the knowledge worker who has to sell your services and demonstrate how you can add value. You have to be perceived as an expert with a specific skill set that is not available in your client's organization. Branding will help you create a very special identity that distinguishes you from the legions of other independent consultants.

You can build your brand by:

* Writing articles in your area of expertise
* Taking up speaking engagements, which will help you build your network and exposure
* Writing a book to give you instant credibility
* Creating and regularly maintaining a blog
* Developing professional networks on the topics in which you specialize
* Doing the best at each engagement (reputation is very important)

Don't focus these efforts too much on making money. The purpose of these activities is to get you exposure. The money will then follow.

While I've enjoyed the consulting engagements I've taken on thus far, I'm not sure it's the best thing for me. I do miss the feeling of belonging that comes with being a full-time employee. You don't get that as a consultant because everyone knows your work is short-lived. Believe me, they will forget you once you leave. In the meantime, I've learned a lot about marketing myself, influencing people and exploring different industries that will be invaluable in all my future endeavors.

Kamala Puram is the president of Chrysalis International, a management consulting company. She has over 25 years of IT management experience in various industries. Her company specializes in creating technology vision and strategy, IT organizational alignment, large global ERP system implementations and IT integration (mergers and acquisitions). Puram can be reached at kpuram@gmail.com.

On the internet Gaffes That Can Sink Your Career

There are plenty of opportunities to screw up in the business world, from wearing scruffy shoes to an important meeting to getting caught gossiping about the boss. And now the Internet presents myriad new ways to damage your professional reputation and credibility.

As with many things on the Web, the rules are still murky. "There's no Emily Post for the Internet age," laments human resources consultant Gerry Crispin. But common sense and forethought still prevail, and as a rule of thumb, if you wouldn't state it or do it over a business lunch with colleagues, you should probably refrain from putting it on the World Wide Web. Some ways to avoid common online gaffes:

Separate your personal and professional personas. In the physical world, we tend to partition our lives: friends and family on one side, colleagues and bosses on another. But on the Web, the walls often come down—with problematic results. Kathy Simmons, CEO of job-hunting website Netshare, tells of a woman CFO who was looking for a new job. The woman happened to be a Harley rider—who posted pictures of herself on a motorcycle wearing skimpy clothes, showing off copious tattoos. "If I were considering hiring her and found those pictures," states Simmons, "I'd have to question her professional judgment in letting them be so public."

One way to separate your professional and personal lives is to use a nickname or informal handle for your chatty blog, Facebook page, or other personal stuff. Another is to limit access. Photo-sharing websites like KodakGallery and Snapfish show your photos only to people you've invited to see them, and these picture collections don't show up in search engine results. Websites like Facebook and MySpace also have privacy settings that grant you to control who sees what, but often people don't take advantage of them, relying on the website's more liberal defaults instead.

Job hunters often add the Internet addresses for their website, blogs, or MySpace and Facebook page to their résumé; if you do this, make sure the site is suitable for a general audience. "I've seen people do this and then have loud hip-hop music greet recruiters who visit the site," states Steven Rothberg, CEO of CollegeRecruiter.com. "If they're in an office, that's jarring and disruptive and makes coworkers wonder what they're doing."

Other stuff you might want to self-censor: musings on that office romance that went awry, raves about your favorite team or hobby, and goofy photos. "I don't need to know each detail about the lives of your six kids and five corgis," Simmons says.

Keep careful on the web company. If you open a Facebook page or create a LinkedIn profile, sooner or later people beyond your inner circle—maybe way beyond—are going to ask you to connect. Don't be afraid to decline. Random connections might include somebody you exchanged business cards with two years ago, a friend of a friend with no common business interests, or somebody who's essentially cold-calling you. Remember, all of the "friends" in your network are often on display to anybody who looks at your page, even if other parts of your profile are private.

"If you connect with everyone without discernment, or with people who are strange or have questionable reputations, that says something about you," Crispin points out.

Act your age. It's important to show that you're tech-savvy, but it can backfire if you go overboard or don't fully understand the technology you're trying to exploit. If you're a boomer who manages a group of 25-year-olds, for instance, it would be helpful to understand text messaging, since your employees probably communicate that way. But if you try to become text buddies with older colleagues or bosses—who might not be interested—you risk looking showy and becoming an annoyance. A video résumé might seem typical for a 20-something, who grew up with the technology but weird for somebody twice as old. "It's like a 60-year-old wearing a leather miniskirt," Rothberg says. Sometimes, simply E-mailing a résumé may be the only digital touch you need.

Know when to put your toys away. When meeting in person—especially for an interview or first-time get-together—stow your gizmos. Rothberg says a surprising number of job candidates, mostly 20-somethings, try to send text messages during interviews, figuring there's no harm in multitasking while an interviewer takes notes or formulates the next question. Bad assumption. "It shows a lack of respect," Rothberg declares. "You're thinking entirely about yourself and not about the other person." The same goes for letting your cellphone ring during a meeting, when it should be turned off—or worse, answering it. You won't win points by obsessing over your BlackBerry—but you might by making nice with the receptionist or asking intelligent questions during an office tour.

Your best bet: Turn off your gadgets before you enter the building, and leave them off until you're outside again. Please.

Resumes leave a lot of room for interpretation in both style and content, however CVs do not. There may be a number of variations of CVs you may choose from, but when it comes to positioning yourself for an interview, you must rely on other means. If you are a dentist, you are stuck presenting your life experiences in the form of a CV rather than a resume. And if the purpose of the CV is to land an interview, your best chance of selling your appropriateness for the position is in the form of a cover letter.

A well written cover letter demonstrates to the potential interviewer that you have taken the time to consider his/her opportunity. It will project to its reader that you are a good match for their opportunity at hand and must be given a chance to interview. Before you write the letter, ask yourself several questions.

1. Do you really believe you would do well in the position? In order to answer that question, you should first do some research, either at the location itself, on the internet, through a colleague already in their employ, or though a pre- qualifying interview with a representative of the firm. In that way, you will be able to learn something about the specific needs of the organization or office and make an intelligent prediction as to whether or not you wish to pursue the opportunity.

2. What makes you stand out as a candidate? Think about your strengths and weaknesses. Anticipate questions about your under/over qualifications and prepare a rebuttal. Put yourself in the reader’s shoes and allow yourself to feel what he/she will feel about your background and education.

3. Would you provide the organization with something they do not yet have, specific expertise in an area they may wish to incorporate into their practice, ability to take on additional projects such as marketing or management, prior knowledge of the geographic area, terrific people skills?

4. Finally, availability often means a lot when there is a sense of urgency to open an office or add an associate. What is your time frame and availability? Are you flexible in your schedule. Are you able to relocate to a remote office? Are you already licensed to practice in the state in question? These are all factors that you might be able to leverage to land the position of your choice.

Armed with this important information, you can now proceed to put together a terrific cover letter to accompany your professionally written CV.

First with the obvious. Be sure to address your letter to a specific individual. Know the correct spelling of their name, correct title, and address. Secondly, be sure to include how you learned about their opportunity. Take the information gained in the above exercise and with enthusiasm, begin to benefit sell your background, experience, personality and anything else that will motivate the individual to call you in for an in-person meeting.

Expect that yours will not be the only application they receive, so be a little better prepared than the others. Use specifics (gained above) to demonstrate that you have given the opportunity some honest thought. Explain briefly why meeting and hiring you would benefit their organization. Now is not a time to be shy. Talk about your qualities that make you a great fit for their position. If possible, refer to their need to fill the position and your immediate availability.

It is advisable to keep the length of your cover letter to one page if possible. After all, that, along with your CV is an introduction to you and should not take the place of an in-person interview.

Most importantly, let them know that you are extremely interested in meeting them and discussing further how you might assist them in reaching their goals. Ask for an interview and state that you will follow up with a telephone call in 2 weeks.

Remember, the CV and cover letter are only a first step in the process of landing the position you desire.

This article was used by permission from http://www.brucehenry.com/bha/internalpages/arts/coverlett.php Bruce Henry CEO of Bruce Henry Associates is the author. Bruce Henry Associates is an executive search firm, that specializes in placing Dentists.

Quitting a job is not something you should take lightly and it is always smart to have a plan in place when you quit. However, sometimes a job just becomes unbearable and it is not worth staying with it any longer. If you are feeling frustrated with your job and thinking about quitting, here are the top five reasons to quit a job.

1. You Hate Your Job

Do you go to bed at night dreading waking up in the morning and having to go to work? Does your current job make you miserable, discouraged, unhappy or unfulfilled? One of the best reasons to quit a job is because you hate it. After all, you spend such a huge portion of your life at work that you should try to find something you enjoy doing rather than wasting your life at a job you hate.

2. Your Company is in Trouble

Another reason to quit a job is if your company is in trouble. If the company you work for is losing money, downsizing, starting to lay people off or struggling it may be wise to be proactive and start looking for a new job before your position is cut. Another reason to leave a company is if they are acting in an unethical manner or asking you to do things that you feel are unethical or immoral.

3. You Have Trouble with Your Boss

If you don’t get along with your boss, feel that they don’t like you, or are constantly at odds with them it could be a good reason to quit a job. Your boss or manager is the person who is responsible for deciding whether or not you advance in the company or get a raise. If you are at odds with them your chances of advancement or of being rewarded for your work are slim to none. Not only that, but it can leave you in a precarious position since your boss can use the smallest thing you do wrong as a reason to fire you. Again, taking steps to look for a job that is both more secure and more enjoyable could be a smart decision.

4. You Don’t Make Enough Money

If your job does not pay you enough to live on or if you have had a life change such as getting married or having a baby it could be time to look for a better paying job. Of course, you could also ask for a raise, but if that doesn’t work out you need a job that can provide you with enough money to live on.

5. Your Stress Level is Making You Sick or Causing Trouble in Your Relationships

If stress at work is seeping into other areas of your life and making you sick, causing you to lose sleep or putting a strain on your relationships with friends and family you should consider looking for a new job. No job is worth sacrificing your health or family over.

Hate your job? Want to quit? Check out our detailed step by step plan for quitting your job and living the life that you want. Stop being a slave to someone else and finally find happiness. Learn more at http://www.findultimatehappiness.com

Making Your Cover Letter Sparkle

When applying for jobs, you should always include a cover letter with your résumé. Your cover letter is your first impression, so it needs to be well-crafted. It should briefly but clearly communicate what job you are applying for, what skills qualify you for the position, and why you want to work for the company. The trick is making it interesting to read.

If you’re applying for an existing vacancy, briefly describe the position, where you saw it advertised, what qualifies for the job, and why you want to work for that specific company. If you are approaching an agency to register your résumé, describe the type of job you’re looking for, the skills that qualify you for that job, your current salary, and whatever location preferences you may have.

There are certain steps you need to follow to write a short, to-the-point email that stands out. People who sound both interesting and interested get noticed. And getting noticed is the first step toward getting interviewed and employed!
What You Need to Know
Do people still use cover letters these days? Job hunting has changed so much over the last few years.

Indeed, the methods used in the hunt for jobs has changed a great deal in years. Without question, the Internet has been the biggest thing to change, and has impacted both employers and job seekers. Jobs are advertised online, applied for online, and even some pre-interview culling is done online. However, nothing has changed the basic premise of the job hunt. Your objective is to make yourself stand out from a competitive throng, and online advertising, e-mail, and Internet search engines are merely new tools for an old process. And whether you send your cover letters by e-mail or the old-fashioned way, they are still your first chance to impress your reader.

A cover letter is your chance to put a personal touch on your application, which may not come across in a résumé or application form. It is here that you can show how you write, how your view yourself, and what you understand about the position and company you are applying to. As you write, think about the tone you are setting, the words you are using to describe yourself and your qualifications. Remember to include the results of any research you have done into the company or field of work you’re interested in.
What is the right length for a cover letter?

The best cover letters make a powerful impact while at the same time being short and to the point, two or three paragraphs at most. In fact, an overly long letter will likely bore or frustrate your reader.
What to Do
Be Clear About Your Objectives

Your cover letter is your first chance to stand out from the crowd. It must grab the reader’s attention, making the recruiter or manager want to read your résumé and meet you. Start by addressing your letter to the right person. Using salutations such as “Dear Sir/Madam” or “To Whom It May Concern” is a red flag to recruiters, showing them that you have not done your homework. Such letters are often simply discarded. Finding out the name of the individual you need to address your letter to can be as simple as calling the company. Failing that, look it up on the Internet or at a reference library. Another good place to look is the company’s catalog or annual report.

Although perhaps the most typical reason for writing a cover letter and sending a résumé is to respond to an advertisement, there are a number of other, slightly different, purposes for a cover letter.

* If you want to inquire with a company about job openings you can send a cover letter to ask who to send your résumé to.
* After visiting an organization in person to fill out a job application, you can use a cover letter to follow up.
* When applying for a position online via an agency, you may be asked to provide only your résumé and your contact details, but some agencies ask for a brief supporting statement to accompany your résumé.

When responding to an advertised job vacancy, a cover letter is the place to provide details requested in the advertisement, but which do not fit into a résumé format, such as:

* current salary;
* desired future salary;
* notice period;
* preferences for geographical location;
* dates you may be available for interview (you may want to include these if you are about to go on vacation).

Starting the Letter

Start by explaining the reason you are writing. If you are applying for an existing vacancy, begin your letter by describing the position in question, and that you are interested in it. For example:

* I am writing to express interest in the Senior Designer position advertised in the June 3 Times supplement.

If you have received a recommendation from someone within, or known to, the company, begin your letter with a sentence like this:

* I have been given your name by Ms Annette Rastelli regarding the vacancy in your Credit Control Department.

Express Your Interest in the Job
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Seven Rules for Networking Success By Barbara Safani

Think networking means breaking out the address book and calling everyone you know to beg them for a job? You’re not alone. This is why job seekers often associate networking with being pushy, overbearing, and an overall pest. But research shows that 70-80% of all jobs are filled through networking. How can this be so if networkers are such an annoying, self-serving lot? Well, because they aren’t!

Successful networkers show a sincere interest in their networking contacts. They’re constantly developing relationships, establishing their credibility, and sharing information. They follow the rules of the game where everyone has something to gain. Like the lottery, you have to be in it to win it. Below are seven rules to follow for successful networking.

1. Ask for Information, Not a Job.

Networking is not about asking everyone you know for a job. As a matter of fact, when you network you should never ask someone for a job. Instead, you ask them for information that will help you in your search. Your goal is to build a relationship and establish rapport so that if a potential opportunity becomes available in the future, you’ll be the first person they want to refer.

Let’s compare two scenarios where you, as a job seeker, attempt to network your way into a new position.

Scenario One

You say, “Joe, I’ve been out of work for six months, and I’m really strapped for cash. Do you know of any open positions in your department?”

In this approach, you’ve put Joe in a very difficult position. Sure, he can sympathize with your situation, but he may not be able to offer you a job. Perhaps he’s not in a position to refer you, or there’s a hiring freeze, or there aren’t any openings right now. Whatever the reason — and he doesn’t necessarily have to give you one — it’s bound to be disappointing.

So to redeem himself, Joe says, “I don’t know of any open positions, but why don’t you give me your resume, and I’ll send it to my HR department.” Great, right? Wrong. Unless your skills match a specific opening in the company at that point in time, it’s bound to never be looked at. Joe will feel that he’s done what he can for you, but you’ll be no better off.

Scenario Two

You say, “Joe, as you know, I most recently worked for a medical device company in their marketing group. I know that you’ve been in pharmaceutical sales for the past 15 years, and I’m very interested in learning more about marketing roles within your industry. If you have the chance, I’d love the opportunity to briefly speak with you to learn more about your organization and the pharmaceutical sales industry in general.”

Because the pressure is low and expectations are reasonable, most likely Joe won’t mind spending a few minutes to share his knowledge with you. Does he know you’re looking for a job? Probably, especially if you’ve been consistently keeping up your relationship over the years. But you’re not asking him for a job, just for some advice and insight, so the pressure is off, creating a comfortable environment for you both.

2. Be Considerate of Other’s Time.

Any time you have a networking meeting, be sure to have an agenda written up before hand and stick to it. It’s hard to ask someone to cram yet another meeting into their already jam packed day, so promise a specific time and don’t go over it, even if you haven’t covered everything you wanted to.

Contrast these two meeting situations:

Scenario One

You met with Mary after a mutual friend agreed to set up a brief, 20-minute meeting between the two of you. You were busy at work this day and neglected to prepare for the meeting, so you ended up rambling and got off topic. Before you know it, an hour had passed.

You’ve abused Mary’s time and you haven’t gotten to the critical questions you’d hoped to ask during the meeting, so you’ve ended up wasting your own time as well. Unfortunately, you may have ruined this networking contact for good.

Scenario Two
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A cover letter is as easy to come by as going to “Google”, or some other search engine, and typing in “sample cover letter”. There are thousands upon thousands of options out there ready to have information plugged into the appropriate spots and sent out. However, a cover letter like this is generic. The definition of generic is: characteristic of or relating to a class or group of things; not specific. Not specific indeed, that doesn’t tell us much. Let’s look at a couple synonyms– general, common, nonspecific, no-name. Those aren’t very flattering words are they? That is exactly the type of impression a generic cover letter gives. It is a big flashing neon sign that the applicant is generic. It also says to the hiring manager that if the applicant cannot manage to do the work needed to create a personalized cover letter, perhaps they are not committed to doing any work whatsoever.

The key to landing a job interview, and most likely the position, is writing a clear, concise, and attention-grabbing cover letter. A cover letter should make a statement about the applicant, about their qualifications and skills, and about their enthusiasm about their job. It should say everything in as few of a words as possible. This is where generic cover letters fall short, as well. Generic cover letters use basic, rudimentary words which do not keep the reader’s attention or invoke any sort of feeling in them. Writing a cover letter is very much like writing a store in that it has to be compelling, and the word choice is extremely important.

A cover letter is meant to sell one’s expertise and abilities in order to land a job position. By using a generic cover letter, none of an applicant’s own personality or passion is included. The applicant may as well be a robot for all the hiring manager could know. Company’s aren’t looking to hire robots though, and generic cover letters just are not made to fit the job. Company’s are looking to hire real people, with real experience, and real drive which they will throw behind the company. Therefore, a personalized cover letter which conveys these things are the only way to ensure a job interview.

In the thousands of sites mentioned earlier, every one of them will make promises of how their cover letter is a guaranteed way to get an interview. Some of the sites may even promise that their cover letter is so personalized that it will be just like it was written by you. However, that’s just not true. Generic cover letters, no matter how “personalized” the site claim, have a completely different feel than truly personal cover letters. Everyone has different job skills, flaws and strengths, and experience and it is impossible for one generic cover letter to cover all possible angles. Don’t fall for the gimmick, and remember the same type of sales pitch which even makes people consider using a generic cover letter is the same type of pitch one needs to use when selling themselves to a potential employer.

What this all boils down to is, take the time to write a cover letter for each particular job. Yes, this is going to be a more involved process but the rewards are going to be greater. Instead of needing to send out one hundred resumes with generic cover letters, there will only be a need to circulate a select number of personalized cover letters. This will allow the ability to choose the perfect job and encourage one to get excited about the potential of the position. It is not about quantity, it is about quality. In general, for every one hundred cover letters one sends out, they will only receive a response to ten percent. This does not mean the response will be favorable either. Between the option of sending out one hundred generic cover letters, with the return response of ten percent, or twenty personalized cover letters with the return response of thirty percent, which seems like the best method? Additionally, with the latter option, the responses are going to be favorable at least half the time.

Don’t fall into the rut of using a generic cover letter. Strive to create a personalized one catered to the specific job you are applying for and see how easy job searching can really be.

Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more information on generic cover letter checkout his recommended websites.

For your job interview, look and wear professional clothing to give a good first impression. Your appearance and the clothing that you choose to wear may determine if that job position is to be filled by you or by someone else that took the time to be more presentable. Your resumé may be impressive but that is only part of the hiring package. It is not a difficult task in putting together an outfit. What it does take are some simple basic rules and common sense. This information is focused towards high profile corporate businesses though it can be applied to many others that are not high profile.

Professional clothes and style

There are a few clothing styles for both men and women that can be selected but it is important to be wise with your choices. Depending on the high profile of a corporate business, it is safe to say that the appropriate attire for both genders would be a nice business suit. Black, charcoal, or grey would be good choices of colors. If you are going with pin-stripes, make sure they are subtle.

Women’s clothing

A woman’s suit can be with pants or skirt, though it would be appropriate for the skirt to cover or at the knees. Women should also make sure their blouses are subtle in color and design, also not too revealing. Fingernail polish should not be bright or decorative. Small stud earrings along with closed toe, low-heeled shoes should be worn. Use fragrance lightly because too much can be nauseating and distracting. If you wear lipstick, a neutral color would be suitable. Though handbags and purses are fashionable, replace it with a nice briefcase. You can probably fit a small purse or some of the personal items inside the case along with important documentation.

Men’s clothing

A nice shirt, tie, and belt to go with the suit should do well. Make sure the tie is subtle and does not draw a lot of attention. Depending on the position sought after, a stylish mock turtleneck would look great. Fragrance should be put on lightly for subtlety not distraction. Wear a good pair of dress shoes that will compliment the attire.

An important feature of the suits for both men and women is that they should be tailored. Shirts, ties, blouses, socks for men, nylons for women, and belts should be well coordinated. I you have any questions or concerns about what to wear, visit your local clothing department or specialty clothing store and consult with the department clerk.

Piercings, tattoos, and hairstyles

Any piercings of the face such as the nose, brow, lip, cheek, and tongue should be taken out. Men should also take out any earrings. Tattoos should be covered up as much as possible. The look for any hairstyle is well groomed, clean, and conservative. Conservative meaning the hair would need to be tied back if long or obtain a nice cut and style relative to those already in the business.

The bottom line

The bottom line in looking and dressing professional is that you are revealing to your future employers the effort and pride it takes in looking the part and setting an example of what the company represents. How you dress will denote how organized and driven you are as an individual. If you want the job, look the part.

About the author:

Thaddeus W Johnson is a writer who enjoys providing online shoppers with valuable information for purchasing and the benefits of shopping online. Discover great savings on products such as clothing, health, beauty and much more.