We talk about them all the time: cover letters. We share general tips, explore best practices, and warn of the most common cover letter mistakes. What we haven't done is give you specific examples of real cover letters that worked. Until now! Excelle has tracked down five cover letters that helped job seekers land an interview. Sometimes, they even got ...

Interviews are hard. You’re nervous. You’re usually in close quarters. You have to answer question after question with little recovery time. And your entire professional future seems to hang in the balance of this one encounter. It’s no wonder so many interviewees resort to clichés when answering interview questions. But panicked responses aren’t going to land you that job. So ...

Writing a letter to get an internship can be intimidating. By using well-chosen words, you can make a good impression. While your letter needs to be customized to individual circumstances, this sample cover letter below can help an aspiring intern's cause. Present yourself in the best light. Monster’s resume and cover letter writing service can help. Pamela Jung 451 Highland Ave. ...

“Where do you see yourself in five years?” — we all know the question. So why are we still stumped when someone asks this granddaddy of a ridiculous interview question in our interview? Here’s why – because most job seekers believe it has no relevance. The reason? No company can (or ever will) guarantee an employee a job for five years. ...

Ah, the dreaded cover letter. You may know what you should do and shouldn’t do, but when it comes to sitting down and actually writing it — where to even begin? Should you even bother? If the job listing specifically says to submit a cover letter, then you must! You don’t want to penalize yourself immediately by not following directions. Unless ...

Your cover letter is the first thing employers see when they open your materials. Avoid these 10 mistakes, and make your first impression a good and lasting one. Mistake #1: Don't Overuse "I" Your cover letter is not your autobiography. The focus should be on how you meet an employer's needs, not on your life story. Avoid the perception of being ...

You've spent four years or more building your knowledge and perhaps even earned a high GPA. So why aren't employers clamoring for your services? The problem you and other new graduates face is that hiring managers are more interested in what you can do for them than what you did in school. So use your resume to convince employers that your ...

11 Mistakes to Avoid For those of you ready to graduate and dreading the job search, I’ve got some good and bad news. The bad news? Job searching is hard. The good news? I think I can help you out. I made a lot of mistakes in my frustrating, grueling search for employment, and I want you to learn from ...

It's one of the most frequently asked interview questions: Tell me about yourself. Your response to this request will set the tone for the rest of the interview. For some, this is the most challenging question to answer, as they wonder what the interviewer really wants to know and what information they should include. Eleanor dreaded this question. When it was ...

When you are fresh out of college and applying for your first job, you want to write a cover letter that stands out from the hundreds that are on the desks of human resources professionals around the country. You want to show that you are not only qualified for the job, but a cut above the rest. You want your cover ...

With US doctors writing about 3.5 billion prescriptions yearly, according to IMS Health, pharmacy personnel, including pharmacy technicians, are in great demand. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts pharmacy technician job growth of nearly 32 percent between 2006 and 2016. But don't assume that just because jobs are plentiful, you'll be able to land a pharm tech position effortlessly. ...

I review a lot of resumes, and they often land in my mailbox with the exact same titles: resume.doc or resume.pdf. Can you say boring? Try these alternatives to stand out as an interesting candidate: 1. Your Name Resume.doc — This minimum level of personalization ensures your resume will remain attached to your application. 2. Your Name Resume December 2010.doc — ...

It's an entry-level resume catch-22: You want a job to gain experience, but you can't find a job because previous experience is required. [widget:career_specialty_quizzes] Don't be discouraged. You can still put your best foot forward and have a shot at the entry-level job or scoring your first internship. Follow these steps to create a winning entry-level resume: Select the Right Format ...

Being in the right place at the right time is all it takes. It could be that a friend happens to know that the company they work for is hiring and is willing to put in a good word for you. Sometimes, it is even the long shot opportunity you signed up for months ago, thinking it was worth the try. ...

Want to be the standout job candidate in your field? Then a entry-level resume tailored to your industry -- one that highlights your industry-specific experience, accomplishments and credentials and that includes all the right industry keywords -- is essential. If you need help customizing your resume to your field, check out these sample resumes for various careers and career levels in ...

You’re still in college, and the world of work can wait a few years. So who needs a resume? You do. Armed with a well-constructed resume, you will be prepared for potential opportunities throughout your time in college. These include seasonal, part-time and temporary work, as well as assistantships, internships and fellowships. Another plus: You’ll be ready to update your resume ...

Whether hiring for internships or full-time positions, most recruiters have heard statements like these from college students over and over again: * "I have strong communication skills." * "I'm self-motivated." * "I'm good at managing my time." * "I have excellent leadership qualities." * "I work well with others." When you make claims like these in your interviews -- perhaps in ...

Frustrated by unemployment? Job hunting is tricky business. Getting hired is a subtle mix of the right qualifications, enough experience, interview chemistry, and a dash of luck. Assuming you're making all the right moves and avoiding the really obvious job seeker mistakes, there are a few points to consider that could be your ticket out of unemployment. Get out of your ...

Most people regard a phone interview as a mere formality on their way to a face-to-face interview. Although the phone interview is usually just a preliminary step to the formal interview, it is just as important. If you don't impress your future employer with your phone interview, you'll never make it to the formal interview. Are you nervous talking on the ...


Getting an interview is a really big deal. It means that you have achieved a level of confidence with your resume and cover letter and have made it to the next steps of the hiring equation. This is something that you should be proud of; this is also something you should take very, very seriously. The interview presents a lot ...