Am I Hindering My Job Search if I Dont Write a Cover Letter

Am I Hindering My Job Search if I Dont Write a Cover LetterQ Can it hinder my job search if I dont write a titelseite letter?A In short, yes. It absolutely can reduce the response rate youll receive from yur resume and application by not submitting or including a cover letter when you apply. Why is that? A cover letter opens the door to communicating information that isnt appropriate to include on your resume.Here are some advantages to using a cover letterA cover letter makes a personal introduction. Think, Hello, Mr. Smith, my name is Jane Doe, and Im the best project manager for ABC company because This shows you did your research, you know who to contact, and youve made the effort.It gives you the ability to plainly state why youre the best candidate for the job. You can share three reasons why youre the best personand you offer more value to the company than candidates X, Y, and Z.You can make a PERSONAL connection. Do you know someone within the company that referred you? Name drop Why are you specifically interested in this role? Is there a connection there of personal interest that may be valuable to the employer? What do you know, what information or wisdom do you have that they need?You can ask for the bewerbungsinterview. Asking for the interview increases your chance of getting a call for an interview by somewhere around 50% (Ive read several different stats about the actual percentage being between 50%-75%, so Ill go on the conservative side and say it will increase your chances by 50%). Im not a mathematician, but if theres a 50% chance theyll calland a 50% chance they wont call youand then asking for the interview increases your chances of being called even more, doesnt that mean that now theres a 75% chance theyll call and only a 25% chance they wont? I dont know about you, but Id want to up my response rate and results by asking for the interview. Want to know more about how to ask for the interview and exactly what to say? Check out this arti cle for more information.You can leave them drooling for more My writers always find this great little tidbit of information to include in the cover letter at the very end that guarantees the employer will read it and want to know more. We utilize a PS in our cover letters to ensure maximum impact. Its not just about including oneits also about what you say in that P.S. And I can guarantee you, we write some incredibly captivating onesthe kind that will have the employer picking up the phone the same day to call you.With all of these great benefitseach of which increases your possibilities for a response and call for an interviewwhy wouldnt you want to utilize a cover letter? It really is a wise decision to utilize oneand its in your best interest So if you were on the fence about whether you should or shouldnt use a cover letter, I hope Ive convinced you that its one tool you definitely want in your job search arsenal.Want more great advice like this? Check out these two articles5 Things You Should Never Say in Your Cover Letter7 Things You Should Never Include on Your ResumeP.S. Id love to meet you on Twitter here.WANT TO WORK WITH US? Find out more here

Gig Economy How Part-Time Work Became the New Full-Time Reality

Gig Economy How Part-Time Work Became the New Full-Time Reality By the year 2020, the gig economy will make up around 43% of the workforce, according to Intuit. Even now, Intuit says, many workersaround 34%are contractors and freelancers.What exactly is a gig economy? With so much work being done online and the rise of the sharing economy with apps like Uber, Lyft, Task Rabbit, and Airbnb gaining traction, part-time workers and indepedent contractors are replacing full-time workers as the new norm. Many businesses are increasingly hiring independent workers over salaried staff. This is the gig economy.With roughly 68 million gig workers, its clear that the trend towards a freelance workforce over tradional full-time, 9-5 jobs, is growing. Its definitely true that part-time jobs and freelance work have their perks. But is it all roses?While many freelancers report being happier than those who are employed with full-time jobs, thats really only true when these independent workers are d oing it by choice. Some part-time workers simply cant find full-time employment.One factor that led to the creation of the gig economy is the economic downturn. In 2008 and the several years after, many millennials were entering the workforce for the first time. With many companies instituiting hiring freezes, many millennials had difficulty finding full-time jobs. Today, some are still unemployed. Gig work is more affordable for employers, but many millennials prefer traditional 9-5 jobs. According to DeVry Universitys Career Advisory Board 2016 Survey, 91 percent say they would like a single full-time job.I graduated college during the recession and struggled to find full-time work. Or at least thats what it felt like. In reality, I found a full-time job just a few months after my graduation. I worked there for a year and a half, before the small company laid me off, along with the seven other full-time employees. This seemed like a crisis, but I found another full-time job relati vely quickly, and stayed with the company for several years.Last week, I left the company where I had worked for so long to join the ranks of other gig employees. Combining new part-time jobs with freelance work, Im hoping to make independent work my full-time employment.Of course, it wasnt a decision I made lightly. The idea began brewing a year and a half ago, when I took on a freelance content-writing position. I worked to pick up new clients and part-time positions, until I had reached a point at which I felt I could sustain myself and would enjoy a more satisfying career going my own way.Both my parents have been self-employed for most of their careers, so I have some excellent role models. And while I believe (and hope) this new life will offer many advantages, such as more flexibility and the ability to focus on the kind of work I particularly enjoy, I also realize what Im giving up, such as the benefits I received as a full-time employee, particularly health insurance, and t he stability a full-time job brings.While Im anxious, Im excited to see what opportunities this new life brings. Many independent contractors report being happy with their careerssome even more so than full-time employees. Still, its not for everyone, so time will tell how the gig economy evolves in the coming years.