Recently I met with a new client that has been in the market for a job for more than a year. He was home responding to job ads from job boards. His phone was not ringing. No one was calling him back and he was more than frustrated.

At the end of our first meeting the homework I assignment I gave him was to develop a cover letter. I gave him a sample letter that included a strong opening, highlights of his accomplishments using bullet points, and highlights of his qualifications that fit the job ad he was responding to. I met with him briefly this weekend, two weeks since our first meeting. He has received phone call after phone call by adding a strong cover letter to his resume. This gentleman went from no calls, to interviews.

I am a firm believer that like a resume opens the door for an interview, a cover letter opens the door for the organization to want to read your resume. Resumes have a 4 second shelf life. You will move either from being an interested candidate to a potential candidate. But you have four seconds at best to communicate your value through a resume. A cover letter is a little different. If you have a strong cover letter, you will create interest in your resume. The 4 second rule will no longer be in effect because you successfully created interest for you as a potential candidate.

Tips for Developing Your Cover Letter

1. Do not use a template. Write a letter, a cover letter that communicates who you are and give the reader a reason to read your resume.

2. Make sure your cover letter includes key qualifications the job description highlights.

3. Use strong action words that describe you, your skills and abilities.

Cover letters are the appetizer in the full course from interview to job offer. Cover letters help to develop the first impression that organizations will have about your candidacy. So many job seekers skip investing time in developing their cover letter. You need a cover letter if you want to differentiate yourself from other candidates. So take your time and carve out a strong cover letter. If you would like a sample cover letter to get you started, leave me a comment and an email address and I will send it.

Image Credit: sxc.hu

We’ve got 64 Writing, Editing, Blogging, etc. Jobs - not at all bad for a mid-week post.

I don’t seem to have much to say, and I’m running out of time… Wednesdays are my busy day.

If you’re new to applying for freelance writing jobs or need a refresher, How To Apply For A Freelance Writing Job may help.

Image from http://www.sxc.hu

I just posted 62 Freelance Writing, Editing, Translating, Blogging, Etc. Jobs.

As usual, I haven’t a clue. When I started this list this morning it seemed like I might be lucky to surface half this number. Go figure.

Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.

Image licensed by http://www.sxc.hu

(www.thegoldenpencil.com)

We end this week with 44 Writing, Blogging, Editing and Translation Jobs.

That’s 159 freelance writing, editing, etc. jobs this week. Freelance employment offers do seem to be slowing a bit; it may just be summer or it may be part of the general economy, although often freelancing increases during tough time.s

Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.

Image from http://www.sxc.hu

(www.thegoldenpencil.com)

Just posted 63 Writing, Blogging, Editing and Translation Jobs.

Want help applying for a freelance writing job? How To Apply For A Freelance Writing Job has a lot of solid and helpful information.

Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.

Image from http://www.sxc.hu

(www.thegoldenpencil.com)
We start the week with 52 Writing, Blogging, Editing and Translation Jobs.

Remember, if you get a job through these postings we want to hear about it!

Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.

Image from http://www.sxc.hu

(www.thegoldenpencil.com)

We end this week with 71 Writing, Blogging, Editing and Translation Jobs.

That brings this week’s total writing etc. jobs posted to 172.

Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.

Image from http://www.sxc.hu

(www.thegoldenpencil.com)

Well, we’ve got 51 Writing, Blogging, Editing and Translation Jobs.

I can’t get to one of my sources today… don’t you just love it when a site you count on is down? Are you old enough to remember life before the net?

Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.

Image from http://www.sxc.hu

(www.thegoldenpencil.com)

As you might expect, I get lots of questions about how to apply for a freelance writing job. Yesterday I put together a whole page on the topic.

It’s listed over there on the right, the first entry under “Pages” and titled How To Apply For A Freelance Writing Job.

Now, tell me what I left out or what should be added and I will.

Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.

Image from http://www.sxc.hu

(www.thegoldenpencil.com)
We start this week with 50 Writing, Blogging, Editing and Translation Jobs.

How’s your search for writing gigs going?

Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.

Image from http://www.sxc.hu