1. Could you please introduce yourself to our audience?

My name is Catherine, 28 years old. I live and work in Dallas.

2. What kind of position did you apply for?

I have applied for Accountant position.

3. Did you come across any difficulties while you were writing your cover letter/ resume?
Definitely. If someone told me that I`d overspend my energy and time, I would have disbelieved him.

4. In your view, how did you manage to write an outstanding cover letter/ resume as opposed to an average representation of yourself – the resume that got you the interview?

For me, it was critical to hop into the mind of my potential employers. I wanted to find about the qualities that they looked for in their future employees. This idea enveloped my strategy: I started thinking as a person who would hire employees, not the opposite.

5. Is there a must do in the preparation of a resume/ cover letter?

I already gave an answer to this question in point 4. We have to avoid thinking as potential employees. Enter the scene in the position of employer. This type of role changing has helped me immensely.

6. Did you use any external sources to prepare your resume/ cover letter?
Your Guide to Jobs At America’s Best Companies
7. Would you consider the services of professional resume writers?
Of course, I cannot say that I deny the value of professional resume writing. After all, we are talking about people who work this job day after day. They are in the position to know what the potential employers look for. I liked your idea that during the last couple of years, the face of the professional resume writing has been tarnished. As you rightfully mentioned, many people turned this job into a tool for the quick amassing of fortunes. Nevertheless, if someone decides to take advantage of their services, it is best to pick a qualified professional. Look for information in their professional association, and you will find out who these people are.
8. Is there a book, website, program, or anything related that you will recommend to a newbie in the cover letter/resume writing?
350 professional resumes and cover letters and   Job Hunters Bible

9. Do you have a favorite thought or a quote that inspires you?
“They in whomsoeuer these virtues dwell, are the architects of their own fortunes.” – I don`t know who the author is.

10. Would you like to share anything that wasn`t covered by the interview format?
11. Just a personal question: when do you plan to publish your cover letter?

The Author :”Next week,i promise!”

1. Could you please introduce yourself to our audience?
My name is Brian; I live and work in New York.

2. What kind of position did you apply for?
Project manager

3. Did you come across any difficulties while you were writing your cover letter/ resume?
I think that the whole process took me nearly a week. The hard thing to do was to collect information for the company which I applied for. I was to decide which resume format to use – should it be functional, chronological or hybrid. But I think that after all I managed it.

4. In your view, how did you manage to write an outstanding cover letter/ resume as opposed to an average representation of yourself – the resume that got you the interview?
I don’t know if it’s excellent, but if we consider the fact that I got to the next stage – an interview, it means it is so. I reckon my cover letter covered the criteria set in the job ad. I just kept to what my employer was looking for.

5. Is there a must do in the preparation of a resume/ cover letter?
Surely the job ad is one third of the resume and the cover letter. I had mine printed and I analyzed every single sentence. I know it sounds a little crazy, but in this advert I found all I needed.

6. Did you use any external sources to prepare your resume/ cover letter?
In the first place it’s the site of the very company. After all I should know who I am going to work for if I get the job. And nearly all sites of the big companies have a section for careers with useful information. Secondly I’ll mention the forums for job seekers and internet at all. I don’t think there’s a site that can give you a hundred percent of the
information that you need.

7. Would you consider the services of professional resume writers?
I never used their services till now. But I don’t mind them anyway. I read one of your articles where you described them as money making machines. I don’t think all of them are such. There are some who consider more important not money, but the pleasure to help people looking for job. Susan Ireland, a professional resume writer, personally appealed to me.

8. Is there a book, website, program, or anything related that you will recommend to a newbie in the cover letter/resume writing?

I don’t like reading books. So I can’t recommend one. But there are a few web sites that leaded me in the process of composing my resume and cover letter. These are: Susan Ireland,eHow
and Purdie University .
9. Do you have a favorite thought or a quote that inspires you?
„You are never a loser until you quit trying.”- Mike Ditka

10. Would you like to share anything that wasn`t covered by the interview format?
These questions made me sweat, how did you make them up? (A joke).I can’t think of something particular. All the best to you!

1. Could you please introduce yourself to our audience?

- Thank you kindly for this opportunity. I`m Allis, a postgraduate student and a full time translator.

2. What kind of position did you apply for?

- I`ve applied for the position In-House Full-Time Translator from English into German.

3. Did you come across any difficulties while you were writing your cover letter/ resume?

- In my case, the translation agency has provided plenty of information on its structure, partner organizations, achievements (network of clients and finished projects), future goals, and employee credentials.
So, my answer can`t be straightforward. If the target company has a user friendly portfolio, it is fairly easy to write a cover letter. It can be mind boggling in the opposite case, i.e. you have to guess what the company values and wants. But then-why would you choose to work for a company that offers no information and at the same time, it demands yours?
4. In your view, how did you manage to write an outstanding cover letter/ resume as opposed to an average representation of yourself – the resume that got you the interview?
- First of all, I researched the company thoroughly: I`ve screened its official website and the advertisements they`ve posted around. I also read external sources, reviews, client and employee`s feedback, and the like. In my experience, it is advisable to check multiple information channels and viewpoints. Some might actually convince you that you are applying for a position at the wrong company.
Secondly, I`ve prepared a list of the company`s objectives and requirements and checked how they matched my skills. I asked myself several questions. Do I fulfill the requirements for the particular job? How compatible are my personal goals with the company objectives? Who will decide on my responsibilities (Does the company need a self-starter or a team player)? Does the top management provide the necessary information and support so that I can work effectively? In a nutshell, I checked my skills and competencies against the company`s working environment and objectives. I revisited relevant information and drafted responses to these questions. To make myself clear, my first question asked if my skills matched the company`s requirements. If my target company claims to work with precision and attention to detail, it will probably look for a person who is good at handling facts and statistics. They will hire individuals who are punctual, consistent in their work, analytical and problem solving oriented. Do I have these skills? If my answer is Yes, I`ll put the listed characteristics in my cover letter.
As I`ve mentioned, the translation agency I applied for has provided copious information about itself. The factual abundance led me to the conclusion that this company priorities its communication with clients and employees. Therefore, my goal was to stress on my ability to communicate and respond to questions and concerns in a meaningful and timely manner. My final objective was to spot what they wanted to see in a cover letter. To make myself clear, if the company highlights its goals and achievements, you can be certain that its HR division wants to hear about your goals and achievements. Moreover, you have to demonstrate a close to perfect match between them.
To sum it up, if you aim at a strong cover letter, do the relevant research, prepare a list of relevant questions, look at what the company values and place your focus accordingly.
5. Is there a must do in the preparation of a resume/ cover letter?
- Firstly, you have to be clear why you want this particular job and not another. Secondly, you have to demonstrate why and how your competencies contribute to the company`s work and future growth. Thirdly, you should explain how a position at this company contributes to your career development. You should be able to communicate all that to the HR in a structured and up to the point manner. Finally, avoid repeating your Curriculum Vitae. In essence, the cover letter has to show your abilities rather than your qualifications. Each job has its own specifics. Even if the open position is a close match to your previous job, be reassured that it has particularities. Your employer aims to find out whether you are capable of acquiring knowledge, skills, and work habits. So, stress on your abilities. Refer to previous experience while you demonstrate your capacity for growth and achievement.
6. Did you use any external sources to prepare your resume/ cover letter?
For information on individual skills and capacities, I looked at: The Unwritten Rules of the Highly Effective Job Search: The Proven Program Used by the Worlds Leading Career Services Company and Now, Discover Your Strengths

7. Would you consider the services of professional resume writers?
- I would rather abstain from using a professional resume service. First of all, you have to be very clear about the synergy between yourself and your future employer. Secondly, you cannot reasonably expect that if another person does the homework for you, and you will know more than him. It is your cover letter and you need a thorough look at it. Otherwise, you may end up at the interview with no background knowledge.
8. Is there a book, website, program, or anything related that you will recommend to a newbie in the cover letter/resume writing?
- This site is a particularly good point of reference. Congratulations for the hard work! I recommend that people look for and compare multiple informational outlets. Then, they will have to prove self-reliant, creative, and motivated, and write the cover letter that ‘sells’ well.
9. Do you have a favorite thought or a quote that inspires you?
- I love this quote by Mark Twain: “Don’t go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first”. In essence, you are what you do. Be ready to invest your personal effort if you aim at success.
10. Would you like to share anything that wasn`t covered by the interview format?
- Just to recap the essence, self-reliance and good amount of effort will pay you well.

Picture by:Nicdalic