What's in YOUR Job Seeker "Tool Bag"?

A doctor goes to the office with his medical bag.
A pilot boards an airplane with his flight bag.
A schoolteacher enters the classroom with her book bag.

And a job seeker should face a potential employer with an interview tool bag that is well stocked, in good working order, and ready to use. The following "3 C's" are essential to every job seeker's tool bag... don't leave home without them!

Tool #1: Courtesy

Approach the employer with a warm smile, a sincere handshake, and look him or her in the eye. Consider that man or woman a new friend—someone to respect, appreciate, and listen to. Take a deep breath and be yourself. In other words, be polite, kind, and attentive.

Tool #2: Clarity

Come prepared with clear examples that demonstrate your experience and skills on the job. In other words, if you are hoping to land a position as an administrative assistant, talk about what you've done professionally that equips you for this new job. Do you have a couple of true-life stories about times when you 'saved the day' or took charge in a crisis or helped your superior finish a project in the nick of time or earned a reward for completing a difficult task without assistance? Hiring managers don't want to listen to a laundry list of boring statistics. They are looking for real flesh-and-blood experiences that indicate what you can and will do if you are hired. And they want to hear these stories spoken clearly and concisely.

Tool #3: Commitment

Impress the hiring manager by reciting the company's mission statement! Speak to your dedication and enthusiasm for helping the leadership team attain their goals. Be sure the employer knows you are committed to the organization's philosophy and follow-through and that you'll do your part and more to support these ideals while doing your job and while interacting with other employees. State what you want and need and what you can and will do to advance the company and increase profits.

With the "3 C's" working for you, you'll increase your chances of a new job offer immensely.
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Written By Jimmy Sweeney
President of CareerJimmy and Author of the new,
Job Interview "Secret"

Cover Letter Tip: How to Avoid the 'Shredder'!

Each morning hiring managers all over the country open the day's mail. They read a line or two from each cover letter they receive and then make a quick decision—to save it, shred it or file it away in the recycle bin.

What can you do to avoid the shred it pile? Take these six essential steps when you write your cover letter.

1. Greet the hiring manager with a friendly opening sentence.

2. Mention what you know about the company and the job requirements.

3. List facts that qualify you: where you worked, what you did, how you succeeded.

4. State what you can bring to the new position.

5. Ask for an interview and give thanks to the manager for considering your letter and resume.

6. Fit your message on one page and leave plenty of white space for easy reading.

A sharp, focused, and well written cover letter is essential if you hope to capture the attention of an employer—especially during tough economic times when jobs are scarce. Such letters produce results. All the rest end up in the shredder!

Writing a great job-search cover letter does take time and commitment. But it doesn't have to be difficult or mysterious. The most important thing to keep in mind is honesty. Include the ingredients listed above in a style that is uniquely and truly you. Send it off and then trust that the perfect job for you will turn up at just the right time.
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Author: Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the brand new, "Amazing Cover Letter Creator." Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, "Tough Times Job Tips."

How to Speak English Fluently

1. Get rid of the fear of speaking English in public. Unless you can overcome this fear, you won’t learn. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. So, be confident and speak.

2. Observe the mouth movements of those who speak English well and try to imitate them.

3. Everyday read aloud in English at least for 30 minutes. Read newspapers, magazines, books, poems, short stories, articles, whatever you like. Start with the easy ones and gradually progress towards difficulty.

4. Interact and converse with English speaking friends and colleagues regularly.

5. Watch English movies, television serials, news. Carefully follow the accent. Listening to fluent good English will unknowingly improve the way you speak English.

6. Try singing English songs.

7. Record your own voice and listen for pronunciation mistakes. Doing this will help you become conscious of the mistakes you are making.

8. Take your time. Do not expect instant results. You can change the way you sound if you are willing to work really hard. Be patient.