Job interviewers are nearly always wrong about you

Job interviewers are nearly always wrong about youJob interviewers are nearly always wrong about youNowhere are we mora anxious about first impressions than a job interview. Heres the hardest part studies have found what interviewers think to be an unfair and unrealistic indicator of a candidates success.Employers like to do in-partie interviews to get to know a candidate, but studies have proven that the impressions they give are as accurate as flipping a coin, and can say more about their employers preferences and biases than the interviewees abilities.The New York Times recently highlighted one such study in their argumentagainst the practice.In The Utter Uselessness of Job Interviews, researchers discussed how people who predictedstudents success based on just their G.P.A. were more accurate than those who conducted interviews to make their predictions.In other words, relying on hard data like G.P.A. and teacher recommendations was a better way to understand a candidate than inte rviews.Moreover, the study showed were bad at knowing when were being played.Half of the interviewees were told to give honest answers to questions, and the other half were told to give random yes/no and this/that answers to questions.Interviewers getting random answers actually thought they got to know the student candidate more than when the candidates gave them honest answers.This is how unshakeable our belief in the power of interviews is Even when the researchers told the interviewersthey had been played, the interviewers still didnt grade the candidates harshly.So now that we know that were never getting rid of them, how can applicants and interviewers better control for these snap judgments?Why we do first impressions and how wecan control themFirst, we need to recognize why we make these first impressions. We tell ourselves stories, about ourselves and others, to create a context around the seemingly random events in life.That search for structure and meaning is so intense t hat we love building narratives around these interviews, looking to read deeper meaning in surface answers - and in surfaces.For instance, one study found that we make snap judgments on a persons trustworthiness based on just their faces.Tell your own story to prevent others from making one upTo combat interviewers preconceived stories, applicants cancome in prepared on how to selltheir own story, so that it becomes the narrative interviewers remember.Business Insider says interviewees should go into an interview with one good story that wows and showcases your talent. Did you spearhead a project? Did you manage a team? Bring those up.Advice for interviewers become aware of your biasesInterviewers can make the free-form interview process more fair by controlling for their biases and preconceptions.How? In an unstructured interview, interviews should ask each candidate the same questions, and judge each one against the others.This means being aware of the right questions to ask. Tha t could mean chatting less and focusingquestions only aboutjob-related skills.To make sure extroverts and introverts have a fair shot, Inc. Magazine advises interviewers to accommodate the disadvantages in bothpersonalities If an extroverted person begins to dominate the conversation, trying to pre-emptively answer the questions they think you might ask, rein them in. Likewise, if an introverted person takes longer to warm up, be patient.The takeaway first impressions do matter, but by accounting for our biases, they can become that much more accurate.

How to Become a Prop Master in Film and TV

How to Become a Prop Master in Film and TVHow to Become a Prop Master in Film and TVA prop master is a person responsible for any portable objects on a set. From the books on the bookshelf to the box of cereal in the pantry. If the set calls for a piece of portable property, it is the responsibility of the prop (or property) master to make koranvers its there. A prop masterworks within the art department of a film set. They work closely with the art director or production designer to make sure that all of the portable elements used to dress up a set are accounted for. Once the camera starts to roll, the prop master is there to ensure that props are set up and/or put away as needed as well as protected from damage or in some cases, theft. Skills Education Prop masters usually start their careers working in low-level jobs in the art department. It is essential that a prop master has an understanding of every art department position. An effective prop master will be adept at design as well as extremely detail oriented. An overall sense of proper decorating techniques also comes in quite handy. Because this position requires a lot of quick thinking, it helps to have an almost Macgyvertype quality. Sometimes props get lost or damaged, and a good prop master is the one that never shows his/her panic. Career Advice Its a good idea to begin your career in the art department of a television series or film production office. Get to know the current prop master and see if he/she might be looking for an assistant. Be patient, passionate and willing to do just about anything and most prop masters will be happy to teach you the secrets to their success.

13 Best Companies for New Parents to Work

13 Best Companies for New Parents to Work13 Best Companies for New Parents to Work13 Best Companies for New Parents to WorkBalance work and family life like a boss - with the help of the right employer.Is this the year that you take on your fruchtwein challenging, yet rewarding, job to date? Parenting that is. If youre thinking of becoming a parent, its important to know your companys policies in regards to parents. Does your employer offer paid maternity and paternity leave? If so, how much leave do they provide? What other programs or policies does your company have in place to help working parents?Paid maternity and paternity leave is about more than just getting a break from your job for a few weeks. Its been proven that significant paid leave leads to healthier babies and happier parents. Postpartum depression increases when the mother receives less than 12 weeks of maternity leave or eight weeks paid leave.When it comes to supporting parents in the workplace, elend all compani es are equal. Out of 196 countries in the world, there are only four that do not have federally mandated maternity leave policies. Unfortunately, the United States is one of them. While there are many countries that are far ahead of the U.S. when it comes to supporting parents in the workplace, you may not be ready to move abroad to start your family.That means youll want to find a great company right here in the United States.The good news is that there are companies that are taking it upon themselves to be proactive in the arena of supporting new parents in the workplace. Here are 13 of the best companies to work for if you plan on starting your family.A.T. KearneyHow does a year off with partial pay sound for a maternity or paternity leave? A.T. Kearney offers that to new parents (birth or adopted), plus the option to come back as part-time for the next year as a part of its Pathway for Parents program. The company also offers free family counseling and resources for caregivers a nd educational assistance. On top of that, it is a very work-from-home friendly workplace, which helps its employees maintain a better work-life balance. IKEAIKEA is now offering up to four months leave for new parents. The best part of the policy is that its applicable to both mothers and fathers as well as adoptive and foster parents. The maternity and paternity leave policy works for both salaried and hourly employees. Its rare to see such progressive parental policies in the retail sector. On top of that, IKEA employees get a 15 percent discount, so you can save money while setting up that new nursery.SpotifyThis music streaming company is a hit with new parents. Spotify offers six months of paid leave to both mothers and fathers, regardless of their country. Flexible work arrangements and part-time return options also boost this already generous policy for working parents. Not surprisingly, Spotify stems from Sweden, where such policies are much more commonplace.EtsyEtsy mainta ins a very inclusive parental leave policy. It offers a generous 26 weeks of 100 percent paid leave for all employees, regardless of gender or country of residence. It also does not discriminate against surrogates, adoptions, or other means of becoming new parents. The time off can be taken over the course of the first two years of the newborns life.AdobeAdobe also offers 26 weeks of maternity leave, but only 16 weeks for a paternity leave. While it may not be as impressive as Etsys policy, its still well ahead of the curve in accommodating working parents. Both birth and adoptive parents are covered in the maternity leave.Johnson JohnsonWho knows babies like the people who make your favorite baby shampoo and baby powder? Johnson Johnson offers 17 weeks leave to new mothers and nine weeks to new fathers. Its policies cover all forms of new parents including adoptive and same sex. The time off can be spread out over the first year to help balance work and life while adjusting to th e new family dynamic.facebook incThe social networking giant dishes out 17 weeks for mothers and fathers that can be split up over the first year. The company wants to make sure you have enough time to post all those new baby pictures to Facebook. On top of that, new parents get $4,000 of baby cash for each baby born to help with some of those early bills. Facebook also subsidizes a number of programs to help with adoption, child care, and even egg freezing.TwitterNot to be left behind in the social media realm, Twitter dishes out 20 weeks of fully paid parental leave regardless of gender or birthing means. This new policy was established in 2016 to help even the score between moms and dads and create happier families and employees. Isnt that progressive?AmazonNew mothers can get 20 weeks of paid maternity leave from Amazon. Other parents (fathers and same-sex partners) only receive six weeks of paid leave. One interesting touch is that parents who work at Amazon can share up to six weeks of their leave with a partner who works at a company where there is no parental leave offered. Once the mother or primary caregiver is ready to head back to work, they can take advantage of the Ramp Back program, which offers eight weeks of flexible time as they get re-adjusted.NetflixNetflix offers new parents a full year of unlimited paid leave. The parent has the option to take the full year, work part time, or go back to work for a while and then take more leave within that year. The policy includes both salaried and hourly workers. To make it even better, Netflix offers unlimited vacation time.CitiAs of 2017, Citi has upped its maternal leave to 16 weeks. The banking giant also offers eight weeks for a second parent. These are upgraded from 13 and two. Not enough? How about an additional 10 weeks of protected unpaid leave within the first year? Thats a total of 26 weeks possible for a new mother. Parents can also take advantage of benefits offered by the Bright Horizons Care Advantage program.GoogleNever one to be left behind, Google offers 18 weeks paid leave for biological mothers and bumps that up to 22 weeks for mothers who experience difficulties during childbirth. Other primary caregivers can get up to 12 weeks of leave while secondary caregivers get up to seven. New parents are also given $500 worth of baby bonding bucks and priority placement at Bright Horizon child care centers.MicrosoftMicrosoft offers 20 weeks paid leave for birth mothers and 12 weeks for other new parents. New mothers also have the option to take 2 weeks of short term disability during the time leading up to their due date.These are by no means the only companies out there that are offering great benefits to new parents, but they are some of the most widely recognized. If trends continue, this list could continue to grow each year.While parental leave policies are not the only reason to choose an employer, with so many companies in the U.S. offering very little or even no perks at all for new parents, its worth noting. If youre planning on starting a family in the next year or two, it may be worth brushing up that resume and applying to one of these progressive companies to balance your work and family life.Click on the following link for more advice on work-life balance.The perfect job starts with the perfect resume. Submit yours for a free resume review.Recommended Reading10 of the Most Mom-Friendly WorkplacesLeadership Lessons From Kid PresidentThe Modern Fathers Guide to a Work-Life Balance

Competition and Your Global Federal Resume

Competition and Your Global Federal ResumeCompetition and Your Global Federal ResumeCompetition and Your Global Federal ResumeIn a previous post, I touched on some of the attractions of federal standorts overseas(there are many, checkUSAJOBs)and some tips to consider in trying to land one. I mentioned the stiff competition applicants face attaining an initial overseasposition. And stiff competition requires your absolute best foot forward forposition target,resume, andinterview. But who makes up this competition you may ask? The following groups present a subset. They may possess some advantages over a typical stateside applicant seeking a first-time overseas position. This is not meant to scare or discourage, but rather to inform on the tough battle many face wrangling an OCONUS posting.1) VeteransVeterans preferenceis no secret to civilian federal applicants. At least it shouldnt be. If it was to you, click that last link This post is not about the details or merits of vets prefere nce. Suffice it to say, there are plenty of details and meritsvets make plenty of sacrifices for the country and are accordingly scored in rough categories of hiring preference. Perhaps you, the overseas applicant/hopeful reading this, are a vet yourself. But all of those without prior military service should know that,when included with vets,they enter the recruitment process with a slight point deficit from the start. Without editorializing (I am not a vet myself)this is an overall fair and prudent public policy. But those who cannot claim vets preference must put that much more work into their application packages so as to make up any point deficit. In addition to the codified hiring preference, other reasons vets are number one on the list of overseas competitionare many have experienced the advantages of overseas postings, many may already be overseas when applying to federal jobs, and the primary overseas federal employerthe DoDis the vets realm.2) Overseas Spouse/Family Membe rAnotherestablished hiring preferencein manyOCONUS positions is that of spouses and family members of overseas employees and service members. Family membersincluding unmarried dependent childrenmay claim hiring preference to positions for which they qualify. And as long as theGovernment avoids the transportation cost getting them OCONUS, the family member preference can even extend to those not already overseas Together, this group represents significant competition to many seeking overseas (especially administrative-type) positions. All is not lost if you cannot claim a vets or family member hiring preference. But your credentials, qualifications, and applicable skills must outweigh your competitions. And the resume presentationof your meritsin theOutline Format with captivating Keyword Phrasesis essential in getting you recognized alongside or above the hiring managers stopper list of potential preference candidates.3) Former Overseas (Boomerang Employees)The prospect of overseas employment attracts a curious and adaptable type of worker. Once the novelty and beauty which usually accompanies an overseas posting is experienced, many working overseas do not want to give it up. (The vast majority at some point must, however, due to the DoDs 5-year rule). Or maybeformer OCONUS employeesreturn to the US for a career interlude but eventually decide to bounce back overseas. This groupwell call them Boomerang Employeesalso represents some fierce competition to anyone trying to land their first overseas position. While they do not benefit from anyformalizedpreference like the vets and family members mentioned above, former overseas employees often wield significantalbeit informalsway in many recruitments. For example, they may leverage reach back contacts to their benefit. And the flexibilityOCONUS hiring managers seek is built-in to a resume that already includes successful overseas performance. Here again, these realities are not meant to discourage so much as they are to reiterate what you are up against as you peer across oceans via USAJOBs. With work and attention paid to your strategy andresume, you may one day find yourself among the seasoned OCONUS Boomerang Employees.Allfederal job openings come with a healthy konservendose of applicant competition. The smaller supply and higher demand ofOCONUS jobs make them extremely competitive. It helps to know your competition but dont be deterred.Contact usat The Resume Place for help getting started on your first (or next) exciting mission abroad. About the AuthorJeremy Mottis an experienced technical writer with significant analytical and organizational expertise, ideally suited for federal resume writing. Jeremys experience currently working for the government overseas in Germany and after relocating and finding a Program Analyst position from his DOD position in Louisville, KY (after a closure of a depot there), gives him the background to understand the movement of a career from US to overse as and vice versa. Jeremy changed his agency, occupational series, country and mission with his USAJOBS federal resume and applicationWith 12 years in the federal government serving as a Management and Program Analyst, Contract Manager, and Electronics Engineer, his diverse experience is reflective of- and a great asset to- the broad range of Resume Place clients. Now as a Management Analyst within a Programs and Manpower division, he has benefited from much exposure to the inner workings of OPM occupational standards, the tailoring of interview questions, applicant selection, and the critical importance of quality recruitment.Jeremy has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and a Masters of Public Administration, both from the University of Louisville. He also received a Graduate Certificate in Public Management from a NAVSEA-sponsored program with Indiana University. He lives in Germany with his wife, son, and daughter...

Unemployment dips again

Unemployment dips againUnemployment dips againPosted by crazynutjob, The 405 ClubPreviously5 Steps to Restore Jack Bauer-esque Confidence

Resume for Students Tips & Guide

Resume for Students Tips & Guide The Good, the Bad and Resume for Students Anything that taught you more concerning the field you are interested in being in, include it. A project may be an experience building stepping rock if you already know what sort of occupation youd love to make future. Most students hit a wall when it regards the expert experience section since they just dont have relevant work experience. A thorough education section is the meat of a university student resume, so make sure that you dont brush over it. As a student the info you should emphasize in your cover letter will fluctuate based upon your degree of education. Any candidate applying for a college admission needs to recognize that the resume is notlage merely a bit of document that reflects the career choices and aims of the candidate, but its reflective of the standard of the candidate. If youre a student or recent graduate and have zero experience of the way to assemble your private info, se e above the very best student resume samples. Landing a large internship for a college student is an excellent means to get prepared for the challenges of life after the university. Student organizations are a really good place to learn and develop your leadership abilities. He resume is important, and thus you should not show unnecessary rush in the process of writing your resume. Generally speaking, higher school students have a tendency to concentrate on their club participation whilst college students often incorporate major class projects. In the era of competitive job market, you will need to get a professional resume that contains the correct info, so that its going to stick out among the countless other resume so the prospective employers are going to have look of it, and will offer you a possibility of receiving their attention. Student resume is only the exact same. In spite of minimum work experience, you can make a professional looking resume that sells your abiliti es and provides you a better opportunity to find that interview. A very clear statement about how you are going to utilize your strongest relevant abilities and professional experiences to satisfy the specific role youre applying for 3. Resume creators permit jobseekers to make and download their finished resumes right from the web to begin applying straight away. Employers might want to know when youll be admitted to practice, and will be reassured that youre taking active actions to be licensed once possible. They dont need to know you enjoy crocheting, archery and travelling in your spare time. They expect to find key details in each area here are a few tips to get you started. There are lots of resources available on the web to help direct you through the practice of developing a professional resume. With some vital info in the perfect order, everyone can create one. Most significantly, following a superb sample can help you to maintain expert structure of a resume with perfection. Our enormous range of downloadable resume templates is wholly free for all to use and a fantastic resource to kick off the writing process. Selection committees often look over your scholarship resume before they begin reviewing different documents. To submit an application for internship programs, usage of Sample resumes may also be noted. While the functional resume format may be an attractive alternative for job seekers with very little experience, most employers would rather have a chronological or hybrid resume format. The resumes for college students should be shown in a well written format with the suitable use of words and grammar. The Honest to Goodness Truth on Resume for Students Furthermore, you can look for student jobs on Monster. Resumes give potential employers a means to learn about applicants quickly and readily, and theyre your very first step toward new job opportunities. Wherever you opt to place your skills on your resume, be certain to t ailor your list of skills to the specific job. For students that are new to the work market, interests and activities are a fantastic means to show employers you have skills they are searching for. Consider taking some on-line courses from EdXUdemyor Courseraparticularly ones pertinent to the job that you are wanting to obtain. If you wish to receive a nice job, you require a good resume. A well-written one is going to impress on the hiring manager the methods by which you are a best candidate for the job. In the event the work advertisement doesnt contain enough info about the keywords, speak to the recruiter and ask them exactly what theyre searching for. You will have to produce your resume important to every job. You also have to have a resume to submit an application for a new job right after finishing your educational career.

How to Counter Offer Your Employees Offer - Spark Hire

How to Counter Offer Your Employees Offer - Spark HireIn todays job market, employees can come and go as fast as the seasons change. Its no longer common for an employee to devote their entire career life to just one company. So say one of your star employees has decided to inform you of their resignation and lets you know that they will be leaving for anotlageher company. The reality of the situation sets in and you realize how much of a pain it will be to try and hire a new employee. You want to make your star employee a counter offer, but not so sure of how to do it. Listen up then, because Spark News has got your back.While this next sentence may crush all hopes you had of receiving how to make a counter offer steps, you need to pay attention. Making a counter offer to an employee that has already decided to leave is a bad, bad idea. No matter how difficult hiring a new employee may be, even with savvy online video interviews, its never a good idea to coax an employee that has al ready checked out to stay. Why? Take a look at these great and true reasons why you shouldnt counter offer your employee below.Its Likely Just a Band-AidIf your employee has already taken the time to search for a job, interview with another employer and accept a job offer, then they likely have many reasons as to why. If they were a star employee, and knew it, then they have probably already addressed the issues they have with you or the punkt directly. A good employee will bring up big issues or difficulties they have instead of pretending they dont exist. If they did this already and still felt the need to leave the company, then making a counter offer will only serve as a temporary fix. Perhaps you offer them more compensation or added benefits and they accept. Just because they are now paid more doesnt mean that the issues have disappeared. Its likely that this employee will still leave in the next six months anyways, and you will have to hire someone new after all.In the mean t ime, you lost money paying them more and probably lost valuable time as well trying to bend over backwards to accommodate them so they stayed. In the end, it was a waste of time and they decided to leave anyways. Is this really worth it?Lack of CommunicationIf your employees resignation is a complete surprise to you, then you have to question their integrity. Why did they never make light of any issues they were having before? Why didnt they try to figure it out with you before searching for a new job? This points to either a communication issue or a lack of motivation on the part of your employee. If they had truly valued this location they have with you, they would have worked hard to try and smooth out the kinks. Perhaps they were being overworked. Why didnt they ever mention this to you? Unless youre a tyrant that wouldnt listen or try to understand- which is a great reason to leave- they should have communicated with you before they searched for a new job.Questionable Work Ethi cWere speaking in majorities here, as there will always be exceptions to the rule, but usually when an employee has searched and found another job they have mentally checked out of the one they have with your company. They may accept your counter offer, but how do you know that they will truly be putting their best foot forward from now on? Of course, you can track their work and keep an eye on them, but chances are they have already checked out mentally.Think about it. Why do they call it senior-itis when seniors in high school and college start slacking on their work? Because towards the middle of their last quarter they figure, Im almost done. This doesnt matter Again, not everyone, but once you make up your mind to leave- or decide that you are finished with something- coming back to it with a full-on effort is extremely difficult. Keep this in mind when you think about making a counter offer.Compromised RelationshipThe relationship an employee has with their superior is very im portant- platonically speaking, of course. If your employee decided to leave, then theres bound to be a divide in the relationship you have with them, right? You may constantly be thinking, When are they going to decide to leave again? or What was it that made them decide to leave in the first place. Was it me? These are not the kind of things you want to be focusing on when it comes to one of your top employees. You want to know that they are devoted to this job and to your company. If they already decided to leave once, how do you know they wont up and leave again?One Good Reason to Counter OfferEven though counter offers are a terrible mistake, there is one good reason to make one to buy yourself some time. Perhaps you really cant afford to lose this employee right now. Maybe there is a huge project deadline coming up and losing this employee would mean not making the deadline. In the business world, this just isnt acceptable. In this case, making an offer so your employee stays on for the time being may be the best option. However, you should seriously start scouring the market for a replacement pronto. As stated earlier, this counter offer is likely just a band-aid and it should be assumed that this employee will be out in six months to a year. When they do decide to leave, at least you will be fully prepared.SOURCE Dennis Wolf BlogIMAGE Courtesy of Open View Partners

Natalia The Saw Lady Paruz on following your passion

Natalia The Saw Lady Paruz on following your passionNatalia The Saw Lady Paruz on following your passionNatalia The Saw Lady Paruz is a session musician who plays the saw. She performs in the subways of New York City to share her talents with passerby who seem surprised to see her.Ladders spoke with her during a public practice in the subway near Herald Square.

ASME Robotics Podcast with Dr Vijay Kumar Upenn

ASME Robotics Podcast with Dr Vijay Kumar Upenn ASME Robotics Podcast with Dr Vijay Kumar Upenn Podcast Flying Autonomous RobotsUniversity of Pennsylvanias nano-quadrotors have been seen constructing a tower and also playing musical instruments in the lab. Dr. Vijay Kumar, UPS Foundation Professor and the Deputy Dean for Education in the School of Engineering and Applied Science at UPenn, talks about real-world applications of these autonomous flying robots such as taking part in search and rescue missions. Dr. Kumar recently presented the quadrotors at the TED conference.Dr. Kumar received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from The Ohio State University in 1987 and has been on Penn Faculty since 1987. He served as the Deputy Dean for Research in the School of Engineering and Applied Science from 2000 - 2004 and directed the GRASP Laboratory, a multidisciplinary robotics and perception laboratory, from 1998 - 2004.Dr. Kumar is a Fellow of the ASME and the IEEE. He is the recipient of the 1991 National Science Foundation Presidential Young Investigator award, the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching, and the 1997 Freudenstein Award for significant accomplishments in mechanisms and robotics.Learn more about Flying Autonomous Robots. The copyright of this program is owned by ASME.

How to Write a Letter of Interest in 2018

How to Write a Letter of Interest in 2018How to Write a Letter of Interest in 2018 Its one of the worst feelings in the world.Youve spent weeks perfecting your resume and crafting the perfect cover letter , and youre finally ready to submit your application for your dream job.But when you scan the companys careers page, panic starts pouring over you. The job you wanted to apply for is no longer open. Its gone. And as you stare at your laptop screen in shock, you cant help but think youll never be able to join your dream company.What should you do in this situation? You cant just put your job search on pause until the company opens the ort again. How do you express interest in joining a company when the position you want isnt currently available?One of the most effective ways to grab a hiring managers attention and get your foot in the door is by writing a letter of interest to the company.A letter of interest lets a company know that you want to work for them in a ro le that theyre currently not hiring for. In hopes that the company will contact you when they do open this position or another relevant position, your letter of interest focuses on how your skill set and culture fit can benefit the company, not how the company can benefit you. You can send a letter of interest at any time, regardless of whether or not the company is actively hiring.Sending a letter of interest is a great way to introduce yourself to a company, and it shows them youre willing to take the manahme to proactively reach out. This can keep you top of mind when the company starts recruiting for the job you inquired about or if they have any upcoming job opportunities that could be a good fit. If youre really impressive, some companies might even create a position just for you.Other times, sending a letter of interest can lead to a coffee chat or an informational interview with the hiring manager of the gruppe you want to work for.Writing a letter of interest sounds lik e an easy way to get your foot in the door at any company, but itll only pique a hiring managers interest and elicit a response if it actually resonates with them.To do so, we recommend following a formula called problem-agitate-solve. Its modeled after an old copywriting framework and has helped one job seeker skyrocket her cover letter response rate from zero percent to 55 percent . Well flesh it out below.To compel a hiring manager to read your letter, respond to it, and consider you for a job, there are four crucial elements you need to include in your letter of interestHiring managers dont hire people just to be nice. They hire people to help them run their team better. To immediately grab a hiring managers attention, you should show how you understand the problems theyre trying to solve, like the hook belowAs a two-year blogging veteran in the marketing technology industry at companies like Return Path and SlideBatch, I know how hard it is to write well. I also know how challe nging it is to get found on Google.By describing a similar experience youve had at your current or prior job, you can relate to them on a deep level, which will engage and prompt them to read the rest of the letter.The hardest part of this step is discovering the hiring managers problems. One way to figure it out is by listing off the jobs responsibilities and asking yourself why these tasks are important to their team. If you keep analyzing until you reach a dead end, youll usually find their needs there.How do you make a hiring manager realize how valuable a solution could be? You remind them just how painful them problems are. And to make them visualize their dreaded problem as vividly as possible, you need to be specific, just like the example belowAccording to HubSpots careers page, youre not currently hiring, but, in the future, if youre looking for someone who can not only engage an audience with clear, concise and compelling blog posts, but also optimize them for search en gines, while hitting every deadline, you can count on me.When they realize how much pain theyre actually in, theyll have more of a sense of urgency to resolve it. And thisll push them to respond to you because you might be their fastest route to a solution.If youre really the solution to their problems, you must prove to the hiring manager how youve used your skills to solve similar paint points in previous experiences. Then, you should describe how youll be able to use those learnings to help solve their current problems. Check out the example belowLast year, at Return Path, I was the top performing blogger, writing weekly posts that averaged 7,500 views, 1,000 social shares and 35 new blog subscribers gained. The year before, at SlideBatch, I devised and implemented a new keyword strategy that increased organic page views for our Visual Marketing 101 blog series by 15 percent.Ive read HubSpots blog every day since I started my content marketing career, and Im inbound, content and email marketing certified, so I strongly believe Ill be able to hit the ground running if I were to work on HubSpots blog team one day.Whether Id be uncovering high opportunity keywords or crafting blog posts to support and develop your teams new pillar cluster model, Im confident my skills and experience can help your team crush their goals.By quantifying your accomplishments and researching the companys pain points, youre proving your worth. But if you just list your skills and work experience, youre only proving to the hiring manager that youve failed to make an impact.At the end of your letter, you should express your interest in exploring upcoming opportunities or ask them to keep you top of mind when an opportunity opens up, like the call-to-action belowId love to learn about any upcoming roles on your team or be considered for a position later down the road. My resume is attached, and my contact details are listed in my email signature below. Thank you for your time It wa s a pleasure connecting.These call-to-actions are crucial because they tell them how to get the ball rolling. If you dont tell the hiring manager what to do next, then nothing will happen.All together, a successful letter of interest looks like thisAs a two-year blogging veteran in the marketing technology industry at Return Path and SlideBatch, I know how hard it is to write well. I also know how hard it is to find get found on Google.According to HubSpots careers page, youre currently not hiring, but, in the future, if youre looking for someone who can not only engage an audience with clear, concise, and compelling blog posts , but also optimize them for search engines, while hitting every deadline, you can count on me.Last year, at Return Path, I was the top performing blogger, writing weekly posts that averaged 7,500 views, 1,000 social shares and 35 new blog subscribers gained. The year before, at SlideBatch, I devised and implemented a new keyword strategy that increased orga nic page views for our Visual Marketing 101 blog series by 15 percent.Ive read HubSpots blog every day since I started my content marketing career, and Im inbound , content and email marketing certified, so I strongly believe Ill be able to hit the ground running if I were to work on HubSpots blog team one day.Whether Id be uncovering high opportunity keywords or crafting blog posts to support and develop your teams new pillar cluster model, Im confident my skills and experience can help your team crush their goals.Id love to learn about any upcoming roles on your team or be considered for a role later down the road. My resume is attached, and my contact details are listed in my email signature below. Thank you for your time. It was a pleasure connectingAs a X-year Your Profession veteran in the Space You Work In industry at Most Prominent Companies Youve Worked For, I know how hard it is to Pain Point 1. I also know how challenging it is to Pain Point 2.According to Company career s page, youre currently not hiring, but, in the future, if youre looking for someone who can not only Solution for Pain Point 1, but also Solution for Pain Point 2, you can count on me.Last Specific Timeframe, at Current or Old Company, I was the best performing Your Profession, List Your Responsibilities and Describe the Impact You Made. The Specific Timeframe before, at Current or Old Company, I List Your Responsibilities and Describe the Impact You Made.Show Hiring Manager that Youre a Voracious Learner and You Regularly Keep Up with Company News, so I strongly believe Ill be able to hit the ground running if I were to work on Company team one day.Whether Id be What the Team is Working on Now, Im confident my skills and experience can help your team crush their goals.Id love to learn about any upcoming roles on your team or be considered for a role later down the road. My resume is attached, and my contact details are listed in my email signature below. Thank you for your time. I t was a pleasure connectingAfter you finish writing your letter of interest, you need to make sure the company will actually open it. So before you send your letter, itd be ideal if someone on the team personally knows who you are.To do so, ask your connections or alumni that work at the company to introduce you to the teams hiring manager. If you cant do that, you could add the hiring manager on LinkedIn, tell them why you want to connect and send them your letter of interest.Getting your foot in the door will ultimately help you stand out from the crowd of job seekers who are all sending the same hire me pitch to them.This article was originally published on HubSpot . It is reprinted with permission.