Rules to a Good Cover Letter

Your Cover Letter
Bad Cover Letter	Good Cover Letter
Too long  / with too much formality	It should tell a story
No substance & Empty buzzword	It should be short, concise and passionate
Re-write your resume	It should be personal and intriguing (give examples)
	It should tell why you are interested
	It should be your elevator pitch (interesting hook)

Advice for dealing with gossip, favoritism and the office saboteur

Office politics exist in every workplace. But you don't need to be a master manipulator to get ahead; you simply must learn how to navigate murky waters. Here are some tips for handling each situation.

Q: I would like to avoid the office rumor mill, but people always try roping me into gossipy conversations. How should I handle this?
A: Water cooler chatter can be both helpful and harmful. The trick is recognizing when to listen and when to cut and run.

Q: I'm a loyal employee and a hard worker, but my boss plays favorites and always gives the plum assignments to a particular co-worker. What can I do?
A: Before crying foul, make sure you communicate to your supervisor your interest in taking on additional responsibility. Your manager might simply be waiting for you to step up and show initiative.

Q: One of my colleagues seems like she's out to get me. Whenever possible, she does something to make me look bad. How should I respond?
A: If someone's purposely undermining your efforts, you can respond in several ways.

1.       One option is to pull the person aside and ask her about her troubling actions. Focus on the facts and don't let your emotions get the best of you.

2.   No matter what course of action you choose, you can rise above the fray if you remain professional, respectful and diplomatic.

Some key drivers of Job Satisfaction

Few people are exactly alike when determining what makes them happy at work, but there are some key drivers of job satisfaction.

Relationships	With manager, With peers, With subordinates
Work/life balance	Location/commute. Travel, Amount of work
Kind of work	Autonomy, Type of Work, Contribution & Growth opportunities
The company	Values, Leadership, Industry
Financial considerations	Base Pay, Incentive Pay

Gain Energy & Release Potential

Topic	How to do it
Choose Attitude	Make your day a great day
Play	Make work fun – builds energy
Engage Customers	Include customers in the fun
Be Present	Pay Attention & Be attentive

Things Every Worker Should Know

If you're thinking of making a career move, now is the time. Companies nationwide are finding it challenging to fill vacant positions and devoting more resources to employee retention. As a result, many of today's workers, especially those with in-demand skill sets and experience, have a notable advantage when seeking new jobs or promotions.So if you are planning to take advantage of the positive job market, keep these three things in mind:

1. Your interests.
Give careful consideration to what you love most about your job before you pursue any changes. Remember that what motivates you in your job isn't always the same as what you do best. For example, you may be successful at managing project teams but enjoy your work most when you are a hands-on participant.

    
2. Your strengths and weaknesses.
Conduct an honest assessment of your professional assets and any liabilities that could be standing in your way. Past performance reviews and ongoing comments from supervisors and others in the workplace can give you valuable clues. Also ask colleagues and mentors for their candid feedback.

3. Your options.

Before handing in your resignation, be sure you have considered all of your options. There may be opportunities at your current firm that you are not aware of. It's worth talking to your supervisor about your professional goals and how your company might be able to support them

The Power of Accomplishments

From an employer's point of view, there is no greater predictor of success than past performance. To convince potential employers that you are the best candidate for the job, you must be able to clearly state & sell your accomplishments.

Step 1: Start by writing one-line statements about your experiences
Step 2: Convert each activity into an accomplishment statement. Begin with an action verb: describe your activities & what you achieved.
Step 3: Make your accomplishment statements as comprehensive as possible.
Step 4: After you have completed your list, edit the statements to use the most powerful verbiage and reflect tangible evidence of results.
Step 5: If you are using a chronological résumé, make sure that you list accomplishment beneath the company where you acquired it.
Step 6: If you are using a functional résumé, you will need to group related accomplishments together under functional headings
Step 7: Finally, review your accomplishment statements in the context of your specific job objective; then organize & present the statements in order of their relevance to the potential employer.

From Emotional Intelligence to Being Effective

Emotional Intelligence	Habits of Effectiveness
Self-Awareness	Be Proactive
Personal Motivation	Begin with we end in mine
Self-Regulations	Put first thing First
Empathy	First to Understand then Understood
Social Skills	Think Win-Win Synergize