METRO Cover Letter Evaluation Workshop

On December 9, 2010, I presented a strategic Cover Letter Evaluation workshop for members of the Metropolitan New York Library Council(METRO) Career Transition Special Interest Group. Along with colleague Deb Falik, I discussed different types of cover letters, basic components of cover letters, and relevant resources. The heart of the presentation was a 20 minute interactive cover letter evaluation in which participants worked in pairs to create new cover letters or improve on older cover letters that they brought with them. The participants then re-convened to share newly discovered strategies and techniques with the entire group. A total of eight METRO members participated.

If you are interested in creating customized cover letters that complement your resume and increase the likelihood of being called for interviews by prospective employers, some resources that I recommend are:

Cover Letter Magic. Wendy S. Enelow and Louise M. Kursmark
The inside front cover lists "The Nine Types of Cover Letters" and "Six Steps to the Perfect Cover Letter."

202 Great Cover Letters. Michael Betrus
Page 6 diagrams the basic components of a sample cover letter.

Knock'em Dead Cover Letters. Martin Yates
Page 35 has an alphabetized list of relevant action verbs that is useful for discussing your experience and skills in the crucial second and third paragraphs that constitute the body of the cover letter. Martin Yates' website has updated career information at http://www.knockemdead.com

New York Library Club Holiday Dinner

This francophile librarian had a wonderful time last night at the New York Library Club's holiday dinner. It was held in a little gem of an east side French restaurant called Les Sans Culottes.

The menu was superb and the company convivial.

The paniers de crudites was a healthy and attractive appetizer, supplemented by the savory saucissons. I chose saumon a l'aneth for my entree and a delectable creme caramel for dessert. The website for Les Sans Culottes is: http://lessanscullottesny.com

If you are not yet a member of the New York Library Club, I encourage you to join. The Club's website is: http://www.nylibraryclub.org

Job Search Advice from Psychology Today

Dr. Bill Knaus has written an interesting post on the psychology of searching for a new job during challenging economic times. I especially like his analysis of the different types of procastination and the way in which procrastination is a form of "second-agenda thinking":

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/science-andsensibility/201011/psychological-tips-successful-job-search"

REWORK

If you are thinking about starting your own business, then REWORK by Jason Freed & David Heinemeier is a must. It's smart, savvy, and fun to read. It has great graphics that enhance the text, and it cuts through hype, hyperbole, and pretension with counter-intuitive suggestions like "Let your customers outgrow you" that Freed and Heinemier road-tested as founders of the 37Signals software firm.

The companion website for REWORK is: http://www.37signals.com/rework

Learn More About Twitter

For those of you who still may be new to Twitter, blog by oneforty has a guide to the "Top 10 Twitter Tutorials on YouTube" at:

http://oneforty.com/blog/top-10-twitter-tutorials-on-youtube/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+onefortyblog+(oneforty+blog)

Are You Networking?

Lynch, Liz. Smart Networking: Attract a Following in Person and Online. McGraw-Hill. 2009. 190p. bibliog. index. ISBN978-0-07-160294-1 $16.95
Liz Lynch is the founder of the Center for Networking Excellence. Her top three strategies for networking success are: using LinkedIn, enhancing your online profile by writing a blog and commenting on other professional blogs, and building reciprocal relationships through conversations that convey a sincere interest in helping the other person. The Center for Networking Excellence website http://www.networkingexcellence.com includes videos, a blog, and other resources to help you refine your networking skills. In addition, her networking quiz will help you to evaluate your current level of networking competence and point to directions for further development. BOTTOM LINE Used in tandem with the website for The Center for Networking Excellence, this book provides practical strategies for beginning and seasoned information professionals who want to give and get the most out of their business relationships.

Business Resources

Marcus P. Zillman has posted two free guides to business intelligence resources. I especially like the annotated guide, as it provides useful commentary for the sources listed. Both guides are at:

http://biresources.blogspot.com/