Health and Human Services Professional Development

To Whom it Concerns…Please Read My Cover Letter by   Jill Bowers   on   July 1, 2013   There are no second chances with a cover letter. It is often the first thing that employers glance at. Some may actually read cover letters. Others will skim them. Regardless, if something they do not like jumps out at them, your file will likely be tossed to the bottom of the pile…or worse yet, the trash. Thus, the cover letter is crucial. Some red flags include typos/grammatical errors, too long, rambling, repeating what is on your resume or CV, not addressing important points (e.g., the skills you possess that qualify you for the job), or using the same action words (best to avoid repetitive use of the same words). For more information, see  6 Secrets to Writing a Great Cover Letter ,  8 Cover Letter Tips for Graduates with No Job Experience ,  5 Things Your Cover Letter Must Cover , and  Action Words for Your Cover Letter...

Ways to Avoid Being on Employers’ Complaint Lists by   Jill Bowers   on   August 16, 2013   What are employers’ complaints about grads they have recently hired? Supervisors, bosses, and employers get upset when new hires or interviewees: come unprepared to interviews apply for jobs they do not have the skills or background training for demand salaries that are too high for the position (e.g., higher than what others who have been there for awhile make) or premature promotions write letters or emails with typos start and then quit the job without giving it a chance lack professionalism lack tenacity post inappropriate or unprofessional photos or status on social media accounts that are visible to the public, clients, or individuals they serve have poor attitudes, work ethic, or interpersonal skills See more and some general tips for addressing these issues from  The Savvy Intern article,  Employers: 13 Complaints about Recent Grads . Che...

Are Writing Skills Really That Important? by   Elissa Mitchell   on   January 11, 2014  YES, writing skills are THAT important. Writing is a form of communication that is critical in the real world! You may not be looking for a career as a professional writer, yet writing is most likely going to be a part of your job responsibilities. Whether you are writing case notes for client files, communicating with your coworkers or supervisors, submitting a grant application, or creating a brochure to advertise your agency, writing skills are important. Being able to effectively communicate is a key skill in the professional world and employers are looking for it. If your resume or cover letter has grammar or spelling mistakes, then you’re not likely to make a good impression on the employer. On the other hand, a letter that is clear and easy to read shows employers that you care and put in the time to proofread and revise your document. This study by Gramm...

Avoid the Email Train Wreck: Five Tips for Writing Professional Emails by   Danielle Wolf, Guest Author   on   March 23, 2014   As college students, we are all focusing on that next phase in our lives. This can be different for each and every one of us. Yet, whether we are on the track towards social, teaching, health care, or other professional careers and our next step to success in the “real world,” it is important to have a good understanding of how to write a professional email. If you don’t, you could be at-risk for a trainwreck of negative responses (for example, you could miss out on an internship opportunity, be the subject of your professors’ Facebook posts, begin to notice that your boss is avoiding you, or try to make important points in meetings only to have your supervisor ignore you).    Email etiquette is important. Thus, as we apply for jobs, graduate school, or communicate with our professors, it is important to show these...