When Writing A Cover Letter, Make It Easy For Them To Read!

A good cover letter is usually required when applying for a job and making sure that it is an easy read could make or break you in that search. Hiring managers typically end up with lots of resumes and cover letters on their desks and don't have lots of time to look closely at what's written. In fact, some of them really only look at a cover letter or resume for about 10-20 seconds before deciding whether or not to bring the person in for an interview.

Cover letters might seem easy but grammatical errors, disorganized paragraphs, and not following instructions can get you eliminated from contention very quickly. Below are some tips on making sure you have a good cover letter:

1) Read the Directions for the Job Post Carefully and Follow Them- If you are not following the directions provided, the hiring manager can use that as a reason to not give you an interview. Read whatever directions are provided and follow them exactly. You would be surprised how many people do not follow directions and end up not getting an interview because of that.

2) Have Good Grammar and Proper Word Use- This might seem like common sense but you don't know how close someone will pay attention to that and if the hiring manager is big on grammar and proper word use. You could lose your credibility with these mistakes and it could cost you an interview.

3) Put How You Can Add Value or How Your Experience Relates to the Position in Bullet Points- This is a concise and quick way for the hiring manager to see your qualifications and see how well you may or may not match up to what he or she is looking for. Putting how you add value in bullet points makes the cover letter easy to read, easy to follow and easier for the hiring manager to understand why you would be a good candidate for the position.

4) Have Another Set of Eyes Look At Your Cover Letter- Writing a cover letter can be a long process for some but have someone else take a gander at it to look for mistakes. Looking at something for a long period of time could make it hard to find mistakes at first and you never know how someone else's feedback could improve your letter. Feedback can make your letter stronger and increase your chances of getting the interview.

5) Focus on Experience That Is Relevant to the Position- Having lots of experience is great but focus in on key points in your career that is relevant to the position and will catch the attention of the hiring manager. Not all experience will necessarily fit the job description so focus in on experience that relates to the job you are applying for.

When Interviewing, Relax!

Interviewing can be an exhausting and emotional experience but the best way to handle the pressure is to.....relax! Sometimes that is easier said then done but going in relaxed will benefit you in the long run and help you through the interview process.

By being relaxed, your answers will be more fluid, you will sound less nervous and you will be able to have more of a normal conversation with the person you are talking to. Showing nervousness can come across to the person interviewing you and can be noticed so the best advice is to sit back and relax during the process.

Below are some tips for being able to relax during the interview:

1) Get a Cup of Coffee or Water Before the Interview- Make sure you wait until the person who is interviewing you asks but having a cup of coffee or water during your interview can help you relax a little bit. You can take sips in between answers and having it with you can help make you feel more comfortable during the interview.

2) Do Your Homework Ahead of Time- Doing your research on the company beforehand will help you relax a bit because you will know how to answer the "What do you know about our company?" question. This will help you answer this question later on and also give you some ideas for questions to ask later on.

3) Be Yourself- Trying to be someone else will put more pressure on you and most people interviewing can pick out that out right away. Being who you are, being polite and being honest will help you answer the questions fluidly and also leave a better impression. Being dishonest and someone you are not only puts more pressure on you to hide behind the lie you are creating so be yourself and the answers will come.

4) Realize We All Make Mistakes- In my experience, I know I have never had an interview in which everything went perfect. Learn from your mistakes and move on the best you can. Making a mistake will only help make your next interview better and you can always learn from an interview experience good or bad.

Are You in Tune with YouTube?

Since being launched, YouTube has grown into one of the most powerful entertainment and search mediums in the world. With more and more videos being uploaded each day, YouTube has grown in visitors and popularity. YouTube has become one of the most effective ways to find information and to build a brand.

Whenever I mention YouTube in normal conversation, I am often asked how YouTube can be beneficial to a business. Here are the main reasons I typically give whenever I am asked this question:

1) YouTube's Growth Has Turned It From Being a Form of Social Media to a Search Engine- As more and more videos are uploaded each day, YouTube has become one of the best ways to find information on the Internet. Since being purchased by Google, finding content on YouTube is easy and can be optimized for these searches. The titles and descriptions of your videos on YouTube can be optimized to be search engine friendly and easier for YouTube users to find.

2) YouTube Can Help Build Your Audience and Your Brand- A consistent and steady line of YouTube videos can help you reach different audiences and build your brand name to thousands upon thousands of people. Creating a YouTube channel will allow followers to get updates on new videos and develop your brand name and following. Followers can typically subscribe to your YouTube channel and follow your business closely.

3) YouTube Videos Can Appear on Other Sites- YouTube videos can be shared on Facebook pages, Twitter tweets, blogs, and other places on the Internet. Your YouTube videos can be shared with other people who are no on YouTube and spread your message even further. The more people that come across your YouTube video, the better chance you have of building up your brand to its highest level

4) You Never Know Who Is Watching- Some of the biggest YouTube success stories have come from videos that were widely viewed by others and in some cases, decision makers at big companies. For example, the a capella singing group Straight No Chaser went from being an unknown group to YouTube sensation when one of their members uploaded a version of "The 12 Days of Christmas" onto YouTube. One of the viewers happened to be one of the top executives at Atlantic Records and the group ended up getting signed not too long after that. Stories like this don't happen all the time with YouTube but it's at least worth taking a shot.

All teachers fired at Rhode Island school - CNN.com

During my time as a high school and college student, I had to tape a lot of school board meetings. That experience led to some long nights but I learned quite a bit from those meetings. That is why the article down below caught my attention.

All teachers fired at Rhode Island school - CNN.com

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Frequently Asked Concerns About Twitter

"Why do I need to tell someone I am at the gas station?"

"Why would I want to tell people where I am at during the day?"

"Why would I want to inform people I am having a bad day?"

Questions like these always come up whenever I bring up Twitter to someone. No matter what, these questions are always asked whenever I mention that I am on Twitter and use it on a regular basis.

The questions listed above are understandable and those who ask them bring up valid points. Not everyone needs to know the personal or exact details of your life but that is not necessarily what Twitter can be used for.

Twitter is a great way for people who have blogs, businesses, events, special interest groups, etc. to promote their cause to a wide range of people. Twitter is immediate, quick and your message can reach thousands and thousands of people. Business have been able to promote events, specials, coupons and other happenings through Twitter and have grown as a result.

Twitter is also good for customer service. Business owners can simply search tweets to find out what people are saying about their business and respond directly to that feedback. This has helped businesses from losing customers, address concerns and in some cases, has brought in new business! Sometimes a business will look at what someone is tweeting about a competitor and can offer a discount or coupon for trying their business. There have been stories of service businesses using this approach and growing as a result of this technique.

Twitpic, which is a subdivision of Twitter, has been used by businesses to share photos to user over the Internet. Sports teams will sometimes use Twitpic to post and tweet links to photos of teams at practice, warm ups and even the game! This has been proven to create interest in that particular team and builds the brand name even further!

Contesting is also popular with Twitter as businesses will sometimes tweet a trivia question to create interest and build brand awareness. These questions are geared towards generating responses, researching the company and allowing users to send answers back for a prize. This technique is efficient, effective and a great method for creating interest in your business.

Tweeting personal points of your life isn't always necessary but using Twitter for a business can help you grow.

Don't Forget To Ask Questions

An interview can be an exhausting and long process, however, it can make you or break you in terms of getting an internship or a job. Preparation is key to interview success but what you do towards the end of the interview can be a determining factor as well.

As bizarre as this sounds, candidates are sometimes eliminated from contention because they don't ask questions at the end of the interview. It might seem weird but not asking questions can leave the person you interviewed with questioning how interested you are in the position and wanting to learn more.

Some people prepare then ahead of time while others come up with them on the spot but do not forget to ask questions towards the end of the interview. When you are asked, "If you have any questions?", take a few more minutes or as long as the person will allow to ask questions about the company, where the company would like to grow, what the internship/job would entail, etc. The list goes on but don't be afraid to be inquisitive, learn more and find out more about the person you are interviewing with, the company and its goals. This will show the person you are interviewing with you are interested in the position you applied for and makes you more memorable as a candidate.

NBA.com: Cavs' investor buys into Chinese basketball league

NBA.com: Cavs' investor buys into Chinese basketball league

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Take Time To Say Hello!

Whether you are working for a company or serving as an intern, getting to know the people you are working with is key to building relationships and your success. Sometimes the best way to build these relationships in the workplace is simply by saying hello and asking those around you how their day is going.

In my experience, taking time to know the people at an organization has helped me develop relationships and build trust. During my time as a Promotions Director at WOBN-FM (the campus radio station at Otterbein College.....soon to be Otterbein University, taking time to know the other people who worked at the station as well as the freshmen helping out made a difference. Showing an interest in them and taking the time to get to know them as people helped build trust with these people. As a result, it was easy for these people to approach me, help me out with anything I needed, and develop a relationship.

I utilized this strategy for my internships and had success doing so. Everytime I went to intern somewhere, I would take time every morning to say hello to the people who worked at the organization, see how their day was going and was able to build trust and relationships with these people. I simply could have gone in, done my work and left but because I took the time to know other people, I was able to come out with more then what I signed up for at those internships. I came out with a new skill set and lots of relationships with the people I worked with.

While playing for the National Hockey League's New York Rangers, team captain Mark Messier (pronounced Mess-ee-ay) took time to say hello to everyone who worked at Madison Square Garden and the Ranger's practice facility. Messier built relationships with these people simply by asking how their day was going, how they were doing and taking time to show an interest in them. As a result, Messier was well liked by those within the Rangers organization and still has those relationships to this day.

By showing an interest in others and taking time to say hello each morning, you can get more out of a job or internship then what the job description lists.

Pictures Really Do Say A Thousand Words

The saying "A picture says a thousand words" might be considered cliche by many but in reality, taking pictures could be a great way to market yourself or your business!

Pictures are great to tell stories to others and capture moments in time. Having that memory recorded with pictures is a great way to show a prospect, client, hiring manager and several others what you can accomplish, how well and idea worked and is a way to prove what you are capable of. Pictures are great for the memories they carry with them and can help market yourself or your business through a web-site, online blog, social media, and other uses.

Pictures are great tools to use for marketing yourself or your business and here are some tips for using photos for that purpose:

1) Whenever You Are Hosting An Event, Bring a Camera With You- You don't have to be Ansell Adams or have the greatest equipment to take great pictures. Even a simple point and shoot digital camera can help you capture the positive moments of your event. You never know what is going to happen at an event so be ready to have a camera handy to take some good shots.

2) Use The Pictures To Tell A Story- Take pictures of everything at your event from people arriving, people enjoying themselves, people meeting the guest speaker, etc. and use those to tell your story of the event. Get as many shots as possible so that you can simply show a prospect, hiring manager, or client what happened at the event, why it was a positive experience and why it was a success. Even if the person you are talking to was not at your event, use the pictures to share that experience.

3) If The Occasion Is Big and Allows For It, Hire A Photographer- Professional photographers will charge a fee to be at your event but there are plenty of people out there who are willing to do photograph events for the experience. If you cannot hire a professional photographer, try finding a talented high school or college student with that type of experience to do your photography. Outsourcing this might cost you a little bit of money in the end but will free up your time to manage employees and run the event while the photographer goes around and captures the moments.

4) Post The Positive Moments Up On Your Web-Site, Blog, Social Media Sites, etc.- There are instances in which events go wrong but focus in on the positive moments when posting up photos on your web-site, blog or social media sites. Posting up pictures of something positive happening will put your business or talents in a brighter light then posting up pictures of something going wrong. Send a positive message with the photos and post up the pictures that convey that message.

5) Don't Use Pictures That Might Embarrass Someone- Every once in a while, you might come across someone who may not want his or her photo taken, does not want it on the web-site or simply does not want to be bothered. Chances are, taking a picture of someone in this situation and posting it on your web-site, brochure, social media sites, etc. might make this person feel uncomfortable and embarrassed later on. If it could make someone look bad or put them in a negative light, keep those off the web-site. You never know who is connected to the person in the picture and that could put you or your business in a negative light.

Do Your Homework!

Interviewing for an internship or job can be an exhausting matter but something that will eliminate yourself from contention is lack of preparation and research on the organization you are interviewing with. Nothing turns off a hiring manager more then someone who has never taken time to visit the company's web-site or doesn't know anything about the company.

During my experience as an undergraduate at Otterbein College, there were times I interviewed for various internships. During these interviews and after I got the opportunity to intern at a couple of places, many of the hiring managers I came across typically had more then just a couple of stories of people interviewing for a position or internship and not knowing anything about the company. For example, there was one interview I had at a radio station in which the hiring manager mentioned I was the only candidate all day who actually could name the morning show hosts! These people who interviewed before me could have found out this information simply by going to the station's web-site and it only would have taken them about five minutes to do so! This was not the first or last time I had heard a hiring manager mention stories of candidates not knowing anything about the company to which they were interviewing to be apart of.

Taking time to research the company does take lots of time but will pay off in the end. It will show your interest in the position, the company and drive to learn more about the position or internship you are applying for. Below are some tips on researching a company before you go into that interview:

1) Visit The Company's Web-Site- Taking some time to go through the web-site will help you find information on the history of the company, what they sell, and sometimes even provides information on the people who work there. Take time to visit the web-site, go through it and understand what the company is all about.

2) Use LinkedIn To Find Information On The Company- Not all companies are on LinkedIn but most of them are starting to become more familiar and comfortable with the tool. Sometimes you can look up people who work at the company, get additional information on their products or services or even find information on the hiring manager.

3) If You Can't Find What You Need Online, Don't Be Afraid To Call The Company- As long as you don't take up too much time, the receptionist could help you find the information you need for your interview. Simply be open and honest and mention right away that you are interviewing with the company and would like some additional information before the interview.

4) Type Up The Information Or Write It Down On Notecards- If you can't recall everything you found on the web-site, don't be afraid to write it down or type it up. That way, when the question comes up, you have a reference right in front of you and it shows the hiring manager you took time to go to the web-site to learn more about the company. This is time consuming but it's better to have a reference point in front of you then to have nothing at all.

Overcoming your Fears of having Facebook Profiles, Facebook Photos, or a Facebook Fan Page

Overcoming your Fears of having Facebook Profiles, Facebook Photos, or a Facebook Fan Page

I've often been asked several questions on using Facebook for business purposes and hope the post above is helpful.

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Don't Be Afraid to Ask For Help

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask and Receive Help- Tips on Networking and Getting Help from Others

If it weren’t for the help of others, I would not be where I am at today.

I’m serious.

I’ve had lots of successes in my life but can’t take the full credit for them. Much of what I’ve achieved in my academic, personal and professional life came as the result of someone else lending a hand.

The earliest memory I have of someone helping me get through a rough time in my academic and personal life was when I was in preschool and elementary school. I had trouble learning, did not develop as quickly as the other children and on top of it all, I stuttered almost as bad as Porky Pig. Life wasn’t too easy for me at this time but with the help of some great tutors and my speech therapist Mrs. Friedauer, I went from being the slow kid in class who could barely get a sentence out to being close to a straight A student. I still keep in touch with Mrs. Friedauer to this day and would not have gotten over my stuttering problem if it were not for her help.

While at Otterbein College, I met a lot of great professionals through networking and ended up interning for some of these people during my four years there. Some of these contacts I made came from introducing myself when they came to speak at WOCC-TV3, WOBN-FM or networking events at Otterbein or getting their names through another connection. These people helped me grow in several different ways and I would not be where I am without their guidance and their help. Being able to find these people through networking was one accomplishment and having them help me with developing my skills and experience has helped pave a great career path for me.

An Inside Look at Blogging, How to Find a Blogging Sites for Free Use, Using it for Personal Uses, Finding a Topic to Write About, Using it as a Marketing Strategy, and Using Your Company Web-Site or Social Media to Promote It

Over the course of the past few years, blogging has become more and more popular for both personal and business uses. Blogging for personal use is a way for some people to discuss hobbies, promote a cause, or express their opinions in online form. For business purposes, blogging is a great way to promote products and services, discuss seminars and workshops and provide advice for current and potential clients. Either way, blogging is an effective form of communication that can be done for free and used effectively as a marketing strategy.

If looking to start up a blog for free, one of the most popular web-sites available to use is WordPress.com. With WordPress.com, users can simply sign up, create a profile, choose a pre-made template for their design, and start typing away. Users can sign in anytime and anywhere to create new posts and can also add pictures, video, connect to their Twitter account or even have it appear on their LinkedIn page. WordPress.com is simple to use and does not require web-site design or HTML experience.

In addition to WordPress.com, there is WordPress.org, however, there are differences between the two in terms of use, design and cost. WordPress.com is web-site that hosts the blog for you where WordPress.org requires a download of free software and finding a server to host your blog. In other words, the blog created with the WordPress.org software will need to be hosted by another web-site. Most web-sites that host blogs typically have a monthly price tag attached to them. The price to have a blog hosted on another web-site is usually a pretty low monthly fee. WordPress.org does allow users to create a blog from scratch and create their own templates and designs but also requires HTML or web-site design experience. WordPress.org is still an effective tool to use but does require a hosting site and web-site or HTML design experience.

For those who enjoy Google and its service, another blogging web-site available is Blogger. Owned by Google, Blogger is very similar to WordPress.com in terms of use. Users can simply sign up, create a profile, and start typing away. Blogger can be accessed from any computer with Internet connection and can be updated at any time. Blogger also does allow for photos, video and other features to be uploaded as well.

When writing a blog for personal use, the big question that always arises is the following:

“What do I want to write about on a daily basis?”

This question is a lot simpler to answer then you would think. If you are really having trouble picking a topic, try looking in the following places:

1) Hobbies- hobbies are typically easy to write about because you are already interested in the topic, have knowledge about the subject and are willing to spend more time researching and learning more. Being an avid sports fan, I created my blog, “Sports With Sabo” as a way for me to discuss what was going on with my favorite sports teams on a daily basis. In my blog, I cover the Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Browns, Ohio State Football, Columbus Blue Jackets, Lake Erie Monsters, Pittsburgh Penguins and many other teams because I enjoy following them and want to learn more about them on a daily basis. I typically always have something to say about these teams on a daily basis and makes the blog experience more enjoyable and easier

2) Causes/Clubs You Are Apart Of- people are usually pretty passionate about certain causes or clubs they take part in and usually have a lot to say. People who are apart of different causes or clubs often have several reasons why they participate in those organizations and research the topic extensively. Writing about a cause or club you participate in can give you something you are passionate about to write on a daily basis and will motivate you to continuously write.

3) Pets- whether you have a dog, cat, frog (which I do have), gerbil, hamster, etc., pet stories can be fun to write about. Pets also bring joy to our lives and sharing these joys with other people who love animals can provide fun material to write about on a daily basis.

When looking through these ideas, write down a list of your hobbies, clubs and pets (if you have any). After writing down all of the possibilities, there will probably be one idea that keeps catching your attention. If you keep coming back to a particular idea on your list that will be the topic you will want to write about.

In addition to blogging for personal use, businesses have begun to see the benefits of using a blog as a marketing strategy. As a way to discuss certain topics to customers and prospects, some businesses have started blogs to provide advice, address issues and supply information on the company. For example, at SageRock we have blogs about Social Media, Search Engine Optimization, Paid Search and more so prospects and current customers can learn more about our organization. This allows visitors to our blogs to learn more about key topics they are interested in and gives them a reason for them to trust us. We establish credibility by writing blog posts on these topics and provide reasons for prospects and customers to trust our services. By using a blog for your business, you can establish credibility, address several different topics and provide ways for customers and prospects to utilize your products and services.

While having a blog for personal or business use is a great way to express thoughts and information, no one will know it exists unless you promote it through your company’s web-site or social media. One of the best ways to let people know you have a blog is to tell them about it on your company web-site. Having a simple “Click Here For Our Company Blog” or some other information near the top of the home page is a great way to drive traffic to the blog. People will see it when they first log on and will have a reason to click through to find out more information. This and using social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and others work as well. Facebook will allow you to post links to a blog on your profile or fan page, Twitter will allow links to your blog as a tweet, and LinkedIn does have features that will connect your blog directly to your profile. Using social media will reach people within your network and help spread information on your blog quickly.

Whether it’s for personal or business use, blogging has evolved into one of the most effective ways to communicate and has become an efficient and effective marketing strategy. Finding places to blog without having to know HTML or web-site design can be found at WordPress.com and Blogger. Finding a topic to write about is easier when you look at your hobbies, clubs and pets and businesses can establish credibility with prospects and customers by using a blog as part of their marketing strategy. The only question now is what is stopping you from starting a blog?

Welcome to My Home Page

Hello! My name is Jeff Sabo and I am a 2008 graduate of Otterbein College. During my four years there, I had the opportunity to network and meet some great professionals in the area and would not have had the opportunity to intern and work at so many great places if it weren't for some of these people. I learned quite a bit from these people in terms of networking, job searching, and career development and would like to help others in a similar way.

If you are interested in providing a guest post or wish to contact me, I can be reached at jeffrsabo@gmail.com or jeffrsabo@yahoo.com.