More about how to prepare yourself for a job interview

There are two basic methods of applying for a job -- sending your resume in the mail and emailing it. Get the following key points right and you increase your chances of being called for an interview.

Sending a Resume

Some job advertisements specifically ask you to mail / courier in your resume. Remember to always include a cover letter. This should mention the post you're applying for and a very short summary of your experience / accomplishments that qualify you for the job. The cover letter has just one objective -- to get your resume read.

Never begin your cover letter with "To whom it may concern", or even "Dear Sir or Madame". That's a sure sign that you've not done your homework and that you are not looking for a specific job. You waste the employer's time -- and no one wants to spend time finding the correct slot for a person who's sent in an untargeted resume.

Emailing the resume

Lots of companies prefer that you email your resume to them. Some offer email as an alternative to regular mail.

Send in the resume as a Word file or a PDF file. Many prefer the latter because Word documents are highly prone to virus infections. In fact, some companies will not accept any attachments for this reason and want you to paste your resume into the message body.

In the subject line, mention your name and the post you're applying for. Eg: Clara Williams (Territory Manager position). Then the reader knows at one glance what the mail is all about. Other companies specify a format for the subject line, so just follow that.

Discover the tricks to answering all interview questions.



Like to think a little out-of-the-box? Here's an idea -- consider doing work on a freelance basis, either part-time or full-time. There are actually large numbers of people who work from the comfort of their homes. And very profitably too. But you do face one big problem -- connecting with companies who have work to offer.

Here's an excellent site that's organized to help you find freelance work. We've always found them to be a useful source for work-at-home jobs. They offer a trial membership for as little as $2.95; and you get access to hundreds of jobs. Check them out now -- you may be surprised at what you can turn up.