If you’re looking for work, there are a few non-negotiable in job applications. Writing a cover letter is one of them. Wonder if you can get away with only submitting your resume? Let us answer that question once and for all. Your cover letter is absolutely essential in applying for jobs. Skip this important step and you’re jeopardizing your chance of landing an interview or a call back.

A cover letter is an opportunity for potential employers to determine whether your skills and experience are appropriate for the job. Writing a cover letter gives you an opportunity to explain how the qualifications found on your resume apply to the particular job opening. Surprisingly, many job applications skip this important step.

First impressions are often the lasting impression an employer will have of you.  Don’t pass up an opportunity to show a potential employer why you are a strong candidate for the job.

Here are a few things you should consider when writing a cover letter that will make you stand out in the crowd:

Tailor the cover letter to the specific company or position. Your cover letter should not be generic. Rather, a potential employer should see in your cover letter that you are well researched on his or her company. In your cover letter, address specific aspects of the company, and explain why you are a good match. Mention the potential employer’s mission statement or slogan in the introduction of your cover letter. Personalizing it in such a way will set you out from the crowd.

Detail your experience versus the requirements of the job. Creating a simple table to break down the job requirements and your experience is a great way to simplify your cover letter and put the facts in a format a potential employer will easily remember.

Think outside the box. Consider including testimonials to your specific experience in the sidebar of your cover letter. Doing so allows the potential employer to get recommendations and referrals without the need to contact former employers. Testimonials can help an employer know why you would be a perfect fit for the job.

Other important elements of a strong cover letter include a beginning the letter with a thought provoking and a strong headline. Match a headline to the specific job’s requirements and your qualifications to those.

The cover letter is one of the most important elements of your job application. While it can be difficult to write a cover letter, it is not worth cutting corners on your cover letter. If writing is not your strong suit, get the help of a friend or even the feedback from a recruiter to develop a cover letter template. For each new job application, begin with that template, and then tailor the letter to the specific job and company at which
you are applying.

First impressions matter. While your experience and talent may be what ultimately land you a job, your appearance is the first impression a employer will have of you, and could help you get that call back for a second interview. Research has shown that a first impression is recorded in the first ten seconds of meeting someone and that impression affects how we treat the individual we just met. It’s no different on job interviews.

The person conducting your interview will size up your appearance — hair, clothes and accessories — in the first few seconds of meeting you. Professionalism in your appearance is most important, even more so than youth. When it comes to your appearance on a job interview, take time to consider the impression your hair, posture and style give.

Don’t overdo it on your hair. Avoid a quick, cheap, boxed dye job before an interview. If you’d like to touch up your hair color, seek the help of a professional. Think conservative and realistic. You don’t have to cover up all of your gray hairs to land a job. If you’re in your 50s or 60s, the interviewer will likely expect to see at least a touch of gray. On the other hand, extreme colors and styles will be more distracting than beneficial.

Think tall. Your posture speaks volumes about your confidence. Stand tall with shoulders pulled back to express a sense of confidence. Good posture can also add youth to your appearance. When sitting during an interview, avoid slouching or resting your elbows on a table.

Strive to fit in. Before your interview, do your best to determine how employees at that company dress. You don’t want to appear overdressed. Find out the dress code and culture of the company where you will be interviewing. Many companies today allow their employers to dress casually. If you’ll be interviewing at a business where employees dress casual, jeans and a nice blouse or button down shirt with a blazer should do. When in doubt, aim for business casual. It is better to be overdressed than underdressed. Ladies, keep your cleavage covered up, and avoid
skin-tight pants.

Ultimately, a hiring manager wants to look at you and see a realistic, professional-looking individual. Don’t go overboard on Botox or hair dye. Be real. Be you. A clean cut, well kempt you.

Recruiting and hiring managers expect applicants and interviewees to know not only the ins and outs of that particular business, but to have an understanding of the impact current news and trends may have on their company. This includes knowing the competitive landscape, target markets and even having an understanding of consumer and social opinion and concerns.

Knowing this information can even give you an advantage over other applicants in a job interview. The more prepared you are with knowledge of current industry news and events, the better your elevator pitch and value proposition will be. For example, if you have educated yourself on current events surrounding a particular company and industry, you will be more aware of both successes and challenges facing that company. Knowing this information, you can demonstrate your value to the company by asking well-informed questions and offering potential solutions to challenges the company faces.

Keeping up with current events and industry news can be a full-time job in and of itself. Take advantage of online tools such as Google Reader to track specific keywords and stories. Other resources include blogs, professional society forums, industry trade journals and even social network platforms. Twitter can be especially useful in tracking industry news by following industry leaders, potential competitors and tracking hashtag conversations.

Make a habit of reading industry news on a daily basis. The knowledge base you will gain will not only help you to better understand a potential company or industry, but it will help you position yourself as a valuable asset to a potential hiring company. Know the recent successes and failures of any company you are hiring for, and be prepared to show the hiring manager how you can make the company even more successful. Stay up on current industry events and trends and you are sure to have a leg up on your competition for any job.

Conducting a successful phone interview is the perfect way to show potential employers that you are professional, confident, poised and composed. And though the pressure of face-to-face communication is absent and you may be feeling less nervous, there are several DON’Ts that are crucial to avoid.

• Dress to impress. Put on a professional outfit you would wear for a face-to-face interview. You will be more alert, be able to think on your toes, and feel more confident than if you were just wearing pajama pants and a t-shirt. Scoot your chair in and sit up straight.
• Avoid noise. Make sure you are in a quiet place, alone. The ideal setting would be at a desk in your home. No pets, food, TV, music or friends should be present during the interview. Remember to sit up straight and to speak loudly and clearly.

•  Be prepared. Have everything prepared at least 30 minutes before the set time because it is likely they will be calling earlier than expected. Inform the people you live with of your interview so they might leave the house at that time. This will eliminate more chances of distraction.

•  Get organized. Make sure you have printed and laid out all of the materials you have provided the interviewer (resume, cover letter, references, etc.) on the table in front of you. Remove all other papers and clutter.                                                  

• Take deep breathes. Always pause before you answer after a question is asked. This will allow time for you to gather your thoughts and give a more thorough answer. It will also help you to relax. 

• Honesty is best. If a major interruption takes place, tell the interviewer the truth about the situation. Technology is not the most reliable source of communication and things happen. They will understand. Address or deal with the problem at hand quickly and move on. 

• Smile. Smiling will make you sound friendlier and give you an air of confidence and clarity. You will sound more energetic and enthusiastic about the job, both things that will be appreciated. 

Remember to be yourself and let the real you shine through by being prepared and confident. Take into account these simple suggestions and your interview should be a great success.

LinkedIn’s 120 million members make it the largest professional network in the world. It allows for members to maintain and build their professional identities to their contacts, to stay in touch with colleagues and friends, share ideas and explore opportunities. Above all, LinkedIn gives you the tools to market you as you create and build your “brand”.

Whether you are looking to promote yourself or your business, expand your client base, get leads, drive traffic or to find a job, here are some things to help you successfully market yourself using LinkedIn.

Keep your LinkedIn profile professional. Display a professionally appropriate photo. Potential employers, not just friends and family, will be viewing your LinkedIn profile so keep that in mind when building your page. Create a bold headline for yourself and make sure your summary is full of keywords that will improve search engine results.

Don’t be afraid to connect with people outside of your network.  Turn relationships into opportunities and really use your network. Try to connect with anyone and everyone. The more people in your network, the more opportunities will arise that you wouldn’t have heard of otherwise.

 Fill out your profile 100%. The more information you make available to the outside world, the better presence you will have within LinkedIn and when being searched on Google. Make sure to check for misspellings in your summary, resume and any other documents you have attached.

Get personal. Make your LinkedIn invitations personal and customize them to anyone you are reaching out to. Make a section of your page really reflect who you are. Show your voice and personality as much as you can throughout so you will stand out from other more mundane profiles.

 Get recommendations. Get as many recommendations from former employers as possible and post them to your profile. If you are in a position to do so, recommend others without being asked. They will see this as a grand gesture and will be more inclined to return the favor.

Create a call to action. Put your personal phone number and email on your profile in case someone wants to get in touch with you directly. Use the words “Contact Me” at the end of your summary or in the links portion. This will further open opportunities for new business, potential employment or relationship building.

Use advanced applications to your advantage. These applications are designed to help you market yourself. This includes applications like Tweets, Events, SlideShare and Creative Portfolio Display.

Take advantage of all LinkedIn has to offer while keeping these tips in mind. Sign Up for LinkedIn

You may be currently employed but ready to finally start the hunt for your dream job. Or maybe you’ve been sitting with your computer at your local coffee shop since the ball dropped in 2011, refreshing your Gmail without hope. Wherever you are in your life, you will forever be waiting, forever searching, if you don’t know how to find what you’re looking for.

Here are some helpful tips on how to make 2012 your year for employment.

 1. Know what you want to do before you begin. Before you start your search, be sure you know exactly what type of job you are going to search for and where you’re going to search. Always keep in mind your skill set, previous experience and qualifications.

2. Know where to search. It is important to have a prepared list of job sites to utilize. Sign up to get email alerts so that when positions you have searched for in a certain area become available, they let you know and you can apply right away.

 3. Narrow down your search. Narrowing your search can not only save you a lot of time and effort, it can also get you one step closer to finding a job that is perfect for you. Have in mind some keywords like title, location and function then sign up to get email alerts.

4. Don’t wait for jobs to come to you. Make moves fast. Remember, you are not the only one who feels some rising guilt and anxiety every passing second you spend on the couch unemployed. So get up, get out and get moving.

5. Carefully review all job postings, results and offers before you make your next move forward. If you don’t type in or make clear exactly what you are looking for you could get results or offers for something completely different than desired.

 6. Use your resources. If your online quest isn’t proving productive, attack your search from every angle by emailing friends (and even friends of friends) and family who may have some sort of reference or connection in the area you are looking. Use your social networks.

7. Be bold. If you know a specific company you are interested in, call their main line and ask if they are hiring. If they are, get a specific person’s contact information to send your resume and application. Person-to-person contact is key.

8. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. If you have a blog or personal site, show it off but make sure it is relevant to the position or the company in some way.

 9. Know what you are up against. Searching for a job can take much longer than expected. Going into the process knowing there is a possibility for rejection and a lot of competition will only make you a stronger candidate.

 10. Stay Positive. Searching for a job can take copious amounts of time without any encouragement along the way to keep you going. It is so important to not let yourself get discouraged.

Start 2012 off right and use these tips to help you find the job you deserve.

Here are our top five suggested resolutions for job hunters. And may these ideas kick-start your career in 2012!

1. Get organized. The New Year is a great time to establish a new filing system. Typically, job hunters start out organized. Over time, however, they begin to neglect their job search filing systems. Before too long, you cannot remember which jobs you’ve applied for, which recruiters you’ve talked to, and with whom you should follow up. Invest some time organizing the information you already have. Then, set up a new system that will really work and can be easily maintained. That might be a notebook, an Excel spreadsheet – whatever works best for you.
2. Fall in love with your phone. Let’s face it. The Internet has made applying for jobs way too easy. Unfortunately, it has also made connecting with potential employers way too hard. In 2012, resolve to pick up the phone and make some calls. Yes, it’s harder to take that in-person rejection. But making the effort to reach out and touch someone can give you the edge over your competition.
3. Re-evaluate your skill gaps. Take an objective look at your resume. Even better, sit down for lunch with a trusted professional friend or advisor. Evaluate the kinds of jobs for which you are applying, and match those up against the experience and skills you offer. Is there a gap? If so, work to fill it with a class, a certification, or even some experience garnered via volunteer efforts with a non-profit or professional organization.
4. Join a new organization. Have the networking, professional and personal organizations you belong to paid off in your job search? If not, seek out a new group that could give you a serious networking boost. Look for an organization that offers not just the camaraderie of peers, but also opportunities to find professional mentors and advisors.
5. Get to know a quality recruiter. A relationship with a high-octane recruiter may just be your ticket to a better career. Ask your professional network for suggestions and referrals. Seek out a recruiter who is affiliated with an association or organization in your industry. Look for someone with a great network and a desire to succeed. Then, make a personal connection.

Buyers in the restaurant/hospitality and finance/insurance industries are among those planning the biggest increases in their use of continent workers, according to the study.

Those in the restaurant/hospitality/retail industries plan to increase their use of contingents by 42 percent over the next two years. Those in the finance/insurance industries plan to increase use by 40 percent.

“Historically, the retail and hospitality industries have been under-penetrated by contingent labor,” said Robert Balicki, research associate at Staffing Industry Analysts. “However, our survey results indicate that these buyers may be finally coming around and embracing temporary workers. Of course, the degree to which these projections will be realized will likely also depend on the economy.”

The findings are part 2011 Contingent Buyer Survey produced by Staffing Industry Analysts. The survey includes responses from 236 contingent buyers from 187 large companies that have more than 1,000 employees.

So what does this mean for job seekers? Here are a few pieces of advice:

• Get to know the experts in your area. Find recruiters who staff up contingency assignments in your industry or area of expertise. Spend some time making connections and offer your services.
• Open your mind about contingent assignments. Many workers have come to love contingent jobs. They can move from project to projects, while still enjoying the benefits of full-time employment if they can establish a strong relationship with their recruiting company.
• View contingent work as a tryout. Some companies tap the best and brightest contingent workers for full-time assignments. Take on any temporary job with the opportunities in mind. Remember that you might just create a full-time job for yourself. And if not, you are establishing new connections, building your network, and creating a stronger resume.
• Don’t give up on the job market. Taking a contingent assignment today doesn’t do anything to hard your chances of obtaining a full-time job tomorrow – whether with this employer or an entirely new organization.
• Make the most of a contingent job. Network with fellow workers and managers. Learn some new skills. Seize the chance to get more training whenever the opportunity arises. Find ways to contribute and impress your supervisors. Your enthusiasm, hard work and great ideas will pay off in references, referrals and opportunities down the road.

You’ve probably already heard of crowdsourcing. A great example of this is Wikipedia, where individuals all over the globe each write individual entries for an online encyclopedia. Together, their work makes up an extraordinarily large reference source.

In a similar vein, some companies are turning to a distributed, virtual pool of labor. These workers can be available on-demand and typically perform very small bits of work. Together, however, they perform large tasks.

Consider Amazon Mechanical Turk, a marketplace for scalable, on-demand staffing. This service deploys multiple workers at once to complete tasks over the Internet.

Platforms such as Amazon Mechanical Turk are changing the labor market similar to the ways outsourcing disrupted traditional business and employment models, giving companies access to dramatically lower-cost labor but also making them a one-stop shop for high-quality project task returns in near real-time. Unlike outsourcing, crowdsourcing brings together people of all walks of life, spurring innovation and is redirecting employment opportunities to the United States.

In the case of Amazon Mechanical Turk, most of the crowd is already employed. This is a second job for them:

• This crowd, according to a survey by CrowdControl, is dominated by females, accounting for just over 56 percent of workers.
• Nearly half of all workers polled are between the ages of 26 and 35.
• The crowd is also overwhelmingly employed, with slightly fewer than 75 percent of respondents having a job outside of their Amazon Mechanical Turk work.
• Over 21 percent actually perform tasks while they are on the job – though the majority of workers, nearly 77 percent, do tasks at home, some in between video games, during off peak hours.
• Of these workers with day jobs, over 36 percent earn a salary of over $50,000 annually and nearly 61 percent of workers polled have college degrees.
• Nearly 25 percent of Amazon Mechanical Turk workers said that these crowdsourced projects accounted for more than 10 percent of their annual income.
• Eighty percent of polled workers learned about Amazon Mechanical Turk online

So what does this mean for businesses?

• While crowdsourcing can be useful for certain small and repetitive tasks, it is not a substitute for a high-quality workforce.
• If you use crowdsourcing, significant quality controls must be built into the process.
• Yes, your business is saving money. But plan to spend a few more dollars designing an effective project up-front that will ensure solid results.
• Even a crowdsourced project require an excellent in-house team, with IT experts and other managers able to guide the entire process from start to finish.

Earlier this year, the inaugural MBO Partners Independent Workforce Index showed that there are 16 million career independent workers in the country today.

By the year 2020, MBO Partners predicts that 70 million people, more than 50 percent of the private workforce, will be independent. This shift toward a new workforce will accelerate in 2012 as both individuals and organizations embrace new models of work, the company asserts. Flexibility and autonomy are two key drivers of this trend, with 74 percent of independents indicating that flexibility is more important than making the most money and 60 percent indicating they always wanted to be their own boss.

In addition, the report said that the future independent workforce will largely be made up of experts and seasoned skilled workers, including a greater number of mature workers (those aged 55 and older) starting independent careers based on acquired expertise. Of today’s 16 million career independent workers, seven in 10 are experts whose occupation requires specialized training, skills or education, and 40 percent are mature professionals. According to the MBO Partners Independent Workforce Index, mature workers (aged 65+) are the most fulfilled by being independent, with 86 percent responding they are highly satisfied with their work.

Just as professionals are embracing new expert careers, independent experts are also becoming the talent-of-choice for some of the world’s most successful enterprises, as a recent Aberdeen study of organizations hiring contract talent reveals. The study found that the top reason companies choose independent talent is not cost – as is often assumed — but rather access to specialists with unique skills and talents that produce breakthrough results.

There could, however, be a backlash, the report warns. In the last two months alone, there has been a surge in government regulations and class action lawsuits around the issue of worker misclassification, where companies are accused of treating employees as independent contractors for the purpose of avoiding payroll taxes, benefits, and other employer obligations. MBO Partners does not see this trend stopping — it will likely remain at pace and should further increase in 2012.

In 2011, seven misclassification laws were passed in six states. Looking forward to 2012, there are already 14 additional bills under review that could clear in early 2012. As a result, in 2012, MBO Partners believes that the private sector will take the lead on addressing how current work programs, regulations and responsibilities should fit into the new model of work and continue to enable the funding of important government obligations such as tax collection. The new solution set that will succeed will need to add to, not dilute, what is already in place; it must include financial transaction systems combined with an infrastructure platform that addresses the full spectrum of considerations from legal to tax to benefits.