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Is the Cover Letter Dead?

9/24/2018

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​When was the last time you submitted a cover letter with a resume? If you can’t remember, you aren’t alone. Cover letters are quickly becoming a thing of the past with the advent of speed, technology and the sheer volume of resumes submitted for any particular job post, but it wasn’t always this way. Years ago, the cover letter was a tool that recruiters or hiring managers used to get the bigger picture about you and what you had to offer an organization.  

Today, however, the average recruiter spends 5-7 seconds reviewing any single resume. In that amount of time, the last thing they are going to do is read a cover letter. In addition, most companies today use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that allow talent to upload their resume which in turn, strips the information, only leaving the most important data for quicker perusing.

Regardless of all of this, the end of the cover letter also signals the end of personalizing your pitch and highlighting information that doesn’t shine on a bulleted job history. To stand out now, applicants need to get creative and change the traditional resume format to serve their needs. Here is what we suggest:
  1. Add a summary At the top of your resume, provide two to three sentences that highlight what makes you different compared to other applicants. This is a great place to share your career-focus or maybe the high-level of competency you offer. Note: this is different than the old-school “objective” that once adorned resumes. The summary should focus on your skills and not your career intentions.
  2. Highlight your accomplishments Under each employment heading, include bulleted points listing critical elements that hiring managers are seeking. For example, answer the questions: “What were your major accomplishments?” “What results were achieved? By offering concrete examples, your resume will stand out compared to your competition.
  3. Include your Social Media Handles (Where Applicable) On your resume, always be sure to include your customized URL for LinkedIn in particular. If you are active on Twitter and FB (in a professional way) include these too. Think of your LinkedIn profile as the modern cover letter. Here you can provide detailed information about the value you bring to a company. Your social profiles are a direct reflection of you and whether you are a culture fit for the company you are potentially interviewing with. As a result, use discretion and judgement in whatever you choose to share.

There is one caveat to the death of the cover letter. Sometimes it is used as a test to see how interested and committed you are to the position. So if a company asks for a cover letter, be sure to include one. It may not even be reviewed but those resumes received without a cover letter may be a weeding factor and could automatically be dismissed.
Beyond everything else, focus on the elements of the application process – a strong resume, a professional online presence, and skillful networking – elements that will separate you from the crowd each and every time.
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Earn Cash in your Pocket - Refer a Friend

9/17/2018

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Learn More about our referral program
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Top 10 reasons why OpTech truly is one of the Best and Brightest companies to work for in Metro Detroit

9/14/2018

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Next week, OpTech will be recognized for the 9th year in a row as one of Metro Detroit's Best and Brightest Companies to Work For®. The competition identifies and honors organizations that display a commitment to excellence in their human resource practices and employee enrichment. To earn this title, companies are assessed on everything from communication, work-life balance, employee education, to diversity, recognition, retention and more. 

OpTech is proud of this achievement because it is a direct response of how our employees feel about the firm. Here are the top 10 reasons why OpTech truly is one of the Best and Brightest companies to work for in Metro Detroit:
  1. Employee input - OpTech encourages employees to share their knowledge and suggestions with their peers and senior leadership.
  2. Employee empowerment - OpTech allows staff to make decisions using their own discretion and common sense, from helping customers solve their problems to identifying areas of improvement that benefit the company as a whole.
  3. Recognizing that laughter and fun on the job can make a difference in the way the job is done.
  4. A culture of continuous improvement.
  5. Excellent communication between management and staff.
  6. Giving employees the freedom to learn and grow.
  7. A sense of family among team members.        
  8. OpTech pays attention to employee recognition and appreciation and recognizes and honors good work.
  9. Work-life balance. Need we say more.
  10. A feeling that the work that is accomplished truly makes a difference in the lives of others. 

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Talent Shortages at Crisis Level

9/5/2018

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The United States is facing a shortage of workers in science, technology, engineering and math. In a recent survey conducted by Emerson, a St. Louis-based firm that manufactures products and provides engineering services, they found that this shortage is reaching crisis levels. Emerson surveyed of 2,000 Americans and found that less than 50% of parents say their daughters are encouraged to pursue a STEM Career; 62% say manufacturers should do more to train and prepare their STEM workforce; and only 33% believe teachers currently have the resources they need to provide a quality STEM education.

These findings also point to research by the National Association of Manufacturing and Deloitte that found the US will need to fill 3.5 million STEM jobs by 2025, but as many as 2 million will go unfilled because of difficulty finding people with the skills in demand. In addition, TechServe Alliance reported that lack of available skills is constraining the growth of IT jobs.

OpTech has partnered with Michigan's Department of Talent and Economic Development as champions of the Marshall Plan for Talent. It is a revolutionary partnership between educators, employers and other stakeholders to transform Michigan’s talent pipeline and redesign the ways we invest, develop and attract talent in our state. Employers look for a talented workforce when they consider places to grow and locate, creating more and better jobs. Our State is facing a talent shortage across multiple industries and this shortage is the single greatest threat to the state’s continued economic recovery.

Learn more today about OpTech's program that will help fill these talent gaps and shortages. 
Optech's Answer to the Talent Crisis in Michigan
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