jobs

Your cover letters will be dramatically more effective. And you'll start getting more interviews as a result.

3. Follow up differently

Most folks fail to follow up effectively after sending out their resumes and cover letters -- when they follow up at all.

Instead of calling employers every week and asking, "Did you get my resume?" or "Did you make a hiring decision yet?" try to add value each time you follow up.

Examples: research the competition and write up a quick report, then send it to the hiring manager. Or share a success story from your past that's relevant to the employer's situation.

In short, try to give employers another reason to hire you every time you contact them. Nobody else is doing this, which is a screaming opportunity for you to get noticed -- and get hired.

Now. These three tips are predicated on a simple idea: why be ordinary?

You can break out of the herd -- and find a job faster -- if you do just a few things differently in your job search. Why not start today?

Now go out and make your own luck!

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Kevin Donlin owns Minnesota based Guaranteed Résumé and writes a biweekly column providing job search and résumé writing advice. Reach him at the Guaranteed Résumé Web site: http://www.gresumes.com.

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