Cover Letter Websites

http://jobstar.org/tools/resume/cletters.php

This website explains that a good cover letter should be free of grammatical errors, directed to the person who is interested in hiring you, and writtten in natural language.  Meaning, it should sound authentic and not generic.  Always do your research about the company you want to work for so that you're in the loop and can surprise the employer with information. 

http://www.phdjobs.com/how-to-write-a-brilliant-cover-letter/

Remember that the interviewer or recruiter will have a pile of CVs to get through, so make your comments are relevant to the vacancy, and ensure that they go straight to the point. Where possible, highlight key information to make it stand out, or use bullet points to draw attention to the most important messages. Always use ‘selling’ words, and remember that you have just 10 – 20 seconds to grab the attention of the reader.

http://www.askamanager.org/2007/06/what-does-good-cover-letter-look-like_13.html

Really good cover letters show personal interest in working for a particular organization, and it’s specific about why, which makes it both more believable and more compelling. It’s human nature — people respond when they feel a personal interest from you. Works in dating, works in job-hunting.

Chapter 2 Quotes

"Not all those who wander are lost" - J.R.R. Tolkien


It's excellent to have a wandering mind because when you have a lot of ideas and interests going on, you have a broader understanding of what you want from your career.  It's good to have an open mind when deciding which career to choose because you're mind is more free and not closed to choosing one linear career path.  Wandering is having an active mind, not restricted in any way, imagining the unimaginable and believing that anything is possible, mo matter the circumstances.  People with a wandering mind believe in themselves and don't settle for the first idea that pops into their heads.


"Creativity is connecting the unconnected" - John Maxwell


Connecting the unconnected is turning skills that you previously performed at a job and morphing them to fit your current job position.  A good example of that would be working as a clown in a circus. You know how to entertain and make people laugh, and you now want to work in the restaurant businness as a waiter.  You can use the skills learned in the previous job to make the clients at the restaurant laugh and have an awesome time while eating quality meals.  And this concept fits into almost every aspect of life; it's about being creative and looking past the closed doors that lead to your success.  Building long lasting healthy relationships with friends will help you seek better job opportunites, and would make great references to potential employers.   

ESFJ - Guardian / Provider

Providers tend to think more with their emotions than their rationale, and that's exactly how I am.  I do have that motherly instinct, as many of my friends say that I am the "mommy" of the group because I worry about their safety more than usual.  People also say that I tend to act in a mature way, despite being only twenty years old.  It's due to the fact that I was raised by many adults growing up, so that was all I was exposed to, I barely had many friends and I was a fairly reserved and well behaved child.  According to Doctor David Keirsey, providers take it upon themselves to insure the health and welfare of those in their care, but they are also the most sociable of all the guardians, and thus are the great nurturers of social institutions such as school, churches, social clubs and civic groups.  I do tend to be a very caring person, because I feel at utmost potential if I know I did everything in my power to make the other person feel special and spectacular, whether it be my close friend, my relative or my boyfriend.  I also respect other individuals in order to receive that same respect in return; nothing bothers me more than a disrespectful person. 
Having a close group of friends is important to me because I believe everyone needs that social circle that keeps them sane, for example if I'm having problems I can talk to my friends for advice, or If I want to go out and have fun, I can count on them.  Family is very important to me because it sucks to be alone in this world and not have people who love and care for you geniunely; love that family feels for a person cannot be compared with any other type of love.
Dr. Keirsey states "highly cooperative themselves, providers are skilled at maintaining teamwork among their helpers, and are also tireless in their attention to the details of furnishing goods and services.  "They make excellent chairpersons in charge of dances, banquets, class reunions, charity fund raisers, and the like."  "They are without fear as masters of ceremonies, able to speak publicly with ease and confidence and they are outstanding hosts or hostesses, knowing everyone by name and seemingly aware of what everyone's been doing." 

Chapter 1 Quotes

"La vida es corta pero es ancha"

"Life is short but it is broad"

This quote signifies how life is always shifting and presenting itself with new opportunities and to make the best out of every situation, whether good or bad.  I always go back and forth with my long term goals, one day I want to be a successful attorney and the next I want to be a politician in my community.  I guess because I am young it is normal to have a flight of ideas; I'm sure many individuals go through a similar experience.  The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing, as the famous doctor Stephen Covey once said.  Wherever I end up ten years from now, I will not regret the career choices I have made, because after all I will be making much more money than I am making now.

"Let's get going, a butterfly awaits"

The hardest part of starting your college education is finding enough will and determination and taking the first step to a long and strenuous journey that pays well off at the end.  Going into college with the right mindset of succeeding and becoming who you want to become will get you results, guaranteed  College is not easy, even a community college such as LaGuardia challenges your intellectual capabilities, but remember that it is preparing you for the real world, going into the job field and becoming an outstanding entrepreneur, nurse or engineer that you ultimately want to become.  Sometimes I feel a little discouraged because I would have rather received my degree from Harvard or Columbia but these negative thoughts only hinder my path.  LaGuardia is only the beginning of a beautiful and difficult journey but at the end, it is one hundred percent worth every effort.

"You need chaos in your soul to give birth to a dancing star" - Friedrich Nietzsche 

Chaos and disorder are definite pluses if you really want to find your inner calling.  Some people realize their inner potential after ten years of being in a specific field and realizing they hate it, when ten years ago they could have deeply explored which profession they loved and not spend ten years performing a job they hate.  When deciding what to major in, it is never a good thing to listen to parents or friends because they don't know what you really like, heck you don't even know what you like!  Never go with first choice either, as some college students commit the fallacy of stating "Well I like the series Law and Order, it seems very interesting to be a lawyer, therefore I want to pursue a career in law."  We're talking about real life, and TV rarely depicts real life situations.  It is important to do your research before picking a major and really spend a lot of time thinking about what sparks your interest.  If halfway through the college career one realizes the major chosen is not consistent with his or her future ambitions, then immediately stop and shift gears.

Reflection on the Value Survey

I know it's a cliche when people say that a good job should offer you good money, but oftentimes having a job that provides good benefits and enough money for a person to live comfortably is all that one needs.  My future job should pay me well enough so I could live comfortably on my own, pay the rent, bills, food and have some left over to enjoy recreational activities. I don't necessarily have to be liked or like all of my associates because at the end of the day, I'm there to work and get the job done.  Having a good relationship with management is more important to me because he/she will be more comprehensible to my specific needs if we understand each other and not fight or argue over minute details.  As I mentioned  previously, my dream job would be a successful attorney at a huge law firm because the attorney is in control of her settings.  She instructs the paralegal, showing leadership skills and gets paid big bucks while doing it.  She defends people in court, so she is helping the community.  However, I would prefer a job in which I have authority over others and preferably run my own business because I consider myself a fair and responsible person that would achieve great results if given the chance.  Taking orders from others is not an easy task, and individuals in management positions get paid so much more.