15 Free Cover Templates That Will Impress the Socks off Employers

15 Free Cover Templates That Will Impress the Socks off Employers Youve labored over the words, measured out the margins, nailed down the font. Your cover letter is ready to send.Except that it looks like youre off for the New Years ball dressed in sweats and a tee. Your cover letter definitely needs some fancier threads.I know youre rolling your eyes now. The internet is full of horrid examples, its hard to find something nice, and even harder to tailor it to your needs.Well, weve done the searching for you and found the best cover letter templates there are so you can have your cover letter decked out and ready to go in no time.Best of all, theyre free!This article will show you:Free cover letter templates better than 9 out of 10 others.Examples of downloadable free cover letter templates categorized by source so you can choose which you like best.Our selection of professional free cover letter templates that will grab the recruiters attention.Easy to follow instructions on how to use the selected free cover letter templates.Or take the hassle ou t of everything and give our cover letter builder a try. With more than 20 cover letter templates, youll definitely find something that suits you and the position youre applying for.Sample Cover Letter for a ResumeSee more cover letter templates and create your cover letter here.One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.Create your resume now1Free Microsoft Word Cover Letter Templates1. Graphicpups Free Resume TemplateThis simple yet modern cover letter template is a versatile go-to for almost any position.Your name and job title is on prominent display in the cover letter header and your contact information is neatly arranged between two sleek lines and cleverly categorized with nifty icons.Download it here.ProsThe large amount of white space on the page is particularly ideal for those who need more room to demonstrate their career experience.ConsJob seekers with less career expe rience may find it difficult to fill up the entire page. The cover letter may end up looking a little empty.2. Graphicpups Resume FreebieThis cover letter template takes a more personalized approach by using your photo in the upper left hand corner of the cover letter.Your personal information is nicely arranged at the top for convenience, leaving a lot of white space to demonstrate your value and skills.Download it here.ProsGreat option for those with lots of career experience and industries where a headshot is necessary (e.g. modelling, acting, etc.).Theres a lot of room for career skills and examples of achievements.ConsIts not customary to include your photo on cover letters or resumes for most jobs so the photo slot would need to be filled with something else.Job seekers with less experience may find it difficult to fill up the page.Its easy to clutter up the page with walls of text and make it difficult for the hiring manager to read.3. Bold MonogramBold Monogram offered by Mi crosoft Word has the perfect title to describe it. Bold in both color and concept, the bright red block on the left of the page both draws attention to your contact information as well as sets apart the rest of the page to focus the readers attention on your career experience and skills.The eye-catching monogram at the top gives a personal touch and a reason for the hiring manager to remember this cover letter from among the sea of others.Download it here.ProsIdeal for industries such as sales, marketing, or other creative sectors.Great for candidates with less experience as the red bar takes up a large portion of the page.ConsNot an ideal template for industries such as law or business management.How to Use Free Microsoft Word TemplatesThe free cover letter examples above belong to the standard package of freebies offered through the Microsoft Office Suite.Heres how to access them:Open MS Word.The main page will open with format options for your new document. Go to the more templat es option on the right hand side.Youll get several categories to choose from. Choose Resumes and Cover Letters.Choose the template you like and click open.Fill in your experience and skills and youre done!MS Word templates usually arent the most beautiful when it comes to cover letters, but they are usually quite easy to format, edit, and save. That said, if you start playing around with the formatting too much, you might find yourself with the famous problem of having one letter totally skew your entire cover letter.Free Cover Letter Templates by Canva1. Turquiose Typography LetterheadCanva really comes through with this colorful, yet light cover letter template. A wide, turquoise bar on the left side includes your name and personal information. Large initials in the middle of the bar help draw attention and make it memorable.The rest of the page is space left for the body of your cover letter.You can download it here.ProsProfessional template for candidates looking for jobs in cre ative sectors (e.g. marketing, sales, designers, etc.).ConsMight not be the best template for conservative sectors like business and law.Graphics take up some space and leave less room for your experience.2. Orange Shapes Creative LetterheadAnother bold idea from Canva, this cover letter template uses color and graphics across the whole page to really make your cover letter stand out from the rest the hiring manager sees.Your contact information is neatly arranged at the bottom in a dark bar while your name and current title are emphasized at the top of the cover letter. The light, circular graphics help give a bit of personality to the cover letter without being overwhelming and overshadowing your career experience and skills.Download this here.ProsA great choice for creative industries, especially marketing, advertising, or design.ConsThe template format leaves a little less space than usual so this wouldnt be a great template for job seekers with years of experience.Not a good op tion for business, law, or government sectors.How to Use Free Canva Cover Letter TemplatesCanva is what you would call a freemium site, which means there are things that you can use without having to switch to a paid plan.Access the templates on Canva here. Note, downloading or saving may sometimes require setting up a free account.Some job seekers may find that formatting and adding information to Canva templates is more complicated and less familiar than through Google Docs or MS Word. Thats because Canva is geared more towards artists while MS Word and Google Docs are more focused on the text.If you have little time or are digitally/artistically challenged, Canva probably isnt for you.Google Docs Cover Letter Templates1. SpearmintFor fans of designer simplicity, this Google Doc cover letter template is a good choice.Mostly offering white space for your cover letter, there are subtle geometric designs in the right corners of the page, adding an artistic touch to the page, but not drawing attention away from whats important.A sparing use of coloring brings attention to your name and date.ProsGood for job seekers just starting their career.ConsNot the best choice when it comes to conservative industries.Might need reformatting as the colored letters might not be suitable for most positions.2. Business LetterThis free cover letter template puts a little bit of pizzazz into professional. Dark letters stand out against a plain, white background, giving your cover letter a real air of professionalism. Your name and contact details are displayed on the left side of the page.A bit of color draws attention to the important things like your name and contact information, but doesnt distract from the rest of the letter.ProsA good choice for entry-level positions orinternship cover letters.This template is versatile enough to suit most positions.ConsText color should be changed to black, if youre using this template to apply for managerial positions or within conservativ e industries.3. SwissThis free cover letter template goes back to basics and opts for a simple, no nonsense layout. Your name is prominently displayed at the top of the page and separated from the rest of the page with a thick line.Your contact information goes right underneath and then the rest of the page is devoted to your career experience and job skills.ProsThis conservative template would work for sectors such as business, law, medicine, or city/state/federal jobs.ConsThis will probably be too plain for design/creative industries.The font might be considered outdated and you might want to change it before sending.How to Use Free Google Docs Cover Letter TemplatesThese free cover letter templates can be accessed through your Google account (which is also free).All you need to do is:Log on to your Google account.Enter Google DocsYoull see a screen that asks to start a new document. Click on Template Gallery to the right hand side.Youll get a new screen with a list of all of Goog les templates. Scroll down to Letters.Click on the template of your choice and Google will open it up as a lorem ipsum document.Fill it in with your experience and skills and youre done!Google Docs are nifty since they can go wherever you have an internet connection. The downside may be that Google Docs sometimes have random formatting issues when saving to other formats such as Word or PDF.Never send a Google Docs cover letter straight from your account.Why not take all the hassle out of handling the format of your cover letter template? Get an added bonus of a template that looks 10 times more professional than any of the examples youd find for free.You can write it in our cover letter builder.When making a resume in our builder, drag drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building your resume here.Create my resume nowWhen youre done, Zetys resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.Free Cover Le tter Builders1. Cover Letter Template (Max Romeo)This template focuses on minimalism and the use of white space. Sleek lines are used to separate your paragraphs, giving a new twist to an old look.Your contact information is neatly stowed away at the bottom and highlighted by modern icons.Get yours here.ProsA great choice for almost any job with its versatile, clean cover letter layout.ConsWould be great if there was an option to change the background margins to suit the position youre applying for.2. Free Cover Letter Template (Hannah Panizares)Another modern and free cover letter template offered by Venngage. This template goes against the more traditional division of white and black with the use of yellow and black, but still retains a very professional feel.As a bit of a twist, the cover letter has room for a personalized signature at the bottom of the page which the recruiter will definitely notice.Neat icons on the left hand side of the paper draw attention to the personal inf ormation listed there.Download it here.ProsRather versatile template that can be used for different industries and/or positions. Perfect for more creative roles or entry-level cover letters.ConsConservative companies may find this template too colorful. Would look bad if printed in black and white mode.3. Free Cover Letter Template (Sandra Barnes)Venngage brings some really bright and cheerful cover letter templates to the table, and this one is a good example. A bold use of both shapes, color, and font formatting really help capture the hiring managers attention.All the sections of your cover letter are neatly compartmentalized and separated from each other. Despite there being a lot of elements on the cover letter, this template manages to bring it together to form a pleasant reading experience.You can download it here.ProsGreat choice for creative roles, especially design and marketing.Good choice for job seekers with less experience.ConsUnsuitable for public or corporate positio ns.4. Free Cover Letter Template (Sophie Dawson)This cover letter template is definitely in a league of its own. Its a nice cross between the infographic style that the internet has grown to love and the classic letter format of a cover letter body.Fun, engaging icons at the top of the page really draw attention to your skills and passion before the hiring manager even starts reading.Find it here.ProsThe colorful and fun character of this template make it great for entry level candidates or those looking for a job in creative industries.The creative half of the page brings a lot of attention to the personality and character of the candidate over their skills.ConsToo much design to be well received by more conservative sectors such as law or business.Its not customary to send photos in a resume or cover letter so that space in the header most likely will need to be filled with something else.5. Free Cover Letter Template (Linda Jackson)This template really takes a creative approach t o the cover letter.White space has been replaced with a subtle background of small, light triangles. Your personal information along with the summary/objective from your resume can be found neatly arranged at the top of the page.A balanced use of different colors helps guide the reader down the cover letter. A handwritten signature at the bottom adds a nice, last artistic touch.Download it here.ProsGood template for entry level candidates trying to showcase their skills in artistic fields.ConsThis template could be considered difficult to read, especially if printed out.Not a good template for conservative sectors or any positions in management or corporate businesses.6. SeattleThis template takes a more simplistic stance towards the cover letter. It uses color only as a border around the page. Attention to key elements is drawn through the use of different font sizes. A large area of white space gives you enough room to really showcase your experience and skills.You can find it her e.ProsA relatively versatile template for a variety of roles and positions.ConsThis template may be considered a little too lackluster for designer/creative roles.7. DallasAnother cover letter template from CoolFreeCV that introduces a little more color than its predecessor. A sleek, blue bar decorates the left side of the page, giving it a colorful yet professional look. The rest of the format remains pretty much the samecontact info at the top, plenty of white space over the page.Check it out here.ProsThe simple layout and subtle use of color make it a good choice for almost any field or position.ConsThis template may be a little dull for creative industries.Candidates with little experience may also find it difficult to fill up the page.How to Use Free Cover Letter BuildersEach one has their own rules and policies. For the most part, you can download their free sample cover letters for your resume directly off their site. In some cases, you may have to register or set up a free a ccount.Looking for a deep dive into different resume styles? Check out our guide here: Resume Styles Best Suited for Your Needs [20+ Tips]Key TakeawayThe internet is full of free cover letter templates, but for the most part its you get what you pay for.''Dont settle for lessif you look long and hard enough, you can find some great cover letter templates.Feeling more artistic? Try Canva. Prefer to focus on your text? Go for Google Docs or MS Word.Be mindful of what job youre applying for and your own experience level. Choose a cover letter template that suits both the best.Google Docs and MS Word may cause formatting issues while Canva may result in a frustrating user experience. Other sites may ask you to register and send spam to your email. Set realistic expectations.Remember that a great cover letter template may be the spice, but that means little if the main course is a bowl of water.Get some helpful tips with this reading list:Get started with this nifty intro to help you und erstand what you even need a cover letter for: What is a Cover Letter?Check out this outline to help make sure that your cover letter makes sense and nothing ends up missing: Cover Letter Outline as Suggested by Career ExpertsTop it off with some professional examples and advice on writing a great cover letter: How to Write A Cover LetterAre there any great free cover letter templates that weve missed? Let us know!

Using Search Resume Grant Writing Monster to Get Free Government Money

Using Search Resume Grant Writing Monster to Get Free Government MoneyWhile applying for a Federal government grant can be extremely difficult, you can definitely apply for a search resume grant. This is a great way to submit your applications and get free grant money.When you want to get free grant money, you do not want to waste your time filling out forms or letters. Your best option is to use the right search resume grant writer.The first step in finding a search resume grant is to find one that can help you with your requirements. A very good way to locate this information is to use an online search tool. Most of these tools will allow you to search multiple search resume grant companies at once and narrow your search down to the ones that meet your needs.The next step is to contact several different search resume grant firms to make sure they meet your needs. You will want to have a detailed search resume grant proposal to present to each of them.Once you have narrowed down you r search and made contact with a few search resume grant companies, you will want to discuss your search resume grant proposal. Your proposal will include everything from your qualifications to your ideas.The last thing you want to do is work with one company for all of your search resume grants. This will ensure that your grant writing is only one meeting away from being complete. You want to be able to present your ideas in front of your potential grant writers so they can tell if your ideas are feasible.As long as you take the time to find the right search resume grant writer and present your ideas to the right company, then you will find that getting free grant money is very simple. Many companies have policies that require you to use them and not any other company.Once you contact a search resume grant writer, you will know exactly how much free grant money you can get in return for your proposal. With this information you will be able to develop a solid plan to get your own mo ney and use it for your own needs.

How to Change Your Career - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

How to Change Your Career - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career You feel that you are stuck in a job that doesn’t satisfy you. You want to change your career but don’t know where to start or how to do it. You also need your paycheck so you don’t want to quit your job before finding your dream career. In this case, the below 5 step plan can help you change your life  completely. Assess Your Current Situation: Why do you want to change your job or career? What makes you unhappy in your current job or company? What type of a career do you imagine? When you close your eyes and dream, what do you see yourself doing? You should ask yourself these questions first and then face with your answers. Maybe you like your job but you don’t like your coworkers or don’t fit in the company culture you are currently working for. Therefore, it is important to make an assessment first before acting. Research What You Want to Do: If you are not sure what you want to do or which career is best for you, figure out what your interests are. Then, identify your strengths, passions, skills and abilities. According to these findings, look at career websites and job descriptions. This will give you an idea about what types of jobs are available according to your discoveries. Take your time when you are analyzing these. Nobody wants to move from one unsatisfying job to another. Thus, think twice. Network: When you come up with your ideal job or position, go to industry events and find professionals working in that field. Talk to them and find out their day to day responsibilities. In this way, you can understand better whether this career is the right one for you. Networking will also help you land a new interview or even find a new job. Training: It is important to find out if there are any training opportunities related to the new career you want to pursue. Joining training or certification programs can increase your chance of getting a job in the new field you want. Moreover, it can help you get ahead of the competition and shorten your learning curve when you start a new position. Job Hunting: If you haven’t looked for a job for a while, it is a good time to start polishing your job hunting skills. You can start with updating your resume and then, study for the most frequently asked interview questions. Good luck with your job hunting!

How to Network if Youre an Introvert - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

How to Network if You’re an Introvert - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Do you know where companies hire from the most? Take a guess. No, seriously, go ahead and ponder it. What comes to mind? Job boards? Social media? Career sites? All of those answers would be in the ballpark for sure, but none would be in the number one spot. Let me share with you a few stats and see if you can figure it out. Each year, CareerXRoads produces a survey where they measure the most popular sources of hires. In 2010, referrals were number one. In 2011, referrals were number one. In 2012, referrals were number one. In 2013, referrals were number one. At this point, I am reasonably sure that in 2014, referrals will be the most popular origin of new hires. If for no other reason, this proves the importance of networking with people. However, what if you are shy? What if you are not the type to reach out to a total stranger and say, “Hey, can we get to know each other so you can refer me into a job?” If you are more the introvertive type, might I suggest an alternative method of networking? First, track down podcasts focused on your industry. (iTunes is a great place to start!) In the screenshot below, I am doing a search on iTunes for podcasts focused on “cloud computing.” (See the arrow?) I have insured that I am (a) looking only at podcasts by restricting my results accordingly. In the top half of the results are (b) podcast episodes and (c) the bottom half is a list of shows focused on cloud computing. In the screenshot below, I am looking at the podcast â€" “DABCC Radio: Virtualization / Cloud Computing Podcasts (Citrix, VMWare, and Microsoft).” In the description of the show, I notice that the host is Douglas Brown. Among other things, he is the founder of dabcc.com. I randomly pick an episode, “VMTurbo: Virtualization Management Data…” and when I mouse over the information icon (See the arrow?), I notice that the host is interviewing Michael Berthiaume, an Enterprise Systems Engineer at VMTurbo. Now, listen to the podcast and take note of things said that were of interest to you. What did you agree with? What did you disagree with? What are some points that they missed? What could have been expounded on further? What was your opinion of the podcast overall? Use the answer to these questions as a means of connecting with either the host or the guest. Maybe something along the lines of… Name of the host, I just heard the Cloud Computing podcast. I really liked point A, point B and point D. However, I disagree with your comment about point D. I have been working with virtualization tech for several years and my experience with cloud computing is a lot different. Consider point E and point F. If you are open to it, can we connect to discuss further? Jim Of course, iTunes isn’t the only place online to find podcasts. Here are a few more resources for you: Blog Talk Radio Stitcher AudioBoo.fm Swell.am Player.fm Castroller.com AllPodcasts.com In leaving no stone unturned, you can also discover podcasts via Google searches. Here are a few to consider if you are focusing your career on the “internet of things.” “internet of things” intitle:podcast interviews “internet of things” intitle:podcast “hosted by * “ “internet of things” intitle:podcast download | subscribe One more thing. If you find this strategy to be too much for you, another suggestion would be to write a review on the podcast and invite people to connect with you. If you were to do that on iTunes, you would be among the few in the case of the DABCC podcast as so few people have written reviews for that show. From a networking perspective, what an opportunity to share your info in front of a very targeted audience. I mean, who else would be interested in that show but people in that industry. Just a thought. In the screenshot below, you can see how the most recent reviews are from 2007. So, what do you think of this job search strategy? Author Bio Jim Stroud  writes for Glassdoor.com.

Resume Writing Service

Resume Writing ServiceAre you in search of a professional resume and writing service? There are several sources to get your resume published. For example, you can visit the many online job sites and they often have a section where you can post your resume. If you prefer to hire a professional writing service, the best way to find them is to visit your local newspaper.Resumes are usually published on the front page of the newspaper. Most major newspapers publish several different types of job listings. One of the best ways to find a great resume writing service is to use the classified ads section of the newspaper.Your resume should be professionally written. It should explain why you are the best candidate for the job. Explain in the body of the resume why you will be the best choice for the position. Write about your strengths and skills. A good example would be if you are a painter, you can mention your painting expertise in the body of the resume.An AAA resume and writing service should also present the resume in a professional manner. The cover letter should also be professionally written and a good example would be: 'Dear Sir or Madam, I'm Mike of this address and I'm applying for this job in the Accounting Department at XYZ Company. Please consider my resume and letter.'If you don't want to spend money on a sample resume and cover letter, a professional resume and writing service can write your resume and cover letter for you. You just need to know what it is you are looking for and how much time you can spend on it. A professional resume and writing service can help you pick the right resume format for your needs.The AAA resume and writing service can help you get a resume that is organized and complete. There is a variety of resume formats to choose from. These resume formats include resume screen printed on high quality paper, CD-ROMs, PDF, TAR and HTML. Each of these resume formats are well designed and do not take up too much room.The resume and cove r letter are the two most important parts of the job application. Both these documents are very important. If they look good, your chances of getting the job are greatly increased.A professional resume and writing service can help you get a great resume for the type of job you are looking for. The hiring manager will see your resume and cover letter and be able to decide if you are the best candidate for the job.

Preparing Yourself For The Five Hardest Questions Youll Get Asked At Interviews - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

Preparing Yourself For The Five Hardest Questions You’ll Get Asked At Interviews The job interview. Considering the importance that most companies place on it to determine the person who will be the best fit for an open position, it’s not surprising that it causes most interviewees sleepless nights and bags of nervous energy. The plethora of books that have been written about ‘how to be a good interviewee’ highlight how to get your resume in order, how to handle nerves, how to look confident when it’s the last emotion your brain can find, and so on. But, all in all, it’s simply a conversation where you are trying to persuade and influence one or more people that you are the best candidate for the role you’re trying to fulfil. The company naturally need to find out if you’re the one who will take their company forward and achieve better results than if you weren’t there. Hence the depth of questions that are asked to ‘test’ your ability to think on your feet, when under pressure and uncover your character and talent. Interviewers want to know, not only if you can do the job, but also what you’re like as a person. So they often cover points that will test your thinking and confidence to the limit. Here are five of the most testing questions we’ve come across and some suggested answers that might get you through them. ‘What got you to this point in your life?’ The interviewer wants a clear picture of how you view yourself, and you must be careful not to be too generic and waffle too much. Cover areas that have tested you, and made you the type of person you are today. Highlighted successes and the characteristics those achievements developed in you. Build confidence in the interviewer that you have the perseverance to overcome challenges, the capacity to think creatively and the ability to learn new ideas. ‘What skills do you think you’re lacking?’ The interviewer is looking at how you deal with weaknesses. Don’t lie about this, as everyone has something they need to develop. But you shouldn’t draw negative attention to a specific weakness that will make them think you wouldn’t be the best fit. Mention a quality that might appear a weakness but actually makes you appear helpful to the company. Then back it up with examples of how you have or are trying to work on it. For example, say something like ‘Sometimes I find it too easy to say ‘Yes’ and get overcommitted. I’ve been trying to set myself limits and am becoming more organised with my work and time’ ‘Why should I hire YOU?’ The interviewer is looking at how you ‘sell’ yourself while being honest and trustworthy. You have to demonstrate why you’re the best person and the best fit for the job. Ensure you know specifically what the job entails and highlight the skills and talents that you can bring to it. Remember to identify how you have used those skills in previous positions ‘What criteria do you use to judge your own performance?’ The interviewer wants to know if you are externally or internally motivated. Many people need to have the approval of a manager or someone else before they are content with their work. Others know they have done a good job themselves, without the need for external praise. Say that you set yourself a high standard for every piece of work that you do, and strive for excellence when possible. Give examples of when you have completed work and been complimented by the client or your manager, and used that as a benchmark to spring forward. You want to convince the interviewer that you have the confidence and ability to achieve without being supervised every step of the way. ‘Why did you choose to apply for a job with US?’ The interviewer wants to know what background work you did before the interview and are wondering if they are just one of many job applications you have made because you’re desperate! Highlight the things you know about the company, the job and the expectations they have of you, and then describe how they match your values and ideals. Outline how your past history matches with their expectations. Naturally, the interviewer will appreciate you’re probably looking at other companies, but they will want to know how valuable a team member you would become if they hired you. Being prepared for these and other questions designed to identify how valuable you would be to the company will give you confidence and belief that you will make the right impression. Author Bio: Founder and MD of international management development firm MTD Training, Sean McPheat is widely regarded as a leading authority on modern day management and leadership. Sean is a bestselling author, and has been recognised for his own business building skills through the British Business Awards. Click here to follow Sean online.

Never Let Them See You Sweat in an Interview How to Keep Your Cool - CareerAlley

Never Let Them See You Sweat in an Interview How to Keep Your Cool - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Although interviewing for a job can make you feel like youre in the Hot Seat on Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, you dont have to have to let your interviewer see you sweat. Keep your cool during any[easyazon_link asin=0988702800 locale=US new_window=default nofollow=default tag=caree07-20 add_to_cart=default cloaking=default localization=default popups=default]job interview[/easyazon_link] with these top tips: Prepare. The best defense against job interview jitters is to be well-prepared. Before your interview, remember the three Rs: Research, Rehearse, and Review. Research: Familiarize yourself with your potential employers history to ensure you have a clear understanding of the job description. Rehearse: Practice your responses to questions by setting up a mock interview with a friend or family member. If you cant rope anyone into role-playing, record yourself answering common job interview questions. Review: Study your resume, cover letter, and job application so you arent tripped up by easy to answer questions concerning your employment history, skills, and achievements. Show up early. Forget about the the worm, the early bird has a better chance of getting the job! Arriving early to a job interview gives you the opportunity to glance over your employment documents a final time, gather your thoughts, and focus on the task ahead. Taking a moment to envision yourself succeeding in your interview just may make it a reality. Dont think of the interviewer as the enemy. While you shouldnt imagine the interviewer as your new BFF, it is equally unwise to think of your interviewer as a super-villain bent on destroying your career. Stay calm by thinking of the interviewer as a neutral party you need to impress rather than someone who wants to reject you. Pace yourself. Succumbing to stress during your interview will make you panicked and antsy. Dont rush through your responses, pace yourself. Speak slowly, be sure to enunciate, and most importantly, remember to breathe. Fake it to make it. Imitation is said to be the sincerest form of flattery, but it can also be the key to keeping your cool during a job interview. You may lack confidence, but no one needs to know! Fake it to make it by dressing well, flashing a winning smile, and practicing proper posture. Suppress self-doubt. Interview anxiety can make insecurity spread like a pandemic.[easyazon_link asin=1590309235 locale=US new_window=default nofollow=default tag=caree07-20 add_to_cart=default cloaking=default localization=default popups=default]Suppress self-doubt[/easyazon_link] by acknowledging that you have already accomplished something by being called in for an interview. Remind yourself you were asked to the interview because you have a lot to offer and they want to learn more about you. Give yourself a break. Face it, youre going to make a mistake. Whether you trip while walking into the interview room or fumble over the name of your last employer, something will likely go wrong during the interview. Give yourself a break and account for mistakes. Yes, your interview is important, but there are other jobs out there if this interview goes awry. Putting too much pressure on yourself will only set you up to fail. Have additional advice about staying cool during a job interview? Share your suggestions in a comment! Kimberly Back is the Social Media Strategist and Senior Writer for Virtual Vocations, an online job service that helps job-seekers find legitimate telecommute opportunities while also providing useful and educational resources. This is a Guest post. We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey