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EMPLOYMENT BRIEFS: Be honest; cover letters; alumni help; online image

Source: Tribune Media Services

Tell me lies: Are you trustworthy? Many factors influence trust in the workplace, but one way to break that trust is by failing to do what you say you’ll do, says Sandy Allgeier, author of “The Personal Credibility Factor” (FT Press, $18.99). “Most people are forgiving when this happens — to a point,” she says. “But when you make a regular habit of this, you quickly become labeled as a promise-breaker. If you’re not sure you can follow through on your promises, don’t make them.”

Cover letter basics: Anyone who has written a cover letter knows how tricky it can be to do so successfully. Still, the cover letter is an integral part of a job search. “Cover letters offer a golden opportunity to link your set of skills, experience, talents and interests with a particular company or job,” explains Louise Kursmark, co-author of “15-Minute Cover Letter” (Jist, $9.95). “They are your formal introduction to people who can be influential in your job search and they prepare your readers for all the details, experiences and accomplishments highlighted on your resume.”

Mother of reinvention: Layoffs, reduced hours and salary cuts are enough to put just about any employee into crisis mode. But that doesn’t have to be the case, says Connie Podesta, a Plano, Texas-based business consultant and keynote speaker. “There are two ways of looking at a crisis,” she says. “We can become paralyzed and feel like a victim, or take the opportunity to take aggressive action to move in a different direction. When we look at the most successful people in just about any industry, they are people who have failed before and reinvented themselves in order to re-emerge.”

Spruce your online image: It’s no secret that Generation Y is all about social media. But younger job candidates should keep in mind that many hiring managers now look at online social networking accounts as part of the hiring process. That means ridding your MySpace and Facebook pages of any potentially damaging information, such as crude humor or drunken pictures. Consider setting up more professional accounts on sites like LinkedIn, and include a link to your page on your resume.

Alumni connection: Looking for a job after graduation? Look to your college for help. Networking is essential in getting a leg up on the competition and one of the best ways to do that is by attending alumni events. “Connecting with alumni organizations is a great way to meet contacts,” says Cynthia Favre, director of career management at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn. “If a graduate builds up a relationship with established alumni, then those alumni will usually be more than willing to help.”

© 2009, Tribune Media Services