Tips to Get You Through the Group Interview - Your Career Intel

Tips to Get You Through the Group Interview - Your Career IntelYouve networked, perfected your resume, written a fantastic titelseite letter and landed the bewerberinterview. Then you get thrown a curveball. Youve probably never even thought about how to prepare for a group interview but suddenly youre faced with one.Even scarier is walking into what you think will be a one-on-one interview and discovering on the spot that its going to be a group interview. As an executive recruiter helping candidates transition from military to civilian roles, I work with folks trained to keep their cool, but even vets get flustered by this scenario.However, this format which can include both multiple interviewers and multiple candidates is an increasingly popular tool companies use to expedite the interview process while getting a firsthand look at how you interact and work with others. To further this goal, you may even get thrown a group exercise of some kind in addition to traditional intervie w questions.No matter the format, you are being tasked with standing out in a crowd while showing off your qualifications. Its no easy task, but here are some tips for group interviews to help you stand out and move on to a one-on-one interview in the next round.DO stay cool under preskoranversOftentimes youll have no idea that youre walking into a group interview, so your first impression on the interviewer or interviewers will be how you handle this twist. Even if youre taken aback, be sure to appear calm and confident.DONT be repetitiveThe biggest no-no is repeating the same response another candidate has already given. Instead of repeating, build on the responses of your fellow interviewees with additional information or illustrative examples.DO play well with othersIts important to interact well with others and show that youre an asset in a team setting. Facilitating conversation within the group is a great way to demonstrate your confidence, leadership and social skills.DONT o verdo itTheres a fine line between showing leadership skills and being pushy so be sure to avoid interrupting or putting down others. Dominating the conversation raises a red flag that you may not be a team player.DO be memorableStock responses just wont cut it when youre trying to stand out in a crowd. No problem As part of your interview preparation, you probably brainstormed illustrative stories to demonstrate your strengths and experience, and these stories are perfect for setting yourself apart from the pack.DONT forget to listenWhen there are many competing voices, its tempting to focus on what you want to say and how to jump in, but listening is as important as speaking. Eye contact and engaged body language will be picked up on by the interviewer, and your responses will be more thoughtful if youre actively listening. Jot yourself a note if theres a point you want to make sure you remember to come back to.DO follow-upWith a lot of candidates in the mix, a strong follow up to each interviewer is especially important . Try to reference something memorable so that he or she can immediately recall who you are.Remember, even if you were caught off guard, all of these group interview tips dont change the fundamentals of interview preparation. Present yourself professionally, research the company, understand the lage and the attributes it requires, and prepare engaging responses.What tips and tricks have helped you stand out in a group interview? Share your experiences in the comments.

#MakingTime A Day in the Life of a San Fernando Valley-Based CEO and Working Mom

MakingTime A Day in the Life of a San Fernando Valley-Based CEO and Working Mom Women can do anything but not everything. As the largest online career community for women, we at Fairygodboss realize that balance is a myth, and that picking what to prioritize when everything feels important on a day-to-day basis isnt always easy. In the MakingTime series, women share with us how, for one day, they chose to spend their most precious resource time.--WhoDeborah SweeneyWhatCEO and Owner of MyCorporationWhere Calabasas, California--607 a.m.My alarm goes off and I dont hit snooze. Im already awake I do a 10-minute review of email to get a sense for anything urgent. Then, I meditate for one minute and focus on my top five items for which Im grateful that day. After that I pop up because I know I must wake up the boys and get ready for the day. My husband takes less time to get ready, so he makes breakfast and I pack lunches and bags for school and sports (we have two teenage sons). My husba nd and one son leave for middle school, followed by my older son and I departing at 710 a.m. for the high school.730 a.m.Weve made it to the school and now Im off to Pilates I take some calls en route to class.Deborah Sweeney, CEO of MyCorporation750 a.m.I go through my email one more time before my class starts at 8 a.m. After an hour of Pilates, its time to get to the office910 a.m.I walk into work and make sure to say good morning to the kollektiv members by popping by each pod in the office. I move quickly and then take meetings from 930 1130 a.m.1130 a.m.With my meetings knocked out, its time to begin tackling my to-do list product management matters, revenue analysis, sales team strategies, training, and financials.I eat lunch at my desk during a virtual meeting, which I periodically put on mute to chew my food. Next, I work on a quick project for a partner and have a team meeting after that. I try to keep on track with the to-do list Ive created the prior night.2 p.m.A few of us decide to walk outside the office during an afternoon meeting because its a beautiful day here in Calabasas. I am working out on the floor of the office today its a better opportunity for me to engage with the team and to get a feel for how things are going.430 p.m.I leave the office to pick up my son from school. My husband and I meet at his office to trade kids, so I can go to the soccer practice that doesnt end as late. This will give me time to get home earlier and make dinner. During practice, I walk, email, and take two calls.8 p.m.Practice ends at 8 p.m., so we run home and I start making tacos for dinner. Its a family favorite. While Im making dinner, my sons are working on homework. I always have my laptop out during homework (the boys need me less and less for homework nowadays). Either way, Im there, and Im doing my own homework, too. I get through the project I need to handle, write content, answer email questions, strategize with partners, and focus on revenue op portunities. I work standing in the evenings I find it keeps me focused and moving.945 p.m.The four of us are upstairs and getting ready for bed around 945 p.m. I have my laptop with me upstairs for end of day check-in and to create my to-do list for the following day. I do a quick debrief in my head about all that Im thankful for, and by 11 I fall asleep as soon as I close my eyes.Interested in contributing to Fairygodboss MakingTime series? Email infofairygodboss.com with MakingTime in the subject line.

How to Get Yourself Fired By and On the Internet

How to Get Yourself Fired By and On the www What do you have to do to get fired bedrngnis only by, but also on the Internet? If you havent already heard the shocking, sad tale of Taylor Chapman, who recently accomplished this, herbeie it is (minus its coarser details). Chapman, a 27-year-old Dunkin Donuts regular customer, and, ironically, a commercial-video spokesperson, unwisely posted, on Facebook, her profanity-laced, racist-fueled and ultimately self-destructive 8-minute video that got her fired by her South Florida boss, online, in a retaliatory video, after a torrent of online and voice mail condemnations. (Warning the company video is also profanity-laced.)The lurid details and condemnations are everywhere on the Net. The fire(her)storm her video and behavior triggered has even spread to The Daily Show, where she was mercilessly roasted, in an equally vivid, livid skit. Overnight, she bec ame the most hated person on the Internet and poster child for self-sabotaging employees, as a direct result of the venomous, seething, self-indulgent and utterly miscalculated tirade sparked by her outrage. Outrage over what?1. Not having gotten a receipt with her late-night Dunkin Donuts purchase2. Having been told to wait until the next day to collect on the Dunkin Donuts guarantee of a free meal as compensation for an unissued receipt3. Alleged attitude from the counter server handling her purchase.At this point, further condemnation of her behavior and video is neither necessary nor constructive. Having allegedly gone into hiding and having erased as much of her trail on social media as possible, Chapman has, without a doubt, gotten the amply-made online-community, media and employers message.What is much more useful is to identify, in a general way and as a cautionary tale, the kinds of background factors, motivations, thinking and risks associated with such an egregiously fai led cost-benefit calculation that can cost not only ones current job, but also future career opportunities. A Guide to Getting Fired OnlineAs a warning and an analysis, here is my how to get yourself fired by and on the Internet guide1. Claim rights, deny obligations This blunder is responsible for much of the incivility, narcissism, selfishness, self-entitlement and maybe even much of the violence of vermodern life (e.g., manifested in the exercise of someones self-perceived right to have your Nikes or iPhonenot just like yours, actually yours, with no offsetting obligation). Instead of seeing rights as but one side of a fair coin, balanced by corresponding equally important obligations on the flip side, anyone growing up now or in the past twenty years has been bombarded with the culturally approved message that a fair shake and fair toss require a one-sided coin stamped my rights. As ones inflated sense of entitlement expands without apparent limit, patience, gratitude and empath y tend to disappear into some black hole of and in the soul.Thats what appears to have made Chapmans rant so natural, so righta matter of natural rights, e.g., for a replacement meal on demand, pure and uncontaminated by any notion or awareness of corresponding equally natural obligations, e.g., to be at least civil, maybe even understanding. Ask yourself this When, if ever, was the brde time you heard or read a mention of the natural obligations of man in any discussion, e.g., of Thomas Paine, John Locke, the French or American revolutions, the Bill of Rights and, most importantly, of the natural rights of man?Google it (in quotation marks)youll find at least 798,000 results for the natural rights of man. The natural obligations of man? Only 175.The natural duties of man?Nine.2. Confuse notoriety with fame, celebrity and community If you want to get fired and maybe sued or even jailed, ignore the difference between being famous, celebrated and being notorious. To increase those odd s, also confuse these with community. Thats a lesson now incarcerated, heavily-fined and sued Vancouver hockey rioters are learning after videos of them committing assaults, robberies, firebomb vandalism, etc., in 2011 were used to finger and arrest them. Because few of us still live in villages or even small towns, whatever sense of community and community acceptance and validation that may have once existed for us is sorely, if even only unconsciously, missed, leaving a void poorly filled by celebrity.Fundamentally, celebrity is the state of being familiar to and shown respect by a large percentage of the population offered unstinting hospitality by many of them being a target of envy, gossip and sought favors and feeling that we matter to others, including those who barely know us. Reread this list. Think, village. Now think, Brad Pitt.Hence the pervasive, sometimes deadly insistence on respect from strangers on city streets, far from any village, among whom are those ready to sh oot us for dissin them. Insecure with whatever validation their failing community can offer, they will demand or extort itor exact revenge if they and you fail. Completing this perversion and extension of community, celebrity itself has been broadened to include notorietyfame for doing something awful. Hence, there is blanketing obliviousness to how utterly different community and notoriety are, among those who expect community in-group support for doing something rotten.Looking for fame, celebrity, justice and a sense of community through notoriety may, through a horrible irony and to your dismay, thrust you into an online community much larger, much more aware and much less forgiving of you than any villageand force you to look for another job.3. Ignore the difference between quantity and quality (of YouTube views, Facebook likes, tweets, etc.) Chapman gleefully warned the Dunkin Donuts staff that her surveillance video would be going viral, unmindful of the full and natural impli cation of the term exponential and potentially deadly growth. That blissfully nave personal equation of boundless growth with bounty is a reflection of the deeply entrenched bigger is better, gigantomania, growth-is-good, GNP growth fixation of modern economies, societies and cultures. Somehow, we have come to believe that quantity is good, no matter what its quality or amount, even when it should be abundantly clear it is not. I cant wait to post this on Facebook, Chapman exclaims in the video. This kind of thinking (to the extent that any occurs), fixating on anticipated quantity, recklessly and delusionally equates it with quality. If you want to get yourself fired, get fired up about racking up a huge Facebook or YouTube pinball score, without questioning the wisdom of the game or what the score really means. Cant wait? If only she had.4. Mistake your Facebook page for the observable universe Social media are supposed to be media, conduits and bridges of communication, not sel f-contained, self-absorbed 2-dimensional social universes that obscure or replace the rest of the world and the people in it. When that is not understood, it becomes easy to imagine that not only is the world flat (as a screen)as ancient erroneously mariners thought, but also that it is populated only by friendspeople (who) like uson our Facebook page.Thats a very dubious and dangerous assumptionnot to mention sloppy statistical analysis, given the non-random, selectively screened sample of heavily biased and filtered Facebook friends on which its likely to be based. 5. Watch and mimic too many Jerry Springer re-runs and other reality showsMaybe we should blame CNN and other news networks for incessantly asking, How do you feel? rather than, What do you think? Nah. Blame Jerry Springer and his live family feuds and brawls for elevating heat so far above light that an argument has come to mean only one thing, not twowar. Now, letting the world know how we feel seems to be widely rega rded as so much more important than either thinking more about what we feel or whether we should be feeling it in the first place. It certainly has become more important than thinking about or of the feelings of othersunless making them feel pain is what were thinking about. The upshot is that honesty has been reduced to or at least glorified as the emotional bullet to the heart, at the expense of the more thoughtful light shone on the mind.So, if you have some unfulfilled kamikaze need to vent rather than think, negotiate or empathize, go the Springer routeand, if you cant do it on TV, do it on your own show, on YouTube or Facebook. 6. Fail to grasp the difference between the privileged perspective of a video and an imagined perspective privilege of the video maker iPhones and other recording devices are easily misunderstood. The misunderstanding at issue here is to think that because they offer a privileged perspective (that of whoever is doing the filming), they also confer a pe rspective privilege, namely, to lay indisputable claim to absolute truth and self-righteousness. Its as though filming is self-validatingin two senses The video is seen as validating its own content and therefore also as validating the video maker. To believe that is to imagine that the uniqueness of the video proves its truth and to confuse the privileged unique perspective with some presumed privileged knowledge.That is tantamount to forgetting a genuine truth Just because its all in your camera doesnt mean that what it means isnt also all or mostly in your head (case).Forget that, and you will be one step closer to stepping onto a global stage and falling off a career cliff.

7 Best Jobs for Single Moms Starting Over

7 Best Jobs for Single Moms Starting Over7 Best Jobs for Single Moms Starting Over01Teacherkate_sept2004/Getty ImagesFinally, another top job for single moms is being a nanny,babysitter, or daycare teacher. You already know that you love kids and have what it takes to be loving and firm, so why not make a career of it? Reach out to your local community college for classes in early childhood or get your start by working at a local child care center.

Pay yourself first The simple concept to start saving money

Pay yourself first The simple concept to start saving moneyPay yourself first The simple concept to start saving moneyHave you ever wondered why at the end of the month you have very little money saved?Or maybe you were going to put money away in your savings at the end of the month, but then wonder why there is little to nothing to put away.Both of these situations are pretty common, but there is a simple method to breaking this frustrating savings issuepay yourself first.These three words combined create a savings method that everyone should use, but its also overlooked or forgotten.40% of people in the U.S.dont have $400 set aside for an emergency,accordingto the Federal Reserve.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraThe basics of pay yourself firstPay yourself first is the go-to strategy in the personal finance world and this phrase means automatically saving money from each payche ck first, before doing anything else.The money can go to your savings accounts and investment accounts like a 401k or IRA.Yes, paying yourself first means the money you make goes to you first.Before any expenses or other purchases you may want to make.Sometimes, the pay yourself first strategy may be called reverse budgeting.This is because instead of prioritizing your money around bills and debt, its based on your retirement and savings goals.What are the advantages of paying yourself first?Saving money can beTOUGH. I found it quite challenging a few years ago, so I totally relate with the statistic back near the intro.Between all the expenses (utilities, rent/mortgage, debt, student loans, etc.)there never landseems to be enough left to save.But thats why the pay yourself first method is critical.Most people (myself included a few years back) try to save money last of whatever might be leftover, instead of a set amount first.When you switch to the pay yourself first strategy, you have a much better chance to reach your particular savings goals and stick to it when you see progress.But, here are a few advantages to the is process.Teaches you how to prioritize your savingsPracticing pay yourself first, helps you change your mindset when it comes to money.It begins to establish good financial habits, that hopefully ingrains in your mind .You start thinking about money different and teaches you how to really be successful in your personal finances.Better prepares for your life happens fundsIve been calling emergency funds lately, life happens funds because not everything is an emergency, but there are expenses as life shifts.But, when you pay yourself first, you establish a fund of money for the unexpected moments.You no longer feel stressed, worried, or need to go into debt to pay something.Establishing a good investing schedule for retirementInvesting for retirement is also something that can get overlooked or mistreated.Yet, for your financial future to be in a great place, paying yourself first is another advantage.By automatically contributing to your 401k or IRA, you are in a better financial position when you are ready to retire.It keeps you constantly contributing, no matter where the market stands.This helps you stay consistent and ensure you getcompounding interestto work for your advantage.Helps you view finances differentlyWhen you start building your savings and you see this method working, it revitalizes your entire view on finances.I find it gives you more financial confidence in that you are in control of money, instead of money controlling you.This can be a huge motivator and no longer will you be lumped into some of those dismal statistics about money.How to start paying yourself firstYou are probably thinking, Well duh, just starting paying yourself firstIts in the phraseBut as simple as that might be, there are a few tips and steps to ensure you are successful.Know what your expenses areLike any part of good personal fi nance management, you should understand your monthly expenses.This lets you see how much per month you actually have to save before you get started blindly.This can help you see where you might be able to cut expenses to save more and the exact amount left you can divvy up in your pay yourself first plan.Create automatic transfers from checking to savingsI personally do not do this anymore because its become so natural for me to save, but I was automating when I first started.Many banks allow you to schedule recurring transfers in some way between checking and savings.Then you can choose the specific amount you want sent automatically to your savings account(s).Note I highly recommend keeping your savings account at a different bank than your checking account if you think you will be extremely tempted.Id recommend anonline bank like CIT, which provides over 2% interest and isFDICinsured.Participate in companys 401k planGet started with your companys 401k if they have one and you are eligible to participate.Money is automatically taken out and added to your 401k for you before you get your check, plus many companies offer the company match to a certain percent.And lastly, there are tax benefits as well.Thats paying yourself first and then someHave a side hustle?Send it all to savingsIf you have a side hustle that makes money or even just another job, try to bank most of it if you can.I realize you might be using this money to get ahead on bills and any debt, but if you are in a decent spot send this one directly to thathigh-yield savings account.If your side hustle is a geschftlicher umgang, then make sure to separate this income from your personal bank accounts.Saves you tax -time nightmares and hasslesBut I like to think of my side hustle income as almost non-existent right now.I never touch or use it, other than saving in my business bank accounts and paying any business associated costs.Related There are tons of side hustle ideas, but which ones can really produce a full-time income?Well explore this and morein this article.Saving money with debt is still importantThere is different advice about saving money when having debt.I agree that you should be paying debt and extra towards it if your interest is quite high (like credit card debt for example).But I also think its still important to save money as well.I actually wrote about thesaving money vs.paying debt conundrumI faced a bit more in-depth.Im not going to tell you what the right decision is for you specifically, but I think its important to do both, not one or the other.Final thoughtsIt took me almost four full years of my professional working career to figure out the pay yourself first concept.Its such a simple methodology to personal finances, but is so often overlooked.The earlier you establish this strategy with your money, the better financial life youll have.But, the important part isgetting started now, is better than never.As you started reading more financial blogs or books, youll probably come across the paying yourself first philosophy quite often.I personally first read about it inRich Dad, Poor Dadand it has been a financial game changer for me over the last few years and can be for you as well.This article originally appeared on Invested Wallet.

3 Signs Youre in a Dead-End Job

3 Signs Youre in a Dead-End Job3 Signs Youre in a Dead-End JobPicture yourself in five years. Are you sitting at the saatkorn desk, working for the saatkorn manager, doing the same work, and earning the same salary as you are right now?I didnt think so.Unless you already have your absolute dream job, youre probably working towards some sort of higherbei goal in your career- a more senior position, additional responsibilities, or new skills. But to make aya you have the opportunity to reach those goals, its important to be aware of your potential for growth- and to realize when youre in a job where that doesnt exist.Yes, unfortunately, even good jobs can be dead-end jobs- or positions with little to no room for advancement. So, to make sure youre on the right track to grow in your career, keep in mind these three surefire signs that your job is at a standstill.1. It Would Take a Big Event for You to Get PromotedFor a clear sign that your career might be stalled, look to your superiors and their tenure with the company. For example, say your boss has been in her position for five years, and her boss has been in his position for seven- and they both seem very comfortable where they are. That means, in order for you to move up, something would have to entice one of those big wigs out of his or her position. And youve seen no indication that anyones planning on leaving anytime soon.While this isnt necessarily the mark of a dead-end job (you never know when someone could make a sudden exit from the company or a position), it can- and should- raise some concerns if youre hoping to move up the ladder sooner rather than later.Your Next StepsIf you work for a larger company thats open to horizontal shifts, you may be able to move into another division- one that has more opportunity for growth.If not, you still may not have to throw in the towel completely. Even if you cant move into your bosss position anytime soon, try asking for more responsibility (more on that later) or a title change. You may even be able to create a position for yourself by identifying some needs of the company and then tackling them- effectively working your way into a position that didnt even exist before.2. Even if an Opportunity Arose, You Wouldnt Want ItOK, so youre probably thinking, Why wouldnt I take a aufsteigen that I was offered? But consider this Depending on your current level of satisfaction and your future careers goals, you may not actually want to move up the ladder in your own company.Say, for example, youre a manager at a great company and youre content with your job for now- but you cant imagine doing it for the rest of your life, and truth be told, youve always wanted to break into a different field. So, if you were offered a promotion to take on even more responsibility, more direct reports, and more high-maintenance clients as a senior manager, you wouldnt actually be that excited about it.Or, maybe youarent willing to commit to the extended hours or tr avel required of those roles, or yourenot passionate about the companys mission. Whatever your reason, if you have no desire to move up at your current company, consider it a red flag.Your Next StepsIts time to take a look at your career goals Why are you spending time in a career in which youre not excited about moving up to the next level? You may have solid reasons- finances, job security, or your current skill set- but unless youre willing to stay in that same position forever, you may want to look for a job that youll be excited to grow and progress in.So, consider some other options. Even if youre not ready to jump into the job hunt just yet, take some small steps Set up some informational interviews with contacts at other companies or in other roles, take a class in an area youre interested in, or browse through some career profiles online. You might be surprised at what you find- and it may just give you the spark you need to pursue something new.3. Your Work Hasnt EvolvedAs you gain more experience in your current position, you should be able to expect that youll be given more responsibility and increasingly challenging work. And as you successfully complete each new assignment and prove yourself time and time again, you should eventually start seeing opportunities to move up in a more official sense (i.e., promotions that include a shiny new title and a well-deserved raise).On the other hand, if youre still doing the exact same work today as you did two years ago when you first started with the company, thats a pretty straightforward sign that youre not going to be moving up very quickly- or at all. And without the chance to improve your skills and develop new ones, even if you did have the chance at a higher position, you may not have the marketable skills to fill it. In short Without new opportunities, your career is at a standstill.Your Next StepsDont ever be afraid to ask for more responsibility. For example, when you see a need for a better trai ning program in your department, volunteer to develop it yourself- or if you notice that the companys social media presence is a little lacking, ask if you can take it on as a side project. By accepting new challenges and showing your managers that youre able to take on more than you do right now, youll prove how valuable you areAnd if your request is met with resistance and your work stays stagnant? Well, then it may be time to look for something with more potential for growth.Realizing that youre in a dead-end job can be scary- especially when you consider that your alternative is the not-so-enjoyable search for a new job. But staying put- for longer than youd like- isnt a great alternative. So if your job isnt progressing the way you want, take charge and go after your goals at full speed. Your future self (the one sitting in a corner office) will thank you.Photo of dead end sign courtesy of Shutterstock.

How to Write a Disruptive Cover Letter in 2018

How to Write a Disruptive Cover Letter in 2018How to Write a Disruptive Cover Letter in 2018 10 Expert Resume Tips You Need to Land the Interview Ah, the dreaded cover letter. For many job seekers, the cover letter is harder to write than a resume. And while some job applications list it as optional , this does not mean that a cover letter is a waste of time. In fact, this one piece of paper (or that one schmelzglas attachment) can make or break your chances of landing an interview.We chatted with career coach and CEO of WorkItDaily , J.T. ODonnell, about the keys to getting hired in 2018 and she insisted that wowing recruiters boils down to delivering the right kind of cover letter.Wait, there are different kinds of cover letters?The biggest trend in cover letters is the concept of disrupting the reader. Disruptive cover letters tell a compelling story that creates a connection between the applic ant and the hiring manager or recruiter. The goal? To be original, different, refreshing.The cover letter is your opportunity to connect with the employer, show that you understand them, says J.T. ODonnell. Recruiters and hiring manager want an informed candidate. This cover letter is not about you, its about them. Its about what you know about the company, why youve connected with them, and why you so badly want to work for them.In her recent lifestream webinar, Help Me Get Hired, J.T. dug into what it takes to get hired in 2018 and outlined some of the most common cover letter mistakes, as well as the solutions. Here are our favorite takeawaysA cover letter should not be an overview of your resume. Thats the biggest mistake. Showcasing your experience and qualifications is what the resume is for, not the cover letter. Making this mistake will get your application sent to the No pile.A good cover letter grabs the reader at hello. You want the first sentence of the cover lette r to grab the reader and completely disrupt. Come up with an attention-grabbing first sentence. Make a statement or have a really interesting question that you start with and bold in the center of the page. This will pique the readers interest and entice them to continue reading.Stories are memorable because they create emotion and they create connection. You want to show that youve done your research and understand where you can add value to the company. They should be able to feel a connection with you when reading your cover letter.Another mistake people make is being too formal instead of being personal. The biggest example of this is strategic a cover letter with To whom it may concern. There is nothing more impersonal and dry than this phrase. It shows a lack of effort. In this day and age you can find a recruiters name, find the hiring managers name. If you cannot find this, theres a better option Dear Hiring Team. That is more personal and warmer.