Video Transcript:

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hi everyone in this video I will be sharing  with you how to write a cover letter to get a  

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job outside of Education. You might be a teacher a  school counselor a school principal who has never  

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had to write a cover letter but you're not in this no fluff video let's write a cover letter  

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together and discuss how to create an exceptional  covered letter with three key elements by the way  

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if you don't have your paper and pen in front  of you go run and grab it right now so that you  

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can take advantage of dive session right here so  first let's go through the three key components  

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of a cover letter first is a strong opening  sentence so this could be one sentence or a  

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couple of sentences a story something traditional  or something funny it's really up to you and what  

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your personality is like second accomplishments  that are relevant to the employer notice how I  

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said accomplishments that are relevant into  the employer so basically how can you help  

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the employer and still at the same time share what  you're really really good at what your talents and  

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skills are so I'll get into details in a second  and then the third piece is the strong closing  

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with a signature by the way hi everyone my name  is Arafat Damani in case we haven't met before  

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and I transitioned from education to training  Consulting change management about seven years  

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ago and went from making $48, 000 as a teacher to $165, 000 in just one year when I made this  

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transition seven years ago since then I've helped hundreds and hundreds of Educators also make the  

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similar transition and earn six figure remote jobs and a work-life balance that they really  

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really truly desire so if you haven't subscribed to my channel yet go ahead and click the Subscribe  

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button below and if you haven't clicked the Bell  next to it be sure to click that Bell next to it  

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so you're notified every time I post a new video and also I'm going to be sharing lots of secrets  

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with you on how to secure a six-figure job outside  of Education let's dive in first component of a  

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strong strong strong cover letter and which is the opening so a strong opening is very important in  

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a cover letter because it captures the reader's  attention and really makes a good impression it  

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can also set the tone for the rest of the letter and make the reader more interested in reading  

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on to learn more about you your qualifications and  if the opening is weak or dull the reader may lose  

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interest and not fully read the rest of the letter  which could prevent them from considering you for  

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the position on the other hand a strong opening can really help to make reader more interested in  

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learning more about you and could even make you  more likely to be considered for the position  

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and the interview so here are a few examples of traditional cover letter openers for for teachers  

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who are looking to transition into careers outside of Education First I'm going to share with you  

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some of these traditional cover letter openings and then I'm going to share with you unique cover  

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letter openers that are going to actually help you stand out so here we go cover letter openers for  

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teachers looking to transition into a new career as a highly skilled and dedicated teacher with  

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10 plus insert the number of years that you've been a teacher for experience in the classroom  

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I am excited to explore new career opportunities and believe that my skills and experience will  

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make me a strong candidate for training position  at Nike so insert the name of the position you're  

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interested and then insert the company and that's  going to make your cover letter automatically very  

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unique because you're not just like massively sending cover letters without editing them and  

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personalizing them second example I'm writing to express my interest in onboarding specialist  

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rule at by teaching and believe that my  skills as a teacher along with my ability  

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to confidently speak in a public setting build relationships develop content and you know add  

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something in their leadership skills make me an excellent fit for this opportunity number three  

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as a certified educator and then you can insert whatever certifications you have an experienced  

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teacher I am confident that I can bring a unique  perspective and valuable skills to the training  

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department or to the training role you know insert whatever it is that you're applying for at the  

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name of the company by teaching I'm excited to  explore this opportunity and believe that I would  

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be a valuable asset to your team example number  four I am writing to apply for the change manager  

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role at by teaching and believe that my experience  as a teacher along with my leadership skills make  

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me the ideal candidate for this position I'm  excited to explore new career paths and will  

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be a valuable addition to your team I'm just  sharing a few examples with you and modifying  

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them for teacher or School principal or School  counsel whatever you are and inserting them into  

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the cover letter so here's another example for you as a certified educational specialist  

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and experienced teacher with a passion for let's  say whichever industry you're trying to apply for  

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healthcare pharmaceutical non-profit I'm excited  to apply for the and then insert the name of the  

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position manager role add company name by teaching  I am confident that my skills and experience make  

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me a perfect fit for this opportunity and believe  that I can contribute value to your team so cover  

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letters don't have to be this formal and  boring but I'm just giving you a variety.  

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of examples to fit your specific style and also  keeping in mind that not every company is going  

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to appreciate like a formal cover letter opening  so you can be interesting in your cover letter in  

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fact I highly recommend all my clients to be more  unique in their cover letter because it actually  

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increases your chances of your cover letter being  read so just for example I know you're probably  

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reading through a stack of cover letters you  know all starting with the same tired old line  

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how passionate and exciting the writer is so I'll  spare you the cliches instead I'll get straight  

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to the point I really need a job like really  really need a job I've got to pay rent a cat  

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to feed and serious Netflix addiction to support.  So if you're looking for a training specialist  

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with an exceptional ability to convey ideas and  articulate themselves in a humorous manner with  

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content development expertise who will show up  on time work hard and make you laugh occasionally  

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at their own expense I am your gal plus I make a  mean cup of coffee so just one quick like example  

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that shows maybe your personality a little bit a  sense of humor uh just let your personality  

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shine through that cover letter because that  is what is going to help you stand out so be  

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sure before you do this be sure to understand the  company's culture before writing the cover letter  

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opener each company has a a different culture and  it's very very important to consider the tone and  

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audience of the cover letter when crafting the  opening so while a sense of humor can be a great  

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way to stand out it's important to make sure that  it is appropriate and professional here's another  

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example of a funny cover letter opener I know  what you're thinking another cover letter how  

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thrilling but before you lose all sense of  excitement and hit the delete button let me  

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show you that I am not your average candidate  as a training specialist for 10 plus years I  

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bring not only a unique set of qualifications to  table but also a sense of humor that's been known  

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to break the ice even in the most intense board  meetings so go ahead take a chance on me I promise  

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I'll make the hiring process a little bit more  enjoyable for everyone involved here's another  

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example when I saw the opening of the training  specialist role at by teaching I couldn't help  

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but let out an excited Yelp and do a little dance  in my chair it was it was very small I promise as  

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an exceptional training developer Workshop leader  a relationship Builder with various stakeholders  

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I am confident that I would be the perfect fit  for this opportunity and bring a sense of humor  

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and light-heartedness to your team plus I make  a mean cup of coffee and who doesn't love that  

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in an employee it's very very important to use  caution um when trying to be funny in a cover  

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letter as humor can be very difficult to convey  through writing and can be misinterpreted however  

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if you feel that a touch of humor is appropriate  and aligns with the culture of the company you  

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are applying to here is another example of  a funny cover letter opener for you I know  

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what you're thinking not another boring cover  letter don't worry I promise mine won't put you  

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to sleep unlike my middle school English class  which I'm told was legendary in all seriousness  

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I'm excited to apply for the training specialist  role at by teaching and believe that my skills  

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and experience are in content development  training development make me the perfect  

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fit for this opportunity plus I'm told my sense  of humor is top-notch although my co-workers May  

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beg to differ thank you for considering me for  this role so that was another example for you  

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do you guys have any questions about the cover  letter openers before I move to the second most  

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important aspect of the cover letter which is the  accomplishment piece so write your questions in  

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the comments section for me so I can help you  prepare the best cover letter next piece that  

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we're going to discuss are the accomplishments  so go ahead and write that down in your notes  

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the second element of a strong cover letter are  the accomplishments and how these accomplishments  

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that you have are relevant to the job that you're  applying to and why why should the employer care  

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here are a few examples of how you can write your  accomplishments in cover letter during my time at  

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so-and-so School District as a teacher I was able  to significantly improve insert what you improved  

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for example test scores attendance efficiency  productivity by how did you improve it maybe  

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you introduced new strategies and teaching  tactics and Innovative methods as a result we  

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were able to and then blank what was the outcome  so the outcome might be again be the scores went  

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up maybe the students were a lot happier more  more productivity any anything related to less  

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complaints perhaps from the parents or somewhere  else um that's just one way to put it another  

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way to put it would be in my previous role at  by teaching I led a team of 25 individuals in  

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a successful implementation of the project this  project resulted in a insert the outcome of the  

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project another way to put it would be I am proud  to have received recognition for my contributions  

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at by teaching including being avoided the  best trainer award for my work in creating an  

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exceptional training program for X number of  individuals another example at by teaching I  

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was responsible for organizing and planning and  developing and spearheading a training program  

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and was able to create an exceptional training  program for 70 plus individuals I was promoted  

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to maybe a senior training specialist a senior  teacher and was given additional responsibilities  

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to do X Y and Z and then insert whatever these  additional responsibilities are as a teacher  

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we often have lots and lots of lots of additional  responsibilities that get added onto our plate and  

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we never really get paid for them so this would  be a perfect opportunity for you to insert those  

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leadership roles that you've had the additional  stuff that you've done as an educator in my  

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previous role at by teaching you know insert the  name of the company that you work for I was able  

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to increase and then what did you increase  increased productivity efficiency happiness  

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there's so many metrics and we'll go over that  in a second insert the percentage numbers are  

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key so insert the percentage of the increase ten  percent twenty percent five percent through the  

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implementation of and then what did you implement  um this accomplishment was recognized by how was  

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it recognized did you get an award did you get  a promotion did did you get a lot of recognition  

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so if you're wondering now okay I get it I get the  template, Arifa, how can I translate what have I done  

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as a teacher in this cover letter for non-teaching  roles I got you so here a few accomplishments  

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that teachers or school principals and school  counselors can highlight with metrics number one  

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improved test scores during my time as a teacher  at XYZ District I implemented a new method program  

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whatever it is that you implemented that resulted  in a 20 increase the percentage you know whatever  

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based on your accurate metrics there increase  in student test scores on X Y and Z exam SAT  

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prep whatever it is that you know testing score  star this and that number two increase student  

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participation that's another metrics as a I  was able to significantly increase student  

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participation and I was able to significantly  increase that participation in class by how  

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did you increase that participation and this  resulted in a and then how was the outcome of that  

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you also have developed a lot of extracurricular  activities so be sure to add that in there as well  

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this club has been recognized with an award for  its contribution to the school Community maybe  

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you've developed and led a number of successful  successful extracurricular programs number four  

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improve student attendance so maybe you were able  to increase in overall attendance through certain  

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methods and decrease in absenteeism example  number five you developed and implemented a  

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successful curriculum so maybe that also resulted  in student achievement and the curriculum was  

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adopted by other schools and other districts  increased parental involvement and maybe during  

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your tenure as a principal you were able to  significantly increase parental involvement  

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by implementing new methods which resulted in  you know increased attendance and increase the  

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number of Volunteers in the school number seven  increase School climate as a principal let's say  

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I led the development and implementation of a  new program which resulted in 20 Improvement in  

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overall School climate as measured by and that you  can it can share how that happened next increased  

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enrollment uh you can if you were like a director  of a Montessori or a school principal this is a  

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perfect you know metrics for you improve student  retention program that resulted in a 20 decrease  

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in student churn and um X percent in increase in  student retention here are some more examples that  

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a school counselor can highlight with metrics  improve student mental health increase use  

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of student Counseling Services developed and  implemented successful certain programs which  

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are adopted by certain school districts improve  academic performance as a result of the services  

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that you provided and then increased parental  involvement as well so here are some keywords  

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that can increase your chances of securing an  interview if you were to use these in a cover  

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letter some examples include accomplished  achieved I hope you're writing this down  

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improved increased launched managed oversaw or  overseen pioneered reduced and successfully so  

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these are 10 words that you definitely want to  include in your cover letter to highlight your  

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achievements and demonstrate the value that you  can really truly bring to the company it's it's  

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really important to use them in the context of  your specific accomplishments to avoid simply  

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just listing them without context additionally  it can be helpful to include these keywords that  

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are relevant to job descriptions in the industry  in which you're applying this can help to show  

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that you have a strong understanding of the role  and the skills and experience that are needed to  

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be successful in it this is where most of the  Educators fail because they tend to list out  

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all live their accomplishments but they forget how  to tie that to the employer and they don't really  

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understand what type of work they'll be doing in  this specific job so let's just take for example  

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onboarding Specialists as a role if you were  to apply for an onboarding specialist position  

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generally an onboarding specialist would  have these responsibilities like designing  

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and implementing onboarding programs for new  hires orienting new employees to the company's  

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culture and policies and helping them to  acclimate to their new role and the team  

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some specific responsibilities may vary depending  on the company and specific role but some common  

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tasks that an onboarding specialist would perform  responsibilities might include developing and  

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delivering onboarding materials and presentations  assisting with new hire paperwork and benefits  

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enrollment facilitating introductions to other  employees and departments providing onboarding  

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support and guidance to new hires throughout  their first few weeks or months with the company  

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tracking and analyzing onboarding metrics to  identify areas for improvement collaborating with  

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other team members and departments to ensure a  smooth smooth onboarding process so assisting with  

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onboarding and remote employees overall the goal  of an onboarding specialist is to help new hires  

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feel welcome and supported as they begin their new  role to ensure that they have the resources and  

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information to be needed to be successful in this  new position and you as an educator have done all  

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of this over and over again so um it's really  important to use these keywords naturally and  

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not overuse them because that could come across as  being a little inauthentic so um I'm going to show  

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you in a second how to put it all together into  your cover letter and write a really strong cover  

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letter so before we jump into that if you have  any questions post them in the comments section  

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and then let's talk about the third important  element which is the closing so you want to close  

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the cover letter with an invite basically for  an interview so requesting an interview invite  

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with your signature so here's an example of  a cover letter with an onboarding position  

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dear hiring manager I know what you're thinking  another cover letter how thrilling but before you  

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lose all the sense of excitement and hit delete  let me assure you that I'm not your average  

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candidate as an educator who has over 1 000 who  has taught over 1 000 students and then insert  

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whatever relevant skill you have I bring not only  a unique set of qualifications to the table but  

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also a sense of humor that's been known to break  the ice even in the most intense board meetings so  

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go ahead take a chance on me I promise I'll make  the hiring process a little bit more enjoyable  

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for everyone involved I have a strong background  in training and onboarding new team members in  

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my previous role as a teacher I was responsible  for training and supporting 20 plus new teachers  

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as they transition into our new school district  this included conducting 20 plus workshops and  

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100 plus individualized training sessions as well  as providing ongoing support and guidance as the  

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acclimated to their new roles I am exceptional at  and then here's where you would list the things  

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that we discussed from the onboarding job posting  increasing excitement amongst new hires training  

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new let me say that again increasing excitement  among new hires training new hires appropriately  

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so that they can hit the ground running and  feel comfortable in their role at by teaching  

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in certain email the employer developing and  delivering onboarding training materials and  

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presentations assisting with new hire paperwork  and benefits enrollment facilitating introductions  

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to other employees and departments and  providing ongoing support and guidance  

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to new hires throughout their first few weeks or  months with the company in my previous role at  

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so and so School District I was able to increase  the performance of Staff insert by what number  

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20 percent through the implementation of group  resource sharing lesson plans activities templates  

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across school and top-notch project planning to  decrease teacher workload and then insert how  

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you did that this accomplishment was recognized  by neighboring school districts and Leadership  

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I'm confident that my skills and experience as  a teacher and leader combined with my passion  

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for helping others succeed make me an excellent  fit for this onboarding specialist position at  

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by teaching insert company name I'm excited about  the opportunity to bring my skills and experience  

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to your team and contribute to the success of  your organization thank you for considering my  

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application I look forward to the opportunity to  speak with you further and how I can contribute  

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to the success of name of the company by  teaching sincerely R for Damani your name  

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if you found this video helpful and you were  able to write a cover letter with me in this  

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video don't forget to click the Subscribe button  for by teaching on YouTube and hit the like button  

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so that this uh video can be shared with others  who might find it useful I've also attached  

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another video that is going to help you write  an exceptional resume that doesn't have the word  

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teacher written all over it so you can find that  right here I'll insert the link right here for you  

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if you have any questions uh drop them in the  comment section below if you didn't get a  

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chance to write everything down during this  video don't worry I can email you um the link  

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to this article and also a template for cover  letter um you just have to click the link in  

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the description to grab it so that I can email you  that template for cover letter along with so many  

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other resources that you're going to find useful in your journey to transition. My name is Arifa

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Damani and thank you so much for watching.  I look forward to seeing you in the next session. Bye!