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Keys Worth Tapping for Better Resumes & Cover Letters
Resume writing is probably less a science than an art. A resume is ultimately a positive, visual presentation of your unique blend of talents, skills, experience and perspectives. Although creating one is not easy, a good resume - even in this age of the Internet - is still a critical part of a successful job search.
Be a Spin Doctor - A resume is not your life story, nor is it a chronicle of all your achievements. It is a marketing tool that expertly summarizes key accomplishments illustrating your qualifications for a particular job. No matter how proud you may be that your high school football team won the state championship, omit it from your resume unless it relates to the position you seek.
Tailor Your Talents to the Job - Like snowflakes, no two resumes you send out should be exactly the same. Each should be crafted to fulfill what a particular ad or company is looking for. Create a master resume file, then cut and paste those skills or accomplishments that best meet the requirements of a specific job. Lastly, make sure your final version is coherent and contains no glaring omissions.
One or Two Pages? - Should your resume be one or two pages long? The answer depends upon several variables. If you are mailing an unsolicited resume, you can be more long winded. If, however, you are responding to an ad in a paper or on the Internet, you must limit yourself to one page due to the volume of responses the employer will receive. The length of your resume also depends upon your profession. An experienced management candidate is expected to provide a longer resume than an entry-level clerk. Some fields (like social work or scientific research) may also call for a longer resume. To decide, ask recruiters in your field of endeavor what they prefer. Determine the standard, then write to it.
Be the Object of Their Desire - Your chances of being considered will improve if you are clear about the job you seek. Be sure to include a specific job objective. For example: Construction Foreman, Instructional Aide, Cable Installer, Computer Technician all qualify as concise objectives that enable a recruiter to quickly give context to your job inquiry. Avoid vague objectives like Seek challenging position with an enlightened firm.
Broaden Your View - People tend to have a limited view of their skills and usually describe themselves only in terms of the jobs they have held. Author Richard Bolles (What Color Is My Parachute) urges jobseekers to instead focus on their transferable skills. Ask yourself, what functions have I performed in various jobs? Include in your resume those transferable skills that apply to the type of work you seek.
It Pays to Be Perfect - In a survey conducted by the staffing service OfficeTeam, 45 percent of executives said they round-filed resumes with even one typo. Another 31 percent discarded resumes with two typos. That means sloppy candidates, no matter how qualified, only have a one-in-four chance of being considered.
COVER LETTERS
Read Before You Write - “In order to devise a winning sales pitch for your letter, you need to understand what makes the company tick,” writes Susan Ireland, author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Perfect Cover Letter. “This includes such information as the company’s history, market standing, goals, challenges, mission statement, clientele and the corporate culture . . .” This information can be found through websites, libraries, business magazines, company literature, and your own network.
Don’t Waste Words- If you open your cover letter with “I am responding to your ad . . . “, you have just wasted several valuable words that could have been used to sell yourself. Why not open with “As an experienced auto mechanic with an exemplary work record, I have the skills you require for the position advertised in . . . ” Use the next paragraph to expand briefly on your unique qualifications, then close the letter by saying you are available to meet with the employer at their convenience. Short, sweet, effective.
APPLICATIONS
Don’t Overlook the Application - Much is written about the importance of catchy cover letters and riveting resumes. Little is said, however, about the importance of completing an employer’s job application form in a neat and detailed fashion. Always print clearly. Be sure to have names and numbers of references if requested, along with the phone numbers of prior employers. Also have answers ready for tough questions, like “Reason for leaving?” You might find it helpful to get a generic application from an office supply store or a career center, which you can fill out for practice. A pre-filled form also becomes a handy reference when you need to complete an employer’s application on the spot.