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Resumes 101: Be professional, even when applying for jobs online

Dear full name of boss in charge,

When writing a cover letter to submit with a resume, be professional, especially if applying for jobs online. Many companies have moved into online applications or searching resumes via Web sites like Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com.

Be correct in both grammar and punctuation. Have several people read over the cover letter and resume to avoid any mistakes.

Don’t be cutesy and abbreviate just because the application is online. Employers want to know a job candidate is professional and qualified. “They want to know if are you going to be able to perform your job duties,” said Deb Herman, director of employer relations and recruiting at the Michelin Career Center at Clemson University.

When submitting resumes online, be sure to convert the document to a text file so employers can open it no matter what program their computers use. It would be unfortunate for them to open it and get a garbled mess of computer jargon because the document isn’t compatible, said Thwanda Davidson, Anderson University director of career services.

Overall, be professional, be courteous, be correct and don’t spell anything wrong.

Sincerely,

Job hunter

Joe Jobhunter

OBJECTIVE

To get a job, obviously. When applying for jobs in this day and age, many companies look online. Don’t forget to stay professional, polite and grammatically correct. With the objective, be clear and concise. This may be the only way to get the boss to read on, and that is the goal. Use key words listed in the job description to catch the employers’ attention, Ms. Davidson said. And in all things, don’t place all bets on one job; be open to options, she said.

EDUCATION

List appropriate degrees, schooling and classes. If applying for an accounting position, there’s no need to list dance classes. Don’t put a lot of personal information other than contact information into the resume to avoid being passed over, Ms. Herman said.

WORK EXPERIENCE

- List all appropriate work experience and full-time jobs previously held. When listing jobs, also explain what the job duties were and what interaction was had with co-workers.

- Don’t use “I” too much. “Don’t make it sounds too much like a solo deal,” Ms. Davidson said. “You want it to seem like a team deal.”

- Communication is extremely important in any job. Show that you can communicate with people on all management levels when listing work experience, Ms. Herman said.

- Present numbers or percentages to show how things increased at your previous job with you on board. This shows you are a desirable job candidate that will make an impact, Ms. Herman said.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

- Don’t downplay accomplishments when it comes to previous work experience or education. List any big awards you received. Don’t think it’s boastful; you’re proving your worth.

REFERENCES

- Be accurate.

- Make sure references’ phone numbers, e-mail addresses and job titles are current.

- Companies do call these references and will discard your resume if these are not accurate.