Tailoring Your Career! Tips on Resume’s & Cover Letters
10/23/2008
If you are looking for a job, changing careers or just want to update your resume and cover letter; remember, your resume and cover letter are the first impression a prospective employer gets of you. Make sure they are both error free, current and “tailored” to the particular job you are looking for. No longer can people have a “one size fits all” resume and cover letter. Take the time to make sure you stand out in the crowd (whether online or paper) by following these tips:
Writing an Effective Résumé and Cover letter:
If you are looking to write your first resume, or revise an old one it’s a good idea to start with researching different types and styles of resumes. Start your research by visiting your local bookstore or public library. Each has a large selection of books on the topic of resume writing and drafting effective cover letters. I recommend researching resume and cover letter styles by using books versus researching them online because the books give more detailed information. By looking at different styles you may find that you need more than one type of resume to achieve a particular employment related goal. The books you will find can help you choose between chronological versus functional versus combination and gives you the pros and cons of each. They can also offer suggestions to help write your most important statement – your Objective statement!
Of course, you could take the “easy” way out and just use a Word template, but no template can adequately help you sell yourself to an employer. Most templates look like templates and the result is either a stale version of a resume or one that is too flashy. You want to stand out (in a good way) and show your employer that you can take initiative, have original thought while showcasing your writing skills. You cannot do that with a template!
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Some Do’s and Dont’s to follow:
Resumes
• Do be brief; your résumé should be 1-2 pages in length; do be upbeat and active in your wording, do use action words, particularly “keywords” that will get you noticed; and always have another person proofread and critique your resume. Your resume is to be error free!
• Do read and know your resume inside and out. Some employers will be meticulous in reading your resume. Make sure there are no inconsistencies and that you can answer questions about any position or statement made.
• Don’t be dishonest, always tell the truth about yourself; don’t include salary history or requirements on your resume. If the employer wants to know your history, he/she’ll ask for it on the job application.
• Don’t include accomplishments that do not support your professional goals; for example: you might have been very proud to be room mother at your child’s school, but how will that get you a job as a paralegal?
• Don’t include references on your resume. References should be on a separate piece of paper and include: the full name, address and telephone number of the reference.
Cover Letters
• Do capture the employer’s attention. Your cover letter is your first opportunity to capture the employer’s attention, if you fail to do this, the employer will never see that perfect resume you’ve attached. This is your opportunity to use some ‘keywords’ as outlined in the job description, and to tell why you are a great candidate for the job.
• Do show your interest. Your writing style should reflect your attitude and interest in the position; make sure it’s upbeat and positive.
• Don’t make your cover letter too lengthy. It should definitely be only one page and should not go on and on about how wonderful, talented or great you are. Show your employer how you will not only fit into the organization but also give examples of how you may be able to help the business or department grow.
• Don’t forget to include your contact information in the final sentence of the cover letter. Although you may have designed your cover letter to have your full contact information at the top or bottom of the page, when reading cover letters, most employers never see that and will look for your telephone number and e-mail in the body of the letter. Also, if the best way to reach you is by cell phone, then make sure to give that number instead of your home phone number. However, use caution in using music with your cell phone or leaving an unprofessional voice message. Most employers will not leave you a message if they have to wait through your current “favorite” song!
Lastly, always have someone else look at your resume and cover letter before you send it out to a potential employer. Ask someone you respect and know that they will be serious about looking for typographical or grammar errors and will spot inconsistencies in your resume. A second person can always look at your resume with a fresh perspective and will most likely catch obvious error.
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