The Résumé
Duck and Cover
The first thing a potential employer sees is not your resume but your cover letter. A clear, focused and memorable cover letter will get your resume read and put you in line for an interview. A couple hints:
- Address the letter directly to a specific person – preferably the person who's making the hiring decision.
- Be yourself in the letter, but don't be cute or overconfident.
- A cover letter is your foot in the door. Use it to explain how your skills fit the employers needs and how you can be part of the company.
- Read the job opening carefully and address each point within the cover letter.
Quality Counts
Even if you're the best possible person for a position, if you're cover letter and resume read like you're in 6th grade you'll be hard pressed to get an interview – much less the job. Make sure what you write is professional and reads well. Under no circumstances let spelling or grammatical errors exist – if you have trouble in this regard consider hiring someone to guide you.
Learn From Others
The Internet offers an almost unlimited selection of cover letters and resumes to look to for guidance. Other people have gone before you so make sure you learn from their experience.
Be Honest
An unfortunate trend is exaggerating– or downright lying – on resumes and cover letters. Not only is this unethical but, unlike several years ago, most resumes are checked for accuracy. Even if you don't get caught in a lie during the application process you can be let go when it finally catches up with you. Make your life simple and be honest.
Fill in the Gaps
Most applicants have had that odd period where they were between jobs. Make sure your resume details what you did during that time. If you're between jobs right now, think about doing something in your community which relates to what you'd like to do. Employers become nervous when an applicant can't account for time missing.
What You've Done
When writing your employment history, don't simply use the job description. Tell the employer not only what you did, but what you accomplished and how it benefited the company. The goal of your resume is to convince a potential employer that your skills and experiences can help them reach their goals. Make sure you don't let this opportunity pass you by.
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