|
Create a Great Resume
The purpose of a resume is to highlight your qualifications and get you
an interview. Your resume, along with your cover letter, introduces you
to an employer. It lets him/her know who you are and what you have to
offer.
The perfect resume is targeted to the specifics of the job description.
Tailoring your resume shows that you've done your homework and
highlights the skills you possess that are relevant to the job.
Resumes can follow a variety of styles and formats, but most contain
the same basic information:
Identifying Information: This section includes basic contact
information, including your name, mailing address, phone number, and
email address. If you have a Web site that is relevant to the job for
which you're applying, include that here, too.
Objective: This is really just a brief description of your immediate
career goals. The key is to keep it short and concise and to make it
relevant to the job for which you are applying. If your objective is
vague, leave it out.
Education: This section details your past and current educational
endeavors. List degrees, diplomas, or certificates you have earned or
are working toward. Start with the most recent and work your way back.
Include the name of the school, degree, major, date of graduation, and
honors or academic accomplishments.
Work Experience: This is a summary of your work experience. List your
most recent or current job first and work your way back. Include your
job title, the name and location of the organization, and the dates you
worked. Describe your job duties and accomplishments briefly using
strong action verbs. Military, intern, and volunteer experiences
may be included here or detailed in another section.
Volunteer Experience: If you have done a lot of volunteer work, list it
in its own section. Include where you volunteered and briefly describe
what you did and when you did it.
Interests and Extracurricular Activities: This section can be used to
highlight skills that were not gained through work or education, but
are relevant to the job for which you are applying. These may include
leadership or teamwork skills you picked up through professional clubs,
academic teams, or organized sports.
Skills: Use this to highlight special skills you possess that are
directly related to the job for which you are applying. This is a good
place to detail your computer experience and list the programs you are
familiar with.
References: This is always the last section of your resume, but references
need not actually be included in the resume itself. Your best bet is to say
"References Available upon Request" and to keep a separate sheet with
your references detailed handy.
Back »
|
Create Great Cover Letters
Your cover letter tells an employer a lot about you, good or bad.
Think of it as a sales pitch. It's primary purpose is to show why your
skills and background are a perfect match for the position for which
you're applying. It is not the place to present all of your experience,
that should already be showcased in your resume.
As your first opportunity to make a great impression, a well-written
letter shows that you are serious about your job search. Highlight one
or two of your skills or accomplishments that show that you are the
right person for this position.
While there is no set format or template, here are some more tips for
creating a letter that employers will read:
Keep it brief: Cover letters rarely need to be longer than one page. You
can usually sum it up in about four paragraphs:
1. Introduce yourself and explain why you're writing.
2. Lay out your key skills and accomplishments.
3. Explain why you want to work for the company.
4. Thank the reader, invite him/her to contact you and lay out your
follow-up plans.
Personalize: Avoid generic greetings such as "To Whom It May Concern"
or "Dear Sir or Madam". Address your letter to a specific person, and
make sure the spelling is correct.
Sell your skills: Don't just rehash your resume. Highlight the skills
that are most relevant. Illustrate how they relate to the position.
Clarity is key: Be very direct; write clearly and concisely. Don't make
the reader have to work to figure out why you're writing or speculate at
how your skills match the position.
Be proactive: State how you can be reached and give specific information
about your plans for follow-up. Once you've said it, do it; follow through.
Review, review, review: Always take the time to review your letter. Double-
check for typos; don't rely on spell-check. If you have time, ask a friend
or colleague to look it over as well. Make your changes and review again.
Back »
|
