When to Use a Resume Writing Service

June 3rd, 2010

When looking for a new job or a new career, your resume will present you to potential employers. It is essentially a means of advertising your unique skills and qualifications, but if you do not present yourself effectively, then you run the risk of being passed over for a job you may be exceptionally qualified for.

So, how do you know if you really need a resume writing service or if your resume is good enough just the way it is? Well, first of all let’s just face the fact that not everyone is a writer. Some people have a way with words and others don’t. However, even if you are a very good writer, not everyone knows what to write in a resume. There are certain things employers will be looking for, and that’s where a professional resume writer can help. If you have absolutely no idea where to begin, a resume writing service can walk you through the process from start to finish, helping create a strong resume that will get your foot in the door for an interview.

Individuals looking for a career change, those who are just graduating from college or anyone who may have recently had an employment change like being laid off or moving to a new place should also consider hiring a professional resume writing service. A professional resume writer can help you determine which of your skills are most relevant to the position you’re now seeking, and how to best present your qualifications so that employers can easily identify any transferable skills you may have.

Others may have large gaps between jobs – stay-at-home parents are an excellent example of this – or have had several jobs in a short period of time. Resume writers are well-versed in dealing with a number of employment situations that may look less than desirable to potential employers if not handled appropriately.

Alternatively, you may have already been sending out your current resume and noticed you aren’t receiving a lot of responses. This is a fairly good sign that your resume could use some work and you may want to look into hiring a resume writing service. Even if you feel you have a pretty good handle on how to write a resume, many resume writing services offer free or low-cost detailed critiques telling you which areas of your resume may need to be revamped or how your skills could be presented in a better way.

In short, your resume is your best means of displaying all that you have to offer a potential employer. When an employer looks at your resume, you want it to shine, and a professional resume writing service can help you achieve just that.

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Tips to Presenting Your Resume

May 14th, 2010

There are many factors involved in designing and presenting your resume, and it is easy to get caught up in the various styles and customizations when you decide to give it a facelift. Should I use a high quality paper? Should I mail a hard copy though I have already emailed it? Should I email it as inline text or as an attachment? Below are tips and answers for some of these common resume styling quandaries.

Font: The font you select can be a telltale sign of keeping up with the times. Times New Roman is the default for many word processors and will prove that your job-searching days and abilities are somewhat dated. It was once believed that this font was the easiest on the eyes, but there are many similar options that are much better. The spacing of Times New Roman styled words and letters can be quite awkward, and when copying into an email or PDF can prove catastrophic. Try using Georgia. It should be free on your computer, and is a little more rounded than Times New Roman, for easier reading and more compatible spacing. If you have the cash to spare, consider browsing online professional fonts for one that might be more suited to you and your potential position.

Paper: Many people want to showcase their uniqueness by purchasing fancy stationary paper. This is a waste of time and money, and generally has the opposite effect. Fancy stationary is a thing of the past; you know it, I know it, and your potential employer knows it. In order to keep up with the times, you should use a good quality, smooth, plain style of paper. It should be heavier than standard copy paper, but not a lightweight cardboard. Printing shops and office supply stores generally have paper labeled as “resume paper.” There are many different weights out there, so try to avoid things too heavy such as cardstock, but the lightest copy paper options are not a good idea either.

Colors: Do not use colors. Do not use colored paper, fonts, stickers, or stamps on your resume. It is not cute and clever, it is not unique and memorable; it is somewhat childish and unprofessional. Stick with black. If you have a website, or a logo with colors that you plan to include, that is acceptable, but do not add any more colors of your own. If you absolutely must make something stand out, use varying shades of gray or navy.

Emailing: Many people are making the switch over to Mac computers, but others are still using and buying PC’s. This makes it even more difficult to email a properly formatted copy of your resume to an employer. If you do not know what kind of technology they are running with, there are still a few ways to ensure that they are able to see your resume in a format that makes sense. If you are able to save your resume in different formats, do so, and send them all. PDF’s are the most desirable, but some people are still functioning without Adobe or other readers. You should be able to save your copy as a .doc file, which is compatible with both Macs and PC’s (except for extremely old ones). However, the default for a Mac file is .docx, which is not always compatible with PC’s. Try downloading and using Open Office. Their files are compatible with both types of computers, and the programs are currently free. The third step is to include a simply-formatted version of your resume in the body of the email. Be sure to include a byline about the different versions of your resume.

Hard Copy: Many people prefer to know that their resume has made it into the safe hands of a potential hirer. For this reason, they will snail mail hard copies, or drop them off at the office even though they have already sent them in email form. The protocol for this is a bit tricky. Depending on the organization, sending or bringing a hard copy of your resume before being offered an interview can just add complications to the hiring process, and the last thing you want to do is become a nuisance before even landing an interview. Gauge your employer before doing anything over the top. If they seem to be slow on the Internet front, or a little more traditional than most, feel free to send or drop off a hard copy of your resume. If they are completely online and organized, the paper copy of your resume will probably end up in the trash. Always bring a hard copy of your resume to an interview.

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7 Cardinal Sins of Interviewing

May 14th, 2010

As the unemployment rate climbs to 9.9%, we can assume that there are over 30 million people in the United States job market, and some of them are looking for the very same job as you. While many of us focus on what to do during the interview process, few of us pay attention to what NOT to do. It is easy to get nervous and make very serious blunders that can cost you this job and many others if your interviewer is an important person in your industry. Regardless of your nerves, attitude, or terrible-horrible-no good-very bad day, you should avoid these Cardinal Sins of Interviewing, because some people will not.

1) Inappropriate Attire: Wrinkles and stains are the least of your worries.  Just because you are wearing your lucky undergarments does not mean your potential employer should have to see them. If you think that a low-cut shirt or a too-tight top will get you the job, you had better be applying for a night life job. It is disrespectful to your employer, male or female, if you wear something provocative. They will think that you do not take the company or the position seriously, and will be offended that you assumed your bare-it-all attitude would make a positive difference. Show some respect for yourself and your interviewer and dress conservatively.

2) Flirtation and Harassment: Be friendly, smile, laugh politely at their jokes, but be careful not to go too far. Anything that could be misconstrued as flirting or sexual harassment is a recipe for failure. You are a twenty-four year old man and your interviewer turns out to be the most gorgeous woman in the world-deal with it. Same goes for female interviewees. If you want to get the job, and you want to be shown daily respect, do not put yourself out there in an unprofessional way, and do not flirt just to get hired!

3) Profanity and Getting Too Comfortable: You may find that you get along really well with your interviewee, and you envision the two of you enjoying beers during happy hour. Stop. This will lead you to become far too comfortable with your interviewer, which may cause you to slip into colloquialisms and profanity. Just because you are explaining something in a lively fashion does not mean you need to drop any four letter expletives.

4) Badmouthing Past Employers: Do you get a long-term girlfriend by bad-mouthing your ex to them on the first date? An interview is very similar; bad-mouthing an ex-employer can create negative tension and make you both extremely uncomfortable. Additionally, it is always a much smaller world than you think, and they may be the college roommate of the object of your verbal-bashing. When it doubt, leave that part out.

5) Talking About Family/Pets/Personal Life: Many employers these days know that they can probably get any one they want to fill any given position. If they are going to be working with you on a daily basis, they probably want to know that the two of you will get along. Showing that you mesh with the company and driveling on about your fiancé, spouse, children, or pets are two very different things. The fact that your son goes to Harvard and your Yorkshire Terrier just had a lot of puppies is not going to help you get the job. Discuss hobbies, likes, and other wholesome topics, but try to avoid delving too far into your personal life. It can make you seem desperately dependent. If asked, either subtlety or directly, be honest. It is otherwise best to leave irrelevant personal information out.

6) Incessantly Talking: This falls in line with number 5; keep the information on point. If you are asked to describe a project, or a task, draw a picture with your words as concisely as possible, but with appropriate details.  If your interviewer can hardly get a word in edgewise, you are probably not making a very good impression.

7) One Word Answers: Answer questions fully and honestly, no matter how nervous you may be. Try to keep them short, but if you let your nervousness or uncertainty take over, you will end up responding with a lot of “yes, sirs.” The quicker the interview, the less of an impression you have made on your interviewer. Try to answer questions with information that sets you apart from other potential hires, but not in a negative way.

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10 Helpful Interview Tips

April 13th, 2010

Creating a resume and a cover letter is always a hassle. However, when they work and you do get invited in for an interview, you have to kick it in to high gear in order to make your mark. Interviewing is extremely important, and will make or break your chances. Even if employers interview someone as an afterthought, a positive interview experience can land them the job. Below are 10 tips to help you perform your best at your next interview.

1. Research the company. Some people never know anything about a company when they head in for the interview, and this reflects poorly. Show that you have a serious interest in the company, and that you cannot wait to learn more about it. This passion will become infectious and interviewers will appreciate the time you have spent learning about the company.

2. Prepare questions and answers. There are common interview questions such as, “What are your weaknesses,” that are asked for reasons other than the answer. While the answer matters, they also want to know if your confidence can be shaken, or if you are able to carry on with aplomb. Be ready for these difficult questions and practice your answers. Additionally, interviewers will ask if you have any questions. You should prepare one or two interesting questions that will let the interviewer know that you are smart and logical, and truly taking the job potential seriously.

3. Dress neatly and conservatively. If they say business casual, or business professional, dress as such. It is always better to be overdressed than underdressed, but arriving in a full suit when they say “casual to business casual” is overdoing it.

4. Arrive 10-15 minutes early. Though your interviewer may be late, and you may be waiting for 20, 30, or even 40 minutes if you arrive early, it has its benefits as well. You could show up before another interviewer, who happens to be late, save them time by being prepared to interview first, and make a much better first impression than your competition. Even if they are not aware that you show up early, they will know if you arrive late. Planning to arrive early also ensures that you do not arrive late. If possible, drive there once before the interview so you know exactly where it is and how long it takes to get there. Don’t forget to account for traffic!

5. Make eye contact. As often as possible, make eye contact with your interviewer. This not only shows confidence, but also lets them know that you are listening intently to what they have to say. Do not stare at them, but engage with your eyes.

6. Shake hands at first greeting. Do not stand there awkwardly clutching your purse or interview portfolio. Be the first to reach out your hand in a formal greeting, shake hands firmly, but not in an intimidating way, and smile.

7. Answer questions directly. While there are some things that are better left unsaid, answer as openly and honestly to questions, and provide a direct answer rather than beating around the bush. This shows that you can take direction. If you avoid the question it connotes the idea that you have something to hide from the interviewer, which is never a good thing.

8. Show how you can benefit the company. This is something you should prepare when you prep questions and answers. Make sure you use the job description as a guideline, as well as the company’s statement of purpose or goal to help you. Match your skills and experiences with the job description.

9. Remain professional, no matter what. Do not try and be funny, and never make inappropriate comments. It is okay to be witty if that is the type of personality you have, but try and keep all of your comedy and goofiness in a box. It is much safer there.

10. Bring a hard copy of your resume and references. Not only does this show that you are prepared, but it also makes the next step much easier. Maybe they do not exactly remember who you are when you arrive, or maybe they have lost their copy of your resume. If this happens, and you have a hard copy, you will probably get an “I like you already,” kind of look from the interviewer.

Follow these tips and remain confident on interview day and you will perform your best.

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The Advantages of Using a Resume Template

April 13th, 2010

Developing your resume from scratch is often overwhelming. Resume templates make the process much easier, and eliminate the stress of formatting something to look professional. Whether you are applying for a job for the first time in your life, or for the first time in many years, utilizing a template can add great benefits to the overall allure of your resume.

Professional Appeal

There is often a misconception that resume templates can negatively affect your chances of getting the job. If you are applying for a highly creative or artistic position, this may be the case, as the interviewer will be looking for people who stand out for their artistic skills. In most other situations, a resume template is simply a way of double-checking your own work. Instead of starting with a blank sheet of paper, you can simply input your information into a template or wizard to make your resume look professional.

Over the course of time, commonly accepted styles can change drastically. A few decades ago it was commonplace to worry about the amount of “white space” on your resume before submitting it. This is not a contemporary art project, this is a resume; employers are not worried about things like white space, but rather, the way that you fill that white space. With resume templates, all the guesswork is taken out of the equation, and you can view a final product with all of your professional information on it in just a few minutes.

The visual appeal of your resume is very important. Jamming as much information onto a single sheet of paper can seem over-eager, jumbled, and messy. It is important to highlight certain aspects of your skills and past experience, but it is not necessary to include every Girl or Boy Scout badge you have received. Since templates only allow a certain amount of information, they force you to decide what information is relevant to the current job, and what can be left off of your resume.

Saves Time

The job hunt is intense, and many people like to have more than one resume on hand as they search within a wide variety of different positions. Having separate resumes is always a good idea since they can each showcase your different skills, and focus on the experience relevant to a particular position. That being said, the idea of creating five unique resumes is overwhelming. You may try and change the style or font size depending on the amount of relative experience or skills you have for any given position, which only adds to the length of time it takes to make five somewhat unique resumes.

With resume templates, you no longer have to worry about the extra time it takes to create job-specific resumes since it rarely takes more than ten minutes to create a resume. Once you input all of your personal information, you can simply change the work experience and qualifications to suit each job. This makes writing a few unique resumes much simpler. The time it takes to create one resume is significantly reduced, and creating many different resumes based on the job market and position for which you are applying becomes extremely efficient.

First Impressions Matter

Your resume is essentially the first impression you will make on your potential employer. While the initial impression may change if you get an interview, the first impression made by your resume also determines whether or not you even get that interview. It is important to understand that you are trying to sell yourself, and showcase all of your best attributes, which is difficult to do on paper.

If you submit a sloppy resume, it will reflect extremely poorly on you, and negatively affect your chances of landing an interview. It is important to have an organized resume that is easy to read. Resume templates can help you create that lasting first impression that lands you an interview. Looking neat and organized on paper puts out the impression that you are neat and organized in person, which is exactly what employers want to see.

Employers generally scan resumes before deciding if they should bother reading it or setting up an interview, much like you might casually skim over an article in the paper before deciding to read the entire thing. You want to make sure that you have words and phrases that stand out and convince the employer to take the time to read it, or, at the very least, convince them to pass it along to someone else in the hiring chain. Including these buzz words is a way of controlling the first impression that you make, which is a key factor in the decision making process of employers. Resume templates are created by people with a knack for  making buzz words and phrases stand out; utilizing templates can help you create a resume that makes a lasting impression.

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5 Common Resume Mistakes

March 30th, 2010

Creating your resume can be the most frustrating aspect of your job search, but if you build it, they will come. Being without employment is a bit scary, but constant vigilance, determination and focus can quickly turn that around. You should always begin your job search by spending some time with your resume. See what experience and skills you have, as well as what you would like to do with them. This will help you figure out what jobs to apply for, and how to sell yourself.

1) Typos and Grammatical Errors: While it is said that 50% of statistics are made up, it is definitely true that a large majority of personnel will discard a resume due to typographical and grammatical errors. At 90 WPM, you are very likely to make a typo, so be sure to re-read your resume many times, otherwise they may be thinking, “no wonder they type so fast – look at all these errors.”

Additionally, if one of your skills is listed as “Close attention to detial,” the person reading your resume will laugh at you, will show it to other people in the office, and then promptly dispose of your resume. Mean what you say. Prove that you can pay close attention to the details by showing that nothing on your resume has been overlooked. One grammatical error or typo might get overlooked, or go unnoticed, but two will surely cost your the job.

2) Too Generic: There is nothing worse than printing fifty duplicate resumes and dropping them off at various companies. Regardless of where you are applying, the positions, procedures and personalities of each company will be different, so you should mold your resume to fit them. There are simple ways to do this without fabricating any personal information.

Say you were a bartender at a restaurant and you were responsible for learning a wide variety of new drinks in a short period of time, marketing your bar and the nights you work to current and potential customers, keeping track of inventory, locking up and setting the alarm, and dealing with the money for the restaurant on a daily basis.  You can market that for a plethora of different positions. You have: customer service experience, evidence of being a fast learner, sales and marketing potential, organizational skills, managerial responsibilities and tasks, as well as reliability. It is amazing to realize what you can do with a simple bartending position.

3) Unfocused: A resume needs to have a point. It does not need to have a punch line or a moral, but rather, a focused goal. If you have had a lot of variety in past work experiences or are trying to move away from one expertise to another, you need to focus your attention on your versatility. Show that you are good at whatever you do, without giving away too much about the details of your various tasks. If you are applying for a common position that generally looks for a good deal of experience, such as at a restaurant, you can omit everything that is not restaurant work-related, but you should include all relevant experience. And finally, if you are applying to a job in a specialized field, you want to showcase your knowledge of the tasks at hand, as well as your current skill set and its relevance to the position. Make sure you seem quick to learn and qualified, without appearing too experienced, or overqualified.

4) Too Long/ Too Short: A standard resume should be one page in length. If you are applying for a position that requires a portfolio, they will tell you to provide one, but you should still have a one-page summary of your skills and accomplishments. Otherwise, assume that you should supply a one-page resume and a separate page for references. If you have a lot of information, by organizing it appropriately and taking advantage of bold font, italics, and underlining, you can avoid making it look smashed together. If you do not have a lot of experience, you should elaborate on your individual positions and tasks and show how they make you a perfect candidate for the job.

Entry-level positions often do not bother checking your references, so if you include extensive information about them on your resume, you are merely wasting space. You can simply note one or two references from one of your most recent positions just to show that you did actually work there, and you are not afraid that they will be contacted. For many higher up positions, your references are one of the most important factors, and should be treated as such by being on a separate sheet, as a professional list of references and contact information.

5) Irrelevant or Negative Information: It is great that your son is a Harvard Law student, your mother is an Irish immigrant, and you train your dog on the weekends. Unless you are applying for a position that finds any of that information relevant, exclude it entirely. Most decisions to interview or discard are made in less than a minute; do not waste their time with anything that will not sell you as a perfect candidate.

Under no circumstances should you have any negative information on your resume. While there are plenty of cynical people who would enjoy some dark humor, keep it lighthearted and positive. Make your tasks seem interesting and fun, and never have anything that might allude to poor management, a terrible boss, or negative internal relationships.

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The Do’s and Don’ts of Resume Writing

March 30th, 2010

Developing your resume is a tedious part of the job search and is also one of the most important steps of the process.  Below is a list of do’s and don’ts to help you along the way.  Stick close to these guidelines and you can start searching for the job of your dreams.

  • DO use bullets to establish your points and organize your experiences. This makes it a thousand times easier for employers to glance over your skills, experiences, and qualifications.
  • DON’T list everything with bullet points. You want the important information to stick out, not blend in with the rest of the details. Use bullets, but use them sparingly.
  • DO save your file as your name and resume if you are sending it via email. This will make it much easier to access, and avoid confusion when interview time comes around.
  • DON’T use whatever generic or default name is provided, and avoid using dates or version numbers. Employers do not need to know how many different versions of your resume you have, or how often you update it.
  • DO include all available contact information such as phone number, email address, and even home address to ensure that you can be found if they want to check references or set up an interview.
  • DON’T include personal email addresses that are not professional, such as “luvskittens@hotmail” or “dottiethehottie@yahoo.” If it is the only email address you have, you should definitely open a new account.
  • DO use high quality paper of a relatively neutral color. Something more substantial will stand out in a stack of resumes.
  • DON’T use bright colors, scented paper or pens, or standard white copy paper (if you can avoid it). These “artistic” additions are distracting and unprofessional.
  • DO use font enhancements such as bold, italics, and underline. This will make your resume look more interesting, and help the important parts stand out.
  • DON’T go overboard with these enhancements. Much like the bullet points, you should use them to drive a point home, but use them sparingly. Additionally, do not change your font style throughout the paper, and never use varying colors.
  • DO highlight your achievements and accomplishments. Show how far you advanced in various positions, and what you did.
  • DON’T focus too much on the duties you performed. Highlighting individual tasks is a waste of time since employers rarely have time to read through them. It just takes away from the more important points.
  • DO use fragmented sentences. You may not realize this, but fragments actually help to enhance a point. When employers are scanning a resume, they rarely spend more than a minute or two on it, so shorter sentences and phrases are helpful.
  • DON’T use personal pronouns. Omitting “I” and “my” will add to the fragmented sentences, but will also make your resume easier to read. Your resume is obviously about you; so don’t bother with first person pronouns.
  • DO make your resume job specific. Include information that is relevant to the job for which you are applying, and make it show that you are the missing puzzle piece to their organization.
  • DON’T submit the same generic resume to many different job openings. Though you may be applying for similar jobs, do not use the same exact resume. When employers read it they will know it is generic, and that can greatly affect your chances.

The most important thing to remember is to remain honest. It is okay to be a little bit more confident in your skills than you normally are, but only include honest information. Good luck!

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5 Things Every Resume Should Include

February 25th, 2010

The economic recession has made job-hunting harder in recent years, but a good resume can still go a long way towards increasing your chances of landing the right gig. Whether you are looking for a new job or not, though, it’s a good idea to keep your resume up to speed, so that it represents your experience and skill levels accurately and in the best possible light. Here are five things that every resume should include.

1. A Clear and Focused Objective
If you’re resume objective seems vague or unsure, chances are that you’re potential employers will likely pass on you. A vague or passively-worded objective will be taken as a lack of initiative and/or direction, so you want to make sure that your resume includes and strong and clearly stated objective. A good objective statement is one that sounds dynamic and focused and that is specific. Instead of writing your objective to be “to get a job in marketing that pays well”, try something that’s more like, “to obtain a marketing position that makes effective use of my expertise in the field of human relations and project management”.

2. Specific Accomplishments
Potential employers will be more impressed by your resume if it explains (succinctly) how you accomplished something at your previous job than if you simply list the accomplishment on its own. List your accomplishments using bullet points. An example of a good accomplishment statement would be, “increased company profits 80% for three consecutive quarters by implementing a new data tracking system”. You can put these statements in bold to make them stand out, if you wish. A good way to structure these statements is by stating, in order, a problem, the action taken, and the result (a strategy popularly referred to as “PAR”). For example, “transformed messy and inefficient human resources office into a smooth and efficient operation by re-designing the office layout.” Listing your accomplishments using this method will look vastly more attractive on your resume than simply putting down, “managed marketing office for two years” or “redesigned office layout”.

3. Relevant Personal Attributes
The key term here being, “Relevant”. Employers do want to know what personal skills you bring to the table, but those skills must have some significance (i.e. a way that they can be applied) to the job position you are applying for. It’s good to pepper your personal attributes section with some good resume power words (i.e. words like, creative, hard working, innovative, strategic thinker, high energy and dedicated) but make sure they are used in the context of something that your potential employer would be interested in knowing about. If you have some doubts about what to include or not include, try to picture what you would look for if you were the employer, and keep all things that relate more to private or home life away out of your resume. Being a “good family man” or “an active church member” are good attributes, sure, but your professional resume is not the place to list them.

4. A List of Work Experience That Shows Development
The easiest and most common way to list your work experience is in chronological order, as this allows employers to see how you’ve progressed professionally. This is especially good if you’ve been working in the same field for several years and have been upwardly mobile. However, if you’re changing fields you might want to use a Functional format instead of the Chronological format so that you can highlight transferable skills. The goal here is clearly show growth, i.e. that you have been learning new, applicable skills and have the ability to continue moving upwards and learning more.

5. References Upon Request
At the end of your resume you should have a statement saying that references are available upon request. Also, if you have worked in a field that required you to have clients, owned your own business or been a private contractor, be sure that you offer to provide customer references upon request too. Customer satisfaction in addition to previous employer satisfaction is one of the most important indicators for future employers of who you are as a worker.

As you can see, there’s a lot to think about when putting together a good resume, which is why it’s good to start  working on it (i.e. building good references for it) before you have to look for a new job.

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The Importance of a Good Cover Letter

February 25th, 2010

With the job market at it’s worst for the jobless right now, the competition has peaked to an all-new high. Every job is in the hands of the employer, and they currently hold all the cards. You need to do anything and everything you can to have someone look at your resume, and to land that first interview. A great way to start getting ahead of the pack is to perfect your cover letter writing skills.

Many people spend a huge chunk of time honing and perfect their resume. While this is extremely important, some employers will not even bother to look at your resume unless your cover letter is a) present and b) perfect.

When it comes to applying for a job, you have to present the most perfect version of yourself on paper, and then later in person. Employers know that we all have flaws and make mistakes, but first impressions will never cease to be important. No matter how driven and talented you may be, spelling errors and typos will certainly stick out if one of your skills is listed as “Great attention to detail.”

The cover letter is the best way of setting yourself apart from all of the other applicants. Some people will not even bother to include a cover letter; by having one, you have already kicked them out of the race. Anything and everything you can do to set yourself apart from the other contenders is beneficial to your chances. The cover letter shows a side of you that is not possible to show in a bullet-pointed resume.

What a Cover Letter Allows You to Say

This short letter is where you get to establish your own voice. You want to write in your own words, and use your standard, yet professional diction. A letter is much more of a conversation than a declarative list. The employer is being introduced to you the first time, and you want to make an outstanding impression. By eliciting a favorable opinion in your cover letter, the bullet points on your resume will merely be bonus points, as long as you are qualified for the job.

You can share your life experiences and their relevance to this job position, while also showing that you are a real person, rather than a mass-produced robot. Many people these days are rapidly emailing their resumes to potential employers as their main job-hunting technique. While this is a really great way to get your name out there, if you do not include a cover letter, your name can just as easily be forgotten or crossed off the list.

If you are submitting your resume in person, you should bring a cover letter with you, though it may not be completely necessary to hand it over to the employer. Depending on the type of meeting or interview, you may decide that the cover letter is redundant, especially if the interviewer is taking notes throughout your meeting. If, however it is a short meeting, or the person you meet with is not responsible for hiring, you should always include your cover letter. You want each person who touches your resume to get the positive first impression and personal touch that you are trying to portray in your cover letter.

Not Having a Cover Letter

Excluding a cover letter says quite a few things to the employer. Firstly, is shows that you are probably lazy. Whether you are skilled at writing or not, you can always find help with writing a cover letter, through many different online sources. Secondly, it leaves employers wondering if you are capable of writing the cover letter at all, with or without outside help. Neither of those situations will land you an interview.

When writing your cover letter, there are quite a few things you want to keep in mind. Remember that you are speaking to someone who may be one day signing your paycheck so stay professional, and only include relevant information. Remain positive throughout the entire letter and never include negative information about past jobs, employers, or experiences. Keep it as compelling and concise as possible, and do not let any spelling, grammar, or typographical errors slip by unnoticed, because the reader will almost certainly notice them.

Show that you know a little bit about the company or the industry in general, and explain your desire for the company. Your resume will be able to show why you are right for the job, but your cover letter should show why the job is right for you, while also showing that it is easy to get along with you. You want them to read it and think, “Hey, I’d like to work with this person on a daily basis.”

Cover letters are just as important as resumes, and are more likely to provide a favorable first impression than resumes are. Do not underestimate the power of a good cover letter when searching for a job, because employers will certainly not overestimate your potential as an employee.

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Posted in Cover Letters | 2 Comments »

How can I write a resume without listing current employment?

February 12th, 2010

How you deal with the potential negative fallout from your current employer is a difficult situation to handle.  Every situation is a little different and what works for you may not work for me.  Keep in mind that most employers are going to want a full employment history.  They also want extended gaps in employment explained.  Above all, the purpose of a resume is to get an interview.  Leaving out parts of your employment history could hinder your efforts or disqualify you from getting the interview.

There are a couple of ways of dealing with the contact issue.  First, you can choose what information to show on your resume.  You can list the company name and city, or just the company name.  Whatever you are comfortable with. Our resume builder will ask for the information, but you can select a resume template that does not display it.  Second, in an interview or on an employment application you can let the interviewer know that it is not ok to contact the current employer.  Be honest and open about your situation.  No solution is universal, but following these steps will give you the best opportunity to get an interview and new job.

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Posted in Resume Builder | 1 Comment »

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