Your Resume
I did a presentation recently at a local college, and the students had a lot of questions about resumes and cover letters. Below are some helpful tips.
1. Make sure that you include the job title and some of the verbiage from the ad in your resume and cover letter. A lot of companies use computer programs to scan resumes for qualifications.
2. If you send correspondence via an email account, make sure that your address is professional.
3. If you send a traditional cover letter and resume, make sure that you use matching stationery (paper and envelopes). Choose a traditional color. I like pink and purple, but they're not good for a job search.
4. When companies accept resumes electronically, sometimes, the application adds spacing or substitutes characters. Your resume may not look like you plan for it to look. Take the time and create a resume version without a lot of formatting. Use this one for cutting and pasting into websites.
5. Proofread all of your work. Then proofread it again. Then have someone else proofread it for you. Mistakes cause reviewers to question your ability. (If you've paid someone to do your resume, make sure you proof it before sending it out.)
6. Be truthful on your resume. Don't exaggerate your skills, job titles, or work experience.
7. Don't underestimate your skills. If you have the capability, make sure you list it.
8. Choose a resume style that matches your experience. If you don't have much work experience, use a style that highlights your education and skills. If you've worked a while, your education should be at the end.
9. If you're on a serious job search, go out and check what you've posted to your web pages. Many employers Google perspective interviewees. The pictures of you at the keg party are pretty good, but that may not be the image you want to project to a prospective employer.
10. Your resume should not be more than two pages long. Unless a job demonstrates your skills for the job that you're applying for, then the rule is to only have about 10 years of work experience in a current resume.
11. Try to address your cover letter to a person or Director of Human Resources. "Dear Sir/Madam" is archaic. Don't use "To whom it may concern."
1. Make sure that you include the job title and some of the verbiage from the ad in your resume and cover letter. A lot of companies use computer programs to scan resumes for qualifications.
2. If you send correspondence via an email account, make sure that your address is professional.
3. If you send a traditional cover letter and resume, make sure that you use matching stationery (paper and envelopes). Choose a traditional color. I like pink and purple, but they're not good for a job search.
4. When companies accept resumes electronically, sometimes, the application adds spacing or substitutes characters. Your resume may not look like you plan for it to look. Take the time and create a resume version without a lot of formatting. Use this one for cutting and pasting into websites.
5. Proofread all of your work. Then proofread it again. Then have someone else proofread it for you. Mistakes cause reviewers to question your ability. (If you've paid someone to do your resume, make sure you proof it before sending it out.)
6. Be truthful on your resume. Don't exaggerate your skills, job titles, or work experience.
7. Don't underestimate your skills. If you have the capability, make sure you list it.
8. Choose a resume style that matches your experience. If you don't have much work experience, use a style that highlights your education and skills. If you've worked a while, your education should be at the end.
9. If you're on a serious job search, go out and check what you've posted to your web pages. Many employers Google perspective interviewees. The pictures of you at the keg party are pretty good, but that may not be the image you want to project to a prospective employer.
10. Your resume should not be more than two pages long. Unless a job demonstrates your skills for the job that you're applying for, then the rule is to only have about 10 years of work experience in a current resume.
11. Try to address your cover letter to a person or Director of Human Resources. "Dear Sir/Madam" is archaic. Don't use "To whom it may concern."
Posted by Crazy for Words at 11/11/2007 2:05 PM 
Categories: Job Searches, Proofreading and Editing, Writers and Writing
Categories: Job Searches, Proofreading and Editing, Writers and Writing
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