An Outstanding Cover Letter

There is nothing that can compare to an outstanding cover letter. If you want to get an employer’s attention, you will need cover letter that demands their attention.

The cover letter is the first thing that an employer is going to read. It is the precursor to the resume. If the cover letter doesn’t command the attention of the reader right away, then you only have the resume left to do so. Sure, the resume will outline your educational and experiential background, but it doesn’t afford the flexibility of a cover letter.

An outstanding cover letter gives you an opportunity to tailor your credentials in a way that the resume does not. You are able to explain situations so that the employer understands why, for instance, you have a 2 year gap in your employment dates. You can expound on a specific skill set. You can outline a situation that shows the employer how accomplished you are. There is so much more that an outstanding cover letter can do.

Do not underestimate the importance of an outstanding cover letter.

Remember that a cover letter is short and to the point. If at all possible, keep the cover letter to one page. Keep it professional, but be sure to sell yourself, too.

To read more about cover letters, follow this link: Cover Letters

Other Interests

Recently, I had a question sent to me about including "other interests" on a resume. Should that section of the resume be included or excluded? The information was as follows:

Other Interests: Family, coaching youth sports, golf, fishing and hiking.

This is what I suggested he do:

The "Other Interests" portion of a resume is not necessary. In fact, it is the only aspect of your resume that I think someone might find something to nit-pick about. Why? Some people might worry that since you listed "Family" that you might be more focused on your family than your job. I admire that and I agree that you have your priorities straight if that's the case, however, some employers expect you to put the job first. You can put your family first without having to "warn" the employer that you are doing so. If a need arises that you have to make a choice between your family and your job, then you should get to make that choice, but don't let the prospective employer make it for you before you ever get a chance to interview for the job.

Does that make sense?

The other items don't need to be there either simply because they are possible reasons to exclude you more than they are possible reasons to include you. How can that be? What if the person screening your resume tried to play youth sports and failed miserably - or their father wasn't around for them? What if the resume screener went on a fishing trip once and fell out of the boat into deep water and it scared him/her so bad that fishing is now considered a hated hobby?

Don't give the prospective employer any reason to eliminate you. These things DO happen. It's crazy, but it's true.

So, now you know the answers, too. Don't give the employer a reason to exclude you. If you have this section on your resume, consider removing it. There is no sense in getting yourself taken out of contention for a job simply because someone else has a bias.

Carla Vaughan, Owner/Webmaster Professional-Resume-Example.com

Carla is the proud owner of Professional-Resume-Example.com, a web site devoted to assisting candidates in the job-search process. She holds a B.S. in Business from Southern Illinois University and has authored several books.

For more information about what to avoid when writing resumes, click here: Resume Do's and Don'ts

Is Your Resume Long Enough?

The length of your resume is less important than its substance. If your resume is properly worded, you can inject it with your accomplishments, expertise, skills and talents without having to wear out the reader with an abundance of unnecessary words.

What you write on your resume is more important than how long it is. Write what matters. Hit the employer between the eyes with your effective use of language. Convey your qualifications in vibrant prose so the reader cannot help but want to read more.

How long should your resume be? The length of your resume should be in direct proportion to your success in reaching your career goals and in pursuing related educational objectives. What does that mean?

Well, it means:

Show your accomplishments
Target your resume to the job and the company
Don't pad your resume
Be honest
Use action keywords
Only list what applies to the position you are seeking
Never use two words when one will do
Add enough white space to allow natural breaks in reading
Do not list references
Most experts suggest you keep your resume to two pages. If you can fit your skills and accomplishments on one page, that is even better. If you are a professional or executive, three pages may be required to tell the whole story, but be sure you are using only what best supports your career goals.

Write your resume in such a way that the reader knows exactly what you want and your credentials support that goal. Anything more becomes tedious and takes away from the impact of your true purpose. Anything less and your goal become unsubstantiated by your past experience and education.

The goal of the resume is to get the interest of the prospective employer to the extent that you are sought out for an interview. Whatever the length of your resume is, make sure that you are including the information that the employer needs in order to make an informed decision about whether or not to bring you in for an interview.

Remember that an employer doesn't have a great deal of time to devote to reading resumes, so make it easy and include what matters most in your resume. This is a time to show off, ok?

Carla Vaughan, Owner/Webmaster Professional-Resume-Example.com

Professional Resumes is a web site devoted to assisting candidates in the job-search process. Carla holds a B.S. in Business from Southern Illinois University and has authored several books.

Here are a few other articles that may be of assistance:

'Resume Do's and Don'ts'

'Resume Keywords'

Your Resume Isn't About You

Writing a resume is not that hard, but it does take a little time. Competition for jobs is fierce and you have to present your credentials in the most favorable light, so spend the time it takes to create an excellent resume. It will serve you well now and in the future when you need to add to it.

Employers want to read resumes that are professional, reflect your qualifications in a positive, energetic way and focus on the position you are seeking. The easier you make it for the employer, the more likely you will be called for an interview.

Everything about your resume is focused on the employer, not you. Yes, that seems backwards, but it's true. You have to get the employer interested enough in you to want to call you for an interview. That is the whole purpose of the resume. Even though it is your skills and accomplishments that are on the resume, they are there to show the employer that you can meet all the requirements of the job in which you are interested.

To learn more about targeting your resume to the employer, follow this link:

Target Your Resume

Resume Results - Quick Tips

Resume Results - Quick Tips

If you are in a hurry to zip off your qualifications to a prospective employer and do not have time to revamp the whole thing, take a look at these ideas and select a few to give your personal history a fresh look and some creative pizzazz.

There are two aspects of a resume that you need to consider:

* the layout
* the content

Both aspects are important and both serve different purposes. The layout must be visually appealing or the resume will not get read. You may have the best qualifications on the planet, but if your resume is hard to look at, no employer will bother with it.

Use these quick tips to polish your layout:

• White space – make sure there is enough white space so that the reader's eyes can focus on what really matters – those keywords
  
• Choose a format that highlights your achievements the best
  
• Use tabs to keep your resume aligned perfectly
  
• Do not use bullets for every achievement, responsibility or task
  

Here are some guidelines for your content:

1. Be concise – state what you need to, be brief, pack a punch, then hush.
   
2. Upgrade your words using powerful action verbs in your
   
3. Proofread again and again
   
4. Eliminate slang, jargon, acronyms and unrelated personal information
   
5. When attempting a quick resume update, consider the paper you are using to print your resume and cover letter on, too. You should be using white or off-white colored 24 lb or higher weight paper. This gives your materials a bright, professional look.
   

Attempt excellence in everything you do. Even if you are only taking a short period of time to update your resume, make the most of the time you have and present yourself in the best possible way. Your resume has to be an outstanding marketing piece or it will not help you get off to a good start with a prospective employer. Depending upon the competition, you may not get a chance at all to meet face to face with the employer.

Resumes are critical in today's competitive marketplace. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for October, 2005 is 5%. You have to be at the top of the heap if you are going to be employed. That means your resume must present your qualifications as eloquently and dynamically as possible.

Whether you are attempting a quick fix or a fully revamped resume, make it shine.

Best of luck,

Carla Vaughan
Owner/Webmaster
Professional-Resume-Example.com

Here are some links to a few articles that might also be of assistance to you in your job search:

Resume Brainstorming

Professional Resume Advice

A Resume Checklist

Career Planning for College Students and Recent Graduates

Career Planning for College Students and Recent Graduates

How would you like to achieve more success at work in a faster amount of time than anyone with whom you graduate?

It’s really quite simple. Have a plan. Have a career plan.

So many people approach the job search as a “somebody take me please” endeavor as opposed to planning their job search, focusing on the employers where you want to work and setting goals and deadlines for career achievements.

Most people just happen along with no focus, goals or deadlines at all. Life just happens. Jobs just happen.

The reason for making decisions today about where you want to be tomorrow is so that you have the ability to actually get there.

If you don't know exactly where you want to be, you will be wandering aimlessly from position to position hoping that somehow it will all work out. Unfortunately, that isn’t how it works.

When you left for college, you probably spent a lot of time figuring out where you wanted to go, applied to the school(s), then when you were accepted, you formulated a plan to enroll in classes, find a place to live and budget your finances so that you could afford to eat and buy necessities.

If you applied that same amount of time and effort into setting out a career plan and the goals involved in achieving professional success, you would be much more successful and you’d blow past the competition easily. No one in your graduating class at college would even come close to achieving what you would achieve.

The great news is that Career Planning isn't some magical experience. It's not hard at all. Just give yourself a little time and ask yourself a few questions and you'll be on the right track. As you have more time in the months and years to come, revisit your Career Plan and determine if it still makes sense for you or if you need to tweak it.

You are the only one who can create your destiny. You choose.
________________________________________

Take the time NOW to set the course for your future.

If you take the time to set your career goals, you will be ahead of 90% of the rest of the people out there who don’t bother to plan ahead. You will be more successful than your peers in the same field because you know where you are going and how you intend to get there. You will make more money and you will be much happier. Why? Because you didn't wait for destiny to step in. You took control of your life and made things happen.

For more information about Career Planning, check out these links:

'Career Planning'

'Career Tests'

'Look at Things From the Employer’s Perspective'

'Changing Careers'

'Personal and Professional Traits'

'Career Strengths'

'Personality Traits'

'What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up?'

'Goals, Objectives and Tasks'

'Goal Setting Template'

'Career Planning Choices'

'Fastest Growing Jobs'

'Employer Fit'

'Occupational Outlook'

'Success Planning'

'Professional Appearance'

'Job Market'

'Volunteer Rewards'

'Reasons To Volunteer'

'Volunteer Statistics'

The Four R's of Resume Writing

If you want to get a prospective employer’s attention, you need to write a resume with the Four R’s of Resume Writing in mind. These tips will help you create a resume that conveys the appropriate information to an employer in a way that shows confidence and enthusiasm.

Remember that you are competing against a lot of other job candidates, so take the time to create an excellent resume and you will already have an easier time of landing that perfect job.

The Four R’s of Resume Writing are:

Relate – Relate your skills in your resume to the position you are seeking. This is often called targeting your resume. An employer is less concerned about your job title and more concerned about what you did while you were on the job.

Research – Research the company so that you can relate your skills in a meaningful way. If the company has been headed in one direction and is undergoing a shift in marketing, management or mission, then you need to be aware of this and create your resume to reflect the current company direction.

Refresh – Refresh any tired old language with vibrant, energetic action words. This will attract the attention of the employer and make a much better impression.

Read – Read your resume as many times as necessary to ensure there are no typos, grammar errors or spelling issues. You may only get one shot at a particular job, so make sure everything the employer sees is top notch.

If you want to get a great job, you have to have a great resume. Keep these resume writing tips in mind as you work on your resume.

Carla is the owner of Professional-Resume-Example.com, a web site devoted to assisting candidates in the job-search process. She holds a B.S. in Business from Southern Illinois University and has authored several books.

For more information about writing Professional Resumes, follow this link to: Resume Examples