creating great resumes and cover letters
Post on 18-Oct-2014
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Creating Great REsumEs and Cover Letters
• Cover letter: Your initial introduction gives a snapshot of who you are and why you’re a great fit for the position/company.
• Resume: Effectively sells your most relevant credentials, skills, and experience.
Get on board with a strong first impression
• Tailor each cover letter & potentially tweak your resume as needed for each job
• Ensure your resume aligns with the job requirements you are applying for.
Target your message
• The primary purpose of the cover letter & resume is to display your skills and expertise, and help you stand out.
• The average time spent reviewing a resume is 20 to 30 seconds, so be sure to capture attention quickly with the following tips...
Catch the eye quickly
• Career focus and approach
• Relevant work experience
• Simple, clean formatting
• Edited, professional content
Every resumeshould have:
• Be specific—focus your resume on a specific job.
• Use keywords from desired field and job description to help tailor your resume.
• Proofread multiple times before sending to a hiring manager.
Resume tips: Approach
• Show past ten or so years only—include older history only if relevant to the position
• Include months and years, or employers may think you are trying to hide something
• Address gaps in employment in your cover letter or in the interview
• Career changers: list education first with relevant coursework (instead of listing work experience first)
Resume tips: Work Experience
• Avoid paragraphs; instead, use bullets
• Keep to a maximum of two pages with one-inch margins
• Do not use a font smaller than 10 point
• Stick to common fonts such as Times New Roman or Arial
• Use white space on the page for visual appeal—do not crowd content
• Be clear and brief
Resume tips: Format
• Have a professional email address (ex. [email protected])
• Do not include references—create a separate document with a similar layout as your resume and provide it on request
• Use spell check, read your resume out loud and ask others to review and proofread it before sending
• Update your resume often to ensure your skills and experience are always up-to-date
Resume tips: Other tips
• Salutation
• Outline of experience
• Enthusiasm and availability
• Closing
Every cover letter should include:
• Address a specific person
• Do your homework! Call the company, look at their website, or use LinkedIn to find out the hiring manager’s name
• As a last resort, use “To whom it may concern”
Cover letter tips:Salutation
[Date]
Mr. John A. SmithCompany555 W. Broadway AvenueAnytown, USA 00000
Dear. Mr. Smith,
I would like to apply for the position of associate company through a placement agency here in Any
I am currently majoring in business at Kaplan Unithis spring. While I have a comprehensive understfurther my education.
I previously held an internship at Benton & ReichaWhile there, I worked directly under Mr. Benton as
• Opening: Identify the position you are applying for, how you learned about it and why you want to work there
• Body: Read job description carefully and list your experience relevant to the employer’s requirements and how you’d be a perfect fit at the company
Cover letter tips: OutlineIDEAL LENGTH IS ONE PAGE WITH TWO TARGETED PARAGRAPHS
• Say that a resume is enclosed, refer to availability for an interview, and thank them for their time and consideration
• Close out with your full name with a proper closing salutation
Cover letter tips: ClosingFINISH STORY AND TIE YOUR IDEAS TOGETHER WITH A ONE PARAGRAPH CLOSING STATEMENT AND SALUTATION.
• Be sure to show interest, professionalism, and enthusiasm for the position
• If appropriate, include availability for interviews
• Follow up with a phone call or email, typically two weeks after applying
Cover letter tips:Enthusiasm and Availability