Help For Corporate Road Kill
We're All In This Together ;-)
Resumes, Cover Letters, References & Thank Yous
It is said your resume will receive 10 to 20 seconds of consideration when it is first seen. This may be the only time it is read. You need to make a good first impression.
Your resume and cover letter are the foundation of your job search. Get your resume and cover letter in shape before you start looking for a job.
One resume is not right for every application. Be prepared to tweak your cover letter and resume each time you apply for a job.
Most of the sites where you can post resumes also have information in creating a resume. Poke around and see what they have to offer.
Quick Resume Pointers:
Your resume should be relevant to the job you are applying to. This is true in the summary statement and your experience.
Create a summary statement that outlines your expertise, relevant skills and experience. Keep this paragraph to three or four lines.
Employment experience comes next. List the company name and dates of employment. Provide a brief company description if the name of the company does not.
Next list your job title and a brief job description along with responsibilities. The responsibilities should be matched to the job you are seeking. Keep this paragraph brief because you will follow with a list of your accomplishments. You want to use specific accomplishments. What was the challenge, how did you resolve it and what were the results? If you can provide measurable results with numbers that is best. Numbers jump off the page. Follow this form for each of your jobs, but focus on the most current. Think of questions that address your work history. Did I serve on any task forces? What did the task force accomplish? Was I promoted and why? Did I handle any crisis situations or emergencies? What customer service, external or internal, situations did you handle? Did any of my suggestions save my employer money? In what situations did I show leadership? Keep thinking, check performance reviews or goals that were set for you by your company. You will be surprised at what you come up with and looks good on your resume. Use action words when writing you resume. Bullet-point your accomplishments. It has a clean look and makes it easy for the screener. Use action words when describing your accomplishments.
Action Words
Purdue University -
HR Guide -
Quintessential Careers -
Education section should list all of your degrees and any significant training starting with the most recent. If you are working on a degree or training program include it and when you expect to finish.
Additional Information is next. Here include any certifications, professional development you may have completed, volunteer work or special skills.
When you are done, consider the job you are seeking and the various points in your resume. Do they match up with the job posting requirements? Consider how the interviewer might look at Skydiver under Additional information. Does this make you an insurance risk? How does mentioning your interest in skydiving get you the interview and ultimately the job?
Formatting the resume is important. Make it easy to read. Keep paragraphs short and concise. Leave plenty of “white space” and margins should be about one inch in width. Resumes can be two pages unless the job posting specifically states one page. There are three general formats for resumes: chronological, functional, and combination of the two. The majority of resumes are chronological listing jobs from most recent. This type of resume is best when applying for a job in a similar industry to your last position. The functional format emphasizes your skills. This format works best when you are seeking a career shift. The combination format is just that, a combination.
Tweak you resume to fit the job you are seeking. A good way to start is write a summary statement that will be the basis of your resume. Write a couple more that focus on specific jobs you are considering. Write down all your jobs. Work on the accomplishment list for each job. Write as many as you can. Later it will be easy to cut and paste a select few that, again, match the job you are applying for. Do the same thing with you Additional Information section. Cutting and pasting is a wonderful tool and makes it easy to tweak your resume.
When you email a resume, make the cover letter and resume one file. This makes it easy for the screener and it puts your cover letter in front of them immediately. Rich text and PDF hold the text format as you created it. Simple txt files may lose the original formatting. Read the “e-Resume formatting” article below. Check E-mail Etiquette or E-mail Manners websites for more information about email etiquette. If you email use the subject line. Put the job title you are applying for and your name. Use the subject line to let the screener know what this email is about.
You may choose to bold your jobs and degrees. Do not use italics or colors. Clean, simple, concise and easy to read is what you are striving to present in your resume.
Run spell check and proof read your resume and cover letter. Print it out and proof read it. Email it to yourself and see how it looks. Did the format hold? Is it pleasing to the eye? Now run the resume and cover letter by a few people you trust and see what they think.
This is a very brief list of suggestions for creating your resume. Follow some of the links below and start reading. Surf the web and see what you can find.
Applying Online
When applying online you have no choice but to follow the format provided. But you have your resume done and are ready to cut and paste. All the information is at hand.
The Salary Question
Sometimes job postings and online application forms will ask for your salary history or expected salary range. It is important to answer this question. Some screeners will toss out resumes that do not address this question. Put down a range and something like “$40,000 - $50,000, I am open to negotiations.” Do not put just “I’m open to negotiations.” You may run across some online applications where all you can do is click on a range. Don’t leave it blank. If you have done your budget, you know what you need to earn to live on. See Financial Planning & Saving Money. And, if you have run some salary calculations you know what you are worth. See Company Low-Down. It’s tough out there, but if you are prepared you will get an interview and a job.
Building Your Resume
Job Star Central -
Easyjob -
Hot Resume -
The Resume Place -
Riley Guide -
Rockport Institute -
Careers Without Borders -
Career Resources -
WetFeet Resume Review Corner -
Campus Access -
All Business -
Top 10 Things about E-Resumes -
E-resume Formatting - make sure your resume comes out looking good when emailing.
Resume Resource -
Soyouwanna -
Mommy’s Place -
How To Approach Your Job Search - make a plan.
Your Personal Marketing Plan - you need a plan for presenting yourself to prospective employers and when networking.
Personal Marketing Strategy - don't skip this important step.
Five Resume Tips for When You Can List Only One Employer - so you've worked for the same company for a long time, turn it in to a plus.
Writing Your Cover Letters
Do not forget the cover letter. Some human resource professionals consider the cover letter just as important as your resume. The cover letter is another opportunity to “sell” your self and prove you can write and spell. Use your same contact information format at the top of the cover letter that you used on your resume. Remember this is a business letter, but it is also an opportunity to present a bit of your personality. If you do not know what a business letter looks like, many of the resume sites also have information about cover letters. Or check out Letters and Forms or Guide to Basic Business Letters or Basic Business Letter
The first paragraph of the cover letter should include how you found out about the job. If mutual acquaintance referred you, mention them by name. Let the screener know specifically which job you are applying for and state the job title. I will say it again, be concise, be short. Try to use only three lines.
In the second paragraph you are going to tell the screener that you know something about their company. Research the company before sending your resume and writing the cover letter. Use the information you have found, mention their wonderful growth, exciting new projects, anything that shows you are in the know. Use your noodle. If you do not know anything about the company because it was a blind ad, do not fake it.
The third paragraph will be about you. Demonstrate that you are qualified for the job. You may choose to bullet-point some of the qualifications from the job posting along side your qualifications. Highlight your experience, skills and education. Use an accomplishment or two that demonstrate why you are a good candidate for their opening. Be concise and keep this paragraph to no more than five sentences.
In the fourth paragraph explain how and when you are going to follow-up. In sales they say, “ask for the signature”. You want to close the deal. Ask for the interview and mention scheduling a mutually agreeable time. Thank them for their time and consideration. Even though you contact information is at the top of the cover letter, include it in your closing. Three sentences should cover this paragraph.
The entire cover letter should be one page with lots of white space. You don’t want the screener to think they are reading a short story. You want something in the cover letter to jump off the page and grab the reader, make them want to read your resume carefully and extend an interview.
Cover Letter Sites
Sample Cover Letters -
Carefully Crafter Cover Letters -
Resignation Letters, Thank You Letters, Employment Letters -
Cover Letters -
Riley Guide -
Vault -
Career Consulting Corner -
Thanks You and Following Up
Anyone who says you do not need to send thank you letters is just flat out wrong. A thank you letter will set you a part from the crowd. The vast majority of people who actually get an interview do not follow up with a thank you. First, it is the polite thing to do. It also gives you the opportunity to again, mention your interest in the position, your qualifications, and possible follow-up action and above all thank them for their time and consideration. Keep it brief and to the point.
You can email, use snail mail or send a hand written card. All these methods have their pros and cons. You decide which best suits the particular situation.
Job Interview Follow-up Do’s and Don'ts -
The Art of the Follow-up After Interviews -
How Important is it to Follow Up After an Interview -
What are the Best Ways to Follow Up After an Interview -
To Thank or Not to Thank -
Even when you get that dreaded letter, the “thanks but, no thanks”, the some one else was offered the job letter, still send a thank you letter. Let the interviewer know you appreciate being informed, that you would like to be considered for new positions that might come open and thank them for the opportunity to be interviewed, and it was nice to meet them. You might even want to try a “thank you for the consideration” when you get the “an interview won’t be extended” letter. You never know where a job lead or invitation to interview is going to come from -- never burn a bridge.
References
Use the same contact format and information at the top of your cover letter, resume and reference list. Do not provide the reference list until it is requested. One format is two columns with reference name and contact information on the left and a right column with background information about the reference. The background simply gives the screener information about your relationship with this person.
Finding References That Sing Your Praises -
Improving Your Job References -
Job Reference Services For Job-Seekers -
Your resume and cover letter are the foundation of your job search. Get your resume and cover letter in shape before you start looking for a job.
One resume is not right for every application. Be prepared to tweak your cover letter and resume each time you apply for a job.
Most of the sites where you can post resumes also have information in creating a resume. Poke around and see what they have to offer.
Quick Resume Pointers:
Your resume should be relevant to the job you are applying to. This is true in the summary statement and your experience.
Create a summary statement that outlines your expertise, relevant skills and experience. Keep this paragraph to three or four lines.
Employment experience comes next. List the company name and dates of employment. Provide a brief company description if the name of the company does not.
Next list your job title and a brief job description along with responsibilities. The responsibilities should be matched to the job you are seeking. Keep this paragraph brief because you will follow with a list of your accomplishments. You want to use specific accomplishments. What was the challenge, how did you resolve it and what were the results? If you can provide measurable results with numbers that is best. Numbers jump off the page. Follow this form for each of your jobs, but focus on the most current. Think of questions that address your work history. Did I serve on any task forces? What did the task force accomplish? Was I promoted and why? Did I handle any crisis situations or emergencies? What customer service, external or internal, situations did you handle? Did any of my suggestions save my employer money? In what situations did I show leadership? Keep thinking, check performance reviews or goals that were set for you by your company. You will be surprised at what you come up with and looks good on your resume. Use action words when writing you resume. Bullet-point your accomplishments. It has a clean look and makes it easy for the screener. Use action words when describing your accomplishments.
Action Words
Purdue University -
HR Guide -
Quintessential Careers -
Education section should list all of your degrees and any significant training starting with the most recent. If you are working on a degree or training program include it and when you expect to finish.
Additional Information is next. Here include any certifications, professional development you may have completed, volunteer work or special skills.
When you are done, consider the job you are seeking and the various points in your resume. Do they match up with the job posting requirements? Consider how the interviewer might look at Skydiver under Additional information. Does this make you an insurance risk? How does mentioning your interest in skydiving get you the interview and ultimately the job?
Formatting the resume is important. Make it easy to read. Keep paragraphs short and concise. Leave plenty of “white space” and margins should be about one inch in width. Resumes can be two pages unless the job posting specifically states one page. There are three general formats for resumes: chronological, functional, and combination of the two. The majority of resumes are chronological listing jobs from most recent. This type of resume is best when applying for a job in a similar industry to your last position. The functional format emphasizes your skills. This format works best when you are seeking a career shift. The combination format is just that, a combination.
Tweak you resume to fit the job you are seeking. A good way to start is write a summary statement that will be the basis of your resume. Write a couple more that focus on specific jobs you are considering. Write down all your jobs. Work on the accomplishment list for each job. Write as many as you can. Later it will be easy to cut and paste a select few that, again, match the job you are applying for. Do the same thing with you Additional Information section. Cutting and pasting is a wonderful tool and makes it easy to tweak your resume.
When you email a resume, make the cover letter and resume one file. This makes it easy for the screener and it puts your cover letter in front of them immediately. Rich text and PDF hold the text format as you created it. Simple txt files may lose the original formatting. Read the “e-Resume formatting” article below. Check E-mail Etiquette or E-mail Manners websites for more information about email etiquette. If you email use the subject line. Put the job title you are applying for and your name. Use the subject line to let the screener know what this email is about.
You may choose to bold your jobs and degrees. Do not use italics or colors. Clean, simple, concise and easy to read is what you are striving to present in your resume.
Run spell check and proof read your resume and cover letter. Print it out and proof read it. Email it to yourself and see how it looks. Did the format hold? Is it pleasing to the eye? Now run the resume and cover letter by a few people you trust and see what they think.
This is a very brief list of suggestions for creating your resume. Follow some of the links below and start reading. Surf the web and see what you can find.
Applying Online
When applying online you have no choice but to follow the format provided. But you have your resume done and are ready to cut and paste. All the information is at hand.
The Salary Question
Sometimes job postings and online application forms will ask for your salary history or expected salary range. It is important to answer this question. Some screeners will toss out resumes that do not address this question. Put down a range and something like “$40,000 - $50,000, I am open to negotiations.” Do not put just “I’m open to negotiations.” You may run across some online applications where all you can do is click on a range. Don’t leave it blank. If you have done your budget, you know what you need to earn to live on. See Financial Planning & Saving Money. And, if you have run some salary calculations you know what you are worth. See Company Low-Down. It’s tough out there, but if you are prepared you will get an interview and a job.
Building Your Resume
Job Star Central -
Easyjob -
Hot Resume -
The Resume Place -
Riley Guide -
Rockport Institute -
Careers Without Borders -
Career Resources -
WetFeet Resume Review Corner -
Campus Access -
All Business -
Top 10 Things about E-Resumes -
E-resume Formatting - make sure your resume comes out looking good when emailing.
Resume Resource -
Soyouwanna -
Mommy’s Place -
How To Approach Your Job Search - make a plan.
Your Personal Marketing Plan - you need a plan for presenting yourself to prospective employers and when networking.
Personal Marketing Strategy - don't skip this important step.
Five Resume Tips for When You Can List Only One Employer - so you've worked for the same company for a long time, turn it in to a plus.
Writing Your Cover Letters
Do not forget the cover letter. Some human resource professionals consider the cover letter just as important as your resume. The cover letter is another opportunity to “sell” your self and prove you can write and spell. Use your same contact information format at the top of the cover letter that you used on your resume. Remember this is a business letter, but it is also an opportunity to present a bit of your personality. If you do not know what a business letter looks like, many of the resume sites also have information about cover letters. Or check out Letters and Forms or Guide to Basic Business Letters or Basic Business Letter
The first paragraph of the cover letter should include how you found out about the job. If mutual acquaintance referred you, mention them by name. Let the screener know specifically which job you are applying for and state the job title. I will say it again, be concise, be short. Try to use only three lines.
In the second paragraph you are going to tell the screener that you know something about their company. Research the company before sending your resume and writing the cover letter. Use the information you have found, mention their wonderful growth, exciting new projects, anything that shows you are in the know. Use your noodle. If you do not know anything about the company because it was a blind ad, do not fake it.
The third paragraph will be about you. Demonstrate that you are qualified for the job. You may choose to bullet-point some of the qualifications from the job posting along side your qualifications. Highlight your experience, skills and education. Use an accomplishment or two that demonstrate why you are a good candidate for their opening. Be concise and keep this paragraph to no more than five sentences.
In the fourth paragraph explain how and when you are going to follow-up. In sales they say, “ask for the signature”. You want to close the deal. Ask for the interview and mention scheduling a mutually agreeable time. Thank them for their time and consideration. Even though you contact information is at the top of the cover letter, include it in your closing. Three sentences should cover this paragraph.
The entire cover letter should be one page with lots of white space. You don’t want the screener to think they are reading a short story. You want something in the cover letter to jump off the page and grab the reader, make them want to read your resume carefully and extend an interview.
Cover Letter Sites
Sample Cover Letters -
Carefully Crafter Cover Letters -
Resignation Letters, Thank You Letters, Employment Letters -
Cover Letters -
Riley Guide -
Vault -
Career Consulting Corner -
Thanks You and Following Up
Anyone who says you do not need to send thank you letters is just flat out wrong. A thank you letter will set you a part from the crowd. The vast majority of people who actually get an interview do not follow up with a thank you. First, it is the polite thing to do. It also gives you the opportunity to again, mention your interest in the position, your qualifications, and possible follow-up action and above all thank them for their time and consideration. Keep it brief and to the point.
You can email, use snail mail or send a hand written card. All these methods have their pros and cons. You decide which best suits the particular situation.
Job Interview Follow-up Do’s and Don'ts -
The Art of the Follow-up After Interviews -
How Important is it to Follow Up After an Interview -
What are the Best Ways to Follow Up After an Interview -
To Thank or Not to Thank -
Even when you get that dreaded letter, the “thanks but, no thanks”, the some one else was offered the job letter, still send a thank you letter. Let the interviewer know you appreciate being informed, that you would like to be considered for new positions that might come open and thank them for the opportunity to be interviewed, and it was nice to meet them. You might even want to try a “thank you for the consideration” when you get the “an interview won’t be extended” letter. You never know where a job lead or invitation to interview is going to come from -- never burn a bridge.
References
Use the same contact format and information at the top of your cover letter, resume and reference list. Do not provide the reference list until it is requested. One format is two columns with reference name and contact information on the left and a right column with background information about the reference. The background simply gives the screener information about your relationship with this person.
Finding References That Sing Your Praises -
Improving Your Job References -
Job Reference Services For Job-Seekers -
