Resume & Cover Letter Writing: Doesnt

Showing posts with label Doesnt. Show all posts

1/29/13

Who Says It Doesn't Belong On Your Resume - Be Unique, List It Anyway

12/22/12

Who Says It Doesn't Belong On Your Resume - Be Unique, List It Anyway

Sometimes I wonder if all of those folks who specialize in helping people with their resumes are really worth their salt considering all the changes we have had due to the influx of social media being used by recruiters, human resource departments, and even referral networks helping to place employees. Let me explain what I mean because I think you will easily grasp my point here.

Not long ago, I was talking to someone, and they happen to have their resume with them, which I thought was interesting because we just got done talking about careers, and the fact that I know some business startups which are looking for people. When I took their resume, I thought to myself; "what on earth am I going to do with this?" I mean basically, I have to scan it into my computer so I can e-mail it to my friend who runs his own company. But, graciously I took the resume and thanked the person.

Then I asked if they had their resume on LinkedIn, it turns out they did, but they told me that the paper resume was better because their resume on LinkedIn also had all of their hobbies, their friends, and links to other information that was personal about themselves. I thought that was a good thing, but apparently they didn't feel it was a good thing because their resume advisor and consultant told them to take that stuff off because it didn't belong on a resume.

Well, I have another question to ask; who says it doesn't belong on the resume, shouldn't you be unique and be a real person? After all, people are in 3-D, and it's hard to describe a 3-D object, someone's personality, their interest, and all their experiences, observations, and education on a two-dimensional piece of paper. Do you see that point yet? Further, you hardly get an idea of the person from bullet points, dates, schools attended, and places worked.

Indeed, there are folks that work for the Obama Administration, they either work in the cabinet or they work as one of the czars or consultants. Most of which I would never hire, not even to work in a small company, they just don't have any experience whatsoever. You can have all the best credentials on this planet, but if you're not a real person, and if your employer can't relate to you, or the person hiring you can't get a good idea about who you are and what you're about - you aren't getting get the job. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative eBook on Careers. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net/

7/7/12

What Spell Check Doesn't Catch Can Hurt Your Resume

Many word processing programs offer the option to check spelling and grammar in your text. This can be a terrific time-saver to help eliminate many common errors in cover letters and resumes. As long as we don't see the red or green zigzag markings under words, the document is good to go, right? Think again!

Spelling and grammar checks through software can never replace a human set of eyes that review for syntax and other errors in a document. That's why an extra set of eyes, or the help of a professional to proofread your cover letters and resumes, are especially critical.

Employers can dismiss a candidate's application and resume for many reasons. One common reason is lack of a professional cover letter and/or resume. If your documents contain spelling or grammatical errors, or improper use of words, it can cost you an opportunity to an interview and, potentially, a job. Employers view linguistic mistakes in documents and email, for that matter, as unprofessional. Don't leave a poor first impression.

Avoid making mistakes that can be easily corrected on your cover letter and resume by carefully proofreading the documents several times before submitting them. While spelling and grammar check through software can help, you are on your own when it comes to syntax - the relationship between words that determine their order in sentences. Another tricky area is homonyms - words that may sound or spell the same. A software program will not know the difference between homonyms, so watch out for these common errors:

Affect - Effect These two words can trip up even the best of writers. Pronounced almost the same, the difference is in the first letter. Make sure you know the difference between this set of homonyms. Examples:

-"My business networking efforts directly affect the company's performance for the quarter."

-"The effect of my networking efforts helped the company raise double the amount of funds over the previous year.

Discreet - Discrete When spoken, the listener interprets which words a speaker means. However, in writing, you must make the correct word choices. Make sure you know the difference between this set of homonyms.

Examples:

-"We are discreet in the manner in which we handle confidential documents."

-"The company has a discrete method for identifying sales leads."

Its - It's These three letters put together can form one word or two words simply by the break of an apostrophe. The two words have separate meanings, but we can easily make a mistake by misplacing the apostrophe. Make sure you know the difference between this set of homonyms.

Examples:

-"Increased its department size by 50 percent."

-"It is [or It's] the first product of its kind to enter the market."

Than - Then One word is used to express "difference" and the other word can mean "followed by," but they both sound the same. Take care in your writing to distinguish which is the proper word to use. Make sure you know the difference between this set of homonyms.

Examples:

-"Increased sales by more than 50 percent in the second year of the product's launch."

-"Started in an entry level position and then advanced to a managerial position in two years."

Their - There - They're The words all sound the same, don't they? But we all know they do not mean the same. It is easy to get caught up in typing the incorrect word as we process our thoughts and set them free for our fingers to do the typing. Make sure you know the difference between this set of homonyms.

Examples:

- "Secured their standing on the market by...."

- "There are 100 employees at the company."

-"They are [or they're] the top three marketers of..."

Verses - Versus Unless you are a song writer or literary writer, you are not likely to use the word "verses," but it can easily get mixed up in the mist of things when you mean to write "versus." Make sure you know the difference between this set of homonyms.

Examples:

-"I wrote the first verse to the song."

-"My project lead to savings of 60 percent, versus the potential loss of..."

Your - You're Distractions can be the cause of mistakes where we use the word "your" instead of "you're." The two words sound the same but the latter refers to two words - "you are." Make sure you know the difference between this set of homonyms.

Examples:

-"I am interested in your job posting on..."

-"You are [or you're] going to see a link below to my writing samples.

There are a number of other homonyms to watch out for when proofreading your documents to submit to an employer, such as "principal" or "principle" and "incite" or "insight." Your ability to write a professional and error-free cover letter and resume is part of the basis for an employer to want to follow up with you. Even if you have the specific qualifications to meet what the employer is looking for, poor proofreading of your documents can cost you.

Don Goodman, President of About Jobs ( http://www.gotthejob.com/ ) is a nationally recognized Career Coach and Resume Writer. A graduate of the Wharton School of Business and Stanford University's Executive Program, Don has helped thousands of people secure their next job. Read his blog at www.GotTheJob.com/blog/ or contact him at 800-909-0109 or by e-mail at dgoodman@GotTheJob.com.

7/5/12

One Size Doesn't Fit All When It Comes To A Great Cover Letter

Debating on whether or not you should send a cover letter with your resume submission? The simple answer to this question is "Yes" you should send a cover letter with every resume, even though the employer may not have indicated you should do so in the job advertisement. Additionally, just as each resume sent to an employer should be uniquely crafted and tailored to the position you are applying for, every cover letter sent with the resume should also be one of a kind. One size fits all doesn't work here.

A well written cover letter, although requiring a great deal of time and effort, affords its writer the opportunity to put extra emphasis on what they have to offer a particular company or organization. It can also demonstrate to an employer that its writer is worthy of a second look. Here is a list of what a first-rate cover letter entails:

1. Proofread and ensure there are no typographical or spelling mistakes. It should be flawless! Ask others to review it for you and then put it aside for a few hours and then review it again. Remember to use spell check and review it for bad grammar.

2. Your cover letter should always be addressed to the person in charge of hiring at the business. A cover letter and resume sent to "Company Hiring Manager" or "Attention: Personnel Department" is in bad taste and will have a tougher time getting where it needs to go, often ending up in the employer's "File 13". So, take the time to call the employer and inquire as to whom you should address your letter. Ensure that you have correctly spelled the person's name and attached a proper title such as "Mr.", "Mrs.", and "Ms."

3. Take extra time to thoroughly research the company or organization and the position. Demonstrate somewhere in your letter that you are familiar with the organization by possibly aligning yourself in your letter with their mission statement.

4. Write the letter using your own words, avoid terms that are overused and dated, and be sure to use phrases that exhibit enthusiasm and focus. You can use a Thesaurus to find words that are not overused and best fit you and then place them in your letter.

5. Use language and expressions in your letter that will be significant to the employer (you can find this information by reviewing their website and reading about the company and what they do) and then carefully contrast your experience with that of the position's qualifications.

6. Provide current, accurate personal contact information and along with your availability to be contacted by the employer in the final paragraph of your letter. If you are only available to take calls in the morning, be sure that you convey that information to the employer. Give them a good email address also.

Once you have forwarded your letter to the employer, allow time for cover letter and resume submission to reach its destination and fall into the right hands. This may take some time and follow up with the employer should be done no sooner than five working days after you have sent it. A good cover is the formal invitation for resume review, so craft it with care.

C.A. Stapleton, A.S., B.S., M.B.A., is an experienced professional resume writer, career consultant, and career coach. Get more information @ http://www.vet2work.com/ or http://www.naturallysilver.com/ Copyright. All rights reserved Worldwide.

5/14/12

One Size Doesn't Fit All When It Comes To A Great Cover Letter

5/11/12

What Spell Check Doesn't Catch Can Hurt Your Resume

-"My business networking efforts directly affect the company's performance for the quarter."

-"The effect of my networking efforts helped the company raise double the amount of funds over the previous year.

Examples:

-"We are discreet in the manner in which we handle confidential documents."

-"The company has a discrete method for identifying sales leads."

Examples:

-"Increased its department size by 50 percent."

-"It is [or It's] the first product of its kind to enter the market."

Examples:

-"Increased sales by more than 50 percent in the second year of the product's launch."

-"Started in an entry level position and then advanced to a managerial position in two years."

Examples:

- "Secured their standing on the market by...."

- "There are 100 employees at the company."

-"They are [or they're] the top three marketers of..."

Examples:

-"I wrote the first verse to the song."

-"My project lead to savings of 60 percent, versus the potential loss of..."

Examples:

-"I am interested in your job posting on..."

-"You are [or you're] going to see a link below to my writing samples.

9/3/11

Resume Writing Tips - Secrets HR Doesn't Want You To Know

A lot of people do not pay enough attention when they write their resume, assuming that they will just tell their prospective employers about the details during an interview. What they do not know is that it's actually the information that they put in their application that would help companies determine if job seekers actually deserve to have an interview in the first place. Listed below are resume writing tips to help you prepare your curriculum vitae so you can get the career that you've always dreamed of.

Customize the resume. Do make sure that your resume is customized according to the requirements the company is looking for in the job description they've posted. You don't have to rewrite the whole thing from scratch, but you can actually tweak with it so that it will answer what the employer is looking for. The reason why you're submitting your resume is because you're offering your services to them, so you will need to show right from the very beginning that you're the best person for the job.

Put the job objective. This is a section of the resume that is often overlooked, but something that employers are actually looking at. It gives them an idea on what their applicants are looking for in the company. Furthermore, having a job objective also shows that you have a sense of direction, a great trait to have in an employee.

Put all the relevant information. This is one thing a lot of people who give resume writing tips always forget to say. Sure, your accomplishments and previous work experience may be impressive, but what good will these do if your contact information isn't on the resume itself? Do make sure that all of the relevant information are included, and that includes your updated contact information.

Don't make the resume too long. One of the age-old resume writing tips that needs to get thrown out the window is for job seekers to put in just about anything and everything they've ever done in their whole life in their resume, even dating from the time that they played in the Little League. As much as possible, when it comes to your previous work experience, only put in the relevant information that's related to the job that you're applying for.

Proofread! This tip is actually a piece of advice that you can find in virtually all resume writing tips that have ever been written. A lot of people actually miss out on being called for an interview because they didn't bother to do a grammar and spelling check on their resume. To avoid making these mistakes that can cost you your job, try to get someone you know to proofread your resume before you send it out.

Don't bother using fancy paper or fonts. Want to know the quickest way for your resume to go down the bin? Use colorful board paper and large, screaming fonts. Unless you're a designer, you don't need to go down the fancy route, because it just looks like you're trying too hard, or you're trying to compensate for your lack of skills by using bright wrapping paper. When it comes to resumes, black ink and white paper are still the best.

A resume isn't just a list of the things you have accomplished in your previous jobs or a personal profile. It's your passport for getting the job, so do make the most of it! If you follow these resume writing tips, you will have a bigger chance of landing your dream job. Good luck!

Resume Writing: Unique Doesn't Mean Writing On Purple Paper!

Writing a resume that is unique, yet not too far out-of-bounds, is a puzzling challenge faced by many job hunters and would be resume writers. You want to stand out but you know that printing your resume on purple paper will not get the job done.

With so many resume templates floating around the internet, many take the easy way out, and simply insert their employment information into the template and call it a day. This is a far cry from unique, the hiring manger has probably seen to same format dozens of times, and it is an easy resume to reject.

A large part of making your resume unique is design elements. No, it's not a resume filled with sparking graphics but rather a consistency in a readable font, 24 pound bright white paper, in a readable font size, with proper bolding and capitalization. Lay the completed resume on the floor and stand over it. Is the design balanced and pleasing? If not get it corrected. Of course the overall design is carried through to the resume cover letter.

Use bullets to highlight a section or list of accomplishments. Don't go overboard.

You shouldn't need to be reminded, but the resume should be totally free of spelling or grammar mistakes. Proof read several times and have someone else take a critical look at the resume and cover letter before they are sent out. One candidate mailed out over 50 resumes until he realized he had made a mistake and put the wrong (disconnected) phone number on his resume.

The content of the resume, to be unique, should totally focus on results achieved. The prospective employer is looking for assurances that you can do a similar job for them. Running a lemonade stand when you were 12 that made you over $600 is only relevant if you are trying to establish a strong and creative work ethic. And then it may only be appropriate to make a point on your resume cover letter.

Never, never talk about responsibilities or duties performed. Personal items have no place in an effective resume. The prospective employer is only looking for relevant accomplishments. Give them what they want.

You may write a general generic resume; with your major skills and qualifications listed to use in networking. But in applying for a specific position you must re-draft the resume to match as close as possible to the needs of the employer. This will make your resume stand out, and further, make it unique.

Targeting a specific job takes some skill and research but after two or three submissions it will become second nature. First, you have to research the job being targeted. You may have a job announcement as your basic document, or other information learned through your network.

In the job announcement what is the first duty or skill listed? This will be your first accomplishment listed. The second duty or skill, list your second accomplishment and so forth. Use the company's keywords, and if the position's job title is somewhat different from your title change the job titles on your resume. Place your most powerful arguments on the top half of the first page of your resume. The area above the fold is the most valuable real estate in your resume; use it wisely.

If you closely follow these resume writing ideas, you will not only show off your unique qualities but they will be communicated in a unique and one of a kind resume. The kind of resume that attracts the attention of the hiring officials; and gets you the all important job interview.