Resume and Cover Letter Tips

Eye-Catching Resume and Cover Letter Tips

By Teresa Hawks

Job hunting is much like using Facebook to meet that special guy or girl, or as an avenue to find friends

Think about it, a resume has all the elements of a Facebook page

The following 10 tips on creating an impressive cover letter and resume are sure to get you noticed

Introduction

1. Keep It Brief2. Be Assertive and Proactive3. Tailor to the Specific Company4. Revise Cover Letter and Resume for Each

Application5. Use “Business-Speak”6. Address Your Cover Letter to an Individual7. Appearance Counts8. Let the Employer Judge Your Skills9. Proofread, Proofread, Proofread10. Follow Up

Tips to Get You Noticed

Tip One: Keep It Brief

Facebook PageCover Letter and Resume

When setting up your profile page, the first section is called “About”

Here you are giving information about yourself

Less is more, no one wants to hear you ramble

Your cover letter should not go over one page, if possible use bullet points

Make your resume no more than 1-2 pages

The objective for both is to get to the point quickly

Tip Two: Be Assertive and Proactive


When you want a cute guy or girl to notice you in a post, you find yourself using many action words

These help you describe your qualities and skills to ensure you will catch their attention

Your cover letter needs to explain what special qualities and skills you can bring to the job

Use action words and phrases that highlight your skills

Do not use slang words

Tip Three: Tailor to the Specific Company


This is like going to that special guy’s or girl’s page and posting a message

After visiting their page, you have gained information to reference in your next post

This indicates you are interested

Include information that can demonstrate your knowledge of the company

Research the company using their own website

Stress special skills that are relevant to the company

Tip Four: Revise Cover Letter and Resume for Each Application


If the other person is interested in you, they will check out your page

Never repeat information they already know

Change it up so that you are sure to get noticed

In your cover letter, do not repeat your resume

Use your cover letter to show personality, curiosity, and interest in the job

Use relevant job, life experiences, and skills that will catch their interests

Tip Five: Use “Business-Speak”


Go back and look at your timeline and record your accomplishments

All you need to do to translate is put a business-like tone when presenting them

“I was president of the science club” versus “In my term as president of the science club, I organized annual science fairs at all the local middle schools”

Use skills obtained from volunteer work, clubs, school functions, and fundraising activities

Tip Six: Address Your Cover Letter to an Individual


You certainly make sure when posting to a person you like that you use their correct name

You cannot hope to attract a girlfriend or boyfriend if you can’t get their name correct

If you do not know the individual, call the company

Get the correct name and use formal language (Mr., Mrs., Dr.)

If you do not have that information, address nobody

Tip Seven: Appearance Counts


We all know about wanting our Facebook page to look awesome

The same is true for your cover letter and resume

Use high quality white paper

Avoid colored or fancy stationary

Never photocopy; always send a typed, clean final copy

Tip Eight: Let the Employer Judge Your Skills


You would never send a post saying “pick me,” “date me,” or “I’m the one for you”

You certainly do not need to do it when applying for a job

Convey your skills and qualifications, but do not tell the employer that you are the best person for the job

The employer will come to that conclusion by reading your resume

Tip Nine: Proofread, Proofread, Proofread


How do you look after sending a post, read it, and realize it has horrendous spelling errors?

You scramble to correct it or delete it

After a resume is sent, there is no correcting the errors

A typo will severely limit your chances of getting an interview

As your English teacher has stressed over the years, your grammar, punctuation, and spelling are critical

Tip Ten: Follow Up


This is like sending a thank you post after someone has accepted your friend request

This reinforces your interest in them and gratitude for considering your request

Take the time to send a thank you note

This can be in the form of snail mail or e-mail

Make sure to correctly spell the name of the person and use formal language (Mr., Mrs., Dr.)

1. Keep It Brief2. Be Assertive and Proactive3. Tailor to the Specific Company4. Revise Cover Letter and Resume for Each

Application5. Use “Business-Speak”6. Address Your Cover Letter to an Individual7. Appearance Counts8. Let the Employer Judge Your Skills9. Proofread, Proofread, Proofread10. Follow Up

Tip Review

http://www.calhoun.edu/student_services/career_services/resumes.aspx

http://fastweb.com/career-planning/articles/242-top-ten-cover-letter-tips

Additional References





Resume and Cover Letter Tips

Education

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