10 Tips for a Top-Notch Resume

When reviewing hundreds of resumes employers look for those few resumes that stand out and compel us to want to interview the candidate. If you include the following general, but powerful, tips in your resume you’ll increase the odds of employers calling for an interview.

1. Persuade the Reader to Call – When writing your resume be sure to present yourself as a “sure thing”. The hiring manager must feel comfortable hiring you and be assured that you are not a risky undertaking.

2. Focus on Accomplishments – not job duties. Show how you have taken action and achieved positive results. Quantify the results wherever possible. Never lie or embellish the truth. It’s too easy for hiring managers to check your record.

3. Be Clear and Concise – Make sure your resume is only two pages long (maximum). You’ll impress any hiring manager if your resume denotes clarity and confidence. Feature specifics of your employment history of which you are particularly proud. Chances are the hiring manager will feel the same way about your accomplishments.

4. Be Comprehensive – Include all elements of your employment history that may encourage a hiring manager to call you for an interview. Make sure your resume covers the scope of all requirements for the job. Never sound desperate and never sound like you need this job. Focus on what you can do for the employer, not on how much you need the job.

5. Be Specific – Include accomplishments for all duties in your current job. Even though you may not have the exact requirements requested by an employer, you may have excelled at many similar duties. Be specific and show how these related achievements make you an ideal candidate.

6. Be Professional – Keep a professional tone throughout your resume. Don’t discuss health issues, political issues or personal issues. However, if these are related to the job you are applying for, you may discuss them during your interview.

7. Contact Information – Make sure your contact information is clearly visible on all pages of your resume.

8. Be Thorough – Before sending your resume, review it to make sure you’ve answered the fundamental question “Have I included all the information that shows I can be an immediate benefit to the company”?

9. Assess your Resume – Reread your resume for tone. You want to make sure you come across as a talented, innovative and energetic person who can immediately contribute to the company. Leave the impression that you can deliver and will be an asset to the organization.

10. Follow Instructions – If the employer asks for an e-mail copy of your resume, send an e-mail. If the employer asks for a fax copy, send a fax. Do not visit the employer and ask to speak with the hiring manager. Hiring managers are very busy people and this will most likely be viewed as a negative.

Visit www.jobhawk.com for more job seeking resources and tips.

What NOT to include in your cover letter

Don’t Indicate Why You Left Your Last Job – Never discuss why you left your last employer, or why you can’t wait to leave your current employer, in a cover letter. And never say that you hated your boss. This is one of the best ways to exclude yourself from consideration.

Don’t Discuss Your Health – Never discuss your health in a cover letter. You may discuss your health during an interview if you have a condition that requires special equipment or facilities. Recruiters do not expect you to include your health information in a cover letter or resume.

Don’t Complain – Never complain in your cover letter, your resume or during an interview. Don’t criticize your current employer, your manager or complain about any jobs you’ve held in the past. It’s not professional and will be frowned upon by the corporate recruiter.

Don’t Write your cover letter on Corporate Letterhead – Never write your cover letter on the letterhead of your current employer. Your cover letter is about you and is not related your employer so don’t use corporate letterhead. Plain white, or off-white, paper is best.

Don’t Send a Generic Cover Letter – Don’t send a generic cover letter. If you take time to research your prospective employer it will be appreciated. A generic cover letter will fast track your resume into the wastebasket.

Visit www.jobhawk.com for more job seeking resources and tips.

Successful Job Seeking – The importance of your cover letter

As an employer I receive many job applications each week. Some cover letters are so well written that I am compelled to review the attached resume even if our company is not currently hiring. I don’t want to miss an opportunity to contact an outstanding individual. Other cover letters are sufficiently interesting that I will file them away and review them later in the week, while others simply beg to be deleted immediately.

What makes the difference? For me, there are three factors; understanding, argument and attention to detail.

Understanding. Here’s what I am looking for. Did the job seeker spend time to find out about our company, our products and services and our markets? As an employer it’s easy to identify the level of understanding of job seekers and classify them into three areas – those who understand our company, those who have some understanding of our industry and those who have no understanding at all. I dispose of e-mails from this last group immediately. However, if the job seeker clearly takes time to understand us, I’ll take time to read about him or her. As for the group in the middle… I’ll usually take some time to read their cover letter, but unless they make a compelling argument with excellent attention to details they too, will be deleted.

Argument. Even if the applicant clearly demonstrates some knowledge of our company I’m still looking for a compelling reason why I should take time to review an accompanying resume. I’m interested in the applicant who clearly goes the extra mile – one who understands us and persuades me to find out more. This is the type of person I want working for our company!

Attention to Detail – Grammar and Spelling. It goes without saying that grammar and spelling are important. They are cornerstones of written communication. Since we are a client-focused company, every employee must possess good communication skills, both written and oral. I’m looking for well-constructed paragraphs and sentences, together with correct spelling. Details count.

I’ll be adding a series job seeking tips to this blog. In the meantime, find more job hunting resources at www.jobhawk.com

Ten Tips for a Great Cover Letter

Catch Interest – The first sentence of your cover letter should show that you are an ideal candidate for the position. You will want to compel the reader to learn more about you.

Enthusiasm – Show how interested you are in the position, show that you know about the company and how well qualified you are for the position. Don’t exaggerate. Your cover letter is a chance to sell yourself to a prospective employer and obtain that all-important interview.

Customize – Customize your cover letter for each position. This can more than double your chances of obtaining an interview while a generic cover letter may be dismissed quickly. Show that you have done your homework and that you understand the requirements of the available position.

Show Success – Clearly show that your track record of success and achievement makes you an ideal candidate. Don’t repeat text from your resume. Show how your past achievements will provide a solid foundation so you will be able to start achieving right away in your new position.

Request an Interview – Before closing, be sure to request an interview. Indicate that you will follow-up in a few days to make sure the company received your resume and be sure to ask for an interview.

Thank You – Thank the decision maker for reading your cover letter and considering your resume.

Keywords – Use keywords in your cover letter. You want to make sure that an electronic scan of your cover letter and resume ensures you will ensure you come up as a valid candidate.

Presentation – Give your cover letter a professional appearance. Use margins of 1” or 1.25” on all sides. Use left justification and allow a ragged right margin. Do not justify left and right. Use single spacing for paragraph text and double spacing between paragraphs.

Be succinct – After you have prepared your cover letter review it for non-essential words and phrases and re-phrase sentences using fewer words where possible. Your cover letter should only be one page in length. Longer is not better.

Proofread – Have someone else proofread each cover letter you prepare. Even if you have prepared a new cover letter based on one that has already been proofread. Check and double check for grammar and spelling errors. These can redirect your cover letter and resume to the waste basket in the blink of an eye.

Visit http://www.jobhawk.com/ for more helpful job seeking resources and tips.